Life lately has looked like lots of creative fun with the kids, a haircut, a double ear infection (guess who 🙃), and more! Here’s what we’ve been up to this week.

Dakota and Gideon hung out in the church nursery together on Sunday! We also got a good bit of snow that night, and I am forever nervous with driving in snow!

Mordecai picked out his boots and hat for a trip to the grocery store. He’s one cool little guy.

Sadie loves that there’s a song with her name in it! I love that it’s a fun bluegrass song.

Sadie, Mordecai, and I made homemade soap together with this kit! I am now the proud owner of a bar of lemon lavender soap that smells heavenly. Next project: homemade lip balm!

Two things: I got my hair cut and I tried on a dress. I got a decent chop and my hair feels “alive” again. Sadie didn’t like the dress on me so I didn’t get it. 😂

Mordecai is still in that weird in-between needing a nap and not needing a nap phase so he sometimes randomly falls asleep on the floor at 3:00 pm.

We did a science experiment for homeschool one afternoon and made gummy candy with a DIY kit. That was fun!

Niva snuggled up on the couch under Sadie’s blanket!

I decided to have Sadie help me paint the Russian nesting dolls I bought for her and she was thrilled! I’m excited to work on this project together.

Dakota caught the sniffles and it quickly turned into a double ear infection. Surprise. 😆 The doctor said “I wish our med school students were here today so I could show them a really good ear infection!” haha. Both of her poor ear drums were bulging and he really recommended we just go through with the ear tubes surgery. We have some decisions to make over here!

I brought the kids to “crafternoon” at the library and we had a great time playing games and making crafts on a cold afternoon!

Sadie was loving all of the opportunities to express her creativity!

Mordecai loved being involved, too! It’s so great to see him start to join in at kids’ programs at our library as he grows.

Because we were at the library for a while, we didn’t get to Sadie’s schoolwork until late afternoon (yay for homeschool flexibility!). It worked out well because Jimmy was able to go over her math with her when he got home from work! She always enjoys when daddy can be involved with her learning.

Speaking of schoolwork, Sadie completed All About Reading Level 2! I can’t say enough good things about the All About Reading curriculum. We both love it!

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Other Notes and Thoughts 📝

• We’re over halfway through January! When the days are cold and dark, I remind myself: the days are getting longer, little by little. ☀️
• We finally planned Dakota’s first birthday party: we’re having it at our favorite ice cream shop! 🍦
• Mordecai was asking for a snack the other day and he said “I want my spicy wallet.” It turned out that “spicy wallet” was cheese curls??? 🤷🏼‍♀️
• I brought the kids to a fancy grocery store near us (Market District, if you’re local to Pittsburgh) and they were amazed by the lobster tank in the seafood area. One of the workers kindly brought out a lobster and gave them a little anatomy lesson. I love moments like that! 🦞
• I have finished at least three or four of these journals and I just ordered a new one. I love how the prompts help me quickly focus my thoughts for the day.
• We had some snow this week and could not for the life of us get Niva to come inside before bed so she slept in the snow for most of the night. Huskies are wild! ❄️
• I made chicken tikka masala for the first time in years by using this simmer sauce, chicken thighs, onion, and tomatoes. It turned out great and our adventurous eater, Mordecai, loved it.
• Scripture I’m loving: In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9. 📖
• Strawberries are finally more affordable at the store ($2.92 versus like $4.99 the past month)! They’re pretty much the only fruit Sadie will eat, so I’m relieved my picky eater is getting nutrients again! 🍓
• I just made coconut almond granola the other day and it hit the spot. 🥥

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That’s a wrap for this post! It’s currently 4:57 am as I type up this conclusion. Miss Dakota has been up since 3:30 am. I’m tiiired, but also looking at this early morning wakeup as time alone with Koko to comfort her (I’m thinking her ears were hurting and it woke her up?!) and work on this post as I feed her breakfast! It’s all about perspective 😉

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What are you up to this weekend?

What was the last craft you did?