beginning part of January

We loved, loved, loved having Molly home for Christmas break.  It was a sad day for all of us when we had to send her back.  On the 2nd of January.  A Thursday.  You think they could have given them the weekend.  Geez.

It was like another first day of school because she got to wear her new clothes from Christmas.

These pictures are a little funny and a little embarrassing.  Stockton went through a 10-day stage where he wanted to play princesses with Brynn.  Yes, he even dressed up.

I am thankful that this particular stage was short-lived.  I cringed every time he wanted to wear them but didn't have any reason to tell him no.

Just as proof, they do play superheroes as well.

Justin has set up the tent in our living room downstairs twice this winter.  It is always a big hit with the kids and a good distraction when they can't play outside.  They read books and have tea parties and do whatever else they want.

with our awesome neighbors, Hazel and Rhys Howard

Camille and Matt had a third baby boy on January 6th.  His name is Micah.  He is a cutie and we were all so glad that he arrived safe and sound.  

Brynn loves her princess castle she got last Christmas.  She got a couple new princesses this Christmas so maybe that's why.  A lot of times when I lay her down for a nap it will be quiet for a couple of minutes and then I hear the princesses singing away and I know she's gotten out of bed to play with the castle.

Sometimes her and Stockton like to set up a "party" in the castle.  Looks like a fun party to me!

Justin was rear-ended a few months ago and the insurance company deemed the car totaled, which really stinks because there was only damage to the back and it was still completely drive-able.  We were hoping to be able to drive it for a while longer and not have to purchase a new car.  But that's not how things played out.  Here is Justin on his last day of driving the Accord to work.

We bought that car when Molly was just a baby and for a while it was our only car.  Justin put a ton of miles on it driving it to Heber and back for the past 4+ years.  It was a good car and we were grateful to never have had to do any major repairs on it.

He found a great deal on a nicer, newer Civic so we decided to go ahead and purchase that.  The kids love it, especially Stockton, who thinks it is a Batmobile.

notice the Batman mask-he had to run back in the house to grab it before he would get in for a spin around the block

We have church at 1:00 now.  Since all of our kids are done with naps (or will still nap but can miss) it's not that hard of a time for us.  And that means my meetings are not early-yay!  One day Stockton got home from church and crashed on the couch at around 5:00.  I tried to wake him up but no luck.  We ended up putting him in bed and he slept until his normal 7:30 the next morning.  I thought for sure he was getting sick but he was just fine.  Just needed some extra sleep, I guess.