February Recap!

The kids got some awards at their school ceremony. I couldn't make it so Arnold and his dad went to see them. Thankful they step in when I'm too busy!

We celebrated some friends' birthdays. Got to go to a camping themed party at a friend's new house on the lake. They had lots of  fun stuff to do and it was a beautiful day! 

Rachel celebrated her BFF Kenzie turning 7! She went to her party and picked her out the very thing she had been wanting-- a little live pets hedgehog. What will they think of next?? ;)

Arnie and I had our date night for Feb-- went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner. Then we went back to pick up the kids. We were tired. We are getting so old!

I went with some church friends to Freckled Frog to paint!  This has become one of my new favorite things to do! I am not artsy at all but they really touch up your piece and add details and it comes out beautiful! I knew I had to do the birdhouse when I saw it-- It really looked like it said "Spring." I've already hung it  up on our door! 

Daddy took his girls to our church Father/Daughter dance! They had a blast. The girls love dressing up and going out with their daddy. They had dinner, danced, and were silly the whole evening. AND Arnie let them eat waaaay too much sugar. Poor Rachel came home with a tummyache!

Got to catch up with my besties... we are all busy and never see each other anymore! :( 

We took the kids to the mountains one weekend. We wanted to play at the park but it was raining when we got there! We had lunch, stopped at the outlet stores, and got icecream! It was a blast. 

Brooke started what we call "Phase 2" of her braces. We now have more intensive stuff going on in her mouth and to the tune of double the monthly payment we have for it now, yikes! But it is definitely improving her mouth and we can see changes! 

After 11 years of marriage, hubby got me this beautiful wedding set, for our anniversary! I never really had my own wedding set since we got married so young and didn't have a lot back then. But it was worth the wait. I picked it out and its exactly what I love and it's so beautiful and sparkly! I stare at my hand like I was just engaged, ha! I have gotten lots of compliments on it! It's fun showing it off, even if we've been married a while ;)

Ive REALLY enjoyed my weekends home with the family! Rachel loves to snuggle with me in bed some saturday mornings! I love having a set schedule with my new job! 

Caleb and I went on a mom/son night.. and of course he picked going to the bookstore! He is just like me! He talked me into buying him a  new book... and later getting him a video game rental. Books, video games, and legos are his life these days! We also got some pizza and then came back home. He is very easy to please! 

Weve been breaking out some of our new spring clothes! The weather has been REALLY weird in NC lately.. the 70s most days for awhile... and this past week it got cold again! 

I got to go visit Erika and the sweet twins! I hate I haven't gotten to visit them more often! The girls are really growing, and smiling, and I loved snuggling Reagan! She even took a little nap on me! 

We celebrated Valentine's Day with all the usual stuff-- class parties, cards for friends, hearts on our clothes... etc. etc. 

What does this Mama get her kids for Vday gifts? new books of course! ;)

Books I read in 2016

Books I considered GREAT

(I love all of Karen K's books-- I've come to know the Baxter family well!)

Not what you'd expect, I really liked it.

I think just about everyone read this one. Suspenseful. 

This really is amazing in teaching you how to be organized and get rid of so much junk in your house. It really motivated me to start getting rid of stuff-- I think that made Arnold happy ;)

This one was somewhat sad and touching, and I really flew through it quickly. 

Mostly through the eyes of an African American woman and really puts certain aspects of racism and unfair prejudices front and center. 

Everyone knows Nic is my man-- and I love how his latest wasn't just a love story, but talked about the aspect of his child too, and some heartbreak in there. 

Loved reading one set back in the day.

Books I considered GOOD

I love Steven Curtis C and this was written by his wife-- true story of the heartbreak they went through when they lost their daughter. It was tough to read at times but I'm glad I did. 

I know these books are YA but I read the whole series and loved it!

Suspenseful, upsetting at times. Def not a light read, but I love this author! 

Another one by the author who wrote "The Good Girl." I think Mary Kubica is one of my new fave authors! 

Written by a marriage speaker we went to see one night at church-- talks about marriage advice and the "healthy" way to argue with your spouse.

Really liked this about being more intune with your life and the people in it. Hands Free Mama is also good.

I always loved the show The Little Couple (I miss it!) So I had to read this story about their family! They have the two CUTEST adopted kids in the world! 

I love anything about babies/midwives... and this one has a twist!

Of course making you feel better about your mothering and like you're not alone and crazy ;)

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Another book about getting rid of junk-- you'd think by now my house would be empty! ;)

Books I considered FAIR

I really have loved all the books Allison Scotch has written, but couldn't get into this at all! 

I DID like this story, but the format it was written in was a little hard to get into. 

I never finished this one, but what I read of it was good. I quit reading because it was depressing-- dealt with some pretty crappy/abusive parents and I could never get the heart to pick it back up again and finish. 

I read this because I found it free on Kindle-- It was just so-so.