6-year old

This little man is 6.  Yes - he is six years old!  I can hardly believe it myself.  He of course wanted dinner at IHOP for his birthday.

 He also had a birthday party with friends - complete with a piñata!  I made one ... not sure I will do that again.  That was a time intensive, messy process, involving balloons, flour paste, newspaper, an odd shaped baseball, lots of tissue paper and a very sharp knife ... but it saved money and the kids LOVED it.

 With it freezing cold and snow up to our knees outside, we had to have the baseball themed party inside.  6 year old boys are so much fun!

 

baseball cupcakes

 
 Big D is officially a lego man --- he LOVES legos!

 Happy Birthday Big D!  You are a blessing to our family!  We love the way you roll your eyes at all of our craziness, how to play hard and long with friends, family and anyone willing to throw a ball, ride a bike or put legos together.  You are totally picky about how you dress - but you always look just right, even if it is always casual (if you have to wear a collar we know you like it loose!).  I love how you to love to draw, make paper airplanes, practice the piano and listen to good music.  I secretly love to hear it when you are disappointed that you have to go to school - I wish you could stay home and play with me all day too!  You love recess, tolerate school work, and love to learn (actively!)  You give amazing hugs and are genuine in your feelings.  You are not afraid to let us all know how you really feel!  You love to have your back rubbed at bedtime and you want to grow up so fast.  Can't wait to watch you play baseball this spring without the T!  You are an amazing 6 year old!

To celebrate the Olympics we had an Olympic themed dinner one night ---  a pineapple upside down cake for the 'Olympic rings',

 and perogies, a Russian potato dumpling - don't worry, I didn't make these!  You can buy them in the freezer section at the grocery - easy and delicious!  Not long after our little dinner, Miss Lilly rounded up the neighborhood one afternoon and had an Olympic tryouts session.  When I answered the door for a friend that afternoon I found the sign on our door advertising it.  They had a great time playing Olympics!

 Big D as my piano ninja - never know when he is going to practice, but when he does it is always amazing!

 Master S had his first performance as a trumpet player.  The Middle Schools 6th grade music classes perform for the incoming 5th graders to show them what band, orchestra and choir is like, as those are their choice for 6th grade.

 It was a great performance and loved how they showed off each of the instruments to introduce them.

 Miss Lily posing with her artwork on display at the school. 

 And showing off in the show -- love this picture of her!

Dad'd 60th

For January I got to go on a trip all by myself ... I went to surprise my Dad for his 60th birthday!  It was so fun to surprise him - he had no idea, even when my mom went to pick me up the night I flew in, he still had no clue.  She told him she was going to go to the airport to pick someone up, but wouldn't tell him who, and he decided to go to bed instead of going with her!  So, I slept that night in the house, and surprised him at breakfast in the morning.  Love my Dad!

I got to have lunch with him, check out a new building in downtown Boise and was there for some surprise parties my mom and sister-in-law had planned.  It was wonderful to see family and spend time with my parents.

I also go to see this darling little girl!  Little miss B.  Love her!

 And her little 'new' baby sister Miss K.  Oh, and their parents - it was fun to see them too :)

 Dad, sleeping off the surprises.  Happy 60th Dad!

the LONG winter

Winter!  Yes - it has been a LONG winter!  These are pictures from a snowstorm that occurred the weekend before school was to start back after the winter break.  Needless to say, we had an extra week of winter break!

 Not only was there LOTS of snow, but it got bitterly cold immediately after it stopped snowing.  The roads were awful for days! 

 It was -40 degrees with the wind chill for at least 3 days.  We have video on my google plus profile showing J.D. throwing boiling water up in the air one of those mornings.  It turned instantly to ice/cloud and floated away for fell to the ground.

 The kids have loved the snow!  We have gotten plenty of sledding in this year and Miss Lilly and Big D even made snow ice cream with friends one day when school was cancelled.

 Our neighbors have been wonderful, using their snow blowers to clear our driveway and sidewalks on days with the snow was crazy deep.  We are blessed to live in a great neighborhood with great neighbors.