Fun February

January proved to be deep, deep winter. I think Cora had 5 days of school cancelled (in addition to the first week off for Christmas break, and a day off for records day). I'm the kind of mom that feels as excited as the kids when school gets cancelled!  I love the thrill of a snow storm and seeing the beautiful white blanket covering  the ground and piles of snow balancing on tree branches. Plus, I love that Cora gets to be home with us and we just have a lot of fun together!

February, as we know now in March, didn't let up and fought to compete with the extreme conditions that January provided. It has been a major source of complaint for many people,   I have to admit that it seems strange to me that the long, cold, dark (as in short) days of December and January didn't bother me in the least, and for the most part I've been secretly loving it!   I just take it as a blessing; one of the ways God has answered prayers for sustaining us through this last year of seminary. 

Other than the weather, February started with a bummer of a Super Bowl for us Denver Bronco fans! We had a great little party with extended family. Deb and I had fun coordinating as much blue and orange food as we could!

 Despite the super disappointment, we remain Bronco fans!

 February means Valentine's Day to lots of people. Admittedly, Brad and I have not traditionally made a big deal about celebrating it. But when a babysitting offer came from my parents we decided to enjoy a date, our style. Dinner and a movie? No thanks! We strapped on our snow shoes and got off the beaten trail to experience the deep snow where no one has tread before. We explored the snow covered sand dunes and over to the frozen shore of Lake Michigan.

 I just had to throw in this picture of Addie. She is obsessed with babies, lately. If I mention anyone in my sister's family she chimes in with "Bee-bee?" asking if we are going to see her cousin, baby Lucas. It's sweet but I really have to  keep an eye on her when a baby is around, even if it's a stranger when we're out an about. She tries to give them pacifiers and blankets and point to their eyes...things that moms of newborns would rather a toddler not help with. Her fascination has translated to playing with the baby doll that Cora got when she turned 2 and never really played with very much. In the picture below Addie had asked me to wrap up the baby in Addie's favorite blankie which she calls "Ee-hee". It's amazing how fast little one go from being a baby to recognizing anyone smaller than themselves as a baby!