January is a long, dark month. It’s always nice to get the Christmas things put away, but then I start itching for spring and it’s still months off. We had lots to keep us busy though, so the time whizzed by and now as I write this it is already February 7th and I am behind on blogging again! Here are my favorite pics from January in chronological order.

Grammy and her granddaughters

Watching a Hawks game

Celebrating Andrew’s 9th birthday while they were still in town for New Year’s

And Nicole’s 13th

Kieron assembling one of his Christmas gifts

Look who’s eating finger foods

Reading “Princess Layla” to our Princess Layla

This boy loves his little sister!

Basketball

These two can take baths together now.

Someone lost another tooth

Clare ( 16 months) & Layla (7 months)

“I like your necklace.”

Bode & Silas

Silas drawing a picture on the easel

It’s Daddy paddle boarding next to a lighthouse. I added the birds and the whale, the rest is all his.

Charlotte & Silas

These two!

My three stooges

Jonathan took Kieron and Silas skiing one morning.

A note from Avery

Someone’s almost crawling!

Silas started karate with Kieron

Card sharks

Kieron has been reading to Silas at night lately. When it doesn’t end up in wrestling it is super sweet!

Here’s what we were up to in December when we weren’t in Hawaii or celebrating Christmas:

Riding around with Ethan

Catching snowflakes

Baking cookies, of course!

Snacking on puffs

Avery & Hamza, twinsies!

Taking care of Daddy after he had his wisdom teeth removed

Singing in the Christmas concert

“I love Mommy’s new necklace!”

My Naked Chef (yes, he was wearing underwear)

He got dressed before we frosted the cookies

Bedtime

With Jen (she comes once or twice a year from Singapore). I’m glad they’re having so much fun over there, but I miss her. So thankful for our visits!

Layla & Elina

Avery & Bjorn

Avery and his 3D Big Ben puzzle. It was HARD to put together, but he persevered!

Andrew and Nicole stayed with us for a few days. Here are the kids at the school playground.

Playing Ticket to Ride with Nicole. She now identifies as an adult, not one of the kids anymore. This makes me happy and sad. They grow up so fast!

Nicole & Kieron reading a cookbook together! They were so into it!

Jonathan took Kieron and Silas to Nana’s for a few days. They spent a bit of time splitting this pile of wood and stacking it!

Cheap labor. Kieron fell asleep on the ride home with his $5 bill in his hand!