February 2021

In early February, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week. Unfortunately, Jack's class was quarantined and missed some of the activities.  Usually, the Geo Bee is during Catholic Schools Week. Due to Covid, there was no National Geo Bee this year.  The school decided to do their own Reverse Geo Bee and have teachers/staff be the contestants. Because Jack won last year, they asked him to be the moderator. Since he was quarantined, he had to moderate virtually. He set up a space in the basement. He wore a coat and tie, and sweatpants. 

On Crazy Hat Day, Patrick and his friend wore matching hats (not planned).

Jack continues to grow!  He's getting closer to his Dad's height.

He has definitely surpassed his Mom!

Jim continues to be way taller than I am!  

Maggie entered the coloring contest at Trader Joe's and won in her age group!

Our favorite TJs employee, Aunt Sue, delivered Maggie's bag of treats to her.

I made some fun Valentine's cookies.

Jack got his acceptance letter to SLUH and I made cookies to celebrate.

We filled his room with blue balloons and surprised him.

A big cookie cake to celebrate!

We are so proud of this Merit Scholar!

We had a few snow days in February. When there was a late start, we walked to school. The kids enjoyed walking in the snow.

Our ukulele-playing, top-teeth-missing kiddo:

On Valentine's Day, I went for a frigid walk with my galentines. We stopped for a beverage along the way.

This girl is ready to brave the cold!

The kids were so excited to get a good amount of snow!

When Jim worked late one day, and the kids were off school due to the snow, we took the kids to the golf course to sled.

I love snuggling and reading with this girl!  

To celebrate their high school acceptances, I made cookies for all the 8th graders. We met at a park for an outdoor celebration with cookies and hot cocoa. Some of the kids went sledding.

One afternoon, Maggie and Charlie sledded with friends in their driveway.

When my friend Laura saw Maggie's missing top teeth, she told me I needed to take this picture. I'm glad I did!

 

January 2021

Happy New Year!  Maggie wore her Christmas dress (made by Nana) and a crown to welcome in 2021.

Mags always wants to help in the kitchen.

Jim's mom celebrated a big birthday. Jim and his siblings organized a surprise birthday parade. Here is part of the crew as they gathered before the parade.

We did a zoom birthday party on the night of her birthday. We each had a cake and candles to add up to her age.

Love my snuggles!

I have enjoyed making fun fireside drinks this winter.

While the kids were in school, my friend Shanna and I went for a trail run. It turned into a trail walk because it was so muddy.

We took the kids to Union Station one night to see the Beatles light show in the Grand Hall.  It was really neat!

Four little monkeys in the bed...

Being silly with my littlest:

Maggie likes to play lots of instruments.

Jim and I enjoy walks with his parents.

Jim and the kids were off for MLK Day. We met friends for a hike at Klondike Park. It was pretty muddy.

The Saturday before Maggie's birthday we celebrated with friends. I made number 7 cookies to hand out at a birthday parade (which was a surprise to her).

Maggie wore the dress Nana made her with a birthday sash. My cousin Colleen embroidered her monogram.

Handing out cookies at the parade:

Then, Patrick organized a family chess tournament.

Patrick won the tournament. Jack quit after 2 games and forfeited his remaining 3 games. He still finished ahead of me.

That afternoon, Maggie had a zoom birthday party with the girls in her Girl Scout troop.  Our friend Joe Fingerhut lead the zoom party.

Weeks before her birthday, Maggie picked out a cake from the Half Baked Harvest Cookbook.  It is called Peanut Butter-Dipped Cookies-and-Cream Cake.  It was huge. This was before I put the Nutella frosting on the outside.

It certainly doesn't look as good as the picture in the cookbook.

The cake was HUGE and Maggie was excited. Then, she decided she didn't like it.  Oh well. The rest of us liked it.