Friday, January 1
After a two-night sleepover with Gramma and Pampah, we met my folks in Canton to bring the girls back home. They had a great, great time, complete with a New Year's Eve toast at midnight (Kenya-time), and Josh and I enjoyed having a couple of days to ourselves (one of which included sleeping in to the unheard-of-for-the-last-six-years hour of 9:30), but it was great to get them back!
After a two-night sleepover with Gramma and Pampah, we met my folks in Canton to bring the girls back home. They had a great, great time, complete with a New Year's Eve toast at midnight (Kenya-time), and Josh and I enjoyed having a couple of days to ourselves (one of which included sleeping in to the unheard-of-for-the-last-six-years hour of 9:30), but it was great to get them back!
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| Elaina met us with her trademark smile |
When we got home, the girls busied themselves playing under the desk Josh had spent the previous day building and watching him play some Donkey Kong on the big tv. As he was finishing one of his boards, I happened to outside and saw the sky was on fire. What a beautiful sight.
Saturday, January 2
After having the girls back for all of 22 hours, they were whisked away for another sleepover, this time with Gramma Rita and Arcadia. Josh and I took advantage of our time by going out to dinner at One World, where Josh had a pizza and I had a quinoa stuffed red pepper. We then ran to Target and came home and watched Hector and the Search for Happiness, since we're both suckers for Simon Pegg movies. It was a very enjoyable farewell to our holiday.
After having the girls back for all of 22 hours, they were whisked away for another sleepover, this time with Gramma Rita and Arcadia. Josh and I took advantage of our time by going out to dinner at One World, where Josh had a pizza and I had a quinoa stuffed red pepper. We then ran to Target and came home and watched Hector and the Search for Happiness, since we're both suckers for Simon Pegg movies. It was a very enjoyable farewell to our holiday.
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| We've become quite the hummus connesuiers) |
Sunday, January 3
After gathering the girls yet again, we came home to watch the final Bears game of the season, relax as a family, and try our best not to burst into tears at the thought of the next day (well, that was mostly me). Elaina entertained herself bytormenting playing with Yuna.
After gathering the girls yet again, we came home to watch the final Bears game of the season, relax as a family, and try our best not to burst into tears at the thought of the next day (well, that was mostly me). Elaina entertained herself by
Later, the girls put on a play for us with the dollhouse they got for Christmas.
Monday, January 4
While Josh and I returned to work with varying degrees of wailing and gnashing of teeth, the boys seemed content to return to their rightful places as kings of the far side of the house. When we came home, Winston was happily perched on the bed and meowed contentedly when we came in to change.
While Josh and I returned to work with varying degrees of wailing and gnashing of teeth, the boys seemed content to return to their rightful places as kings of the far side of the house. When we came home, Winston was happily perched on the bed and meowed contentedly when we came in to change.
Tuesday, January 5
This morning I was back on bus duty. Elaina made sure I was entertained while we waited.
After dinner, we headed over to the library. The girls got busy building their towers and somehow convinced us to let them stay for story time, even though it put us past their bedtime a bit. Kind of hard to feel too bad about it when Ellie was blowing us kisses during the story and Elaina said we were the "bestest Mommy and Daddy ever" upon leaving.
Wednesday, January 6
Today we got some very exciting news: Rachel was selected as WREX's Teacher of the Week! It was so, so deserved, and I couldn't be more proud. Since WREX is out of Rockford, we streamed their evening news to catch Rachel's segment. It was wonderful and highlighted one thing anyone who meets Rachel will recognize in her--her huge, kind, sweet heart. I am so thankful that we have the technology to share this moment with her!
Today we got some very exciting news: Rachel was selected as WREX's Teacher of the Week! It was so, so deserved, and I couldn't be more proud. Since WREX is out of Rockford, we streamed their evening news to catch Rachel's segment. It was wonderful and highlighted one thing anyone who meets Rachel will recognize in her--her huge, kind, sweet heart. I am so thankful that we have the technology to share this moment with her!
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| Auntie Rachel's fan club waiting during a commercial break |
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| That's my sister dancing with those students! |
Thursday, January 7
Ellie decided to show off her superhero skills.
Ellie decided to show off her superhero skills.
Friday, January 8
After work today, I finally got to meet baby Alex! His mama, Sarah, is one of my good friends from work. Alex was due in January but came on Christmas Eve and had to spend six days in the NICU. Thankfully, he's doing well and is as cute as can be! After a few baby snuggles, I drug Sarah away to have a few moments to herself and get a drink from Starbucks. I had so much fun, even though we weren't gone long. I told her later that I'm dragging her to Dairy Queen when it warms up, and I'm already excited about it!
After work today, I finally got to meet baby Alex! His mama, Sarah, is one of my good friends from work. Alex was due in January but came on Christmas Eve and had to spend six days in the NICU. Thankfully, he's doing well and is as cute as can be! After a few baby snuggles, I drug Sarah away to have a few moments to herself and get a drink from Starbucks. I had so much fun, even though we weren't gone long. I told her later that I'm dragging her to Dairy Queen when it warms up, and I'm already excited about it!
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| Pretty mama and handsome little man |
Saturday, January 9
We survived our first week back at work and back at school, so we celebrated by having a perfectly normal Saturday. We ran to Costco and then to Hy-Vee, where Elaina was quite happy to push her own cart...
We survived our first week back at work and back at school, so we celebrated by having a perfectly normal Saturday. We ran to Costco and then to Hy-Vee, where Elaina was quite happy to push her own cart...
..and Ellie was quite happy to photobomb.
She then insisted I take a nice picture, because she is not a "photobombuhr".
We drove home slowly in a beautiful snow and finished the day with Aladdin.
Sunday, January 10
We only got about 2.5 inches of snow from Saturday into Sunday, but I am glad it snowed at all, because suddenly January remembered what it is and it got coooooold. And if it's going to be -4 when we wake up in the morning, it may as well be beautiful.
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