February Recap- dates, an Anniversary, Valentine's day, and a Visit with Extended Family

 February is a big month at our house. Valentine's Day, our wedding anniversary (12 years of wedded bliss this year), and our annual date night with the father/daughter dance and mother/son date. I put up a blog post all on its own for the annual date night because it's just that good and important to our house. Those events make for a super fun month of planning, preparing, celebrating, and savoring. 

So, let's get to it, here's all we did this month:

We actually saw some extended family. But, we drove 30 minutes to see them and I didn't realize, until I got into our vehicle, that our kids thought we were driving to their house 3 1/2 hours away. They packed for a long trip and planned on naps!

                                    

It was so good to see family, a luxury that we haven't been able to do much of since the pandemic began. We went to one of our favorite spots, the children's museum. We also made it another time earlier this month. Two times in a month is a record for us any more:

Didn't get much for pictures but fun was had by all, that's for sure. 

Back at home, we started to work really hard on Valentine's day. We had lots of themed activities for preschool and Riley made a beautiful heart canvas for his daddy to give him as a gift. 
                                                 

Payton had a unicorn Valentine's day box for school and even pulled out her box we made last year as well. I was so surprised that made it the whole year!

I worked hard on making my own special gifts (along with homemade cards, part of our library take home kits we can do monthly):

And the kids made gifts for us. Hours and hours of labor with crafts, all wrapped up:

After they went to bed, we set their spots up:

                                                         

                                                         

We had the best time opening all the crafts and celebrating our love for one another.

Payton asked that we dress up in red and I was happy to oblige:

We made heart shaped homemade pizza and heart shaped jello for dinner and spent the evening together for a pizza/movie night. 

Our anniversary is also this month. To celebrate 12 years, the boys helped me make fruit pizza. The hubby and I also opted for mimosas.

The sun came out a few days this month and we jumped on the chance to get to the park. 

The rest of the month was cold and snowy and we mostly played outside around the house. Our special place:

Inside where it is warm, you will find us completing lots of preschool activities and crafts:

We even had Payton home for a few days with snow days from school! I love my bonus days with her so much!

Riley has been quite my little helper and we spent lots of extra time together this month. He helped me make fruit pizza (mentioned earlier) and also puppy chow. This was the first time making and he loved it!

Payton had about 8 dress up days at school this week and I managed to take a picture for 2 of them. aaaaaagh. Some times, it just happens. But, I documented chore day (for ag week) and camo day:

Riley has found a new obsession with live, sports and action tv. Here he is watching racing and was sooo excited to get a picture taken of his new fav show:

And then we just continue to have so many beautiful and quiet days at home doing just as we want to do: spend time together exploring what our home has to offer:

Quiet, all day at home kind of days are just the best. We've been blessed with so many during the pandemic and I am extra thankful for that!

On to March we march! 

Father/Daughter Dance and a Date Night with My Boys

 Every year, our daughter gets so excited for the father/daughter dance our ymca hosts. While writing this post, I went and found the past blogs about as well. See 2019 here and 2020 here. Payton talks about this dance all year long. She picks out her own outfit (from her closet, she gets lots of hand me downs which we love) AND she picks her dad's outfit for the night. I help her get ready and dad "picks her up" after he gets ready. It's just such a special time and a total event at our house. 

She had the best time. As usual, not many pictures are taken at the dance but these two enjoy each other to the fullest. Here is the return picture I got:

This year there was a build a bear like setup and Payton got a unicorn (with a special dance tshirt) along with a bag of loot. She saw some friends from school and the community and loved talking to them. She danced the night away with her dad! She gets to stay out late, which she also loves since we rarely make an exception on this.

I take advantage of this night as a date night with my boys. The boys pick what we do and that has stayed the same over the years as well, a date night picnic in the park and a dance party at home. It's so cold (and snowy) here so we ate our meal in the van at the park. The boys love this! LOVE THIS. Then we came home to dance in our sitting room and then the boys took an extra long bubble bath before bed.

Riley also picks our outfits out and that is super important to him. 

I hope we get so many more years together doing this event because it's just the best thing for my mama heart. I don't take pictures on my date night with the boys as well so that I can BE in the moment with my boys. It's just the best experience ever. I look so forward to this night.

Here's to hoping this continues as an annual event.

January meant baking, playing, schooling, and our 100 year old daughter... oh my!

January was a quick one and I am sneaking on here with only a few minutes to do my entire recap. So, pry little words and more pictures! They tell my story well on their own, I think. So, not a moment to waste.

Happy New Year! We celebrated at home, over the noon hour (noon year, get it) with our 3 babies. So fun: 

Is there anything cuter than kids saying cheers?!?!

We made prime rib sandwich dinner complete with festive ware (given to us).

As we are still in the pandemic, our family still chooses to do church at home. We have seen our kids grow in their faith with this route and I know it is right for us for right now. Here is a picture of them grabbing their bibles:

We found a youth pastor service that really speaks to our kids and they are loving his weekly sermons!

Also, the pandemic means so much time at home...

Preparing the garden for next year.

Payton volunteered to teach school one morning when she didn't have school. She chose a health course and spoke about how to keep our bodies healthy. She aspires to be a teacher some day and it was so fun to watch her in her own rhythm: 

We also squeeze in daily outdoor time, it's really important to us (and our sanity):

And is it ever too cold for ice cream? We think not:

Payton finished up a Christmas gift lamp that her aunt gave her. She loves crafts!

Twins!!! I still try to match with her as much as I can/she allows.

And also time spent enjoying the views outside from the inside:

Now just lots and lots of indoor activities and tv/cuddling time:

A picture Riley drew of a j word- Jayden. Jayden said it looked just like him and was so happy!

The Christmas cups I made the kids are out constantly. They have loved them so much already:

As always, lots of homemade goodies and food:

                                                         

And remember my accident with my hand in December? As I type this, it is finally fully healed (and we have thanked God for that so many times). But, here is how I rolled into the New Year:

Ouch! I did get to a point where I could use my hands (for a bit until they got sore) and the family finally got their Christmas pies just a wee bit later than planned.

                                         

Payton celebrated 100 days at school (we took drinks) and got to dress up as a 100 year old granny that needs to go to sleep. If you've played that don't wake granny game, I think that was her inspiration:

So we ended the month feeling super blessed. God has been so good to us. We are excited to see what February brings! Have a great week (or month depending on when I am on here next).