For Valentine's Day we gave the kids new sidewalk chalk. The kids and I had a great time enjoying the pretty sunny afternoon drawing all over our cement slab. I have to confess, I like to play with sidewalk chalk almost as much as the kids! :)
Enjoy our art work. 
Emily posing by our alphabet artwork.
Ever since we were dating, Pat has talked about how he'd like to build a house someday.
We spent time on dates drawing plans on napkins and other papers. I enjoyed dreaming with Pat, but was hesitant to get emotionally attatched to any plans because it seemed like such a far out dream. We have been researching homes in the country in the last few years and have found that it will cost nearly as much to buy an older home and remodel or add on to make space for our family, so we've come to the conclusion that it's time to build. Emily will be ready to start Kindergarten this fall and it seems that things will work out that she can begin her schooling career in Goessel. So, our house is for sale, and the kids are very excited! They don't have a clue, but they think this will be a great adventure.
Thanks for your prayers if you saw my post last night. I made it through the first day back. I remember now why I have liked teaching mornings so much at school. The kids were pretty busy and wiggly in the afternoon, but I think we can find a new routine to help with that a bit! It was good to be back with other adults for part of the day!
I go back to work tomorrow. I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine with the kids, but I have totally loved spending my days with them. They bring such joy to my heart, even when they aren't pleasant to be around. Emily should have had a nap today, she was very difficult tonight, this the third night in a row that Pat was gone at bedtime. However, snuggling in with a couple of good books put a pleasant end to our evening.
If you have a chance to send up a prayer for a positive attitude in me as I enter back into the world of first graders. I know things will go well, but I find my passion for the kids at school isn't as much as it was before my home here was full of kids.
Jenna was one month old on Saturday. We are amazed at how much she seems to have already grown. I've been mentally making a list of all the things I have loved about Jenna (and all our kids as newborns) that I don't want to ever forget.
-Itty bitty clothes that are incredibly fun to wash and fold!
-Tiny fingers that hold onto mine whenever I can sneak them into her little grasp
-The close snuggle I get after nursing while I burp Jenna, she likes to curl up her legs into a tiny ball, this makes me think about how she must have been when I was still pregnant. Especially with Jenna I am aware of how her movements on my chest and tummy are very similar to when she was still in me and moving around
-Content little moans and grunts after eating
-The startle reflex as I undress Jenna and change her diapers
-The way a clean baby smells
Grammy, my mom, made a special blanket for each of the kids when they were born. Emily and Jake both love to lace their fingers into the little holes between the yarns, it seems that Jenna will follow in their footsteps!!
