What we have been up too.....

Saturday January 17th my parents and Gaga came down to Merced to come to Paddington Bear with us it was an adorable movie!  We had a pizza party after. 

 Monday January 19th was Martin Luther King Day.  I took the kids to the jump house place it was so much fun. 

 When we drove into the parking lot I saw this cool London phone booth and just had to take a couple pictures.  Super random but pretty cool!

 Art, art and more art! I love how much these kids love art and projects.

 Ms. Buttrey asked me if I thought we could make paper mache globes and I said heck yeah! It's been a huge project but so much fun! I have (and Carter) been there from start to finish.  Well we are still not done but almost.  It's been fun being in the classroom 2 days a week!

 Friday January 23rd I took Carter to a play in Turlock.  It was actually kind of a scary random play but Carter seemed to like it so I guess that's good.

 We went with Murun, Michelle, Heather and Nash.  Carter has been having fun playing with Nash and it's nice to see him being the older one and teaching him.

Aubrey and I just got back from our annual girls weekend (next post). 

Braces!!

Aubrey got her expander off a few months ago (October) we were very excited to say good bye to that thing especially right before Halloween! Dr. Chad was very happy with how it helped her cross bite.  She still has a minor under bite so he put braces on her bottom teeth in hopes of making them more flat and sit right behind the front teeth.  

Tuesday January 13th was braces day! She was very excited!

 Her appointment was early in the morning and then had to go to school right after and I was at work that day. I felt so bad when they called me and told me she was in pain.  I rushed over right after work and took her for some soft treats.

The first few days were pretty hard but by Friday she was doing much better and not complaining at all.  Lets hope that when she gets them tightened next month it wont be too painful!

Joy School

It's official we are are no longer Merced parent preschool students, Carter or I.  This was a big decision.  As I have said in other posts I always loved the idea of the school but had a hard time with the teachers and how they treated the parents and some of the kids.  Well after going back and forth all last semester I finally came to the decision it was better for both Carter and I to do our own kind of preschool.  It was to much stress on me for him to only go 1 or 2 days a week and when I got yelled at for having my phone out to take a picture of Carter when he was super kid it was the last straw lol!  I have never been more happy with a decision we have loved the no stress and not being yelled at life.  A few of the ladies from church have a joy school program that they invited us to join in on.  We rotate hosting once a week and we teach lots of great topics that help with every day situations and its all very happy and positive.  There are only 2 other boys but they are all the same age and get along great.  Carter was very excited for his day Wednesday January 7.   

I hosted my first time on Monday January 12.  Jessica let me borrow this great book.

My lesson was on goals and knowing you can achieve them if you try.  I went with a train theme and it was lots of fun.  Aubrey reminded me Carter had his train hat from Papa and we went to train party a few years a go and got a couple more hats so all the boys got to wear one while we did our lesson.  We made trains with our names, filled out a sheet with what we loved last year and what our goals are for this year.

 I had a perfect alphabet train puzzle for them to all work on.  It was great hearing them sing the alphabet and work together to build the train.

 For snack we made trains out of gram crackers, peanut butter and banana's for the wheels.  We also put raisins and strawberries and said those were the people.  They loved it.

 Aubrey was having one of her swollen lip episodes (not contagious) so I keep her home to rest she spent most of the time resting in her room but did help with the puzzle and craft it was very nice having another "mommy" to help, 

 It was a fun day.  On our no joy school days we have been working in a kindergarten work book.  We also have been working on the letters.  Spencer was cute and said Carter learned more in 1 day at home then 1 1/2 years at preschool, haha. 

 I have just loved the time I have to just be us and enjoying! 

I found a box with my old cabbage patch kids in it and the kids have had so much fun playing with them.  It's funny that I had a blond boy and girl with brown eyes when I was younger to play with and now I have the real thing.  Carter named his son Snoopy and he takes him everywhere.  

A few Fridays ago Ms. Buttrey texted me Aubrey's spelling test it was so funny.  She said something like "what words are you teaching at home lol": 

We sure got a good laugh and for sure will save that one!

We are happy to be part of joy school now and to be home more and not feel like we are missing something at school.  I really struggle with if I should home school Aubrey too.  I know I can do it and I know that I would love having my kids all to myself at home.  But I need to remember that they need to grow and make friends and not have a mom that is hovering over them at all time.  Since I have her, I feel in the best school in the area and I'm able to volunteer so much I feel like right now it's working for us.  Plus it helps to have a great teacher.  That is another reason stopping MPP was a great choice Ms. Buttrey invites Carter to all the 1st grade parties and activities.     

The very last few days of break

We put Christmas stuff away :( but then onto Valentines day crafts and the count down to Aubrey's 7th birthday and party! As sad as it feels when one holiday comes to an end it sure is fun for a new one to be right around the corner.  Spencer took a another 4 day weekend after new years.  We had fun organizing and cleaning the house and doing crafts :)

 Aubrey and Crater really wanted to get best friend necklaces, how cute is that?! Friday we went shopping and found the perfect necklace! One side pink and the other blue. 

 They are very excited to be officially "best friends." Every now and again when they are fighting usually one of them yells out that they are going throw out their side of the necklace.  But for the most part they are two peas in a pod and it melts our hearts.  I hope this lasts forever!

 Saturday 1/3 since we were just home we decided it would be fun to have a spur of the moment play date.  We were happy that both Emily and Colton could come over for the afternoon.

 Well I guess that is it of the holiday season and Christmas break for us! It went way to fast but so much fun and packed with wonderful memories! 

This was our Christmas card this year.  

The coloring is horrible on the scanner  it looks better in person but you get the idea.

New Years Day

Happy 2015! At least I'm in the same year as my blog posts now! Wow I got a little behind there.  I will blame it on all the fun we were having and that I never found a minute to sit down and load pictures onto the computer.  

New Years Day is always so fun because it's my sister aka Titi's birthday.  We always get to meet up in Modesto for a yummy dinner out and to celebrate.  

Happy Birthday Titi! We love you.

New Years Eve-Snow Day

Wednesday New Years Eve the kids and I drove up to Nana and Papa's for a snow day.  They didn't have snow at their house but we drove a little higher and found some to play in.  The drive up there was pretty funny in the back seat:

The car was stuffed! When we got up to the top of the mountain right where they close the Sonora pass we parked our car and there where only 2 other cars in the parking lot.  Every where we go Aubrey sees someone she knows from Peterson! Every where, Target, shopping in Modesto, restaurants even ice skating and even 2 hours away up at the top of a mountain where only 2 other cars where out comes a little boy she knew from Peterson.  It was really funny and we ended up playing with them latter that day.  I guess that means that Peterson families are the best and are doing fun things!

 We walked up the closed road and found a perfect area to have a picnic and the best hot chocolate made by Nana.

Then it was play time.  I thought I had boots that fit Carter but I guess not and he was stuck in his sisters old pink boots that where not good at all.  Last time we played in the snow Aubrey wore those boots and was around 4 and she hatted it! Carter liked it that trip but this time he was hot and cold.  He would play and then cry like crazy and I would warm him up give him new socks and he would be happy again until he got wet again and would cry.  I'm thinking it is those boots! Or maybejust being 4 is a hard age to play in the snow?!?  Aubrey loved it!! She would have stayed playing in the snow for hours she was a little snow bunny!

 Aubrey and Papa were determined to make a snowman!  It's looks a little melted but cute!

 After our really fun day playing we meet up with Titi for some hot chocolate at Starbucks.

 Then we went back to Nana and Papa's and hung out with Nana and then said our good byes and headed home.  We meet up with our really good friends the Sharps for dinner at our favorite Sushi place as you can see the kids had McDonald's. 

 Then we went home for our traditional cream puff, apple cider dessert and watching the ball drop at 9pm!

We had a slumber party in our room that night with the kids.  It was a great way to spend the last day of 2014! Happy New Year!