Mrs. V and the First Teacher Dinner of the Year

Candy heart wreaths with washi tape arrows--it was fun having Valentines as an available them for an early February dinner party.

Chocolate cake with malt frosting because duh, it's the best. Washi tape hearts on top!

Ranunculus because they are the prettiest.

Asher has the most wonderful first grade teacher: Mrs. Verbiest. He had her for kindergarten camp back in 2013 and it has been extraordinary having her again full time. She's thoughtful, patient and sincerely dedicated to her students. I appreciate her adoration for Asher and in fact, she told me once that he so cute that she 'can't even stand it.' I can relate. We invited her to dinner in February and I was so excited about it and the change to celebrate her with a fun dinner.

I came up with a mini heart-wreath place setting, made out of candy hearts complete with an arrow name card. They were a pain to make because the wire I used was super flimsy but they were so dang cute and I was pleased to have come up with someone on my own. The table decor was simple--Ikea tablecloth and red ranunculus. What more does a table need?

Mrs. V, Courtney, and her husband Josh were the most pleasant guests. They were gracious and interesting and so easy to engage. They really seemed to enjoy dinner (butternut squash lasagna, salad, warm rolls and chocolate cake) but they are the type of folks that would be grateful no matter what was served. I'm so happy that Asher has had her influence over the past year. He has learned a lot and been encouraged in many ways. Asher doesn't always love school but I know he loves his teacher and that has made all the difference!

Oh yeah, I asked Asher to make a welcome sign for Mrs. V and her husband to put on the door. Without hesitation he drew the scene of a car crash that he witnessed at school the other day. A disgruntled man sped down Janney's and crashed into a car in front of school and grabbed a woman and started choking her. All of this happened as school was letting out! Mayhem! Asher saw it all too. He seemed okay about it but obviously it effected him enough to incorporate it into his WELCOME sign. Just one more thing I love about that kid. 

Jamie's 40th Birthday Bust

This was a big birthday year for Jamie! In January he turned 40!!! I had planned to take him out to dinner in DC and had made reservations after researching the perfect place to take him. Well, the day of said dinner date I started to feel ill. I'm usually a high energy person and can push through anything (see twin pregnancy, etc.) but that cold knocked me out. I was freezing cold and felt weak and only wanted to sleep. I called Jamie and told him that I just couldn't go out and we had to cancel our reservations. I felt terrible and continued to feel terrible for nearly TWO weeks afterwards. My cold was so severe that it moved to my ear and I ended up with an ear infection that tortured me for a good two weeks but lingered for a month. In all of this, I just couldn't keep up and Jamie's birthday was the greatest casualty. I still managed to make him dinner (tomato pie) on his birthday but man, I wish I could have a DO OVER. 

At least the kids made cute cards.

Jackets

The boys wore shades of blue and jackets to church one Sunday and just looked so handsome. Soren got a jean jacket and it looks great on him! He still prefers to wear his over-sized gray sweatshirt but this jacket looks the best on him. Asher is wearing the charming yellow pants that Soren wore to preschool graduation back in spring of 2013! He's my kid that gets to wear clothes forever. Soren, Maeve and Sloane are growing so rapidly that I can't keep up!

SLASHER

Asher asked me to take these photos with Sloane and him (Sloane + Asher = SLASHER). He is such a huge fan of his little sis and to be honest, he seems to be her favorite! He's tender with her and affectionate but he doesn't bother her or tug on her too aggressively like others (Soren). He's animated and makes her smile. Reminds me that Maeve felt the same way about Asher when she was a baby babe! What can we say? Asher is just too cute and these two together? Boom.

Little Lady Dancer

Maeve has missed out on a lot of mid week classes because I work and our Au Pairs don't drive. Same fate for Asher and Soren but since they have each other it didn't seem as egregious. I have felt for Maeve missing out on fun opportunities (even though she's clueless). Well, my friend Hollie announced, "If I were a working mom and my Au Pair didn't drive then I would want someone to take my daughter to ballet. Let me take Maeve to ballet!" I teared up when she suggested this because she read the desire of my heart. What a kind, generous offer and one that made both Maeve and I SO happy. When I told Maeve she gave me the biggest squeezy hug and thank me countless times. She was genuinely moved and I was too. I wasn't able to attend her first class or any other classes but just seeing her dressed up made my heart swell with joy. What a beautiful girl and what an exciting experience thanks to a kind friend.

A Screen Time Produced Quiet Moment Post-Church

Jamie was called to be the financial clerk in our ward so we head home from church without him. It's generally a frenzied time--everyone is hungry and I have to get the baby settled and well, I always tend to her first. This Sunday the kids all chilled on the couch for a moment--it makes me so proud to see how much they love screen time. NOT. But that baby in the corner! I'm obsessed.

Perky Cutes

Baby babes! She looks so tiny and that boppy so massive!

Sloane spent a lot of time surrounded by pillows and toys in her 'just sitting up' days. Once a baby starts rolling and crawling you can't believe they were ever safe left alone on a couch or bed! She's just so cute with her toys and little Sloahawk!! Countless times I would come out of the kitchen and see her and the joy of her existence would take my breath away. I still can't believe this little miracle is mine. It's a genuine pleasure having a baby again.

It's Christmas!!

Sloane on a snow day. Weirdly, Aris always fed Sloane in the bouncy seat and never actually HELD her during feedings.Wasted opportunity!

On the morning of our first big snow...Maeve looked at it and exclaimed, "It's Christmas!!!" We were all excited about the snow but none more than this gal. She quickly piled on her gear and hit the snow making angels, shoveling, sledding and simply spending hours in it. She was super excited to use her sled from Christmas.

As with most snow days, I was teleworking so I didn't get to enjoy the fullness of the day with her. I sure enjoyed watching her throughout the day. Soren really likes the snow and sledding but Asher gets tired of the cold SUPER fast and spends the least amount of time outside. Maeve is naturally hot she complains of being TOO hot with her nice snowboots! Girlfriend has issues with socks and shoes. and tights. and clothes.

Favorite Things

I went through a stuffed pepper phase for a while (this reminds me that I always want to be in this phase) after my BIL brought up a bunch of peppers from the farm. I used them in many different ways but this was possibly my favorite. Sauteed onion, tomatoes, quinoa and a cheddar/gruyere cheese from Trader Joes. YUM.

Speaking of favorite things--Soren and Asher! Soren didn't have any math homework one day so I wrote up a bunch of equations for him and he LOVED it. Soren loves school, homework and even violin. He's a dream.

This kid. He's so cute. His passion and creativity make him insanely loveable.

Bottle Skillz

When Soren was six months old he held his own bottle while Chon held Asher and gave him a bottle. Well, at six months Sloane too started to hold her own bottle. Little people and their big skills make me so happy.