January Tidbits

There is pretty much one word that sum up January: COLD! Our month has been bitterly cold, forcing us to stay inside a bunch and also forcing the girls to miss some school days. It has been cold and sunny, cold and rainy and just recently cold and snowy but all together cold. We are ready for spring and warmer temps, that is for sure! I know much of the Northeast have been much colder and snowier so can't complain too much but come, we live in North Carolina! Ok, it is supposed to be in the 60's this weekend, I will take that.

Now, onto what we have done this month:

On, January 2nd, Mike's parents and parents stopped by for the night on the way down to Florida. It was also his Mom's birthday so we baked her a cake and my little sous chef loved decorating the cake for Grandma.

 Mike's grandparents really wanted a picture with the girls but I don't know, for some reason, I don't think Maddie was too pleased here!

 Oh, the pose! Not sure when over the holidays this started but our little comedian, Maddie Grace loves to make people laugh and she did this one time and got the biggest and best reaction from everyone so now it's her "thing." We will say hands on your hips or do you pose and she does this and every time, everyone laughs and tells her how adorable she is and she eats it up and does it some more. She is definitely a little ham and will do anything for a reaction. On this night, they would run around the house and then freeze in the doorway and pose for about 10 seconds and then run some more. Never a dull moment in our house!

 Cold temps means lots of playing inside and just recently, these two have really started playing together. They will play in the kitchen together or read books and it's so much fun watching them play together all on their own!

 In January, she started dance class, ballet and tap. She has done dance camps and asked for awhile to do dance but Mike and I grew up playing sports, I don't know anything about dance. After resisting it for a long time, I finally caved and signed her up and she absolutely LOVES it. The outfit, the bun in her hair, the entire thing she eats it up and can't wait for Friday mornings.

 When the sun does come out, so do we. It is cold but we bundle up and head outside for fresh air. On this day, these two were leading our walk, very scary!

 We love our Carolina Panthers and they did awesome this season and made the playoffs but unfortunately came up a little short. She may be in dance class but her Daddy is still dressing her in her jersey on gameday!

 Monday mornings usually look like this, drop off Ella off at school, head to the gym to work out and then run errands at Target. Someone doesn't like to ride in cart the normal way anymore, she has to ride in the big part, surrounded by groceries.

 On the bike! She has been hesitant with the bike for a little while but lately she has a lot more confidence in riding and asks to ride a lot. Now if we just go without the training wheels...

 My birthday this year fell on a Thursday. It was pretty low key, both girls were in preschool in the morning so I worked out and then met Mike for an early lunch. After picking up the kids from school, we put MG down for a nap and Ella and I snuggled and read books together in her room. I love when I have some special one on one time with my big girl!

 Oh, the pose again...

 Uncle Court got E this beautiful coat for Christmas and she wore it to church. It is still a little big and she has to grow into it but she calls it her princess coat and I have to agree, she does look pretty special in it.

 Last Saturday, Ella and I had a special Mommy/Daughter day where we did some shopping, had lunch and then went to a gymnastics birthday party. I was wearing my sunglasses so she insisted she wears her also.

 I mean, when did she get so big?? Can't believe she will be 4 1/2 soon.

 You all know how much I love and adore the girls preschool, it has been the best! One thing they do is every other week they attend chapel once they are three and bring in a food item each time for the offering. Well, her class was in charge of a mini field trip to deliver the items to the local food pantry and I got to go along and drive some of her friends. It was such a great experience and so important to teach them young to give back to others. I just love her sweet little class.

 Packing up the food...

 And finally, the snow...

The forecasters had been calling for it, the grocery stores were sold out of everything and the kids could NOT wait for the snow to come. It started Tuesday afternoon and fell (very slowly) that night. We maybe got between 1-2 inches but of course the city shut down. On Wednesday, school was closed and Mike worked from home so we played in snow all day.

 Sledding fun...

 After all the work, it is more to refuel with hot cocoa and smores!

 Her first smore and she loved it, mainly the graham cracker!

Thanks DeeDee and Papa for the awesome sweaters, they kept us very warm!

 This morning we woke up to all the snow gone but school still cancelled (that's right, no snow but southerners freak out!) so we had to get out of the house so we went to Monkey Joe's to run around and play. We met some old neighbors there and then went and had lunch, just had to get out.

So, January is coming to a close and February is already starting to look better with warmer weather. 

Plus, a certain little one is turning two this month...more to come on that later!