Valentine's Craft

Last week, in honor of Valentine's Day, the kids and I made candle holders for their teachers. I cut hearts out of red, pink and white tissue paper and the kids used starch to paper-mache them to jars we found around the house. It was a simple activity but the kids really enjoyed it.

I always enjoy doing simple activities like this with the kids, and whenever I do it I wonder why we don't do things like this more often.

Zip Line

Last month, Cooper John started going to MyGym or the Monkey Gym as he calls it. He looks forward to it every week and has a different favorite item at the end of each session. His favorite this week was the uneven bars but I liked watching him on the zipline.

Snow

I know it is nothing like the snowpocalypse that his the east coast a few weeks ago, but it has been COLD here in Northern California the last few days. In fact, it snowed on the hills surrounding Sonoma County this week.

The kids have always been fascinated with snow and every winter they beg us to take them to see some. Thursday night on the way home from school we could see snow just behind Grammie & Grampa's house. We talked about driving up to it, but I knew that if Jason didn't get mad at me for driving up there in the van with the kids, that my dad would have something to say.

Today much of the snow has melted, but we could still see it on the peaks above the valley. Since it is warmer and there hasn't been any rain in the last 24 hours, I felt it was safe to travel the roads up the mountainside. I offered to take the kids up to see if we could find the snow and they were ecstatic.

We drove up the road, past Grampa's old ranch, and after many twists and turns we found it. SNOW!!! Emma and Grace especially were excited to get out and touch it. There was a meadow full of people playing in the snow. Some were even trying to sled, and I saw one snowboard.

It definitely wasn't Tahoe quality, but it did result in being called "The NICE mommy. Even nicer than Daddy." I'll take that for a Sunday afternoon drive.

Henry's Dedication Day

Last Sunday was Henry's dedication. Our congregation has been praying for Henry since before he was born so it seemed fitting to have him dedicated almost a year to the day after we shared the news with them.

Kim and the kids made the drive to come to the ceremony with us. After church we all headed over to the town green to get some fresh air, sunshine and pizza! The day was beautiful and the kids enjoyed "walking on water".

Grampa attempted to get a group shot. This was as good as it got.

Cooper, Ruth, Grace, Emma w/Henry, Micah

Preschooler!

Cooper John is getting to be such a big boy! He started preschool at the beginning of January (although he insists it is Kindergarten). I love our daycare provider, but I felt Cooper was ready for more challenges and opportunities. Thankfully we have a great preschool that is part of our church and the girls' school so I knew just where to send him.
I anticipated a rough drop-off the first morning. Surely he would be worried in a new environment with new friends and teachers he had never met. But no, he walked right in like the big boy he is and promptly told me to "go home Mommy". I hadn't considered the fact that he goes to Sunday school in the same building every week. Each morning when I take him to school we put his lunch box in his cubby and walk him into the morning room. He gives me a kiss, opens the door and ushers me out.
I am amazed at all he is learning at school. He is learning letters, the sound, shape and sign language for them. He is learning Bible stories, Bible verses and songs. He has told me about Noah and his ark, animals and the rainbow. He has told me about David and Goliath and the stone. He is singing about "The B-I-B-L-E, That's the Book for Me" and about having a "Little Turtle, His name is Tiny Tim". Cooper brings home "projects" everyday and asks me to display them on my bulletin board at work. He is making new friends and actually knows some of their names now. He loves his teachers, especially Ms. Maricle whom he prays for just about every night.

I can't believe how big he is getting and how much fun he is!