January 2014

This January has been cold and snowy, probably the snowiest January ever.  We are only one inch away from breaking  the record.  I've only taught three days since being back from Christmas break and not all of those were full days.  The temperatures have been dangerously low too, so we have spent a lot of time indoors.  I have been trying to come up with activities for the kids.  Here's our January in review through pictures -

Lilly got a little make-up station for Christmas and it is one of her favorite things.

Liam no longer naps, but all the playing with his cousins over Christmas break and staying up late wore him out.

one of Lilly's adorable dresses that she got for Christmas

We made ice cream out of snow.

On one of the warm days (above 32 degrees) Liam and I went out to play while Lilly napped.

What a big helper!  Dave bought Liam his own shovel.

FINALLY - a picture of Lilly smiling in the snow.  She's still not a huge fan of winter or snow, but she's starting to get used to it.

We love our little pine tree.  The year the twins died we bought this Christmas tree and planted it in memory of them.  It looks so beautiful covered in snow.

Liam and Dad made this pirate snowman and then fought it with snow canon balls.

Dave hard at work shoveling

Homemade paint helped pass the time inside

I had to order Liam some new snow pants from Target and this outfit was on clearance for $9.99, so I ordered it for Lilly.  She loves to dress up in it.

We got to see this fox couple cross the farm.  They are so neat to watch.

fashionista Lilly

Daddy's little princess

Liam and Lilly like to sit side-by-side at the table.

a family favorite - movie night with air popped popcorn

Grandma Kusch reading to Lilly

another snow day activity - making homemade play dough

ball pit fun!

paint in a bag - The kids can finger paint any time they want with no mess

Liam helped me take all the wrappers off the broken crayons.  We then melted them in the mini muffin tin to make crayons for his classmates for Valentines day.

simple art project - but it provided entertainment

We started this discipline plan at home.  It really motivates Liam at preschool, so he asked to do it at home.  If the kids are well behaved, they stay on green.  If they misbehave, they have to move to yellow and then red for another offense.  Red behaviors deserve a time-out.

The kids also have charts.  If they do something nice like help let the dog out, clean up without being asked, share their toys, etc. they get to put a sticker on their chart.

This month, Dave's cousin's son, Cooper, passed away after battling brain cancer.  He was six years old and had fought cancer for 4 1/2 years.  His parents started a foundation to help other families dealing with childhood cancer.  To show our concern and support, the kids sat in their little red wagon (the namesake of the foundation) and held some of the bible verses that brought comfort to us in our loss.  Isaiah 65:19-20 and 1 Corinthians 15:19

Lilly tried shoveling with mittens on.

Dave made a tunnel with Liam.

Movie night is more fun with their own chairs.

Lilly's First Haircut

This January has been a snowy and cold month.  In the midst of cancelled school days, shoveling, building snowmen, and trying to keep two stir crazy kids occupied, we ventured out to fulfill another 'first' for Lilly.  Lilly's hair has grown so much since we got her last May.  I have been trimming it, especially over her eyes.  However, it was time to let a professional even it out.  Liam needed a trim as well.  Liam was sweet enough to go first, so Lilly could see what was going to happen and know that it was alright.  Liam talked Emily's ear off the whole time.  Both kids behaved very well and enjoyed getting their hair cut.  Lilly felt very pretty afterwards and was especially thrilled to have a sucker.  She hasn't had many of them since they were impossible to eat with her cleft palate.

For reference - Lilly's head was shaved the day before we got her (May 27th)

before

before

Lilly woke up from her nap right before we went to the salon, so she had bed head.

Liam didn't like it spiked up.  He wanted it smoothed down like Dad's.  Emily put gel in it, which made Liam happy.  He felt like such a big boy.

Big brother Liam kept Lilly entertained

The hair dryer tickled Lilly

catching up on her reading

after

after (clinging to her sucker for dear life)