Valentine's Day

If these kids did not have a mom, they would not do anything like this ever. 

Luckily, their mom is long-suffering and is interested in doing things that will enrich their lives.

Making cookies is really fun until someone decides its not going to be fun anymore. Guess who that is?

Ah, but after several hours, the work is done and the beautiful edible art is arranged.

This is truly a masterpiece.

 By the way, it snowed here, and has stuck around for a few days.

I went out about an hour after it started, and there were already cars heaped up on each other.

 These are new Valentine's dresses.

We went to a birthday party for Caroline's dad.

It was Sunday afternoon, and Irene was the only one who remembered the normal routine.

This kid slept through a ton of loud screaming and running.

Caroline and Evangeline feasting.
Caroline's dad is a potter and made most of their dishes. Its pretty cool.
Obviously not the plastic stuff.

We ended the night by watching a movie in their room for the first time ever.

A Few Short Journeys

Hey Kids, were going on a trip to...

VIRGINIA!

You've never heard anyone so excited to go to Virginia before.

Since Ellee is now an official commissioned deaconess, we got to go to Springfield, VA for her Southeast District new worker orientation. They had childcare there, but our kids were too horrible, and got the boot. So, I took them on a drive around DC.

National Cathedral

This is where Barack Obama lives.

After Ellee was done learning how to evangelize millenials we took a quick trip up to Baltimore.

Ellee's old classroom is on the top floor.

Ellee's old street.

The whole family atop Federal Hill before finding a bathroom for dad.

Oh, did you need a bellhop?
I'm actually really proud of this.
I checked out of our hotel room while Ellee was finishing up her orientation.
I got the kids and everything out to the van in ONE TRIP.

For some reason I was trying to take a photo of a cop car with a headlight out. It was pretty hilarious.

Baltimore again.

 Shortly after getting back we went up to Asheville for grandaddy's 89th birthday.

They comfort one another in the van. No one likes it when anyone cries.

The house where my grandaddy grew up and where my aunt Carol lives.

No trip to Asheville is complete without a trip to see the Biltmore chickens.

This trip also rekindled the goat fire in my soul. So... we'll see where that ends up.

And then I went to Indiana for a conference.

You've never heard someone so excited for their dad to be going to Indiana.

foot book

here is a little update on the toe situation. the bruising has migrated across the toes, and we're not sure if it will come back once it warms up.

Tickle Time. 

Sometimes we all end up on the bed just having fun and its actually fun.

plié

After nearly a year of talking about ballet lessons, Evangeline finally was able to hit the floor.

What does the future hold for this one?

You just show up dressed like all the other kids.

Irene is still cute.

I took the kids to Asheville on Saturday to give Ellee a few hours to clean some things without having them destroyed by the Mongol children.* While we were gone she stubbed her toe on a wall and totally broke her pinky toe. This makes two of us in the last year, although I have to admit that a stubbing break probably hurts way more than a ladder dropping break. It looks worse today.

Cutey dresses for church.

* I listened to a huge long podcast about the Mongol conquest of the 13th century during the drive to and from Asheville. You know... Genghis Khan and those guys. So, I'm sort of obsessed with them right now.

Polar Vortex Report

So the polar vortex weather phenomenon got to us here. It was cold. Pipes froze (but did not burst because they are PEX). So, Ellee had the good sense to take the kids out of our cold cold house (cold because I've not insulated the floors yet) and go to the children's museum.

Irene bit Evangeline's back pretty badly during this trip, but E is quite forgiving, as you will see.

Would you believe it that they put these glasses on all by themselves?

 And then, per Evangeline's request, we went to Chick-fil-a for lunch.

They ate.

And then played.

The only problem with the plaything at this restaurant is that Irene isn't big enough to get past the initial steps in order to enter the whole entire rest of the structure. But look at what happened. Irene is no longer too short, because she can stand on Evangeline's back.

Another mom came into the quarantine play zone glass cage to tell us that everyone in the restaurant was watching them and taking pictures. And yes, we looked out, and everyone was watching and enjoying these two little creative girls helping each other out. I am proud of them.

Christmastime and Birthday

We've had sort of a nonstop past week or two. I had a wedding on the 21st, followed by Christmas Eve, Christmas, and then Schell Christmas, Evangeline's Birthday and then a funeral today. These events were punctuated by a weeks worth of vomiting from Irene.

So this doctor station had been shipped to my office by my parents in order to conceal it from the girls before Christmas. It was... sort of.. hidden.... but not really. Evangeline saw it several times, getting really excited about it. I simply told her it was for other kids. So, Christmas comes around, and it turns out its really for her!

Aunt Jessie was even able to come.

Did someone get a slinky in their stocking?

This is in Asheville.

Uncle Ed and Grandaddy snoozing away.

I played with this thing when I was a little boy.

Tickling great grandaddy.

Cool earwarmer headbands!

 The rest of these are from Evangeline's birthday party.

Thanks to everyone who didn't just send one present for Christmas and birthday.

BIRTHDAY CAKE

Present opening. This must be really cool to have more presents just after you had a ton of presents.

We had a few minivan loads of kids here, but it was pretty sane.

And to top off the night, we've got a real tea party with real crumpets.