A Scrapbook of Sorts: February 2016

February 28, 2016

Daddy Daughter Dance

We are happy to report that Jeff and Grace got to go to the Daddy Daughter Dance again this year. They both enjoy that time so much! We found her dress at Target but then modified it to fit what we wanted. The ruffle at the bottom and the contrast fabric on the straps are our additions to the dress.

These are the phone pictures that Jeff took. She loves to dance. I hear that the other little girls at the dance were a bit exclusive at first, but slowly warmed up to Grace. It didn't affect her enthusiasm for dancing with Daddy.

She wore herself out. And Jeff, too! If you want to click over to the other years they have gone, the links are below. (They didn't attend in 2015.)

2012

2013

2014

February 27, 2016

Celebrating Love with the Products of Our Love

It has become an almost-tradition to celebrate Valentine's weekend at our favorite aquarium. Our membership has expired, so I doubt we'll do it next year...but I digress. We had a lot of fun at the aquarium

We took our favorite picture again. This shot seems to be possible only if you go on a day with early entrance for members and go straight to this tank when the bubbles are turned on. I like last year's picture better, but it's really fun to see how the kids have grown.

We love this place. I hope we get a membership there again someday!

Other end, buddy!

The drive back was pretty, too. The hills are green after the winter rains...for awhile, anyway.

And if you wonder how the drought is going, it's not AS bad as it was, but we still certainly need to pray for rain!

The Last (I Hope) Assorted Pics from February

Grace read Leo the Lop and it inspired her to write her own version the next day. I realize that it's practically plagiarism, but I thought it was cute that she loved it so much and could remember so much, too.

Our favorite local restaurant put cookies with blue frosting into the kids' dinners. Clearly.

Some More Random February Pics

Good friends of ours passed this workbench along to Benjamin when they were finished with it. He has enjoyed it so much, taking it from room to room to spend time tinkering and building. He and Jonathan even dismantled the entire bench at one point.

Jonathan is still in love with Siri!

Benjamin and his heart person

We still have this turtle! It was a party favor from the first birthday party for Jonathan's buddy, Jamey. One sad thing about moving away from Jonathan's home state is that he didn't get to get to grow up being friends with all of his baby buddies.

February 26, 2016

Some Miscellaneous February Pics

I didn't know it was a first grade thing until this year, but apparently they celebrate the 120th day of school and dress up as 120-year-olds. Who knew?

Cheryl agreed to come out to stay with the kids so that I could accompany Jeff on a long business trip. On the morning that I was supposed to make an IKEA run and then pick her up at the airport, my car battery was dead. I walked the kids to school and then spent half the morning waiting for the AAA guy. There was nothing else wrong with my trusty van - just a dead battery - and I still made it to the airport on time, barely.

I don't have many pictures of Cheryl's time here, but we are thankful that she came! I'll post about the trip with Jeff separately.

Jonathan did his science project - testing which kind of chocolate melts most slowly - at my mom's house in her food dehydrator. Making him do the project was a whole lot harder than doing it myself would have been, but he did a great job and won first place in his grade level.

And here he is at his school science night taking part in his group's skit. We love the way his teacher makes them participate in their learning in all different ways, many times out of his comfort zone. It's so good for him, and he grows in the process.

February 25, 2016

Washington, DC?!

At the end of February/beginning of March, Jeff had a long trip to Washington, D.C., for work, and Cheryl flew out so that I could tag along. Since Jeff has lots of airline miles and the hotel room is already paid for, it doesn't cost much for me to tag along...it just takes a lot of effort to help with the kids while we're away.

It was fun to sit on the plane with Jeff.

And to read some good books. Here's the first.

I'm not going to post pictures of all the places I saw. Jeff mostly worked, and I mostly walked around the city by myself, seeing as much as I could, being awestruck at places I had only read about in the past, and being thankful that all of these places were free. Also, I got to see someone from my past each day: Jeff and I had lunch with my second cousin, Dan, on the first day; I had lunch with my childhood friend, Eryn, whom I hadn't seen since high school, on the second day; and Jeff and I got to walk around the memorials with my teaching friend, Carly, on the third day. I loved making all the personal connections in the midst of the art and history. I hope we can bring the kids to DC and see it with Carly's kids someday.

Here are just a few pictures. For those who wonder, I'll list the places we saw at the end.