This was a tough week but we made it!  We are ready to turn the page on the calendar.  January was a long month.  

The kids really enjoyed the snow.

 Girls vs. Boys in a snowball fight.  Here are the boys making final preparations.

 Owen tried out hockey... there were a lot of "little guys."

 Owen turned 11!!  We went to the commissary to pick out a cake and all they had was this little heart cake.  So....... Owen pleaded his case that this was a "girl's cake" and that if he got it he should also get a key lime pie.  I caved....we left with a cake and a pie!!

 This face says it all......."I'm 11 and I got a girl's cake"......"with one candle"
That is all this tired momma could pull off and I'm super embarrassed to admit this but I didn't even get the cake on his real birthday.  We got it the next day.  I told him we were spreading out the fun!!

 I caught the girls outside one day marching in line and singing.  So funny.  It looks like Meg is giving orders.

 The kids work on their fort all the time. Hours and hours perfecting this thing.  I asked what this pile of sticks was for and they said they were for the store. The boys carve them and then "sell/trade" them.

 The "store"

 Owen played two games on Saturday back to back.  This shot must have been taken on the second game because they all look worn out and tired.

 A typical evening shot of kids in the neighborhood playing

 I found this note Meg made in her room

My sister-in-law found these photos and sent them to me.  

I love these pictures they brought back a lot of memories.

 Owen and Meg have been missing their cousins!

 The kids hang out on this field a lot.  They play frisbee.

 A few more shots of when the girls were marching and singing!

 and more fort building!

and with that we say good-bye January!  Hello February !

This is the face of a kid who is so happy to be on the ice!!

 I took Owen and Meg to the rink right when it opened and we had it to ourselves for a whole hour! This rink is just a 20 min. drive for us.  He starts hockey lessons Monday night!

 Meg has started to like skating.

Some of Meg's artwork

 I try to consign a few items each week to the local thrift shop. This past week we let go of Meg's little grocery cart.  It made me sad because she loved this little cart and played and played with it as a little girl.  I have such memories of her pushing around her babies and groceries.

 but we realized she had just outgrown it! Hopefully it will bring lots of joy to another little girl.

 I found Owen playing his X-box like this.

 We headed back to the rink with some friends for Free Skate Day!!

 Snow time!

 Friends + snow = hours outside.

 the state of my entry way.

Our sweet neighbor brought us over some Tiger Butter.  I am not sure how we missed the boat on this one but we had never heard of this or tried it.  Well......it is AMAZING!!!  Meg and I went right to pintrest to find the recipe.  The container was totally filled when she gave it to us and I'm embarrassed to say how much we have eaten.  I will not disclose when this photo was taken.  Tiger Butter ...we love you!

 Owen and Meg did a little project on the Ishtar Gate this week.  Here is Owen's drawing.

 Megs

 School days

 I think Meg is taking a "breather" in this photo

 They each had to design a flag representing the Assyrian Empire

 Referencing my Dad's Bible Chart from when he was in college.   The kids loved looking at this and it really helped as we studied the Assyrian and Babylonian Captivity.  Thanks Pap!!

 I made Bible charts in college as well.  I've used these a lot.

 Lots of hours spent in this cozy little classroom.  We love this space!!