February

Looks like the monthly recaps are going to be standard for awhile!

Aunt Mimi, Julius, Lydia and Amelia came for a week to celebrate Amelia's 1st Birthday!

We had to get a picture of all of the grandkids :)

Amelia's light box - it turned out beautifully, and Pop did all of this one!

 We had to cut some firewood on one of the sunny days - so nice to get out of the house!

Pop working on Amelia's box.

Aunt Mimi came to our house a few times, so I could get school done and some cleaning!

We went to visit the brand new Krispy Kreme Donuts in Jacksonville. The kids loved it! Galina and Johnny have been once before, that Galina slightly remembers, so it was a new experience for them!

The "line" was like having T.V. on for the kids :)

Amelia was certainly happy with her donut!

 Johnny petting Howie. We're on a mission to find out how to "fix" Howie. He's showing a bit of aggression...

Emma's birthday was Valentine's Day, and this was her box. Hadn't been put together yet, but it was gorgeous when it was all done. The detail is amazing!

Poor Johnny, not the most flattering picture, but I loved that he wanted to show off his belly too :)

We made another stop at Krispy Kreme, on the 13th and all of the donuts were hearts! It was neat, and yummy!

On Valentine's Day, Emma wanted a hayride. Well, it's been an incredibly wet winter...as you can see. The hayride ended a little bit early, but...

 the kids had just as much fun playing hide and seek in the field. 

Johnny wanted to watch the action :) he wants to be a big boy so much (except when it's time to take his diaper off in the morning) and he has no problem putting himself in the middle of the action. At one point, Emma and her friend were sitting on the end of the trailer and he said, "I want to sit by Emma." He squished himself right in between them :)

Johnny also loves to use his knife, and I cannot keep scissors hidden! I've finally had to put the kids scissors in a tub, and a separate tub of scrap paper for him to just cut. My floor is covered in paper 24/7!

 Working on school in the mornings. She's so good, and on days when she's in a good mood - it takes her no time at all to do her work and I have to scramble for more. She can read like nobody's business, and is working on subtraction. She's desperate to start learning cursive and loves, loves, loves to DRAW! She's another reason the scrap paper is out all of the time. 

Sword fighting! Daddy always has to be on guard :) he never knows when Johnny's going to get in a shot below the belt!

Took the kids to a park and found a puddle that was frozen over and perfect for ice skating! Galina loved it! 

So, February has come and gone - almost - a week left. We've been sick for half of it. The kids were sick for a week, and then I got sick and literally slept for two days, then Brian got sick and then, for some odd reason, I managed to get another day of it. It's been a long two weeks. We are very over being sick and are contemplating installing a decontamination station in the house. That, or I'd like one of those bathrooms that completely cleans itself - some public bathroom in Chicago, I think. 

Brian is still doing good in school. The kids are good. Baby is good. We have our last ultrasound on Tuesday (unless we go over the due date) and then it'll be a waiting game to see when she'll come! Still trying to get the house in order - difficult!! Luckily she won't care, as long as she has a bed to call her own, at least that's what I'm telling myself in between naps!