We own bees now. They're in the fridge at the moment. This is my life.
Was good to get back to a routine after Christmas break. Working on some Hebrew together in this pic, which has just been the neatest thing to learn together this year.
Fantastic new recipe I tried this month, among several. Another one I made was declared to be a new fave for Noah and Anna - vegan winter lintel stew - that was less vegan when Anna and Josh dropped diced ham in theirs. Ha! I also tried a new Healthy Turkey Chili that Anna said was better than my go-to fave chili recipe by Pioneer Woman.
In early January, it was the BEST gift to get to visit with dear friends from our newlywed days in GA. Jeremy and Kasey were in the area and met up with us for a 3 hour lunch at Mission BBQ. The kiddos warmed up to each other over good eats and iPad games. Precious gathering. Did our hearts good! So mad I didn't get a pic of us grownups!!
In lieu of a current pic of us catching up with Jeremy and Kasey, I dug up an old one of all of us from back before kiddos. I think this was even a pic from filmmmmmmm ... so like, way back. HA! Right before digital camera life and a little longer before iPhone pics. ;) That's Jeremy and Kasey there in the middle. And a skinnier Josh and Kimmie there on the right, of course.
Carol sent us Christmas moolah and I was careful to not let mine be used for groceries and gas for a change ... I tucked it away and seriously had to think hard about what was something Kimmie would like that she wouldn't ordinarily indulge in. A new ring was it and I love this one from Silpada. Makes me happy every time I put it on. I haven't worn a ring besides my wedding ring in years and years and years.
Josh tackled his shed over the break (a little at a time in the months before it too) and really, really, really cleared it out. It's amazing! That open space in the middle used to be entirely packed with junk in the way with only a single wide trail to squeeze into to get through.
We had a warm break that has continued into a dang warm January, too, so we wander out back with the bunnies off and on. Just a few shots I got - these of Millie, Luke, and Valley. These three have really gravitated toward each other here lately. It's neat to see their personalities and preferences.
Fort. Lasa is in there with an iPad. Anna is assisting. She and Lasa are the cutest together.
The kids and I read Hunger Games together this month and then THOROUGHLY enjoyed taking in the whole trilogy of the movies. I borrowed the first three on DVD and we streamed the fourth. So fun to enjoy it anew with the kids. Josh was all about it too. I was amazed how much I forgot from the first time I saw them!
This stuff around the house in any given room at any given time. Lasa is all about the letters she can make now. Working on numbers too, but those are newer and harder for her.
I took care of a few long-put-off dr's appts this month. Dermatologist for some concerning spots on my face one week and a mammogram the next. Lucky me just got called to come back in for a follow-up breast ultrasound to be sure about something. We shall see! Next up, regular dr check up since I haven't been in about three years. And maybe a podiatrist in my future for my dang ankle. This is 40.
Doing a lot of reading. This book has been so timely and so stinking full of truth. (In a completely different genre - another noteworthy book that was my BEST read of the 2019, which I read in the very last week of the year was Americanah.)
Something I saw on FB that MADE. MY. DAY. Dancing people twigs. Bless the precious brain that saw and compiled this. I hope Anna will recreate me one. I can already see the shadowbox I would keep it in.
This one. Continues to be a giddy, wiggly, noisy, fiery light.
This guy - doing trigonometry - like a boss. Proud of him. Can't believe he will be earning his first high school credit next year. Not ready for this!
We completed our sponsorship of Victor this month at his turning 20 and graduating from the program with Compassion. We started sponsoring and writing with him back when he was 9 years old. Can't believe it is time! Feels good to have seen this through. Looking at contributing to an anti-trafficking organization next, we think.
And finally, Lasa's school district closed today and Monday for illness, so it's been comforting to have her home and not picking up germs. Or lice. Which happened in her classroom last week apparently? Oy. We set her up with the bounce house today so we could get some work done. It was delightful and squealy.
And there you have it. A January mash-up for us.