Made it to March!

Emma and Daddy hanging out before bedtime. The dyed noodle necklaces we made a while ago were hanging out in the toys and Isaac found them and put them all on.  One was too small to fit over his head so it was his crown.  He wore them all morning until it was time for church. Neil brought this picture home from primary. It’s his first “person” drawing and I just love it!

We got a letter in the mail “to the parent or guardian of Mark Payne.”  I was joking with him and asked if he had gotten in trouble at school.  He replied jokingly something to the effect that the school just wanted me to know how awesome he was.  Well he was right- he was selected as the 7th Grade CTE Student of the Month.  Way to go Mark!Another game of Teleastrations.  Only this was a Sunday version that Ken made for us (Neil and Rachel are ready!). Rachel called to let us know that she had a bunch of old bread from work to feed to the ducks.  We meet her at the pond.  Of course the duck feeding turned into feeding the fish too. There is this amazing duck there with only half a beak.  It looks like a dinosaur to me. After a while the ducks and the fish were full. (Rachel had brought a whole trash bag full of bread.) So we drove over to another pond close by and feed the ducks there too.  The kids really loved this duck they nicknamed Einstein.

Emma talking to me in the morning. Neil made a restaurant for me by bringing a bunch of his kitchen toys into the living room and laying them out on the piano bench.  He and Isaac made me a ton of food!

While Jessie was babysitting she drew pictures with Neil and he wanted to be Captain Literally (from Studio C). Then Neil and Abbie colored in the picture together. Love it! Quinn came over to spend the morning with us.  We played chase, some games and decorated Mr. Potato Heads. And had lunch.  Quinn got to sit in the middle so both boys could sit by him. Neil took this picture of Emma and me.  Not too bad.  (I probably deleted about 20 other not so great pictures….but all you need is one good one, right?!) For Friday night fun we had a taco bar with all the trimmings.  Spencer  was so impressed with my double decker taco shell suggestion.

Taking pictures of the little people is always an adventure.  Lately Neil has loved closing his eyes, or sticking out his tongue or laughing really loud the whole time.  Here are some of the better ones. Neil LOVES LOVES LOVES the card game Sleeping Queens right now.  We probably play it ten or more times a day….no joking.  He even tries to get in a game or two with dad before work or before bedtime.  And really that’s ok with me because it’s even a fun game for adults.  Neil is so good at this game (the only rule we tweaked is that you just have to get five queens to win rather than using the point value on the queens) that if he’s going to win, but he’s not ready to be done playing the game he won’t play the cards that will make him win.  Silly boy!  He is also dying to know what cards the other person has in their hand.  And with every card he draws at the end of his turn there is a “yes” or “awww” depending if it’s a power card or just a number card.  That boy has personality.

We made penguin sandwiches for lunch today.  And neither of them wanted the “snakes” so mom had to eat them (the leftovers from cutting out the penguins). Neil and Mark exercising on Randy's Wii during piano lessons. Neil loved chasing the dog on the running course.  Mark is so great with Neil and Isaac and loves to play with them and make them happy.  They are so lucky to have two awesome older brothers who love to be with them.