Ending our January

Alice's parent teacher conference was on the 20th. She got a glowing report. She's up to a 2.7 reading level now and is keeping busy with extra work her teacher is giving her in class. She sometimes wishes she could do what her classmates are doing, but she's so high in many ways that she's doing some extra / different work. Alice got a couple of extra days at Sadie's this past week when we poured cement and an play date with Ava on Thursday. She loves to be social and being with buddies is the best in her world! 

Pete started basketball practice last week. His team is the Clippers and he's being coached by Kimberly Elementary's principal. (Casey happens to be coaching her daughter this year in basketball! ; ) Pete is excited to start his games next weekend! Peter had activity days on the 17th and got to play games at the church and show off his Lego building talents with the boys. He went to Gage's birthday party on the 20th. The boys had a nerf gun war (Pete's still talking about how fun it was), they watched top gun as well.  He also got a play date at Holland's on the 21st for an afternoon away while Casey and I worked on the house. I had Peter's parent teacher conference last week. He's improving in reading and testing fine just needs to keep up on his work, and practice spelling better. 

Kendal got a 4.0 for her semester! She's worked hard for it and is so happy she made it happen! Her anxiety keeps things harder lately and she feels overwhelmed more often these days. We're giving her tools to work through things, and it's up to her to learn and grow through these challenges. She got to go skiing with the middle school this past Friday. She had a great day on the slopes and loves being up there with Casey and her friends. Kendal has spent the last two Saturday's baking at home with friends (Netta / Hope). She enjoys baking and is always happy to have friends around. 

Casey had his last two basketball games in the last couple of weeks. I took the girls to his last home game this past Thursday, then I went back to watch senior night while the kids had a movie night. Casey is grateful to be done with early morning practice for the year. (Early mornings and building a house has been a lot for him some days.) His team only won a handful of games, but they grew over the season and sometimes that's better than nothing. Casey had a good time skiing with Kendal on Friday, however it was a crazy day. (Two kids broke their arms, one girl got a concussion, and a girl passed out / had soe kind of medical issues on the bus ride home.) Casey prefers uneventful ski trips (hopefully when he goes with Pete this week all goes smoothly). Casey's beard is full and fluffy these days. It's the longest he's ever kept a beard, he's very handsome, but it's funny how much he fiddles with it. 

I had book club on the 17th, (couldn't stay long, kids were at activities, and Casey was off at a game) but it was a fun book to discuss and get some time away from the house / kids. Casey and I read the book 'A Man called Ove' together last month. (Combined we finished over 100 books last year! We also read books together - mostly the Dan Brown books but a few others as well). We finally got to go see the movie together in Theaters on the 21st. It definitely pulls on your heartstrings, but it was a well done movie. We've also worked on the house on any spare day we could getting the board and batten all done, little things here and there, and then starting siding this past weekend.

In the past couple of weeks we've had drywall installed, taped, mudded, and now it's being textured. Dad, David, and Andy came up this past Monday so we could pour the garage floors. The weather turned towards the cold side again, but we manged. The boys were amazing and over the span of two days we got the garage poured and set as well as the exterior worked on! We put in some long days and David and Dad even stayed longer to give us more help so we could keep progressing. We have a hopeful move in time of the end of march (spring break ish). It's so close and I'm just so excited this is all happening. My gratitude and joy is definitely overflowing. I am humbled by the hard work that Dad, David, and also Andy are giving us, as well as the sacrifices that my Mom and Anica are having to make for the boys to be up here helping us. I feel immense guilt over it, but on the other hand I'm gushing with thanks for this amazing gift. Work continues and hopefully things go well! We can do hard things!! 

  

  

   

  

Alice is 6!

 Our little lady turned 6 today! Time is a thief and it's crazy how big she is! Alice has gotten to spread out her birthday fun a bit this year. First she opened a cute elephant, hair clips, coloring book and new fun crayons form Grandma and Grandpa Loosle earlier this week when Grandpa came to visit, and a doll dress, and book from Aunt Katherine. Alice has insisted on wearing her hair clips for most of the week and loves putting them on her doll and stuffed elephant! 

Alice got to take birthday treats to school and wear a birthday crown all day (literally all day and most of Friday) that she got from her teacher. She got to pick our family activity last night (Wii games) and tomorrow after school we're picking up her friend Ava for a birthday lunch and playdate!

Today for her Birthday Alice got to wake up to presents and pancakes this morning. Grandma and Grandpa Loosle tuned in and watched her open gifts. She got her much anticipated roller skates. A doll outfit, a couple of barbie outfits, sticker earrings, and unicorn chapstick from us. Grandma and Grandpa Darrington sent her a barbie car and coloring book she got to open as well. She scooted / attempted to stay up on her skates for a bit this morning before church, and had to dress her doll and barbies right away. She got her birthday buck in primary and was happy to tell anyone today (pretty much for the last week + ) that it's her birthday! 

After church we had some lunch. Casey took Alice and Pete over to the house to check on something and let them skate a bit in the basement. They weren't there long (it's a hard floor to fall on and she's still getting the hang of things). She came back and wanted to decorate her cake with me. We've known for a long time (pretty much all year); that this was her "Minnie Mouse" birthday. She's not huge into Minnie Mouse so her presents didn't reflect that but we made plans this week and drew some ideas for her Minnie Mouse cake. She wanted to help me with it so bad and I was happy to let her. The frosting ended up not working out, but she was happy anyways and covered it in all of the fun sprinkles she picked out and topped it with a printed Minnie Mouse image since our frosting situation didn't allow us to pipe a Minnie Mouse onto the cake. I'm so grateful she's easy to please. Alice chose clue and Disney code names as our Sunday Family games today. She chose cinnamon rolls, and chicken noodle soup for dinner. We ate cake and played battleship with Peter after dinner while Kendal and Casey were at a youth fireside. All in all a good birthday for Alice. 

Alice is our little light and joy! She has such a sweet heart and fun personality she wins over many. Alice is loving school this year. She's doing great and her favorite things are being with her class and her specials. She's loving music and the teacher compliments her on her voice and memorization of songs. She loves computer time and the games she gets to play there. She'd love to be in school all day, but I'm grateful for the extra time I get with her this year. I know she's often pulled into our house build along with me which makes for long days these past few months, but she's a trooper and I'm grateful she's just going with the flow most of the time (that and getting a lot of phone time for endless selfies, and bluey watching). 

Alice is still our picky eater, but were slowly trying new things, she doesn't like most of them, but we can get a mouthful most of the time. Alice is still our noodle head and would eat them any day of the week. Her favorite thing to play with is her barbies, but she's into anything play / pretend (dolls, kitchen, ponies, etc.) She loves to be creative and color, and make slime with Kendal when Mom and Dad are working. 

Alice cracks us up often and we adore her fun spirit and bright personality! She's a true joy and blessing in our lives!

Alice at age 6!

Favorite color: Pink!

Favorite activity: barbies

Favorite food: noodles

Favorite animal: unicorns

Favorite song: I am a child of God 

Favorite holiday: Christmas

Favorite thing about school: computers

Favorite book: Piggies and Elephant

When I grow up: A mom and teacher

Nicknames, "little lady" "short cake"

Begining of January

 The kids went back to school on the 3rd of January. Casey had three games the first week of January and two this past week. He has two more, then he's done with the C team for this season, but continues for another month with the older girls. 

Kendal went in for her well check on the 3rd. She's 5 ft tall and 96 pounds. Still on the short side, but she's healthy and that's what's important! She wasn't happy to miss out on school so we got her back to her classes as soon as possible. 

Peter had his basketball observation on the 5th. He got to showcase some skills so the coaches could do a "draft". His season starts the first weekend in February, but he should be starting practice soon! He's pumped to start basketball. It's been too long since he's gotten to play a sport because they cut out fall soccer. 

Casey was off to a game on the 7th, but the kids and I got to go and see Thomas get baptized. He has his own flair for life and was baptized three times, jumped back into the font when he was getting out and danced after he was confirmed with the Holy Ghost. (Gotta love his spirit!) We had a lunch afterwards and then the kids and I had an easy going afternoon at home. 

The kids were out of school on the 13th for the end of the semester. I took the day off, but Casey had to go in and work. I ran errands with Alice and we did a much needed house clean for most of the day. Casey and I spent a couple of hours working at the house that evening. Peter and Alice got to go have a movie night at the Stevenson's so Casey and I took Kendal out for dinner at Idaho Pizza. 

Yesterday we went to Grady's baptism in the morning and then Casey and I spent the afternoon working on the house. We ended our night playing Wii games with the kids. 

We had Insulation go in the first week of January! and this past week we had the house inspected and ready to put in drywall. Dad and David came up for a couple of days to do some odds and ends around the house. We stayed till 8:30 one night to put rock all around the garage floor (which hopefully we'll pour at the end of the month). Dry wall started yesterday and they already have the garage, entry into the house from the garage, and our master bedroom / bathroom started. Casey and I had to pull all of the siding stuff out of the kitchen yesterday afternoon so they can continue work on the dry wall this week. Casey and I worked on the upper siding and yesterday afternoon we finished the west side of the house!

Casey and I both agreed this years goals are house focused. Let's get our house worked on, happy, and done, then we can move on to other things. This house is a miracle, and a dream come true. Hard in every way, but so so wonderful in every way! 

Work, holiday, work, holiday

 Christmas break has been busy! 

The first week of the break we spent putting electrical throughout the house.  Andy and Dad came up Monday to start the week of work. Casey had Brett Welch come help so we could finally get the last truss up on the patio! We used a couple of gift cards and took the kids along with my dad and Andy to Texas Roadhouse one night. Santa was there too! (probably for the rolls) I never imagined pulling wires throughout a house would be as laborious as it was but the temps were freezing so the wires didn't bent well and we had a lot of holes, walls, and things in the house to get around. My arms ached for days from all of the pulling. David came up for a couple of days to get some work done as well. 

 

We sent the boys home on the 23rd. Casey took Kendal and Pete to the movies that night (they saw Wakanda Forever) while Alice and I stayed home to enjoy some Bluey together. We enjoyed Christmas Eve at home with the kids. We attempted to make gingerbread men, but my recipe failed us and we made some very sad looking cookies. We had some Wii time with the kids and just had a nice low key day.  That evening we went and had tamales at Brett and Vanessa's with the family. We got to see Brett and Vanessa's hard work on their basement redo and have a bit of family time with the Darrington's. We ended our night with stories (Alice insisted on a reenactment of the nativity) and putting up our wrapping paper barrier for the kids. Kendal hated it, but the other two got in on the fun! 

Christmas morning we ended up going in to get the kids up just after 7 so we could get a bit of Christmas in before church. We listened to the nativity story then had the kids break through the paper barrier and see what Santa brought! Alice was thrilled to finally get her much anticipated Barbie house. Peter got a wooden puzzle / rubber band gun that he has been enjoying. Kendal got roller blades from Santa this year! After Santa and stockings we had the kids open their new Christmas church clothes. The girls got matching dresses and Peter got a new tie and pullover. 

The kids were good and got ready and we went to church. Kendal and with the choir and Alice and Peter sang with the primary kids. It was a beautiful morning celebrating our Savior. 

After church we got to come home and open the rest of Christmas. Pete was elated to get a mini drone and Speks that he wanted. Kendal got a new book set and a nice water color set along with online lessons she's been enjoying. We spent the day building, playing, and having a wonderful day together!

Monday took Casey and I back to the grind of working on the house. Casey had basketball practice every morning. He took Kendal the first day and then both kendal and Peter the rest of the week to practice as well. Casey and I worked hard all week to get the test of the shingles on the house. We had a hiccup Tuesday morning when I locked the keys in the loader. It was about an hour and a half of stress and calls to the boys, and mucking around in mud. In the end I used a nail file and Alice's hair clip to Jimmy-rig my way in. We worked our butts off in the cold, wind, and some snow, and got the roof 99% done. (Just have a row and the roof cap on top, plus the cap on the front room pitch to do. 

We feel so guilty for all the time the kids had to be in their own the last two weeks. Kendal had a hard time managing the two kids some days, but she did a wonderful job overall. The kids played, made, and did this and that both weeks. Peter got to see friends here and there and Kendal got to have friend time a little bit as well. 

Friday we came to Logan for the weekend. The kids got to open presents from Grandma, Grandpa, and Katherine. They all got cute travel bags, and books. Alice and Pete got a lego set, and Kendal got an alarm clock from Grandma and Grandpa. Aunt Katherine spoiled the kids with books and a toy! David and his crew came for the afternoon and we had a nice evening together. 

Saturday (New Years Eve!) we went out to Fredricos for lunch with Mom, Katherine, Andy and crew, Tony, Lisa, Wendy, Billie and her three youngest. Afterwards I took the kids to swim at the hotel with Maggie and Ben. We took our New Years Eve celebration to Nana's assisted living center and had a little family party there. The kids played bingo and we had some good and treats. When we got done there we came back to my parents for some fireworks. After fireworks Alice and Pete watched a show while we pulled out Kendal's new game to play. We didn't make it to midnight, but had a good evening nonetheless.

Today we went to church, and then visited Nana for a bit. It's been a lazy afternoon since, but that's not a bad way to start off the new year since we ended last year working hard, and this year will definitely hold a lot of work for us in the plans. Ended the night playing with cousins and watching a magic show by Elliot and Isaac.

Casey's big Christmas present that he got and put together (or rather Sariah Welch did ; ) at school the first week of January.