most o' February

Fun fact: in my recollection, February was a haze of dismal weather, too much screen time, surviving on veggie straws and gogurt, runny noses, and general malaise. I know, sounds like January, right? I thought screen-free January and #janasjollyjanuary would take care of all that dreadfulness, but it turns out it just bumped it back a month, whoops! The good news is that once I started scrolling through February pictures, I remembered that we actually DID leave the house a few times, hooray!

The Drapers nailed the 'bravery' characteristic required for all Cub Scout leaders and did some fire-starting with the boys. Clyde was obviously thrilled.

It makes sense that Clyde was super well-behaved with the fire (minus the torch-making...) because he was one of two students chosen from Miss Hill's class for embodying responsibility! Way awesome, especially since he'd been selected the month before for teamwork.Yay Clyde!

I had no desire to take Jack and a sniffling Carma to the assembly, so Grandpa came over to watch them:

And as usual he took darling pictures of them so I could see how much fun they had :).

The first weekend of February brought a quick road trip down to Utah for Clyde and Will and me for cousin Lily's baptism and HOLY MOLY traveling with only two kids that are older is amazing. They were champs and read and ate and got themselves in and out of the car when we stopped for food and were all-around delightful traveling companions. We stayed in Lehi with Quinner and his family and there was lots of fun cousin wrestling that night when we got in!

Things got a little hectic the next morning when we went to leave and discovered I had run out of gas, whoops! Pro tip: if you're super low on gas, don't park on a hill and then warm-up your car for 15 minutes haha. The good news is that Quinn and Eden are as generous as they are good-looking and promptly handed me the keys to their recently acquired Honda Pilot (fancy!!) and we were on the road, with an estimated arrival time of three minutes before the baptism! (spoiler alert: we got there by 9:50am. #winning)

Such a sweet experience to be there to support Lily - here's the '08 bunch in birth order: Lily, Will, Bri.

And here's some of the fun afterwards! Melissa and Kevin hosted everyone for delicious croissant sandwiches and some pretty epic Nerf battles... and selfies... took place downstairs.

And then I kidnapped Courtney and Mallory to drive back down to Quinner's with me to exchange vehicles. Somehow they got wrangled into babysitting while Quinn and I wandered around Walmart for a gas can and Super Bowl snacks and a quick brotherly intervention about me still nursing Carma hahahaha.

I also made them to go to Target with me once we were back in the ol' minivan. Love those girls! And Quinn and Eden - thanks again a million times for the loaner vehicle! You are awesome!

We got home late Saturday night, just in time for Super Bowl Sunday! I legit don't remember any details but here are some cute pictures of Carma's scowl:

For some forgotten reason I missed girls' night (probably why February stands out as so sad in my mind!!) but these long-suffering, indulgent-of-my-weirdness girls still took a picture and texted to me because they are The Best. I'm sure their smiles are forced though, since they couldn't possibly have laughed much without me there ;).

Random trivia: red is not my favorite color. Or even in like my top five. Or probably ten. So we had to get creative to find the boys red shirts to wear for their Valentine's Day parties at school - not coordinating was clearly not an option (speaking of people that put up with my weirdness).

Carma got to sport the adorable Snoopy V-day shirt that has been passed through all the boys - I feel like she loved it, her facial expression notwithstanding. She also loved her church outfit for Valentine's Day, again despite the apparently crying haha.

 In Sunday School we talked about reaching out to people in love and made Valentines for some class members. Brother Izatt and Bishop Swenson both stopped in to make Valentines for their wives so we were obviously happy to facilitate that ;).

After church we celebrated Valentine's Day by piling on top of one another a la layered jello. Does anyone else do this? Like all the time? Just us? Usually it's just me and the kids, this time we coerced Chuck into it and I'm pretty sure he loved it. On the inside.

 President's Day found us hanging out with Grandpa in Boise! First we hit up Municipal Park for a while:

and then we wandered around the outside portion of the MK Nature Center. I hadn't been there in a lot of years, and it was super fun! The kids were big fans.

 

This picture kills me - Carma loves Grandpa! Thanks for the fun adventure, Dad!!

February 15th lives in infamy as my first day at Kmart way back when and thus the day I was introduced to a super hot co-worker.

Sadly, Chuck had to work on our 'meetiversary' (I'm almost afraid to google it and see if that's a real thing. I feel like it is.) so I texted him and got a very gushy reply...

We went through a pretty intense Memory phase, my favorite aspect of which was Chuck teaching the boys to chant "Clear the board! Clear the board!" when someone was on a roll with only a few matches left. Jack was particularly obsessed with the game, sooo cute:

Random cute pictures of Carma including her first ponytail, her first clothing-related vandalism, commandeering her doll's stroller, her ridiculously adorable pout, and discovering a deep love for pomegranates.

I've decided instead of hassling my kids about journal writing, I'll just keep their spelling homework because the sentences they come up with are hilarious and usually true. Here are some from Will:

So I joined ward choir a few months ago because Raquel is the director and I would basically do anything for her, and it's honesty been way fun and I haven't been asked to leave yet so I consider that a success. Clyde started coming with me in February which I love - here's a mid-practice selfie to commemorate the occasion.

Cute pictures of Carma Junie on a visit to Sister Sherman's house; our usual MO was to show up and let Carma run around and entertain Betty and then quickly roll out at the first sign of a toddler tantrum :).

Couple more pictures from Jack's superhero dance class at Idaho Rhythm - his teacher was so patient with little sisters (aka Carma and Myla) sneaking in at the end of class.

One day Carma and Will did some Sunday afternoon piano dueting. Super cute. Funny story: when I was typing this I wrote Jack instead of Will. And Will is literally sitting next to me. So he corrected me, assuring me that he can recognize pictures of himself anywhere hahahaha.

Random shot of Carma encouraging me to get out of bed.

One night my mom and her good good friend Lyn (recently returned from a mission to California) got together for a concert and I insisted they take a picture because, you know, it's me :).

Literacy Night at Park Ridge! Such a fun tradition there. Chuck and the boys headed up and found a cute mouse and her cookie (Miss Overcast), the dad from 'Unfortunately, the Milk' (Mr. Eilers), and Piglet, Christopher Robin, and Tigger (Miss Weaver, Miss Hill, and Mrs. Aevermann)... and some cupcakes ;).

And we made good use of our Leap Day by hanging out a bit with Uncle Cody over at Grandma Pam's park - always a good time!

So it turns out February was pretty cool - especially when you factor in the fun camping trip we took that necessitates its own post because there are a million sledding pictures...

january.

Once upon a time I had a brilliant idea for 'screen free' January, which got temporarily sidelined when we got the stomach flu New Year's Day... but then we were back on it for the rest of the month! We all came up with the list of rules for it, and we all helped enforce it - the kids loved making sure I was only on facebook 2-3 times a day :). The 'phone zone' means that our phones have to stay on the kitchen counter throughout the day - not in our pockets/hands, etc. Honestly, it went SO well. We went to the library more and read more and played more games and one of these days we'll do it again ;).

A few more pictures from our lunchdate with my dad. We joked about my snowsuit looking like an astronaut jumpsuit and then I saw this bear at D.I. an hour later haha!

Jackers went to the dr for his 4 year check-up! Chuck took him and dutifully sent me these pictures :). Jack was healthy and darling!

Oh, just cute Carma pictures. One day she showed up at church wearing hot pink and zebra print just like Mayan and so obviously we had to document that adorableness.

 Just some late night snacking and kisses in the kitchen!

 The library does an animal presentation once a month that we try to get Will to, as part of our continuing effort to help him be around animals but never have to buy him a pet hahaha. And I love the picture that his teacher posted on Class Dojo - apparently second grade is when 'bunny ears' become hilarious??

The Elder's Quorum hosted a ward talent night, and Clyde and Will both showcased their lego-building talents AND at the last minute Clyde played the piano! He kept his hood up the whole time but he did a great job on 'We Three Kings'. It was a fun night!

Oh man, the Sunday before my birthday Lee showed up with cake and I brought ice cream and we had a little party at the end of class. Of course if fell on Ward Conference and of course we had a visitor from the stake in to observe us, but luckily he didn't seem fazed when we pulled out the cake and ushered in the older class to join us :). Thanks Lee! (and actually Stefanie who made it ;) ).

 Once again we used Christmas money from my dad for fun activities to get the boys out of the house and moving in January and February: Jack did a way fun six-week 'Superhero' dance class at the best dance studio ever, Idaho Rhythm. Some weeks he put on the costume, some weeks he didn't, but he loved his teacher and hanging out with Beckam and doing all the fun jumps and spins and tumbling. Willy boy did swimming lessons as a refresher to get ready for the summer. He ended up with just one other little boy in the class which was perfect! And Clyde did basketball again! He got to be on his buddy Jared's team which was a fun aspect of it, and Clyde did great improving some skills and learning more about teamwork/team spirit/etc.

Once upon a time Nicole had a baby boy and then six months and a week later I had a baby boy... and then a couple years later Nicole had a baby girl and then six months and a week later I had a baby girl... and thus you have these four cute kids! We love having Beckam and Myla over and not just because it assuages my guilt about how often Nicole has to trim my bangs ;).

 Carma is obsessed with her Sesame Street sweatshirt... rightfully so, because it's pretty awesome. Is it possibly too big for her? Yes, but it's cool, sleeves were made to roll! And I just love these pictures.

Ohhh my sweetheart Jack. Sister Jensen and Jack used to talk a lot about jack-in-the-boxes in nursery, so when Jack and I found one at D.I. one day it obviously had to come home with us. And yes, it did freak me out EVERY SINGLE TIME it opened.

 One day Carma and I both wore snowflake shirts and it snowed. Right?? I mean, granted it was January and not like July or something but still. The next day we wore shirts with hundred dollar bills on them but alas, money did not fall from the sky .....

 Sometimes I try to take a Sunday afternoon nap on the couch and little children climb on top of me so I take dramatic pictures to send to Chuck in an effort to get sympathy and maybe a wink/kiss emoji back... ;).

Oh, another day that it snowed and Carma was thrilled (her father's child) and Jack was not (his mother's child. Right down to the shorts). 

I'm gonna be honest here: I'm not entirely sure why I have this picture from the chalkboard in my Sunday School class, but it looks like it was a pretty great lesson. I actually got released about a month ago (aka in June) so it's kind of fun now to look back at what a joy and privilege it was to teach those youth!

 Speaking of callings (this being one I still have...), we had a court of honor at the end of January and for some reason Chuck and I thought Carma would be super chill and just sit at the back while I stood up front and presented awards... it's like we'd never met our own daughter or something? She definitely insisted that I hold her the entire time, so that was special, grrr! She has been officially uninvited to future Scouting meetings.

Basically it's a good thing she's cute - SO cute! Her peek-a-boo? Kills me.

Random bday pictures, Chuck had to work so he left me Reese's because he's the best. Honestly the day was pretty chill, I had plasma and then bought jeans at Savers with my mom because 31 feels adult enough that I shouldn't probably wear shorts alllll winter long. 

 That evening Brooklyn showed up on my doorstep with AMAZING orange cupcakes and I pulled her inside for a picture and she said, "My mom told me you'd do this!" and I laughed so hard. Oh I love this girl!

 My dad came over to babysit my kids one afternoon while I did some visiting teaching and he texted me pictures and encouraged me to stay out longer so I went to Costco by myself and it was heavenly! Thanks Daddy!

Clyde took some time getting used to fourth grade and a new teaching style, but once the new year hit, he suddenly found his groove... and I loved Miss Hill's subtle reminder that our family has a tardiness problem hahaha. Anyhow, Clyde received the 'teamwork' award for January, yay cute boy!

Carma loved the school gym's little water fountain :).

More pictures of my Clyde Monster! At Scouts he earned his... whittling chip? I think? All I know is he has like three pocket knives to his name so he's pretty psyched about that. Clyde is such a good kid; he's really been stepping up at home (pictured making muffins and reading to Carma) and I just love how helpful he can be and how mature he's getting... most of the time :).

Aaaand that's January!