Last week of February

We had a pretty low key last week of February.  This month went by pretty quick as did this week.  Nyles got out early on Thursday afternoon for parent teacher conferences.  We spoke to his English teacher Mrs. Sullivan, and his Spanish teacher Senior Dunn at the same time via Google Meet (like Zoom).  They really enjoy having him in class and can tell he's a really hard worker.  He does really well, especially orally.  We're continuing to work on his reading skills.  Carter teacher also called to say she loves having him in class and he's excelling well.

In our emergency preparedness class we discussed food storage this week.  Here are some resources.  Resources for long term food items:

http://storethisnotthat.com

http://providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org

http://prepared-housewives.com/

For our emotional resilience class this past week we talked about our bodies and emotions.  This week Steve and I are working on getting to bed on time.  Also ways to show self care.  We are also still writing down what we are grateful for every day.  Here it is from the book/website.

SELF-CARE Read: When you face challenges, you need to do all you can to take care of yourself. Doing all you can means using the resources you have in your life to support you in whatever challenges you are facing. Below is a list of ideas for self-care. 

• Take a nap • Visit with a friend • Slow down • Take a shower or bath • Exercise • Read a book • Listen to music • Create something • Pray • Take a walk • Make a list of things you are grateful for • Enjoy a nice meal • Dance • Sing • Use relaxation techniques (see pages 72 and 82)

Here are some other highlights.

The neighbor Jace came over and played w/ Nyles and Carter, with masks on of course.  

They played in the snow pile (what's left anyway), throwing snowballs at each other.

Cute baby Hudson!  He's such a happy baby.  He's such a happy baby!  We love his so much!  We're so blessed to have him in our family!

Steve making the boys turtle pancakes for breakfast before school.

Carter taking a turn holding baby Hudson.  Hudson loves his brothers.

Silly Steve w/ a shaking cream mustache.

Cute baby Hudson looking at the monitor camera letting us know he's done w/ his nap :)

Hudson learned to rollover.

Friday night we made reservations at Texas Roadhouse to eat out for my birthday.  Ironically almost exactly 1 year ago we ate out at Texas Roadhouse just as the pandemic was starting.  They were just starting to make adjustments to the way they were serving, such as not having the ketchup bottle on the tables anymore and wiping down the menus after every person (masks weren't required yet).  This time they were still doing that but also spacing people out and now they have plexi-glass in between each bench as well.  This was our 1st time in a year to sit down as a family at a restaurant and be served by a waiter.  It sure was nice to get out for a change.  Not do the cooking and cleaning up after dinner was nice too.  The bench next to us was open so we were able to put our stuff over there and baby Hudson just patiently waited for us in his carseat next to us while we ate.  It was a fun evening!

Piper giving Carter loves before bed.  He loves Piper licks!

Ironically Saturday morning we got in the Honda to run to Costco, but it wouldn't start.  We tried jumping it, but still nothing.  So we rearranged and squeezed into the Edge instead.  We got some groceries then came home.  Our neighbor Ron tested the battery when we got back, and it was 100% dead.  He then went with Steve and got a new battery, and got us a discount at Auto Zone.  The Honda now works great!  I'm grateful the battery didn't die the night before while we were out to dinner or that morning after we got to Costco.  Tender mercies for sure.

Carter reading Hudson a story this morning.

Getting ready for sacrament meeting at home.

I love my boys!  Cute Hudson sporting a tie.

Nyles and Carter taking turns holding baby Hudson while we watch a family movie.

Oh my cute boys!

Yeah our flowers are starting to come up!  I love Springtime!  We have a daffodil coming up, and our new Crocus and Tulips we just planted as well.  So excited!

                                                          Great quote from our prophet.

Another great quote and perspective.

3rd Week of February

The 3rd week of February went by pretty quickly.  We all had Monday off for President's Day.  I went to the eye Dr since I need to get more contacts soon.  Steve also took the boys sledding.

The boys were so excited to finally go sledding with what snow we did have.

Carter and Nyles made a Valentine flower holder from Lowe's (chalk board on the front w/ a flower vase in the back).  Luckily I had flowers from my birthday to put in the containers.  The boys each chose a color they liked for the vase.

Haha Hudson grabbed Carter's underwear while we were doing laundry.

Cute toes in the mouth.

Then we got more snow.

Nyles didn't feel too well the week before, then Carter wasn't feeling well this past week.  

Piper came up to make sure he was ok before going to bed.

And then we REALLY got more snow Tuesday night.  The school district actually canceled school that night before we even got the snow.  Since the kids know how to do online school though, they were still asked to do work online, so it wasn't technically a "snow day."  Nyles wasn't too happy about that.  Thankfully I'm still working 100% from home, so no commute for me.  Steve was happy to get the snow blower out finally and put it to use.  The boys were happy to play in the snow.  We got 10 inches!  This is the most snow we've received all winter.  We need the moisture.

Piper is crazy about the snow!  As Steve says, she likes to play "snow shovel face."  

She likes to eat the snow in the air as we shovel it from the driveway.  Silly Piper.

Hudson wasn't feeling well Wednesday night.  He must have got what Nyles and Carter had.  He had a booger nose and started a fever around 1:30am.  We got him some medicine to help w/ his fever, cleared out his nose, put in the humidifier, put on Vick's baby rub on his chest, and Steve gave him a blessing.  Thankfully about 1 hour later he finally went back to bed and slept the rest of the night.  Needless to say, Steve and I were tired the next morning.

Saturday the boys and I watched the Church's Friend to Friend broadcast.

Hudson did better the rest of the week.  Cute Hudson loves to chew on everything!

Hudson turned 6 months old on Saturday also.  He is so precious!  We are so thankful to have him in our family.  We love him so much!  Since he wasn't feeling well the day before, we rescheduled his 6 month appointment for 2 weeks out.  I'm pretty sure he's 20 lbs now, but we'll wait to see what the Dr says also.  He's tried some baby food, and doesn't love it.  It's something we'll have to work on.

That afternoon we went and played outside.  The boys were jumping on the trampoline and I threw the ball w/ Piper.  Then I started throwing snowballs at them and Nyles wanted to join in the fun.  

Piper likes to eat the snow.  Then the boys went out and threw more snowballs out front.

The boys went sledding again.  Nyles tried "snowboarding" and did really well.

Cute boys sledding.  Carter.

Nyles.

Steve relaxing w/ the boys.  Piper giving licks before bed.

 

Last week in our emotional resilience class we talked about our worth, as children of God.  We are all precious in his sight.  We shouldn't compare ourselves to others.  We also need to be careful of negative thoughts that arise for they are not from God.  Be patient w/ ourselves and w/ others.

2nd Week of February

The 2nd week of February was a lot of fun of course because it was my birthday week!  I took my birthday (Wednesday) off of work.  We went to the chiropractor, the car wash, and over to Winco for some spices.  That night Steve and I also started our online/Zoom "Emotional Resilience" class offered by our stake.  Then on Thursday nights we have our stake online/Zoom "Emergency Preparedness" class.  It's great being able to learn from these classes, especially from the comfort or our own home.

Here are some of the week's highlights.

Cute Hudson.  One minutes he's awake, the next he's asleep, and vise versa.

Nyles and Carter playing in the dirt w/ their trucks.

Cute Hudson grabbing his toes while nursing.  He likes to multi-task. :)

Hudson likes to grab Steve's hair, just like his brothers did.

Steve tickling Hudson.

Carter building w/ Magnets.

More building from Carter w/ his silly face of course.  Cute Hudson.

Silly Hudson kicking his leg while nursing.

We got a little snow on my birthday.

A neighbor brought me some flowers for my birthday.  So pretty.

Another neighbor brought over a huge cookie, which we had for dessert that night.

Singing Happy Birthday.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and making me feel loved on my birthday!

The boys put together tick-tac-toe boxes from Home Depot.

The boys jumping on the trampoline (no jackets, silly boys).

Video of the boys on the trampoline.

The boys celebrated Valentine's Day at school on Thursday the 11th.  Carter decorated a bag at school, and Nyles used his MineCraft treasure chest from last year (different school why not).

Nyles also got to dress up for a "Sock Hop" at school.  They did some dancing too.

The boys in his class: Lincoln, Nyles, Owen and Esrael.

The boys again: Esrael, Lincoln, Nyles, Dillion (from the other class), and Owen.

His class at school, the Blue class.

Carter loves getting licks from Piper.

My cute 3 sons. :)  The boys wanted to take turns holding Hudson.

Friday night we went over to LuDean's to have dinner together for my birthday.

Cute boys on our way over.

Carter and Nyles ready to sing Happy Birthday after playing a matching game.

Grandpa Dave w/ Nyles in St. Patrick's day attire a month early why not?

Blowing out the candles w/ a plate.

Cute/thoughtful posters that Diane made for my birthday party.  Thanks for the fun Diane!

Birthday cards from Dave/Joann and LuDean.

Very thoughtful card from my mom.

Suckers big and small.

The boys just playing in the tent w/ their monkeys.

Cute Carter sleeping w/ all his stuffed animals.

And we got a little more snow on Sunday.

Nyles putting the hat on Hudson, then Hudson playing w/ Nyles' hair.  We made heart shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day on Sunday, then the boys went out and played in the snow.

We also did another family Zoom meeting Sunday night and played the game Blank Slate.  Rose and her girls, Pauline's family, Mom/Dad, Dexter and Sage, Barb and Abby and Steve and I all played.  It was a lot of fun!  I'm glad we can still play games together even though we can't get together physically.

This week in our Emotional Resilience class we made a goal to write down one thing we are grateful for every day.  Here are some great quotes about gratitude.