January

January has been an interesting month. Some days, I feel like we're running, running, running, and other days I have a lot of time on my hands. I've filled that time with a lot of teaching, it seems. It's my turn to teach Mariah's preschool group this month, so I've been planning and teaching that, which I love. I also realized that Mariah needs a lot of extra help learning her letters, so I've been working with her on those as well. I started a new piano teaching/learning method with Connor and Mylie that has been a huge success (in its first three weeks, any) and that has also taken some time to get underway.  I've gotten everything but my purse replaced from the robbery back before Christmas, and we also have replaced our TV (first flat screen for this household--really!??), my phone, our diaper bag, and the wiring in one of our van doors, all of which broke in December. Not our luckiest month ever. Anyway, I'm starting to feel like my out-of-control life of a few weeks ago is back on track somewhat. Connor has been busy playing on a 4th grade basketball team that is competing in a couple tournaments this month, and Tony is in the middle of his basketball season, so we've been pretty consumed with basketball here as well.  Brady loves to "shoo" and will try over and over to shoot at the gym. Although he can barely get that big basketball above his head, he keeps trying, as if he thinks the next attempt is sure to go in! It's so cute watching him.

Well, that's our month in a nutshell.  Here are some photo highlights for January so far...

Tony's Christmas gift to me this year was a date night a month. Each one's description is in a manila envelope, which I get to open the first of each month, and then we decide on a day that will work. January's date was milkshakes and 20 Questions. We had a great time! Fun at-home date.

One afternoon, Mariah wanted to invite her cousins over for a party. They baked in the easy-bake oven, colored, did make-up and fingernails, and watched a princess movie. So fun!

A little outdoor basketball on a nice day. Notice how much snow we have here?!?

Connor and a friend went BB gun hunting, and actually got a squirrel. Not bad!

Mylie's Baptism

It's hard to believe, but Mylie is 8 years old, and on New Year's Eve, she was baptized, along with her two closest cousins, Jaxon and Sarah. The three of them were all born within three weeks of each other and are great friends!  It was such a special day, with so many family members there for these three cute kids. My mom made her pretty white dress for her to wear after the baptism. She loved it. Thanks Mom!

I'm so grateful to have a husband who holds and honors the priesthood and was able to perform this wonderful ordinance for Mylie.

Certainly not one of my favorite pics of myself, but I have so few pics of me one-on-one with my kids, I wanted to include it anyway. I am so proud of her!

Beautiful sisters!!!