Snow Day 2018

This year our winter has been crazy, and we've had 6 Nor'easter in the past 4 weeks! In one of them we lost 2 arborvitae trees and a ton of branches. And we got 13 inches of snow. 

This dude just barely missed our house

Since we don't own a chainsaw, and I have forbidden J to buy one (not much experience=losing a limb) so we busted out our hack saws and got to work chopping up the trees and dragging them to the curb for yard waste pick up. It took us two days, but we did it! Whew. It saved us some serious $$ too. 

The next morning the kids and I went outside for some fun!

Penguin sliding on their bellies down the neighbors hill

Andrew had so much fun sledding. He kept telling me, "One more time Mama."

The girls had fun taking turns pulling each other down the hill on the sled.

Wheee!!

Our angels making snow angels...

Andrew: "I don't get this at all"

We built a snow man in our front yard who looked strangely like someone we know....

Papa?! Is that you?!

After a fun time in the snow it was time for cocoa and marshmallows...

Winters are crazy and FUN in the Northeast!!

All About Lindsay at 8

Lindsay Diane, 8 years

Rainbow Tie Dye and sequins is so Lindsay

Crazy hair day at school

Stats:
height: 49 inches
weight:  47.6 lbs
shoe size: 11
clothes size: 8
teeth: has lost 6
hair: blonde (although darkening slightly)
eyes: green

*Favorite Song: "One Call Away"
*Favorite Book: Dork Diaries Series, Magic Animal Friends. She loves informational text books, about Volcanoes, Mummies, Archaeology, Oceanography and fantasy books about unicorns, fairies, mermaids etc..
*Favorite Color: Pink, Purple, Turquoise. Rainbow.
*Favorite Foods: Mashed potatoes and gravy, twice baked potatoes, roast beef, steak, any dessert, especially ice cream and double chocolate cookies, broccoli, asparagus. pizza. Dislikes: Cheese, hard carrots.
*Favorite Places to Go: California, my room and Justice.
*Favorite Animal: Unicorn
*Best Friends: Archana, Mackenzie, Madison. She has tons of friends, and makes them wherever we go!
*What I want to be when I grow up: "I want to be a scientist!"
*Favorite Movie: "Moana"
*Favorite TV Show: "Trolls" on Netflicks "Superbook" on Right now media
*Toys: Hoola Hoop, jump rope. She loves to see how long she can do it before it drops. Playing school with her Sister and Brother.
*Favorite School Subject: Science

*Personality: Lindsay is our laid-back, resident home body and girlie girl. She is growing more independent, and more opinionated. She likes to be comfortable, and prefers to wear leggings and tunics, and especially anything soft. It seems like this is the year of Emoji's, plastic choker necklaces and anything with glitter. Lindsay's favorite place to be is at home in her PJ's playing with her siblings, doing crafts or reading one of her favorite books. She is still very much a little girl, and likes to daydream and do all kinds of acrobatics on the sofa and doesn't realize how big she really is now!
Madison looks up to Lindsay, and I think that Lindsay has enjoyed Maddie being in the same school as her. When I pick them up after school they are talking a mile-a-minute about their days, teachers and kids they both know at school. Lindsay is very helpful and will surprise me by setting the table or helping me cook dinner. She enjoys her slightly later bedtime than her siblings and takes the extra time to read or pillow talk with Jarrett or I about whatever is on her mind.

Unicorn shirt

*Learning: I have been really proud of Lulu this year in school, especially seeing how disciplined she has been about getting her homework finished. She has a snack and then dives right in, doing a little every day instead of procrastinating and until the night before it has to be turned in. Her grades reflect her hard work and dedication. She has become a book worm, and it is never a problem getting her to do her reading log.

*Spiritual: Our sweet girl has been going to Pioneer Clubs this year at church and we have seen so much growth. She is excited to dive into God's Word, and seeks to understand His character as she gets to know our Savior. She is growing in knowledge, and beginning to see what it means to be a follower of Jesus. What a gift and joy to disciple and walk with her on her faith journey. Our church blessed us with a membership to RightNowMedia, and it is fabulous! It has tons of Christian studies, children's shows and movies. It's like a Christian Netflix, and the kids (and me!) have been loving it.

Our precious daughter, you are joy to us and we love you more than words could say. We are to lucky to be your parents!!

Lindsay's 8th Birthday

Lindsay Diane is officially 8 years old!! This was a super fun year because it was her turn to have a friends birthday party and it just so happens her actual birthday fell on the same day as her party. 

She opted to do a sleepover themed pizza party, where her friends would come over and they would do all the fun things at a sleepover.. wear pajamas, eat pizza and cake, make popcorn and watch a movie, paint toenails..etc. but head home at 9pm ;)

Each girl popped a balloon with a time on it, and it had a piece of paper with the next activity!

As for birthday decor, Lindsay was adamant that it was her favorite colors, Pink, Purple and Turquoise. LOL.

For favors we gave out a toiletry bag filled with a loofah, nail file, tissue and nail polish from the dollar store.

She picked out the movie, "The Princess Diaries" to watch. The girls were really excited for the popcorn bar... actually the candy with a piece of popcorn ;)

Gummie bears, marshmallows, M&M's and mini reeces pieces... Glad they headed home at 9pm. LOL.

Before the party Andrew had to try out the movie den to make sure it was cozy ;)

Mama and her birthday girl

Daddy and his Lindsay Loo

Here are some pics of the fun they had...

Pizza and fruit punch

Popping the balloons to see what was next

Craft time! They made dream catchers 

Beauty parlor! Painting toenails and finger nails

Popcorn and movie time

Lindsay told me she wanted me to make her a 3 layer cake with each layer one of her favorite colors. Yikes! No pressure. She wanted to me to put all kinds of candy and a doughnut (strange.) on top.

Make a wish baby girl!!

TA-DA! She loved it, and the kids said it tasted good.

The girls gathered around Lindsay and helped her open her gifts. She got some good stuff! Thanks family and friends!

Lindsay's Besties: Mackenzie, Archana, Lindsay, Teagan, Madison, Serenity

Happy 8th Birthday to our sweet daughter!! We love you!! xo Mama & Daddy

All about Madison at 6

Height:  43 inches

Weight:  37 lbs.

Clothes: Size 5

Shoe: Size 10

Teeth Lost: 0

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Favorites...

Food... This year has been a challenging one for Maddie Grace since she was diagnosed with Celiac last June. We've found there are a lot of things she still can enjoy, but there's always just a couple that make being gluten free hard, especially Goldfish, Cracker Barrel, and IHOP. I do my best to make our own gluten-free restaurant foods at home, but it's just not the same ;)

Our Girlie Girl posing in her pink flower dress

This kid thinks Emojis are so cool (I don't get it?) maybe the yellow?

Here's what are some of her new favorites: GF Pizza from Dominos (shockingly pretty decent!), Turkey Butter Sandwiches, Nutella Sandwiches on Friday's, Cheese Enchiladas, sour cream flavored potato chips, Queso dip, Daddy's BBQ Ribs, Pork Chops and Apples. Just about any dessert, and chocolate candy will please her. She loves carrots, broccoli, asparagus, and green beans and will tolerate brussel sprouts only if there is a treat afterwards. 

Dislikes: Gluten in her food (tummy troubles!), cheese sticks?

Favorite Song: "I don't care, I love it"

Favorite Movie: "Barbie Dolphin Movie"

Favorite Subject at School: Gym 

TV Show...Barbie and the Dream House, Lego Friends, Magic School Bus

Places to go... Maddie loves school, and is happy to go back on Mondays. Sunday School, Out to eat, especially Mexican food. She enjoys Awanas on Wednesday nights and is my shopper- she actually enjoys Target and Homegoods with me.

Color... YELLOW and Aqua

Toys... Barbies! Baby Dolls! This year Madison has really gotten into Barbies, and had been enjoying playing camping with her Barbie RV. She still loves her baby dolls and will often play doctor with them and pet vet with her ponies. Madison is very nurturing, and enjoys playing without the company of her Brother and Sister. She continues to faithfully sleep every night with her puppy dog Molly, her snuggle buddy since she was 18 months.  

This shirt has Madison written all over it!

Madison has become our resident artist, and LOVES to get her art set out and create tons of pictures. By the end of any given day I could have more than 8 masterpieces to showcase. She puts lots of details in her pictures, and it has been fun to see how her drawing has improved over the months. Madison likes to create picture books as well. 

Friends...Sloane, Kayla, Samantha, Tyler, Kai and of course, Lindsay.

Book: Breyer Stablemate Readers, Fancy Nancy Readers. Madison has been doing a fantastic job reading this year. She enjoys reading aloud to us, especially Andrew, who LOVES it! Her favorite subject are books about horses, not surprisingly. If she doesn't know a word, she will sound it out and keep trying until she gets it. She is persistent, and not afraid to take chances and make mistakes!  

Madison's all about me poster from school

Madison on Book Day being Dr. Kitty Cat from the book series, "Dr. Kitty Cat"

What she wants to be when she grows up: "I want to own a ranch and take care of horses." 

Madison loves her brother, and he absolutely adores his "Mac-Kee" She enjoys bossing him around and yet is very sweet and loving with him. 

Madison talks a mile-a minute, is filled with energy and wears her heart on her sleeve. She is super animated, and the expressions on her face tell a story without words. She has a soft heart towards those who are hurting. On several occasions her teacher has told me Madison is the first to encourage a classmate or come to their aid when they need help. It goes without saying, Madison has a ton of friends. She is extremely thoughtful and sensitive to other people's feelings.  

When we went to spend our gift cards at Color-me-Mine, Madison saw this dolphin and decided that she wanted to paint it for her Daddy's birthday, a month away ;) 

Madison has taken Kindergarten by storm this fall, and has grown more and more independent. After adjusting to the long, long days she is always ready to go back on Monday morning. Madison's teacher is great, and she is learning so much. I am impressed by her reading skills, counting and writing. She makes her bed every morning with little help, brushes her hair and teeth and packs up her backpack for school. I have watched her growing spiritually, and she has been doing a good job memorizing her verses for Awanas. She told me one day, after we were talking about how we serve God, "Mama, God made me a good artist so I can draw pictures to make people smile." 

Happy 6th Birthday to our darling girl, Madison. We love you beyond words, and you make us smile with your bubbly personality and contagious laughter. You are a growing into a smart, beautiful, and lovely girl and we are so lucky to be your parents! Love You, Daddy & Mama xo

Lindsay's 2nd Grade Concert

At the beginning of February Lindsay had her 2nd grade concert, "Mighty Minds". It seems like there are much fewer things for parents to attend at our school, especially compared to when I was growing up. We don't have honor roll or awards ceremonies, and each grade (our school is only K-3rd) has just 1 performance all year, and forget about any holiday shows. However, the 1 performance they do put on is really nice, and they work on the set design and practice for months ;) 

Set of "Mighty Minds"

This year's concert was about a class who was told by their principal they would have to take a long and hard test. After freaking out, the class called the "Mighty Minds" superheros to help them study. There were cute songs about reading a book and a math conga with multiplication.

Mama and Bubs waiting for the show to begin

All the kids get speaking parts, and they pass the mic around. Lindsay had the part of "Teacher" and spoke on stage to the "class". 

Teacher Lindsay

She got a pair of faux glasses at Claire's for her performance and a white button down to look "Teacher-ish". 

This is serious stuff remembering your lines.

Another cute song they sang:

Great job Linds!! We are so proud of you and really enjoyed watching you on stage!