downs, dumplings, dinosaurs

 The first weekend in February the girls insisted on dumplings to celebrate Chinese New Year,

and bread bowls and clam chowder on Superbowl Sunday.

 Sophie's preschool class went on field trip to the BYU Paleontology museum.

 Grant tried  to be brave around the T-Rex.

like penguins

I think God has been merciful this year.  Our January passed, and I had no complaints about the weather. There were only two real snowfalls. This was the second. William and Sophie and I met Grant at the kindergarten bus, and we threw rocks at the ice on the pond, and they rode the swings, and slid down the big hill "like penguins," since we had not brought the sleds. Then we went home for cocoa, of course.

science and celebrations

In January, we woke up early for our fourth annual Academy Awards nominations breakfast. Olivia is always eager to be helpful in the kitchen. Thank you, Olivia.

It was our first year to celebrate National Blondies day. Thank you for the head's up Annie!  I never knew there was such a thing. Ben is the master.

Caitlin and Olivia chose good friends as partners and entered the science fair. I'm proud of you girls!

january's big snow

new year's eve 2013

I've given up hope of retrieving my Christmas 2013 pictures. They are stuck somewhere in file-not- supported limbo.  The kids and I had a lovely New Year's eve together. Homemade pizza has made a comeback around here.                

 

Our generous neighbors moved out the week before New Year's and we inherited the contents of their kitchen cupboard and refrigerator.  Nothing inspires a pizza like feta cheese, pesto, artichoke hearts, balsamic vinegar.

Kyle brought his record player and folk music records upstairs and played D.J. until it was time to go out to the park at midnight.  We used the last of our fireworks leftover from July. It was a great start to the New Year.