life in january

We started off the New Year with a trip to Grimaldi's for pizza.  Grandma and Papa gave us a gift card for Christmas, so it was fun to try a new restaurant. 

We watched Star Girl again, and since the kids begged me not to take the decorations down, we enjoyed that Christmas tree glow for another week. 

This picture made Brooke and I crack up when we saw it a few days later.  Not only does she look like she's flying, but her legs look so little!  She loved jumping rope with Frost while the other kids played hockey. 

We ended our Winter Break with a park play date.  These two had been playing SO well together the few days prior and it was definitely a breath of fresh air. 

The skate park crew...

The kids were having a blast running up and down the ramps while Evie skateboarded.

Planning session for Activity Days.  

Brooke was thrilled to have Marlie join their class and made sure to partner up with her for the activity.  Brooke even volunteered to teach the girls how to make toffee.

Just wanted to remember the flowers (weeds) my cute boy collected for me at the park.  He really can be the sweetest!

Spent half the day with these beautiful girls for Graham's baptism.  It was quite wonderful, but Tracy's absence was definitely felt!  We miss her like crazy.

It's pretty great when your kids have amazing "big kid" friends. And Maddy is one of the best!!

Love these kids!  But missed the Myers clan SO much!

I've always felt like Kevin was a great dad, but sometimes he does things that are just the best.  Like printing out ski maps to "study" with the kids in preparation for our upcoming trip. 

Random pic of Brooke and all her stuffies...

We went car shopping in Dallas, and since we were near Petland, it only made sense to make a pitstop. Brooke wants a bunny so badly, and the boys would love a puppy dog, but I just can't make myself want any pet, haha. 

And spoiler alert, Kevin came home with a new, but used, truck!  He was really excited about the Tacoma, and although we have since discovered a few things that should've been fixed before the sale, he is hopeful that the dealership will make it right. 

Just a few pics before school because the kids were looking so cute and bundled. 

Afternoon fun led to Colby asking me to take a picture of his design...

Brunch with my good friend, Megan.  I always love the time we get to spend together. The conversation always flows and I'm so grateful for the deep connections we've had over the years.

Porch refresh...

We planned a date night with the Hawkins family to see The Little Mermaid at Midlothian High School.  I am always so impressed with their productions, and this was no exception.  And any good date night ends with dessert.  We showed up right before they closed, hence the standing around without chairs, haha. 

Kinley's 10th birthday party at Main Event!

Kinley is the sweetest and I adore the way Colby watched her read the card from him and Brooke.

Colby was beyond thrilled to have his first experience with a virtual reality ride, and watching him was nothing short of hilarious. 

Brooke was into it as well :)

I hosted a baby shower at our house for our bishop's wife, Melanie Danielson.  Her sister did most of the work, but I helped with some of the food and decor.

Since I had the baby shower and Kevin was pulling the boat out of the marina in preparation for a potential freeze, the kids had an extra long visit at Grandma and Papa's house. 

These kids sure love the time they get to spend together! 

new mexico-day 7

We were all a little sad to wake up and leave our little cabin on Friday morning, but I guess all good things must come to an end.

Said goodbye to the cats...

So grateful for this precious time with my family and for the incredible memories!  We learned some valuable lessons together, most importantly that we can learn new things despite our fears and reservations. 

new mexico-day 6

How beautiful is this view right outside our cabin? To say that the kids were eager to get out and explore on day 6 would be an understatement!

Morning highlights included playtime with the cats, snow angels, exploring the grounds, and scoping out the sledding options. 

I asked Kevin if he wanted to remove his neck warmer for the pic and he did not, so we'll always remember how freezing it was, haha. 

One of my favorite moments was laying down in the snow and watching the clouds go by.  Random fact: I love when you can actually see the clouds move, especially when there are multiple formations moving in opposite directions. 

This kid was cracking me up with his endless energy and total excitement for the fluffier snow. He just couldn't help himself. 

Had to get a picture of Colby outside our cabin...

Next up: sledding!  I loved listening to their squeals and laughter. 

Snowball fights were not easy since the snow was hard to pack, but we sure had fun trying :)

Then Kevin had the idea of building a snow fort using our two sleds.  We packed that snow all around, then each took turns trying to shimmy inside.  

More sledding while Kev and I supervised in the snow.  The sun was shining and it was actually quite relaxing to lay there in the snow and just watch the kids play together. 

The most hilarious moment of the day was when we did the Snow Face challenge, haha.  I had seen videos of people doing it and thought it would be good for a laugh :)

Kevin

Katie

Brooke

Colby

We went inside to warm up and I thoroughly enjoyed the mid-day snuggles with Kevin. 

Have I mentioned how much the kids loved these cats?  Kevin, on the other hand, not so much! And they wouldn't leave him alone as he grilled steaks for lunch.  The kids did a decent job of distracting them, but as soon as we sat down to eat, it was a constant game of defense. 

One random pic of our Tahoe at the cabin :)

Ended the day with a fire and s'mores. 

The cats would NOT leave our s'more supplies alone, so Kevin eventually shoed one of the cats away with his foot.  Brooke was sad about that, so eventually just went and sat down to cuddle the cat. 

When we were all frozen, we went inside to thaw out and head to bed!