February snow

With above zero temps it made for an awesome afternoon to play in the snow.  It also resulted in our first no school day due to the amount of snow and not just cold temps.  Rumor has it the polar vortex is returning though.  With no end of winter in sight I am just going to continue to be thankful for my cozy house and hot showers.  And occasional day dreams of the Caribbean.

100th day of school

In honor of the 100th day of school, they dressed as if they were 100 years old.  Jacob said his classmate that had rollers in her hair and a chain on her eyeglasses had the best costume.  I hope they took a class picture!

If Jesus sent a valentine...

I love you.  You are mine.  Your name is written upon My heart.  Your prayers are precious to me.  Your life is in My hands.  I am always with you, nearer to you than your own heart.  I gave My life so that you might live forever with Me.  All I ask in return is your love.  Be My Valentine.  

You are precious in my sight, And honored, and I love you.  

Isaiah 43:4

Happy Valentine's Day friends!  Perhaps you are a die hard romantic with love letters, mix tapes and the perfect date (this was Scott and I decades ago) or perhaps it is a good excuse to have dinner at a family friendly restaurant (which is what we are doing this year) or maybe you loathe the holiday and give the Valentine aisle the finger (which I actually saw on a photo today).   No matter which category you might fall in I wish you a day filled with much love and joy!

Do you see the heart?  Scott initially didn't…was wondering why a picture of the trees.  The reason for the picture is the heart shining through the trees.  See it now?  

Febrrrary

Well friends, it is still cold.  It has been and continues to be the hot topic.  Flu and cold viruses are being passed around like hot potatoes and the Vitamin D level is the state is at an all time low.  *The validity of these statements have not been tested.   

I think about warm weather daily (if not hourly) and my body is honestly in some sort of hibernation mode.  But let's not talk about the cold weather any longer.  

Here are a few things to distract you from that bone chilling cold.  Seriously, done talking about it.  Today Scott and I accompanied Jacob on an all school field trip for Feed My Starving Children.  What a fun and well organized event!  It was awesome to see the all of the food that we had packed in just a couple of hours.  If you are looking for a service project for a group definitely check this one out.  For some interesting and thought provoking reading:   I love this post and could not have written it better myself.  Although, I still have no desire to return to Facebook.  These protein bites are a hit in our house…so easy to make and very yummy!  I never think twice about eating two.  Or three.  And just for fun let's check this out…

While we are waiting for that snow to thaw and baseball season to arrive I will leave you with the latest happenings from our house.  

Date night when Keith Urban came to town.  This was such a great concert.  Whoop whoop!

Melly hibernates most of the day.

So does Luna.

Nathan spent a week with Grandma and Grandpa Jacobson.

He got to visit Grandpa's tractors...

and hang out with Gracie all day long.

I'm learning to crochet.  This is all I know how to do right now.  

This is a selfie from when Nathan was away.  I had actually showered, put on real clothes, a piece of jewelry, some make-up and dried my hair.  Instagram enhanced me even more!  I wanted to capture it.  (I know…you working moms do this everyday.  I'm just telling you I'm quite lazy most days.)  

While Nathan was away Jacob got a date night with Mom and Dad.  (Mom's night was Mall of America, Dad's was PINZ.  Let's just say there might have been some slight bias in picking each of the places).   

Just another great travel day in Minnesota.  

Every other Friday I help during Jacob's lunch.  While I normally don't take Nathan, he came with me this particular day.  He was so excited to eat lunch with his big brother.  After lunch he even put on his bag (lunch tote) and was ready to follow the kids back to class.  

Shoveling is actually fun when it is above zero. 

"Wideea" is in Florida right now…soaking up the warm sun.  I hope they bring some warm weather back.  Am I still talking about the weather?  

Thanks for checking in friends.  Stay warm and happy February!  

Hello, 2014

As a creature of habit I am happy to report that as of today we're back on a "regular" schedule.  Well, except for the fact that they have closed school again tomorrow due to extremely cold temperatures.  In my 12 years of school in Minnesota I remember plenty of snow days but never a cold day.  At any rate, it is a good excuse for hot cocoa and a movie.  Or catching up the blog.  And asking for parenting advice.

We're coming off of a very busy and fun-filled Christmas and birthday season.  Mark, Sue and Becky joined us in Hastings over Christmas and we returned to Okoboji for the annual Sinclair Christmas celebration.  Jacob celebrated turning 6 on New Year's Day with four of his buddies.  Nikki celebrated turning 36 bucking 30 mph wind gusts on I-90 (thankfully in a car with heat) and Scott celebrates turning 37 today braving the Polar Vortex (thankfully from a heated office).  I know we chose to live here so I am not complaining, but during the months of January and February we often discuss the possibility of moving to a warmer climate.

As I look ahead into the new year one of my goals (which I suspect will be ongoing) is to teach Jacob about gratefulness.  Oh my.  I am going to have to be in prayer about this one because I struggle with selfishness myself.  Have you ever tried to teach somebody something that you aren't good at?  Not easy.

Jacob is an awesome kid - and at the ripe old age of six I am amazed at his compassion.  But I am also amazed at how ungrateful he acts even after our living room is scattered with new toys.  With three sessions of gift giving for Christmas and four sessions of birthday gift giving you can imagine the loads of toys we've been blessed with.

One of the things Jacob has been doing is putting toys under his bed.  This started out as a few things that he didn't want Nathan to play with.  For instance, a lego set that he had put together.  For awhile it worked out okay because Nathan had no idea there was anything under Jacob's bed.  It seemed like a fine idea - especially since the top of my fridge was out of space.  But then, we started finding balls.  And lego duplos (intended for Nathan to play with) and both fire trucks, and a a stash of airplanes and a box of army men, and monster trucks, and well, let's just say it was borderline hoarding.  Nathan eventually figured out there were toys under his bed and it caused a lot of fuss before bath / bedtime.

After removing the toys from under Jacob's bed this morning we've instilled a new "no toys under the bed" rule.  It's not that we don't want Jacob to have his own things that he needs to be responsible for, but we also want him to share willingly.  Generally Jacob and Nathan share all of their toys but there are definitely things that were given to each of them specifically.  I am honestly stumped.  My irrational, controlling self was ready to grab the Cub foods boxes from our storage room and box up every single toy and offer them one or two to play with at a time.  Then, Scott and I discussed a locker.  With a lock.  That just seems ridiculous.  We have sorted and donated so maybe we're needing to incorporate something like that again and let Jacob be a part of it.  Or maybe, we just quietly and gently correct him.  And eventually he'll get it.  Did I mention school was closed again tomorrow?  Maybe I just patiently wait for our normal schedule to resume.  I never understood why parents were so excited for school to start in the fall but I think I have a glimpse as to why.

I know sometimes it's just plain tough to be the big brother.  He told Dad his morning he doesn't want to be 6 anymore.  Can you blame him?  After they came downstairs from a post meltdown discussion and apology look what they found on the kitchen table…

Exhibit A:  Giant bite taken out of Jacob's bubble tape.  Suspect:  Nathan

Funny enough, I just had a vivid memory of my childhood.  I remember one Christmas when my cousin Melanie and I both got Cabbage Patch Koosa dolls.  Do you remember these?  I had my own very cute one - Peaches was its name.  I can't even believe I remember that.  Melanie's was different than mine and I might have thought hers was as cool (or maybe more cool) but I actually hid the doll in our front hall closet!  I suppose I was hoping she would forget about it, make the long drive back to Michigan and I would have two dolls to play with.  I remember them searching high and low for it and finally it got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore.  I just "happened" to find it stuffed in the dark front hall closet.  Mmm hmm.  I'm sure my mom and aunt knew better.  Now I know where Jacob gets it.

I suppose this is yet another parenting phase that we will stumble through and by God's grace, mercy and patience be gently guided in the right direction.  As much as I desperately want to raise a "perfect" child that is polite, kind, uses his manners, and thinks about others, I am thankful that the Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect parents or perfect people all the time but it comes down to Jacob's heart (and ours).  As long as He is in the center - we'll be moving in the right direction.

I will leave with you from some of my favorite pictures from the last month.  Thanks for checking in and wishing you much love and laughter in 2014!

These were found in the yard Christmas morning.  Sleigh bells?

Treat cereal that happens a couple times per year.  Not sure who likes it more...

Scott's Christmas present - made by my dad!  Notice how a few compartments were claimed by someone other than Scott.  

En route to the bowling alley / arcade - watching LEGO Star Wars.  

3rd annual trip to Bridges Bay in Okoboji, Iowa

Two peas in a pod

Noah turned 13!

Winners!

7 boys and a girl

Nutty marshmallows.  Will leave all future making of these to my mom and dad.  

December devotionals.  We tried.   

Nathan was napping and Jacob was at school.  Peaceful.  

Nathan tried to add the star but wasn't quite tall enough.  

Jacob tried to add the star but has apparently has a fear of heights.  

Another peaceful moment.  See, they do exist! 

Robot boxes are simply awesome.  

Great effort.  Those sweaters are just too cute to win any awards.

Annual place setting making.

For the worksite.

Serious.  

Okay now be silly!  Bottom row didn't get the memo.  

This time either.  

Lydia wins best cheese of 2013.  Love. This. Picture.