February

We built a "track" for Stockton's scooter one day.  A road all through our tiny front room/kitchen area.  Stockton made a STOP sign.

We visited Disneyland,

Superhero land,

Radiator Springs,

and the jungle.

Molly and Brynn got into it when they got home from school/woke up from a nap.

 

***

Valentine's Day-

I wish I was more creative...this is what Justin got this year:

I also made sure to pick up one of his favorite desserts from Kneaders: cheesecake.

Each of the kids woke to a little gift in their Valentine backpack.  We kind of went with a favorite character theme this year.  Molly wakes up and watches My Little Pony every morning so she got a stuffed Twilight. 

  

Stockton loves Mater Tall Tales so he got two of the monster trucks: Tormenter and Rasta Carian.

  

And Brynn loves Sesame Street so she got Abby Caddaby and Rosita.

  

Other than that the day was pretty ordinary, although I tried to do a few ordinary things extra special...

The kids love french toast with buttermilk syrup so we had that for breakfast.  I may have added red sprinkles on top.

I remember my mom threading a ribbon between two french braids when I was a girl (usually for the livestock auction) so I tried that with Molly.  I need a little more practice but not bad for a first time.  Molly was happy with it and she got lots of comments.

  

 I made one of Justin's favorite meals for dinner: Basil Chicken with Coconut Curry Sauce.  (A win-win since it literally takes 20 minutes to throw together.)  The kids won't eat this so they got to have whatever they wanted.  I think Molly had some of the leftover french toast and Stockton had peanut butter and honey.  I think we watched a movie but I can't remember which one.  Justin brought me chocolate covered strawberries.  And that's all, at least everything I can remember.

***

Molly rides the bus to school and we have religiously walked her there every afternoon.  If it's raining or snowing we have driven her and waited with her in the car until the bus comes.  But being in the afternoon we like to take her and wave as the bus drives by.  This has been quite the ordeal all winter, especially those freezing January days.  It takes ten minutes to get coats, hats, boots, gloves on all the kids.  Double check Molly's backpack and we're on our way. 

Stockton is terrified that a dog will come out so he has to hold my hand the entire time.

 Brynn eats snow the whole time.

 

And there is Molly, skipping ahead, always excited to catch that bus and go to Kindergarten.

 

Once she's on, we wave her off then walk back home.  We pass the snow-covered park, anxiously waiting for when we can play in it (we can now but it took the snow a long time to melt!).  

 

Back home, where on this particular day we have a sweet greeting from Molly.

 

And hang up our coats...thanks to Justin who made this little coat-rack for the kids this winter.

 

Then it's milk for Brynn while she watches Sesame Street, then off to a nap.  I can clean up the bedrooms, do some chores, and an activity with Stockton until Molly gets home a few hours later.  Kindergarten has been good for the entire family!

We got to have a weekend at the cabin.  We played in the snow...snowmobiling and sledding mostly.  Stockton is always so timid with everything so I had to force him on my lap to go down the hill.  After we did it once he was hooked and kept going back for more, which is usually how it goes with 

him. 

 

His favorite, though, was probably riding on the snowmobile with Justin.

Molly, so opposite of Stockton, jumped right on and played hard for a good long time.

The girls took a bubble bath in the big jacuzzi tub.

 

Molly got some sewing help from Grandma and then Ali.  She made a skirt which she proudly wore to school the first day back.

 

School means less time for friends but Molly still plays with them often enough.  She's not into dressing up that much anymore, but this day they were!

Molly, Bailey, and Jade Boynton

I had my birthday at the end of February.  Molly made me stay upstairs forever-long enough to shower and get ready.  Justin and the kids had been decorating the downstairs for me...streamers and balloons and a big "Happy Birthday" sign from Molly.  It's fun to see them get excited for birthdays that aren't even theirs.   

  

And last, here is Stockton singing "I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me."  We don't claim to be perfect at family scripture study but we try hard to be consistent.  Recently we've started singing the song and saying the scripture that they are learning that month in Primary.  Stockton really liked this song and quickly learned all the words.  I'm pretty sure he doesn't sing in Primary at all, but it's pretty cute to hear him sing this song to us at home.
  
And, yes, his hair is getting really long!!