Yard Work & Henna

 John and Grandpa are best friends.  Whatever Grandpa does, John wants to do too.  Even pulling weeds.

 Jake had some henna.  He drew this awesome temporary tattoo on Ryan's arm.  That guy has skills. 

Thumbs Up!

Thumbs up!

My Jodi

This is Jodi.  She was John's speech therapist.  He loves her to pieces.  He has graduated from speech, and this was a picture of us at his last appointment with her.  He has asked to call her and have her come over a few times since, he doesn't understand what she hasn't come back.  She was fantastic with him and really helped him to do his best.  John called her "my Jodi" to differentiate between her and my friend Jodi.  We love Jodi.

Visit to Great Grandma's

I was feeling badly about leaving John at home so often when I went to study, so I took him with me to Grandma Vonnie's house.  He played with Grandma and had a great time.  When I went out to check on him, this is how I found him.

Gateway Museum

 I took the kids with their cousins to check out the new Toys display at the Gateway Museum.  They had a fantastic time!  I wish I had taken more photos.  They could have stayed much longer, but the museum closed. 

 The cousins got to sleep over too.  Ryan was very happy to have Jaycee around!

 The scream chamber was the best idea ever.  The kids got out so much energy by getting into that box and screaming their heads off!!

New Year's Eve

 We hosted our annual New Year's Eve party this year.  We had so much fun.  I am so thankful for fun and laid back friends!  We had a Just Dance party, ate seriously yummy food, and played lots of cards.  Oh, I just have to mention that Jake was scum most of the night and I was PRESIDENT!!  That never happens, I'm usually scum.  So thank you Jake!!

 Jodi and Delayne totally worked it!

 The Carrs took lots of pictures.

 These two Elizas are just as cute as they can be.

 Shelby was probably the Just Dance winner.  She was so good!  It was really fun to watch her.

 Some of the boys were less enthusiastic about all of the dancing.  They went into the back room and watched Kung Fu Panda.

 Sonny and Jodi, so cute...

 Thank goodness Doug wore camo! 

 Brett did not dance...

 John played so much and fell asleep very late.  He was one cranky dude the next day.

Here is my attempt at a photo of us playing cards.  It makes me really happy to have a full table.  Thanks to everyone that came a played. 

Uncle Steve and Kayla

My brother and his fiance came from Texas by way of Minnesota to come and visit us for the holidays.  We had so much fun that I took hardly any pictures!  They were very kind to the kids and they all played and had a great time.  Uncle Steve even gave us girls the morning off and took all the boys to the movies by himself!  The boys thought that was terrific!!
Spencer, Steve, Travis, Kayla, Janel, and I all got together and went to the movies.  It was a super fun date night.  I think the real high point was when Travis fell asleep during the movie and started snoring!  We were laughing so hard that we cried.  Good times. 
We also took Mac to walk from Grandma's house to Bidwell Jr.  He will get to do that walk alot this year once he starts seventh grade.  John rode his little bike the whole way.  I'm so glad Steve and Kayla could come for a visit.