A Lot of Valentines....

And once again.... nearly the entire month has passed by without a word from me...  I just don't know where the time goes.  I guess the daily routine, activities, homework, and parenting have just prevented me from posting.  In addition, my Christmas present from Steve has become very time consuming. What could that possibly be??????? Well.... I think Steve got tired of me threatening to take the kids piano lesson time slots if they didn't practice.  (I would be more than happy to learn a thing or two because I never had the opportunity to take lessons when I was younger.)  So what do you know... this Christmas he bought me a bunch of piano lessons, which I take once a week.  They have been so fun!  I love learning to play!  I wish I would have learned some of the correct fingerings and scales before I self taught myself!!!!  It is great.... and I enjoy the lessons very much.... I'm so grateful Steve pushed me into taking the lessons.  The time consuming part is that now I need to practice!!!!  I love to play the piano.... but, that leaves a lot less time for blogging or doing something else in the evenings.  Anyway.... Let's just say I'm trying to do better. 

So without further ado......here is what has been happening lately.... Gabby and I had to dress up and go to a Valentine's Day dance at her school one Sunday afternoon.  Here she is looking adorable.

One of the activities was decorating cookies. We loved it! You know how much the Herdoiza's love icing cookies.  Then Gabby doused it with a good coating of sprinkles, took one bite, and proceeded to drop the entire thing on the floor.  Oh well....

Then we took a turn on the dance floor.... but Gabby was acting so shy.  She didn't want to have any part of the dancing, which surprised me.  So instead we were off to the gym to play on the inflatables.  Nothing says fun like climbing and sliding in a sequined dress!

Back home.... the rest of the crew was gearing up for Valentine's parties at school.  Thank goodness for pinterest, I found this cute idea for a Valentine mailbox.  It started with a Kleenex box.

And finished with a monster mail box that would eat Valentine's cards.  Pretty cute and non-girlish with no red and pink hearts....

Gabby wanted to get in on the Valentine fun so we decided to make a heart for her Daddy.....

Voila.... Good old-fashioned-girly-girl pink and red hearts......

Later in the week it was time to write out our Valentine cards for classmates.  Gabby required some writing help.

 Nicholas was a pro and quickly checked off each classmate, addressed it, and added some candy....

 Once again he handed out Ninjago Valentine cards...

 Gabby gave out princess valentines and the crazy popping balloons that automatically inflate....

 So where was Amanda during all this Valentine fun?  She was on her way to 5th Grade camp.  She left the Wednesday before Valentines day and came home on Friday morning.  She stayed 2 nights at the Walled Lake Outdoor Center to study all kinds of nature topics and bond with her classmates and teachers.  She had a great time and was exhausted when she came home.  I went and prepared, served, and cleaned up lunch on Valentines Day.  I was happy to see her and her friends.  I had been worried because she had come down with a cold earlier in the week, and I was hoping she wouldn't get sicker being in such close quarters with 90 kids. 

 Amanda's class party had been earlier in the week.  She wanted to hand out treats....which we couldn't buy..... for some reason.... so we made these Valentine rice krispie treats for her classmates. 

 

 For Gabby's class party I signed up to bring more rice krispie treats.... The good news is that they are so easy to make.  I haven't made these snacks in years and I had to make them for 2 different classes within the same week.  (And the funny thing was.... the day I served lunch at the outdoor center for Amanda's camp.... the snack was rice krispie treats and I had to portion out 10 trays at lunch!)

So that about takes us up through Valentines day.  We have had a lot more excitement with a week off of school and Amanda's 11th birthday party.  I'll be sure to share the details soon.  Until later......

January Briefly

So the month of January was really uneventful..... Or maybe I just didn't feel like blogging.... or taking photos..... I guess after all the craziness of the Christmas holiday and the New Year, I just felt like taking a break.  Not to mention Steve's Mom had been in a rehab facility trying to recuperate from surgery, before having another surgery in the beginning of February.  There were just not a lot of happy things I felt like writing about.  The good news is Mom H. is doing better and on the road to recovery.  She is getting stronger and we pray that she will get home soon.  So I guess now would be the time to get back to blogging.  So here goes.....

Gabby continues to LOVE puzzles.  She does numerous puzzles, numerous times a day.  She likes the easy ones and the hard ones.  She is becoming a puzzle pro.  What a difference a year makes!

 The rest of the family is becoming pros at Jenga.  Check out our tower.  What a fun game of strategy with a steady hand!  If you haven't played before Nicholas would love to challenge you to a game.

 Amanda contemplating her next move.....

 Steve looking ever-so-confident..... On second thought....when does this guy not exude confidence????

 I thought this picture was cute of Steve and Amanda.  She is excited because tomorrow she leaves for 5th grade camp.  All the 5th graders in her school will be participating with their teachers and other chaperones for 2 1/2 days of learning and fun.  She can't wait to stay overnight with everyone and get away from Mom and Dad. (But of course I volunteered to prepare, serve, and clean-up lunch on day 2.... I couldn't go that long without seeing her!)

 It seems that snow days have become a regular thing around here lately.  How great to wake up and find out that you thought you had to get ready for school.... but guess what..... School's been CANCELED!!!!! Nicholas was so happy he gave me a huge hug when I told him the news.  It was too cute!  Here the kids are enjoying a leisurely breakfast on a snow day morning.

 Gabby and I were getting into the Valentine's Day spirit by making some festive jewelery.

 Little did she know I really wanted to work on her fine motor skills.  I have to say.... they have really improved.  She did much of the beading with a little help from me.  It's a pain when you get 4 beads on the thread.... and then move your arm and they all fall on the floor.  My job was to restring all the accidental beads falling on the floor....

 The finished product..... I see a possible jewelry designer in our midst!

 A couple of weekends ago Brad stopped by with Melia and Tyler.  I only captured a couple photos... but I thought this one was cute.  Gabby was cracking up at Melia and giving her all kids of love and kisses.

 And then I captured this shot.... ADORABLE!  This could be one of the cutest pictures ever.... I know I'm a biased Aunt.... but I'm just saying.... Watch out Gerber Baby!!!!

So that's a little bit of January around here..... Can't wait to tell you about February...since I'm back to blogging.......Until later....