January 2019 Recap

January’s arrival meant back to work, back to school, and back to our normal routine after the holidays were over. Here are the highlights…

We spent the first week of January still dealing with an itchy rash that Brooklyn developed on December 29th. She had been taking Amoxicillin for an ear infection, and this rash popped up about 3 days after she started taking the medicine. She had taken Amoxicillin twice before with no problems, so we weren’t sure if it was the antibiotic or just a coincidence. The rash would come and go after a dose of Benadryl, and it was waking her up in the middle of the night almost every night. By the end of the week, we were both so ready for her to feel better!

On January 3rd, Brooklyn and Savannah helped me decorate a cake for Rae Rae’s birthday. They were responsible for adding LOTS of sprinkles to make it pretty :)

On January 4th, we drove down to Trussville to celebrate Rae Rae’s birthday (a week early). Abigail was happy to see her Paw, and we were all excited to see Jenn and Chandler who were home from NYC for a few days.

Happy birthday, Rae Rae!!

The writing looked better before it started sliding across the cake ;)

The cake was good to the last crumb!

Back at home – a Saturday night dance party!

Storytime with Michael is always a hit with the kids on Sundays :)

Abigail has started getting into the Baby Einstein DVDs that we have. It makes me smile to see her sitting in her pink chair like a big girl!

January 7th was Brooklyn’s first day back at school after Christmas break. They celebrated the new year, and she came home with a new hat!

These two have so much fun together (most of the time anyway)!

We spent some time at the neighborhood playground after school on January 8th :) We tend to walk down there at least once a week if the weather is nice enough. The girls enjoy it, especially when some of our walker friends join us.

We went to storytime at the Monrovia library with the Loveless crew on January 9th!

Brooklyn made me a chore list with the things that she thinks I’m supposed to do every day: Take care of Daddy and Brooklyn and Savannah. Take care of our cat. Clean the house. Wash the sheets. Clean the dishes. I’d better get busy! ;)

Most days in January, we didn’t let the cold weather deter us from walking home in the afternoon from school. We just bundled up, and it really wasn’t too bad.

January 22nd was Brooklyn’s 100th day of school! Apparently that’s a big deal these days. I don’t remember celebrating the 100th day of school when I was growing up, but I guess that means I’m old ;) She had to do a project using 100 of something to display in her classroom. We searched online for ideas, and she chose to make an ocean with Goldfish crackers.

She did a good job with the glue and did most of the work herself. She put a lot of thought into where each fish would go (she put certain fish with other fish because they were a family, she said…haha)

I thought it turned out really cute!

We tried playing Charades as a family one night, and it was hilarious. Travis and Savannah were on a team, and Brooklyn and I were on a team (since the girls had never played before). We figured out pretty quickly why the box said it was meant for ages 4+. Every time Travis would whisper the word to Savannah so she could act it out, she would say, “But I don’t know how to be a _______!” and give away the word…haha.

It’s so fun to sit with Cici!!

There’s something so cute about catching a peek of Abigail playing by herself in her room :)

I went up to the school on January 16th for duty free lunch. I think this was the first month I handled it by myself because the other room mom couldn’t be there that day. It went fine! I love getting to see Brooklyn’s classmates and talk to them about their day. There’s nothing like visiting a bunch of kindergartners to give you a big boost of self esteem…they always light up when they see you and make you feel so special! :)

Abigail enjoys seeing Brooklyn when she gets home in the afternoon…

Big hugs for her biggest sister!

Savannah was looking so cute in her denim dress and red tights…all ready for Bible class :)

We went to Music Together classes on Thursdays starting in January. We really enjoyed the songs from the Drum collection. Savannah loved the song book we got and frequently took it with her in the car or looked at it at home. Abigail was a big helper cleaning up the toys and instruments during class…she wanted to be just like the big kids, of course!

On Friday the 18th, we made a trip to Target after school (me with all three kids) to shop for a couple of Brooklyn’s friends who were having birthday parties the next day. It was pretty hectic trying to decide what to buy while corralling everybody, but we survived. Brooklyn is obsessed with the big red balls out in the front of the store and always wants to climb on them :)

So, yes – 2 birthday parties in one day. It was pretty insane. Both of the girls were in Brooklyn’s class at school, so I felt like if she went to one party, she had to go to the other because many of the same people would be at both. I was afraid Brooklyn would be worn out and in a terrible mood from so much excitement and cake all in one day, but she surprised me and really did great. The day couldn’t have gone much better, although I do hope we can stick to just one birthday party in a single Saturday from here on out ;)

The first party was for Sarah, and it was at Chuck E. Cheese. It was like a blast from the past…I hadn’t been to one since I was a little kid! Granted, this wasn’t the same location I’d been to before, but it was not dark or cramped like I remembered it being. I thought it was funny that a lot of the games are now touch screen…I guess they have to keep up with the times.

Chuck E. Cheese came to the table while they were eating, and Brooklyn seemed a little timid and unsure but she did give him a wave from across the table ;)

 

Victoria is in Brooklyn’s class (and also lives in our neighborhood), and they have become good friends this year :)

Brooklyn had a blast playing as many games as she could and collecting tickets. After we left, she announced, “I want to have my birthday party at ‘Chucker’ Cheese!” She also tried Sprite for the first time at that party, and said, “Mom, this isn’t water! I don’t like it!” My sheltered child ;)

Later that afternoon, we went to Ella’s birthday party, which was at her house. It was a kitty cat adoption party, and it was one of the cutest themed parties I’ve ever been to. I’m thinking Savannah would LOVE to have a party like this since she loves stuffed animals so much, so it might be perfect for her for next year :) Each girl at the party was allowed to pick out a cat to adopt, fill out an adoption certificate, decorate a house for their cat, and make a collar out of beads and string.

Brooklyn picked out a gray cat and named him Stripes. She was so excited to be able to take him home after the party.

It was a fun day!

Brooklyn was out of school on MLK Day, and Travis had the day off from work, so we headed to a few different furniture stores to look for a new kitchen table. Our glass table technically only seated four, so we knew it wouldn’t work forever, and we were ready to move onto something different. We went to Sutton’s and Barnett and Swann before ending up at Austin’s Furniture on Highway 20. We didn’t realize that they made their own tables, and you could customize the size, stain color, and type of wood they used. Perfect for what we were looking for! We ended up ordering a table similar to this one and couldn’t wait for it to be ready! Sidenote – they also have a TV/play area for kids…a genius idea so that parents can actually shop without interruption! :)

On January 22nd, we ate lunch at Chick-fil-a with the Loveless crew. We got several comments and looks from people that seemed amazed by all our kids…and this wasn’t even all of them since Brooklyn was at school. Ha!

The kids played for a while after we ate, and Abigail was wishing her legs were a little bit longer so she could climb too. I was wishing my legs were a little bit shorter when Savannah got “lost” up at the top and was screaming in fear because she couldn’t find her way out. I literally had to climb all the way up there because I couldn’t see her to direct her how to get down. Those play places are NOT meant for adults…haha. It was interesting, but both Savannah and I made it out of there alive :)

I found the girls in Abigail’s room that night, and Brooklyn and Savannah were pretending to nurse their stuffed animals under their shirts…haha!

Travis and Matt went to see Metallica that same night at the BJCC. He said it was a great concert!

Playing in a pile of pillows is always fun!

Not sure if she was looking for visitors or licking the glass. Probably both! ;)

Oh, just doing a little morning yoga…

Brooklyn spends some time drawing almost every day after school. I love looking at her artwork!

Brooklyn and Savannah had been asking to have a sleepover for a while, so we decided that Friday, January 25th would be a good time to try it. (Abigail did not participate…but we included her in the photo for fun). The big girls slept in Savannah’s bed side by side. We figured it woudn’t last, and they’d end up having to be separated to go to sleep. It did take them a few minutes to fall asleep, but they slept all night without any issues. We were shocked! They won’t be able to both fit in a twin bed for too much longer, but I’m sure we’ll try it again sometime soon. They had fun!

Doesn’t everyone put their shoes on first?? :)

Good to the last lick!

Brooklyn loves Gabby, and most days the feeling is mutual :)

We thought we might get some snow on January 29th, but it was a complete bust. We didn’t even get a dusting. But Travis and Brooklyn both got the day off, so it wasn’t all bad!

Brooklyn spent some time on her snow day making a list of things she hoped to get for her birthday coming up…

…and playing with her robot, Botley!

It’s funny to see Abigail imitating Savannah just like Savannah does to Brooklyn. Savannah is a good big sister!

It’s always exciting to see Daddy when he gets home from work!

Daddy and his littlest gal :)

Notes and Quotes from January: 

• 1/1/19 – This has been going on for a while, but anytime we ask Savannah what she thought about (insert some fun activity), her answer is always “Goood” in the most monotone voice. We could ask her what she thought about eating ice cream for breakfast, and it would be the same “Goood.” It’s hilarious!
• 1/2/19 – Abigail has FINALLY come down the stairs on her own. She came down on her belly/facing the steps and took it one step at a time. I feel better that she CAN do it at least, but I’m still nervous anytime she’s on them!
• 1/7/19 – Abigail’s 10^th tooth is coming in (molar on bottom left)
• 1/11/19 – Brooklyn and Savannah asked if they could watch TV, and Abigail raced across the living room to sit in one of the little pink chairs…haha
• Savannah likes to sing “Old McDonald Had A Farm”. When she gets to the end, she will ask “What else animals do I know?”
• 1/21/19 – I was going over the lunch menu for the week with Brooklyn and told her she could pick two days to buy her lunch this week. After listing all the options, she immediately chose pizza (of course!) and then I read through the other days’ choices one more time. She was in a hurry to get finished, so she blurted out that she wanted “chuntry chank!” – a.ka. (breaded) country steak…haha!
• 1/21/19 – Savannah was talking about Lion Guard tonight and told us that “Scar was the leader of the hyenas, crocs, and jackals”. Then, Brooklyn added, “Jackals are creditors!” I think she meant predators ;)
• 1/23/19 – Abigail ate all her breakfast, and I asked her if she wanted more while doing the sign for “more”. She did the sign back to me (first time she has signed that I know of!).
• 1/25/19 – Abigail signed ‘down” after I asked her if she wanted to get down from her chair after breakfast and modeled the sign first to her.
• 1/25/19 – Abigail giggles every time she tries to walk. It’s apparently hilarious to her. I don’t know if it’s because I smile the whole time at her while she’s trying or what. I think if she spent as much energy on walking as she did giggling, she would have mastered it already ;)
• 1/26/19 – Travis was talking to Savannah: “You’re a funny old girl, Pooks! What’s going to happen when you starting dating a man?” Savannah: “I don’t know if I can do it!”
• 1/27/19 – We like to joke about how Brooklyn is skinny just like Travis is. Daddy asked Brooklyn, “Where’d you get your skinny ‘bod’ (body)? Brooklyn: “From my God?”
• 1/30/19 (Wednesday night after supper) – Abigail pulled Savannah’s bowl of leftover vegetable soup off the table. It splattered all over her and all over the floor. She tracked it from the kitchen table all the way to our bathroom, and this was approximately 10 or 15 minutes before we needed to leave for Bible class, of course!
• 1/31/19 – When it’s time to pray, Abigail will hold her hands out. She usually sits in between Travis and me at the table, so she holds my hand in one and his in the other. So sweet!

Thanks for reading!