This past week held a little bit of everything: birthday candles blown out on two different nights, cousins filling the house with noise and laughter, rainbow sprinkles all over the counters, homeschool lessons squeezed between celebrations, and three huskies tromping through our muddy yard.
It wasn’t a quiet week or perfectly planned, but it was full in the very best way. It was the kind of week that reminds me how quickly time passes and how grateful I am for our family. Here’s a little look at our week with cake, cousins, and all the celebrations in between!
Birthday Celebrations 🎂
Dakota’s birthday fell on a Monday this year so we had a pretty normal day! She had her twelve month check up and vaccines and then we did our usual routine of homeschooling and catching up around the house from the weekend. We made sure to bake a small batch of vanilla cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles inside for our birthday girl, though!
Jimmy had to work late on Dak’s birthday (and a few other nights—he is busy and it’s such a blessing!), but we made it out and about to celebrate. February birthdays are hard. What do you do for a one-year-old on a Monday night when it’s cold, snowing, and almost bedtime? You go to the pet store and let her look at fish. 😂
Our other birthday celebration of the week landed on Saturday night when we went to my parents’ house with my siblings and their kids. We celebrated my dad’s birthday! We all joked that it was an absolute miracle to have all ten grandkids healthy and able to meet up in late February. 🤣
Left to right: Olive (2), Lawson (4), Mordecai (3), Titus (3), Dakota (1), Gideon (0), Sadie (7), Caroline (6), Raven (4), and Remi (6). Oh, and Pap Pap (63)! 😂
We had so much good food! Lots of Italian dishes, Hannah made the most amazing breadsticks and cookies with freshly milled flour, and I brought along a carrot cake and chocolate cupcakes with Nutella buttercream.
I loved hanging out with my brother, sister, and siblings-in-law, and especially enjoyed playing with my nieces and nephews. As the kids get older, it only becomes more and more fun!
It was a joyful, loud, and amazing night celebrating my dad! He and my mom had my brother, sister, and I and we all met our spouses at our church and now we have ten kids between us. All because my mom and dad met in the Navy, had us kids, and faithfully brought us to church. God is so good!
I’m so thankful for my dad’s wisdom, love, and generosity. He has been an amazing example to me and our kids couldn’t be more blessed with an amazing Pap Pap. ❤️
Sister + Cousin Time 👯♀️
We had even more cousin time when my sister and her kids came over for a day! Sadie had a countdown going for this day and each morning she would say “Seven days until Caroline comes over…” and on and on until it was the day. I may or may not have had the same kind of countdown going in my head for spending time with my sister! 😉
Almost everyone is big enough to ride a bike these days! Left to right: Gideon, Titus, Mordecai, Lawson, Sadie, Dakota, and Caroline.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the end of February. It was sunny and in the 50s—super rare for Pittsburgh in the winter. The big girls played with baby dolls, the boys played with trains and cars, and the babies were just along for the ride!
The big kids also managed to convince us to let them swim in the hot tub. How did my sister and I manage seven kids ages seven and under for a day? I have no clue but we were exhausted by the end of the day! It was another night when Jimmy had to work late. I slept like a rock that night. 🪨
I’m so thankful for my sister taking time out of her busy schedule to trek across Pittsburgh with four kids, all their bikes, and their dog (!) just to hang out with us. I love you, Hannah!
In the Kitchen 🥔
As per usual, I kept busy in the kitchen this week! I made a batch of twice baked potatoes to have on hand for dinner sides.
I finally perfected my chocolate pistachio swirl bread! I will try to share the recipe this week. It’s a good one!
Jimmy has been working on a job site with someone who heard about my cupcakes. Obviously, I had to make them some! I baked chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream and decorated them with chopped Reese’s cups and a chocolate drizzle.
My sister made us English muffins with freshly milled flour. I used those as a base for eggs Benedict!
Dakota tried a new-to-her baby food pouch fortified with iron and zinc. We’re trying to resolve her anemia!
What’s the best thing you ate, cooked, or baked this week?
School Time ✏️
We hit day 150 (out of 180) of our school year this week! It has been a good year for us.
“I love Caroline she is the best.” ❤️
Sadie worked on a page in her spelling workbook and wrote a sentence about her cousin, Caroline. I thought it was too sweet!
We spent some time reading through Follow Me Around Ireland. I think I enjoy these types of books just as much as the kids. I’m learning something new all the time!
For some of the kids’ Bible lessons we watch videos on Minno’s YouTube channel. They even have sign language interpreters for some of the programs!
12 Paws and All the Mud 🐾
We had 12 paws romping around our yard this week! Our friend who owns Niva’s bestie was fostering another husky so she brought the girls over and they played all day.
Niva, Princess, and Runah
The dogs got along so well and we loved meeting a new friend. The foster pup made it to her forever home this weekend! I think my friend was able to get the new owner’s contact info, so hopefully we can do another play date in the future. 😊
I was almost sad she was spoken for because we loved her so much! If she hadn’t found a home, I probably would have tried to convince Jimmy that we need another dog. 😉
Daily Life 😎
Dakota is definitely our wild child. She is constantly getting into things, climbing everything, and sticking small toys in her mouth. Look at how proud she was because she climbed from the couch to the coffee table!
The girls were excited to match their pajamas!
The kids spent time at my mother-in-law’s and she sent me a picture of Dakota “mixing a cake.” Too cute!
Dakota somehow wedges herself between our kitchen table and couch at least once a day. She always gets stuck and cries, So I free her… and she does it all over again. 🤣
Other Notes and Thoughts 📝
- Scripture I’m loving: Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
- I bought two new flavors of Goldfish and we polished them off within a day or two! Sadie and I loved the cinnamon roll flavor and Mordecai was a big fan of the strawberry shortcake flavor. 🍓
- Dakota took her first unassisted step on Saturday! 🦶
- I’ve been hearing birds again in the morning. Spring is coming! 🐦
- Speaking of spring, I’ve been trying to tackle little spring cleaning projects here and there. This week I cleaned the glass on our back door with my favorite glass cleaner and it made such a big difference!
- Dakota has been having fun with this cute carrot puzzle and I kinda like doing it, too! 🥕
That’s all I have to share today. Life has been full and fun lately. It’s the kind of busy that reminds me how much there is to be thankful for. I’m looking forward to a more quiet week this week. We are having Dakota’s first birthday party on Saturday and I can’t wait to celebrate at our favorite ice cream shop!
It’s looking like Pittsburgh is going to get a lot of rain this week. I just might have to whip out the kids rain boots and let them go puddle jumping! ☔️
Living My Full Life 