Morning Love

I managed to get up some of my Valentine decorations yesterday.  I made this "love" wall last year and each morning in the month of February, the kids wake up to read one reason why I love them.  They really do like it, and even though I feel like I tell them I love them a whole lot of times a day, I'm not very good at giving them a specific reason.  So, we do this....dry erase markers on a glass frame can be wiped off every night and a new reason is written for the next morning.

This morning when I got back from dropping off the the kids at school, I walked by this wall and noticed Miss Presley's handwriting on the frames.  She had taken the time to write her own message to each of her siblings (including herself).  She even gave each frame a letter so they would know who she was writing the message to.  It's too much sweetness and thoughtfulness!! 

Rylan:  I love you because you love you.

Harper:  I love you because you play with me. 

Presley (to herself):  I love you because me!

But my favorite message went to Logan:

Some days, my heart just bursts.

Two weeks of the sickies...

The Nelson family has been down and almost out, but we're slowly crawling back to the land of the living.  We've been sick.  It started with Dave and then Presley and then me.  Logan, Rylan, and Harper have managed to escape it so far and I'm hoping it's too late for them to catch anything at this point.  We've had horrible coughs and terrible headaches that come along with sinus congestion.  Presley did throw up once, but that was all.  Presley and I spent a week-end cuddling in bed together.  And other than some lingering overall tired-ness, I think we're on the up swing.

Presley and I trying to keep the sickies contained to the upstairs.  We hung out in our bed for most of Saturday and Sunday.

Presley missed two days of school and these two spent each morning taking a long bath together.

One day as I picked up Rylan from school, I thought he had a bloody nose and I asked him about it.  He told me during free choice time him and his friends "smelled-ed all the markers.". OY!!

Harper learned one of the greatest kid tricks--she can suction a cup to her face.

First AAU Tournament of the Year

Last week-end our family went to Yakima to root on our favorite basketball player, Logan.  Logan is really not sure of his future in basketball (he definitely leans toward soccer when given a choice), but Mom and Dad love, love, love watching him play basketball.   We want to encourage him to be a multi-sport athlete, especially in his younger, development years.  He's a natural and smart athlete and I have no doubt he's an important part of any team he's on.

This was the Wenatchee Fifth Grader's first tournament this year, and they placed second.  We stayed the night in Yakima on Saturday night.  Grandma Kreider, Thomas, Amy, Alyson and Mylee came to watch the second game on Saturday, which they won.  Then we all went out to eat at Miner's.  With 5 games in 2 days, it was a fun, action packed week-end.  So proud of this nice group of boys.

 

Lunch at Sunnyslope

I love to surprise the bigger kids and show up at their school for lunch.  I usually bring them a special treat, and on Friday, it was hot cocoa from the coffee shop down the street.  I really like to stand back and watch for a few moments and see how they interact with their friends.  This day though, Rylan saw us right away as his class was walking in a line to the multi-purpose room.  He had a big smile on his face.  Then, Presley saw us too as she was walking back to her class from her library time.  I did manage to surprise Logan as his class walked in while I was sitting with Presley and her friends.  Lunch for Ry starts at 11:10, Presley 11:30, and Logan 11:45.  Made for a full one hour lunch so I packed lots of snacks so Harper would be eating out of her own lunch bag, rather than trying to steal food from the kids (a trick I learned last year).

 Lunch with Ry...

 Lunch with Presley (and still managing a sip from Presley's cocoa)...

Lunch with Logan and his friends (notice her grip on her lunch--definitely not gonna share whatever was left)...

When I got home, I emailed the picture of Logan's class to his teacher because she puts a slideshow together at the end of the year.  Here was the email I received back from her.  Gosh, I love that boy!!

When we got home, it was time for nap and then Dave, with Harper's special kind of help,  put the Christmas boxes back in garage...This is her usual attire--princess tu-tu type dress, Ry's "cool dude" (that's what she calls it) jacket, and boots.  

Dinner Party Fun

Last week-end all of us went to a dinner party at our friends', the Gillin's home.  Logan and Colby have been best friends since 3rd grade, and they play basketball and soccer together.  These kids always get along and always include Rylan and Harper too.  The Bolles' family joined us, as well as another family (whose son is friends with Colby's older brother).  I am so thankful for our kids' friends, and that we as parents enjoy eachother's company as much as we all do.  I think we'll be spending lots of time together through the years.  That is a treasure!!

Two Rylan stories, One Harper story

As I was picking up Rylan from school one day last week, his teacher came over to my car and said Rylan cracked her up today.  It was a very cold, snowy day and she was telling the kids in the line that they were going to have to go outside in the cold and wait for their moms and dads in the pick up line.  She told the kids she was sorry to have to do this in the cold weather.  Rylan piped up with, "we got this Miss Ferrians, we got this."  A total Rylan response!!

Rylan has a little Christmas money that he can spend on a new toy.  So he decided what he wanted and I was driving with him to Target to buy it.  He asked me, "is it a wule (rule) that when you go in a store you have to buy something".  I said "no, you can just look around for a while and leave.". He says, "hmmm, I thought it was a wule (rule) that once you went in with nu-sing (nothing), you had to leave with something".  Ok, apparently, I've never went into a store with him and NOT bought something....for reals?

Once the kids started back at school, Harper and I started going to several stores to buy Christmas paper, ribbons, bows, etc for next year.  Every time, she has found something she wanted and asks me to buy it for her and I've told her no, you have a lot of new toys right now.  She responds with, "no, no, no, not now, you put it on my Ciss-Miss (Christmas) list." I'll say "yes, I'll put it on your list" and she puts the item down.  I'm certain she doesn't realize that Christmas is now 350 days away...good thing she doesn't have a good memory.

Out with 2012, In with 2013

Happy New Year!!  We celebrated New Year's Eve quietly as a family.  A special treat at Blue Spoon Yogurt, a glass of pear cider (Samee's X-Mas gift to us),  and then watching the ball drop in New York at midnight capped off our 2012 year.

So thankful for these special people...

First Picture of the year (January 1, 2013):

We had a good start to the New Year because the kids slept in 'til 8AM...Unheard of in these parts! Dave got Logan and Presley ready for a day of skiiing and off they went to Mission Ridge.  I received several texts from Dave throughout the day about Presley's lack of enthusiasm for skiing--apparently she was skiing and crying down the hill at the same time, and yet, not crashing.  Impressive.  Logan loves skiing and often went off to a different area to ski and then met up with Dave and Presley at the bottom.  A few more times up and Presley will be much more confident.  

Rylan, Harper and I chose to stay home.  Well, actually, we were going to run to Target and my car wouldn't start.  There was a light left on in the car after our Yogurt stop on New Year's Eve.  We were stranded until Dave got home and then he was able to jump my car.  We went to Dave's parents for New Year's Day dinner.  We came home early because the kids Christmas break was officially over and it was back to school on the 2nd at 8:00 AM.