All Grown Up

Bridgette has been upgraded!  She still naps in her crib (because I still want her to nap!), but is doing great at sleeping in the bottom bunk at night.  We've only found her on the floor once =)

It was about this time, three years ago, that we first got the bunk beds and introduced Gretchen to sleeping in a big girl bed!  Time is flying!

She and I both wanted to capture the morning sunrise!

We had a "warmer" day, so the kids enjoyed the new snow.

I have a feeling I'll be seeing this scene again in about ten years, but there will be less pretending involved!

A sure sign that she's not so grown up yet. =)

Heart-Making

We've been doing a bit of "heart-crafting" this week.  Nothing complicated, just some glueing and cutting and coloring and stamping . . . .but I like celebrating holidays!

Practicing the Discipline of Gratitude {January}

This year, I am trying to take a photo each day of something I choose to be grateful for.  I'm posting them on Instagram each day. . . 

1.  Watching my guys connect over Ducks football.

2.  Celebrating my friend, Patricia's, birthday.  She is a gift to me.

3.  I had the cutest shopping helper.

4.  Celebrating twelve years of marriage with a special lunch date.

5.  We only live a ten-minute walk from the school, but with the wind chill at -40 and my youngest napping, I am grateful for this bus.

6.  My thoughtful mother-in-law has faithfully found a lighthouse calendar every year since we were married that always includes Haceta Head Lighthouse where Ryan proposed.

7.  While I was dealing with a less-than-cooperative Bridgette, she was setting up this special tea party for us to enjoy together.

8.  Serious weather calls for a serious hat.  I'm grateful for my friend, Jessie, who knew I'd need this sort of headgear in North Dakota winters.

9.  I'm so thankful for him.

10.  Getting to snuggle with my boy to watch the game - Go Hawks!

11.  Thankful to celebrate this wonderful boy who made me a mommy seven years ago.

12.  She sat down and said, "I'm in the hands of Jesus!"  Yes, sweet Bridgette, you are.

13.  I'm so grateful to own my own piano.

14.  I was thankful she woke up wanting to help me mop!

15.  I love getting to reward diligence.

16.  These girls make morning errands much more interesting.

17.  The peaceful sleep that wipes away the memory of the pre-bed tantrums and meltdown.  Almost.

18.  Watching Rooke cheer on HIS team win the NFC championship!  

19.  Sitting with him and answering questions as he listened to this speech for the first time.

20.  Sometimes a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

21.  I'm thankful when morning music practice is fun for both of us.

22.  A cooperative building project to use every single block.

23.  Thankful for a sunny day and a smiling helper.

24.  Thankful for a special night with this guy - his first experience at the symphony!

25.  I was thankful that an evening walk to deliver a meal turned into an unexpected sledding adventure with friends.

26.  Playing legos was a welcome break from acting out scenes with princesses.

27.  A surprise love note from my not-so-secret admirer.

28.  I'm thankful that I can make this timer the bad guy.

29.  Thankful that my kids love the library as much as I do!

30.  For the most part, they really like each other.  

31.  Saturday campout with oven s'mores and skyping Daddy.

January Phone Dump

I took more photos on my phone this month than I normally do, so this phone dump is still very random.  Just a bit longer than usual!

The flat landscapes make for some spectacular sunrises and sunsets up here.

Yep.  It's cold.  -17 feels like -41!

Thanks to the military, we can register our car wherever we want.  We were pretty excited about getting our new plates!  

We like to drink warm drinks and play games together.

The library on base had a Star Wars event that was great!

This guy got an early birthday present . . . I let him stay up to watch the Seahawks play!  TOUCHDOWN!!

Striving for independence.

She wanted to play dress-up.  I let her pick out my outfit.  I didn't have to wear the dress for long, but she was smiling non-stop from ear to ear for those minutes that we played together in our "fancy dresses" and were "proper ladies" going to a "fancy tea party".  

Gretchen put together this "set up" to show Big Daddy.  Then he sent a photo of his "set up" back to her.

Bridgette wanted to play too.  Her setup:

The evidence of grandparents' generosity before Project Organize Legos commenced.  

A quiet moment by myself with my favorite tea (brought from Germany by my parents) and my favorite tea biscuits (that I shockingly found at our commissary!).

We watched the NFC championship with friends.  Burger King's commercials worked on someone, who came up with the bright idea to order 100 chicken nuggets for $15.  My kids thought it was awesome!

On our way to music class!

They were mapping out and planning their route to visit Daddy, consulting the US map and seeking advice from past presidents! =)

A warmer day coaxed us outside for the afternoon.

Ready for church.

Thank you, Panera Bread, for trying your hand at an Asian-inspired noodle soup.  I had my doubts, but you surprised me.  It hit the spot.

Rooke had a blast with our friend's sledding disc!

Making valentines and puzzling at the Children's Discovery Center in town.