Our January Days

This is exactly how I want to be spending every day this winter.  If I have to endure Texas summers, I better get a dreamy winter.  It's been a bit chilly but a few days in January have been good to us!! We love taking scooter rides with G in the stroller and me on my roller blades especially down the roads with "tickle bushes."  They giggle every time! 

After January 1st the gingerbread house is up for grabs.  This is when the ravenous animal comes out in my children.  They absolutely destroy these gingerbread houses, all in the name of  CANDY!!

One particular Saturday we were especially productive!  We took down our Christmas decorations (including our lone Austin Tree off of Slaughter Lane).

Hit the Wildflower Center for the awesome swings in the forest! Sadie reminds me so much of myself sometimes.  She's such a little daredevil!! Jack finally got the hang of pumping and doesn't need a push anymore.  That doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't want them.   

 

 

Next up was Central Market.  There is so much the kids enjoy doing here we really could set up camp the whole day. We will always love sledding down the hills on cafeteria trays!

And throwing rocks in the pond as we watch turtles swim by. 

My absolute favorite feature is the "giving tree" down the road a bit.  Can you believe this tree?  It provides love for all!! 

Sadie became a "mini Abby" again as I watched her slither up that tree like Tarzan.  I think every kid should climb a tree at least once.  I think I was in a tree 20% of my childhood! This tree has had it's share of climbers.  It's branches have been scaled so many times the bark is no longer rough, but smooth and almost slippery.  I got up the tree but my 33 year old body didn't know how to get down.  Love my Sadie Lady for getting me up there again!! 

 

The day ended at PTerry's where G slept in the car the entire time we ate our food.  His droopy eyes couldn't take anymore excitement. 

 

They're building new homes nearby which is kind of noisy but totally entertaining for these little boys!

Chase thought it would be fun to go to a UT game.  You can tell from the picture how exciting I think basketball games are.  Actually it was really fun because all our friends were there!

Drove WAY too far off the beaten path for an In n' Out burger.  We didn't go "in" and come "out" as fast as they advertise. 

 

Started out on opposite sides of the bed and ended up on one:-)

 

I love them so much more when they're sleeping.

Finally got around to putting in a new sink.  We tried to do it ourselves and ended up calling Aaron Shreeve from the ward to come help.  Turns out we had everything upside down.  Such rookies!!

 

School was cancelled 3 times for "snow" or the possible threat of snow which was hilarious because there was only enough snow for an ant to make a snowman.  It looked like someone took a powdered sugar shaker and lightly dusted the grass.   

 

I had to laugh because of my grueling upbringing in the snowy rocky mountains!!  I can literally tell my kids that I walked a mile in the snow to school because the car couldn’t get me there.  I’m one of those “old people” that does that.  Good old Sorels!  I still remember watching Mr. Christianson, our physics teacher, cross country ski down 9^th south to get to East High.  They never cancelled school!  My kids are so spoiled.  They’ve had two snow days already (the other due to icy roads…no snow) and several delayed 2 hour days.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my children.  I just love them a lot more when they’re in school (or sleeping, or doing chores, or eating their dinner with no complaintsJ). 

We left the hose on over night (whoops) and found some awesome icicles the next morning!!

The only place the snow had accumulated enough to play in was the trampoline. They had a lot of fun slipping and sliding on that thing. They cancelled school because of this.

 

Hot chocolate and snuggles!!

 

With all these school cancellations comes lots of never ending play dates with ever intruding neighbors!!

Hooray!!  We smell like bodily fluids!!

It's unlikely to have a Saturday without one or two birthday parties to go to.  It is however likely to walk into a Blazer Tag and smell vomit wherever you go. That and Chuck E Cheese.  Why do people have birthdays here? 

 

We got our own share of vomit from Jack.

Cousin Alice lost a tooth so we sent her an "excited for you" picture!

And...drum roll please...Jack learned how to ride a bike!!  With out training wheels!!!  He's still a little timid but we're so proud of him for trying.  He can ride on flat roads but is terrified of even the slightest slope.

 

You wouldn't know it from the looks of her, but this little tyke is in Senior Primary!!!  What?!!  She turns 8 this year and even though she still wears a size 6 (the skirt is a size 2) we can't stop the clock and keep her from advancing.  I'm just so glad she's still so little.  She could be 8, 8 months, or 18 but it wouldn't change the fact that she's my Sadie Lady, the very one!!