Good news!! I got a new phone so I am back up and ready for business 😂

50-60 degree temps in Feb= crazy and time to go outside!  
 

  
  
This little lady delivered cookies this week. I was so extremely proud of her. The first house she visited when we were selling, she could barely say a word but with practice she was raddling off her speech. With delivery, she was skipping, singing and smiling. Who wouldn’t love cookies from this young lady?

We will be delivering in Iowa at the end of March.

  
So this weather has messed with my children. Bella was sick last week, Cooper this week. He didn’t move from the couch yesterday, today he is up and playing. 

FYI- my phone has been acting crazy lately.  I am pretty sure I have a virus (which I thought didn’t happen to Apple).  My screen will freeze and it seems like a ghost is pushing buttons, so I have had limited use of my phone.  I have transferred all of my pictures to my computer and will be making a trip to an Apple store this week.  But, what a great opportunity to update our website!

John was Watch DOG at Cooper and Bella’s school.  He got lucky and was at school the day Cooper went to the High School for a swim party because he reached a reading goal.  So he went on a little field trip with Cooper, led a game in Bella’s classroom and had lunch with both kids.

We lost power for an extended period of time, which was a first for us so ice cream and stories by candlelight.

My book club met at my house in Jan. and one of our members reached out to the author and we Skyped with her.  Such a neat experience to be able to ask her questions.  The book was We are Called to Rise by Laura McBride

Bella is on her scooter because we have had an unusual winter.  It is cold and snows but then it gets warmer and melts away.

Cooper with his friends at a sleepover.

I was on the committee for this years Father/Daughter event.  We decided on a Beauty and the Beast theme because of the upcoming movie.  The girls had an evening with desserts, dancing, inflatable obstacle course, games and a craft (THANKS Mom- I totally used your Hershey rose idea and everyone loved it).

John ended up traveling to Iowa for a funeral of a friends mother and was unable to make it to the event so I was Bella’s beast.  This is one of those moments I wish we lived closer to family, I know many Grandpa’s, Uncles, and Great Uncles that would have been happy to take her.  She had a great night with friends!

3rd Graders learn about State government at school and took a field trip to Lansing to visit the Capital.  I was able to chaperone so I got to spend the day with Cooper and his classmates.  We met Peter MacGregor, our State Senator of our district.  He answered the questions of the students and parents, and could have talked to us all day.  See the group photo with him below.

My Cooper was such a sweetheart and wanted to sit by me on the bus.

My baby is growing up!  Bella wanted to invite the girls from her class, neighborhood friends, and friends from dance.  We decided that was too many girls to host at our house so we had a party at Jester’s Court (girls from her kindergarten class) which is a facility full of inflatables and hosted one at our house.

Jester’s Court Friends- Remi, Brylee, Sophia, Molly, Fynleigh, Amiyah, Emery and Elena

Under the Sea Birthday at Bella’s Castle

Bella has asked for an Under the Sea Birthday and wanted a pinata- Mommy took it from there!  The girls made princesses tiaras, played pass the treasure (boxes wrapped inside boxes with actions to do along the way), ate snacks (seaweed- grapes, fish and chips- potato chips and Goldfish crackers, ocean water- berry punch) and cupcakes, sang Happy Birthday, opened presents, hit the Ursula pinata and played.

Under the Sea Birthday Friends- Maggie, Rylan, Ally, Claire, Lauren, Alexandra, Sydney, Bella, Emily, Layla, Colette

We started our Friday getting our nails done. Bella is such a big girl!!   
    
The beautiful Bride to be!!    
Temple of Performing Arts- simply beautiful!!! Way to Mom and Krista on the colors and decorations. My Mom even got asked who she works for…her response “myself.” They said it was the most beautiful they had seen the place without a hired professional.

  
Bella’s resolution-   Be Yourself (she came up with that in her own)
Cooper’s- hit a homerun

   Saturday- the BIG day. Started with the girls getting our hair and makeup done. I felt like a movie star.

   
    
    
    
    
   
Look at this dress! Krista was breathtaking!!! Jenna was right there for whatever she needed.

Christmas with the Crandell’s    

  Bella singing “I am Moanna!”

 Visit to the Iowa Capital  
Zombie Burger!

    

Happy Salmon game! Christmas with the Gale’s

    
    

Play date with the Byam’s

Kids slept until 8! 

  
This is the face that says, “I am on to you.” He opened a XBox controller and we told him we got it so he could take it to friends’ houses to play. Then he opens this, a Minecraft game, and we use the same explanation. He than proceeds to search because we have presents to take with us to Iowa and he finds one that doesn’t have a name on it. Well, he figured it out quickly. This is technically a family gift but Cooper loves his Minecraft and we are excited to be able to play along with him.  When Cooper gets excited about something he can’t stop talking, he has been talking all morning. 

  
Yes, John and I decided it was time to purchase an American Girl doll. Bella has taken care of Ginger, her practice doll from Gramy and Gramps. Note- there isn’t a doll that looks exactly like her with Hazel eyes. So now she has Ginger with green eyes and Bells with blue.

Cooper is a great gift giver. He picked out a shirt making kit for American Girl dolls- he had NO idea she was getting one. He also got her a white tshirt so she could match her dolls. This tradition started last year. John and I take the kids out to buy something for each other and something for us to help them understand giving and how to pick out gifts. I am amazed at how excited they are to give. Cooper gave Bella his  present to her right away and Bella did the same. 

 Can you tell what everyone has been up to all day? Bella has been exploring every gift. The boys are glued to the TV. Me? I am just enjoying putting things away, watching the joy and playing with Cooper’s toy.

Christmas Eve 2016 in MI this year for the four of us. We baked cookies, played games and in the snow, ate a Christmas meal, went to Christmas Eve Mass, sang Christmas songs and got ready for Santa. 

   
    
    
    
We received Speak Up in the mail from a secret Santa today- the game is hilarious!   
  One present to open on Christmas Eve- games to play together!  
  I have such fond memories playing Guess Who after school at Latchkey. The kids love it too!!  
  Bella was very good at Disney Apples to Apples and she was able to read a majority of the directions!   
    
    
  Cooper felt good in his festive outfit- I love when he feels confident and proud!
  Bella was upset she didn’t get to get her picture taken first… She recovered quickly 

 
Bella participates by singing at church, she even adds dance moves.  
  They are sad to say goodbye to our Elf, Jack. He spent his last day with is playing Texas Hold’em with friends.
Thanks for the Christmas Jams, Gramy!  
  Cooper is a pro at Guess Who, we feel he has the ability to read minds. There could be 5 up and he will randomly guess correctly!  

  Merry Christmas Eve!! 

 Bella loves drawing and writing notes. Her favorite thing to write is “I Love You.” Unfortunately, I can’t keep them all but I want to place it here so I never forget.   

   
   
Bella’s Girl Scout Troop delivered candy canes to our local Veteran Center. She was very shy but got the hang of greeting veterans as they entered the building.   
So much about this picture makes me smile; her smile, quietly playing in her room, her beautiful long hair, etc.

 
So proud of her gift from her Girl Scout leaders; Jenni, Tricia and Mommy.