February

 I feel like we had a full month, but I don't have many pictures.  Busyness picking up and dropping off kids usually isn't worthy of a picture!

Rebecah's musical is in full swing.  She has practices almost every school day.  

I was able to help out in Eden's classroom for Valentine's Day.  She loved having me there and the other kids did, too.  I brought balloons and made balloon hats for all of the kids.  I also helped Mrs. Corl with the snack for the kids.  It was a fun time.  

I made a yummy red velvet cake for Valentine's day and we just gave the kids some candy.  Joseph and I went out to lunch at a yummy place that focuses on healthy food options. 

Rebecah had a district band concert that we attended.  The music was really good. 

The kids had a week off school for Winter Break.  Most of the week was low key with time spent relaxing at home and going to appointments.  Rebecah had musical practice, too.  We did hang out with friends one evening and that was fun.  We also went to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.  We had been there once before and the kids wanted to go back.  We had a good time and the little ones loved it.  Rebecah is three years older now from the last time we went so I don't think it was quite as magical as she remembered it being.  

Kimball now spends his time after school "training" on the school stationary bicycles.  He has decided to devote more of his time and energy to cycling.  His plan right now is to enter as many local races as he can.  He registered for a race at the end of March in Vermont.  He doesn't plan to play football in the fall and just wants to focus on school track and cycling.  It's a good hobby for him and we'll see how he does in the races he enters.

January/Rebecah's 13th Birthday

Our year always starts off with a bang by celebrating Rebecah's birthday.  She turned 13 this year so she is officially a teenager.  She's already felt like a teenager for a year now.  Her birthday was on a Saturday so she didn't have to go to school.  Yay!  She wanted to open presents right after breakfast, so we did.  Joseph took her and a few others to the church gym so they could play soccer in the afternoon.  It was a good birthday for her.  She requested a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert.   

Rebecah loves to be social and hang out with friends.  School musical practices started this month so she is busy with practice a few times a week.  We found a new piano teacher for her, so she'll begin lessons again in February.  

Joseph did our semi-annual height measurements on the wall this month.  Kimball grew an inch and a half in the last 6 months.  Now Kimball is wondering if his growth spurts are at an end or if he'll inch his way up to 6 feet.  Rebecah is most likely finished growing and Lincoln is slightly taller than Annika at this point.  Eden is taller than Lincoln and Annika were at the same age.  It's always fun to compare the heights of the different kids at the same age.

We haven't had much snow this year.  We are all disappointed to have not had more snow.  Joseph did take Lincoln and Annika for their first ski lesson.  They had a great time and Joseph hopes to get them back out on the slopes at least one more time this year as long as we get snow and not rain!

Joseph drove 2 hours to the Adirondacks so he could have a day of skiing. 

Kimball finished the indoor track season this month.  His PR for the 55 meter hurdles was a 9.9, so he was pleased, but he still wants to get faster.  

I started volunteering one day a week in Eden's class at school.  She loves to have me come each week and it's good for my heart to see the kids get so excited to see me.  They wave to me and are always so happy if they are put in my group during small group time.  I'm so glad Eden's teacher wanted a volunteer.  

December and Christmas

Our December didn't feel quite so rushed with festivities this year, but it was nice. 

Eden trying out Rebecah's walking boot:

Rebecah on the other hand was very happy to get the "all clear" and give up her walking boot!  The boot was much better than crutches, but it still got tiresome after a month.  Her ankle is fully healed.  She went to one physical therapy appointment to learn some strengthening exercises, but she is good to go again and is so happy to be active once more.

Rebecah didn't want to pose for this picture, but I told her holding up that boot was like winning a trophy!

Joseph and I took the little girls to Dasher's Magical Gift.  It's a ballet performance geared toward younger kids.  I thought it was so boring, but the girls loved it. 

We went to Rebecah's band concert.  She is the first chair clarinet and her bestie sits right next to her.  She wanted to be dropped off extra early for her concert so I just stayed and reserved close seats for the rest of the family.

We took a trip to Skaneateles, NY for their Charles Dickens festival.  This quaint little town sits on the edge of one of the Finger Lakes.  The downtown area is so cute.  They had people dressed as characters from A Christmas Carol, other people in period dress, bands playing Christmas songs, Father Christmas, and free samples of roasted chestnuts (gross, by the way).  The kids weren't very impressed with the excursion so we were back in the car less than an hour later.  They did enjoy their hot chocolate, though.

We stopped in a little toy shop and Lincoln and Eden fell in love with some of the stuffed animals.

A visit to Father Christmas.  This man played the part SO well!

Eden's class had a Grinch day at school and made a Grinch craft and drank green juice. 

Gingerbread houses.  We actually just used graham crackers this year.  I didn't want to spend the money on five gingerbread kits and I didn't want to make gingerbread pieces, either.  I decided to simplify and just use crackers.  No one seemed to mind.  Kimball opted not to decorate a house and Lincoln did his after the girls.

My ministering sister gave me this cute little Nutcracker-themed puzzle.  I am NOT a puzzle person, but my family sure is!  I did a few pieces, but Annika, Joseph and Kimball did most of the puzzle in less than 24 hours.  It will be a fun puzzle for them to put together each year.  

We attended the Christmas Eve service at the Lutheran church again this year.  The kids enjoyed the experience enough last year for us to do it again this year.  It is always a good opportunity to build interfaith relationships.  We were warmly welcomed and a member of the congregation is also on the school board, so he recognized the kids and spoke with them. 

All ready for Christmas morning!  Since Christmas was on a Sunday this year we did things a little differently.  Christmas morning the kids got up at 7:00 and they saw what Santa brought them and the little things in their stockings, but we waited to open the rest of the presents so we could focus on Jesus and get ready for church.  The kids were SO good about waiting.  I think we all agreed that opening presents in the early afternoon was perfect because it spread out the Christmas joy and we could worship our Savior without being distracted by presents. 

I forgot to take pictures of our Christmas present opening.  I just wanted to be present in the moment, but then realized that I now have no documentation of the moment for future viewing.

Here are the kids with their presents from Santa.  Kimball opted to sleep in and I forgot to take a picture of him later.

Annika wanted a bookshelf so she could display her Lego sets!

This was a little Nativity that Annika put together with various Barbie and Lego characters.

We went to Sweet Frog (frozen yogurt) with friends.  Here Lincoln has frog legs hanging out of his mouth!  We basically had the place to ourselves so we sat and visited for an hour and a half.

Kimball is running indoor track, so went as a family to one of his meets.  This year he is running the 55-meter hurdles.  

My little girls playing together.

Other notables that aren't pictured.  We took bread around to various neighbors and friends the week leading up to Christmas.  I would make three loaves each day and deliver them with the kids in the evenings.  Lincoln, Annika and Eden had a week of swimming lessons, which they loved.  Annika moved up a level which made her so happy.  She works hard on her swimming.  

We look forward to the new opportunities we will have in 2023!