February Wrap-Up

Just some shots of life from the last 10 or so days of February (and one day of March, if I am being honest).  February is always a beast, so I am glad to see it go.  Also glad it didn't take all my children down with it like it did last year right after I had let my winter guard down.  Shiver.

First up, for the month of Feb, Anna returned to her sewing teacher's place for a series that had the girls making their very own dresses from a pattern.  Anna hasn't been interested in sewing for a bit, so I was glad she was into it enough to do this class.

Of course, all things baby bunny this month.  This man goes all mushy over his bunnies. 

Me and the Lasa at the park.  Can a face exude any more delight than hers does?  I am doubtful!

 

As spring rolls in, it's fun to let the big girls out of their bin to munch on green grass popping up in the yard.  Also pine branches.  They have a thing for pine.

On a sweet sunny day, after daysanddays of rain, it was all about buds and hockey and video games. We sort of have Preds fever around here. 

Slow weekday mornings.  Homemade doughnuts that Josh and Lasa tried that were delish.  And another bunny sesh.  

This character.  She wore a total of four different costumes this day.  And piled herself right into the dress-up bin before it was all over.  Give her allllllll the things to wear and accessorize with. 

On another gorgeous evening. At our neighborhood park.

Anna's finished product THAT I AM GAGA over!  It's gonna be her Easter dress paired with a pink sweater, if needed. 

 

Kind words from Mrs. Robbie on the last day when I texted her to thank her for her time with the girls this month.

 

Another day, another dress-up.  Also, another fit.  

For anyone who's wondering (ha!), I still stare at the skies. 

Fun quote I read this week.

This nightmare I found on my son's feet when I made him take his socks off to try on a pair of sandals I got for him.  Anna and I were traumatized by this!  Get a load!

And the littlest Brown flying high at another Friday Preschool Open Play at Master's Gymnastics.  

Now we turn our attention to March and milder air and SPRING BREAK PLEASELORD and Dollywood and goodgriefmeturning40yesIsaid40.

Royalty

Just a song I love every time it comes on my iPod...  it's a good one for getting stuck in your head ... ;)



Royalty
~Francesca Battistelli

From rejected to accepted
From forgotten to remembered
From the victim to the victor
Who we are is not the same
And it changes night and day

No longer orphans, now sons and daughters
Worthy and wanted, we belong

We are, we are, we are, we are
Crowned in dignity
We are, we are, we are, we are
Heirs to majesty
We're made for victory
We're given authority
To reign like kings and queens
We're royalty
We are, we are, we are, we are
We're royalty
We are, we are, we are, we are

From abandoned to exalted
From so broken to beloved
From the shadows to the light
From the dead, brought back to life
Who we are is not the same
And it changes night and day

No longer orphans, now sons and daughters
Worthy and wanted, we belong, yeah

We are, we are, we are, we are
Crowned in dignity
We are, we are, we are, we are
Heirs to majesty
We're made for victory
We're given authority
To reign like kings and queens
We're royalty
We are, we are, we are, we are
We're royalty
We are, we are, we are, we are

Every lie beneath our feet
When we see the way You see
We know we're chosen and redeemed

We are, we are, we are, we are
Renamed, adopted in
We are, we are, we are, we are
Kings in a kingdom with no end
We are, we are, we are, we are
Crowned in dignity
We are, we are, we are, we are
Heirs to majesty
We're made for victory
We're given authority
To reign like kings and queens
We're royalty

Lovely Words

Confession:  I am SUCH a word nerd, I keep a running list of several types of words going at all times, either on my phone or on paper.  Obviously, I keep up with new-to-me words and post them semi-regularly; those I always stop reading and look them up on the spot and then later drop them all here on the blog when I have accumulated a bunch.  This year, I also started a notebook where I record beautifully-composed lines, meaningful quotes and arresting passages I come across in my reading; one of my homeschool/readerly people I respect calls this a Commonplace Book.  As well, I keep a list on my phone of stuff the kids say that I wanna remember for any variety of reasons.  And finally, I have a pet list at the moment of pretty words; words I just think sound so lovely and/or look so lovely on the page.  That is the list I am gonna unload here today finally.  I have been adding to this particular list for over 6 mos now and it's gotten lengthy enough to let it drop. Since definitions are not needed for these words, I will simply list in a quick paragraph.  Faves in bold...

stricken, wrest, dastardly, askance, newfangled, indelicate, thusly, environs, labyrinthine, architrave, winsome, aggrieved, timeworn, inexpert, disputatious, crystallized, aplomb, merriment, birdsong, talisman, overture, writ, sycophancy, chamberlain, madam, garner, cello, sanctum, disquiet, musculature, majesty, indomitable, dazzle, hobble, corridor, posh, inland, unreservedly, mercy, kerchief,  jonquils, nightfall, conflicting, temperance, upheaval, proclamation, domesticity, insofar, readiness, misadventure

Good show, language! ;)  Love you!

NPL Lego Contest

This year was Noah and Anna's second year to participate in Nashville Public Library's Lego Contest.  Last year, they submitted their own entries in separate grade categories. This year, they collaborated on one entry they poured their hearts into to create and perfect over the course of a couple weeks.  It is an impressive Lego hotel ... aptly titled, Legotel. ;)  And it is entered in the grade level of the oldest child of the team, so 5-7th grade level this go round.

Anna's favorite part is the fourth floor - which is the fancy level, she says.  She says it costs a lot for minifigs to stay there when they play with it.  It's one giant room, so basically it's the penthouse. ;) Noah's favorite part is the working elevator.  I particularly like all the windows allowing views into all the floors, the parking lot, and the rooftop hot tub with its bubbles feature.  Josh's favorite part is how it has multiple levels that they can take off and use separately.

 

 

 

 

They dropped off on Saturday morning.

 

They both felt hopeful after seeing the competition.  We held our breaths for the judging today.  Ceremony was at 3:00.  

 

 

Alas, Legotel got no awards.  Nor did Noah or Anna win any raffles.  They feel a little robbed.  Ha!  I agree they were robbed.  What can ya do?  Who knows what made judges tend toward some of the builds they picked?  We walked away thinking that next year the kids should pick a topic that is more flashy/catchy and build it with more bold display.  Throw in a humorous title, too!  Josh surmises that while their hotel is solid and well-built and fully developed in details and completion and quality, it is still a pretty straightforward theme and therefore less sensational? Now that I see what creations did get awards or superlative awards, I have to agree.  They weren't as good of builds as Legotel, but they had appeal of their own. We will play to the audience next time.  Noah is annoyed and doesn't wanna bother next time.  We'll see. ;)  Anna was super frustrated and wanted to indulge in a fit.  I just laughed and reminded her that it's not a big deal really.  And that really, she WAS robbed, so the feeling was legit, but to be controlled nonetheless. Ha!  She has a ferocious determination about her next year's build now. Get it, girl!

Josh and I think the kids did excellent work and, were the judging not so random and fickle, would have easily won something elsewise and so we awarded them each $15 to spend at the Lego Store.  So all is not lost.  And of course, they have this killer hotel to play with still.  Proud of their collaboration!

Some examples of things that did win a place or a superlative that we liked as well, from different age brackets...

See ya in 2020, NPL Lego Contest!  And we'll have a Lasa build, too.  So there!

Clay Menagerie

The kiddos just completed an art book involving work with clay that was a part of our curriculum this year.  It was fun to see them follow the step-by-step directions in each lesson since August and create items to be proud of (most times - ha!).  Here is the collection of all their work - their clay menagerie.

Valentines Day Surprises

This for Josh:

This for me:

This for the kids: several sweet cards in the mail from Memaw and Papa John...

 These for all:  TOTAL surprises that came home from work with Josh:

I was entirely stunned that he would do this.  I honestly think it's too soon.  Anna burst into brokenhearted tears immediately, proving my point.   Baby bunnies are precious, so that's fun!  But there's so much risk, so that's scary so close on the heels of losing Molly! Conflicting feelings.  Anna also cried that she worries she will neglect Padme and Jenny now.

We collectively named them - Valentine for the more active one.  And, Shade - the timid one. They look so much the same that telling them apart is tricky.  Right now, Shade has a little sore on one ear.  And Valley's ears seem to be longer?  Also, Shade is super easy to hold, she stays still as a statue while Valley is ready to climb away after a few seconds.

 

 

We will keep them in the kitchen for a couple weeks.  Then keep them crated outside near Padme and Jenny so they can warm up - is the plan Josh tells us he has researched - how to successfully socialize them.  

Both babies have warmed up entirely now and interact with us more like puppies - so playful, curious, active, and social.  They also like to nibble on everything.  Bonus - they are already using the litter pan.

Praying that Padme and Jenny will be happy about the new additions.  Nervous about what will happen if they aren't.  Our Jenny still has that scar tissue on her eye from being attacked by a bigger bunny when she was a baby, so we know that cuteness doesn't constitute sweetness across the board.  Praying for mercy in this pet transition.

Feb/Friends/Fun

Just playing catch up on some February fun and friends ...

MNO at Chef's with some from our Foster/Adopt Mommas group from church. I also do a supper club once a month with some Jonah's Journey friends, but I NEVER remember to get a pic.  Neither do they.  Ha!

This year I joined a D-Group - we read through the Bible in a year, journal, and pray.  We are also memorizing a chapter or two of Ephesians, but it's killing us so we are tempted to pick a different passage.  Stay tuned.  HA!  Lindsey Jo in the group also makes the cutest cookies and she treated up one night with the uterus themed galentines.  What a hoot!

 

 

On a slow Saturday when we had friends over on the spur of the moment ... each kiddo had a different device but they were all playing the same game together.  Listening to the chatter while they play back and forth is also a hoot!

Thankful for this growing friendship for Anna.  She spent a Saturday afternoon at Naomi's.

Speaking of adorable girl friendships, Lasa and Amelia in their Frozen gear during the Super Bowl with our Community Group ... which I need to get a pic of too! Sheesh.

Anna is taking a sewing class this month ... the finished product will be a dress she can wear herself.  That's her in the back middle.

Taking in a zoo run on our soon-to-be-expired membership this month.  It was a wonderful 78 degrees that day ... that dropped to 20 degrees by night.  Cold fronts are zippy around here!

I took Lasa to a preschool open play at a local gymnastics spot on Friday and IT. MADE. HER. WEEK.  We will make this a regular stop now. 

 

 

Speaking of making her week ... board games.  Pass her all the quality time, please.

Also, this bonus shot ... when it's first thing in the morning and all you can think about are the new rainboots in your favorite color that came in the mail yesterday.

Anna is pumped about two teeth she pulled this month.  She has two more loose teeth on top.

And finally, Josh has been rocking his newest side hustle, teaching English to kids in China with VIPKids! He is really enjoying it and is socking away all the moolah he makes to save up for a truck. ;) Some mornings he teaches three half-hour classes before work!  I go bug-eyed just thinking about how early that is. He cares not.  He is a morning person.