Hello.

Hola. Time for a check-in. We've been under the weather (again) with colds. Nothing too bad, but I'm officially so over all the sickness this winter. I know we could have it way worse. I keep hearing of children being hospitalized with all sorts of awful illnesses. We've been spared that way. I continue to be thankful for all of the homeopathic formulas I have stored away. It doesn't always prevent, but it always always lessens the blow. Always.

I'm happy to say we've (almost) survived January. I always greet the month headstrong, thinking that if I have enough projects planned and enough to do to keep myself busy, I'll be okay. And of course I end up "okay", but it's not a picnic or anything. I always feel/act so crazy all month long. I bought flowers (twice), painted my toes oxblood red, breathed, wore sweats everyday, bought a new pair of pajamas, cooked chicken pot pie, redecorated, shopped, sat in the sun, drank water, and made chocolate cookie sandwiches with mint frosting the middle (and gained three pounds). And now we're almost done for another year. Cheers.

I have a few long posts with updates on the boys that I'm planning on posting, but mostly, I've been enjoying watching them play. It's so relaxing to be about the day, hearing them play with each other. I cannot get enough of it. They are such buddies.

Yesterday, Morgan was playing with his Police Playmobiles he got for Christmas. The set came with a "bad guy" with handcuffs and a beard on his face, and four police men with guns. I heard him talking back and forth with the police men and the bad guy, and he said, "This guy is going to jail! He broke that mailbox!". I could have died. Mr. Keller had a little run-in, shall we say, with the law when was 18 and was caught busting mailboxes with his friends. And.....they were all hauled off to jail for a few hours one Saturday night. I didn't ever know Morg knew about that, but apparently he does. It was so funny! And then there's Danny playing with the same toy police men and every one of them had "poopy diapers" that he was "changing". He'd say, "Poops gone! All better!". Always random (and funny). My children.

In the evenings, we've been reading books and enjoying fires. And I swear, this month has been full of the most beautiful sunsets. They are still nothing like Kuna's (which I still ache for), but I'm thankful to have my little kitchen window and a small view of where the sun goes down each night.

Happy almost February.
And I mean it.
Xo.

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Pretty ranunculus flowers.

New fabric for pillows.

A pair of new sitting chairs for my living room.

I spray-painted my juju hat that I made a few years ago. I like the color much better now.

More budding flowers.

A beautiful sunset from early January. 

Some new valentine cookie cutters.

Little men in a basket.

Danny's favorite lately.

Tulips from a few weeks ago. They lasted forever!

Naptime bliss one afternoon. 

A very random garage sale a few weeks ago (who has sales in the winter?!). I found this killer crate! 

I'm thinking I can't sell it for now.

Oh, how I love those chicklett tooths.

Danny stole Morg's new slippers and had a hayday parading around in them (even though he has a pair of his own). Morgan wears these everyday. He loves them. Thank you grandma!

Kenz came for a weekend. The boys were missing her so much, and in December when they were really sick, Danny was even crying for her. "I want Kenzie!".

We had a kick skipping church and watching old, old home videos from our childhood. I think we were laughing so hard we were crying a few times! I'm so thankful for those videos! What a treasure. 

I could just squeeeeeeze all day. 

Morg's class celebrated dinosaurs all month long. We have quite the collection of dinosaur projects now and Morg can name all the different kinds.

Morg's dinosaur shoebox terrarium.

My favorite place in the house.

"I lined them all up because they're graduating cuz they killed all the bad guys!"

Obviously.

The daily favorite of running through the house. We ran and ran and ran this month -- especially in the basement. The boys raced and raced. I just watched. And got a kick out of Sugar's cheeks turning bright red as he huffed and puffed trying to keep up with Morgan. 

My favorite sunset a few weeks ago. I couldn't get enough. It was such a gift from God. 

Good guys/bad guys.

At the museum this morning. I somehow only got pictures of Danny, who was please as punch to be walking around with all the big kids. Morgan was so protective of him, and stuck up for him several times around some of the rowdy bigger boys. I was having an ulcer thinking about taking Danny without a stroller (we got rid of our old one last summer and haven't bought a new one yet). I couldn't believe how they held hands together almost the whole entire time. This means one thing: Danny's growing up. 

And that's the end. For now.