February Freedom

February is the month of love.  Carnival season is in full swing.  Everywhere you turn, people are celebrating.  Now while Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras are both delightful reasons to celebrate,  I was celebrating something much more significant.  I was celebrating FREEDOM!  Freedom from the  pesky crutches that had been holding me hostage for four....looooog....months.

The first part of February, we still required lots of help from family.  Just look at the picture and you will see why...

So Nana came to spend a few days with us.  The kids enjoyed face timing with family back home...

 And pretending to to find constellations.

 We had some wonderful, normal days at home....

And then it was back to my parents, so I could go to the doctor and get that fabulous news I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Interesting things sometimes happen when we are in the country.  The kids piece together their own playground equipment....

...and cookies magically appear in this magic bowl when the kids leave it in the refrigerator overnight. This time Eli just knew the bowl would produce Mario cookies.

Well, what do ya know?

We got back home to celebrate Valentine's day with friends...

 And Mardi Gras too!

 These are pictures of us FREEZING at the parade.

Finally Cory made it back home.  We had missed him so much during all the holidays.  However, he didn't let that stop him from spoiling his ladies.  He had a wonderful Valentine's surprise for Lan and me, a day we will never forget!

You don't have to tell us how lucky we are! :)

Oh, but don't you worry.  Cory got taken care of too. He got a brand new shiny silver truck!  

And since we he had a brand new shiny silver truck, it made sense to stop by IKEA and get some new shiny silver bunk beds for the boys!

Everyone wins!!

3 Cheers for February!!

Jivin' through January

It certainly felt like a Jive... so quick we almost missed it.  We spent a few more carefree days at GiGi's and PawPaw's house.

Then we finally got to go HOME!!  I was so glad thankful that mom could come home with me because the kids and I desperately needed a routine again.

However, we were not even home a week, when we decided to host Landry's very first slumber party!  I had a few requirements for this first sleepover:  

1. All the girls had to be seven-years-old or younger

2. I had to know the girls' parents well

3. It had to be the best night EVER!!!

First, I had to convince the girls that I was a super cool mom, so I colored my hair and showed them some dance moves (on one crutch, mind you)  The Saved By the Bell Episode came to mind.  You know the one where Lisa sprained her ankle and they made up the dance, "The Sprain"? I know I had them really impressed. LOL

                   

We played a few silly games: Pass the banana...with your feet,

 get the oreo to your mouth, without touching it,

 and do you want to build a snowman.

 1...2...3...Break Free!!!

And after our snowmen snow-women broke free, naturally we had a SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!

All those games made them hungry, so they all made their own sundaes.  Boy, did they pile on the sugar!  Sorry Moms...

The sugar high lead to a fashion show/dance party!!!

 All of the precious girls (minus one, who just couldn't hang and had to take a little rest)

 We ended the night with a movie and they woke up to delicious cinnamon roll pancakes cooked by my mom.  Here are the sweet little bed-heads making snowflakes :)

Judging by the number of times I heard it, I think it truly was the "BEST NIGHT EVER!"

Moving on...

At any given moment this month, you might find Landry wearing these glasses....

 ...Eli wearing this buzz lightyear costume....

 ...and Cooper wearing this Luigi hat.

And I made a startling discovery this month, that I won't soon forget!  January 27th is:

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY!!!

Holla!

Now, I am no pro at homeschooling, but you can bet I was going to find a way to make a lesson based around THIS holiday.

We even invited some friends to partake in all the chocolaty goodness

Two funny guys here!

Oh yes.  We had our cake and ATE IT TOO :)