JFP Blog

(I so know you are singing with me!) So here it is….Day #1 of our mid-winter break. Much excitement as we got to hang out with our friends that we only get to see when we are all on vacation due to much schedule conflicting during school time. Almost as exciting is that the SUN was out and it was actually warm and wonderful!  Not to mention that we started the day out right with Krispy Kremes, then moved directly on to the neighbor girls’ bake-sale snickerdoodles and hot cocoa. Then, on our complete suger high, we opted for a little jaunt down to their school where we monkeyed around on the playground…..WOOHOO! A great day for everyone….me especially, because I got to see MY friend too, though sadly no adult pictures today.  As for picture #1, I think it captures this group of kiddos particularly well….can you see who likes to be the center of attention?  and the rest of them are total good sports about it, for the most part….as you can imagine, her siblings get a little fiesty with her sooner than later!

I wasn’t kidding when I said we monkeyed around….these girls are amazingly bendy!

I’m pretty sure there is no smiling allowed in the fifth grade, well, at least not for the camera!

Love that smile!

So I had to put this one in as Annie thinks the sun rises and sets with her big friend here, and she was pretty giddy he was holding her hand. I didn’t say 5th graders weren’t sweet….maybe just not in public.

For some reason this is my favorite of the day….kind of arty for me but definitely captures her essence….thanks for the fun day guys!!

It started off spectacularly this morning with ALL kids healthy and a go for school after 2 painful (for me, mentally, for them, physically) days home with the flu!! We indulged in our traditional Valentines Day breakfast….waffles with whipped cream, strawberries and chocolate!! Mmmmm….followed by a few gifts (what my grandma would call "dashes")….just a little token something. Then everyone was off to school…..woohoo! I got to attend the preschool Valentine festivities….tattoos, cookies, lots of glitter, feathers and pom-poms galore. Sadly, I thought the party was scheduled for the last hour of school, not the first, and arrived sans camera! Arrgghh! So shots from home this afternoon will have to suffice….

Home with a bag full of loot.

The favorite valentine of the day….from our rock star friend, obviously. Jam session photo shoot, coming soon.

Funky lollipop lips….amusing.

Awesome heart tattoo.

Lynnie’s heart tights….so festive!

My funny Valentines….and Henry, of course, who I couldn’t pay enough to be in some "girly, heart pictures". Hope you all are having a nice Valentines Day and are milking the Hallmark holiday for all it is worth.  I’m eating my box of chocolates while I type….hee hee!

So I just have to post this and will find the right picture to go with soon.  I just asked Annie to clean up her art supplies on the table for dinner and she said, tearfully and with much drama, "Why do I have to have such a cranky mom?"  and I even asked really nicely!  She is having quite the day and I now know which picture I will be posting, once I get it off my camera….today, for bike riding in the garage, attire consisted of bikini, red cowboy boots, bright purple rain coat (think trench coat), and her bike helmet…that’s girl’s got style!!  Have a great night!

OK, so here is the picture….definitely not the best shot, but it had to be quick as she was busy and I was laughing but it gives you the gist of the outfit….

It a fit of cabin fever, we made a mad dash for the outdoors when we realized it wasn’t actively pouring at the moment. It feels like it has been forever since we have outside to play….FYI, standing outside school in the pouring rain & blustery wind waiting to pick up the big kids does NOT count as quality outside time!! Anyway, the kids packed up their gear, which basically involves a backpack full of snacks, band-aids, and some rock collecting gear, and we headed out to check out some of our local parks…with a quick stop at our new neighborhood coffee shop, Bar Nine Espresso….LOVE IT! finally a coffee shop within walking distance, where we run into all kinds of people we know…..fun, neighborly stuff….and they have great coffee and my total guilty pleasure, whole grain double chocolate muffins…..doesn’t the whole grain part negate the chocolate part, therefore making it a wash as far as food counting goes?? Anyway, here are a few shots from our walk….more coming soon, I hope, of some of our too cute neighbor girls that we picked up at the coffee shop for our walk home!