Baking, Playing, Visiting...What We've Been Up To

The kids have been huge helpers in the kitchen lately. They love making homemade granola bars, soft pretzels, and any type of dessert, such as Valentine's Day cupcakes. We've also been doing lots of sledding, wrestling (Seth wouldn't let me post any of those pics, as they were all in their undies:) ), reading, playing games, drawing, having playdates, and anything else we can think of to keep winter boredom away! Last weekend, we went to Iowa to watch my brother coach the Pella High School Girls basketball team. They won by almost 20 points that night, so thanks for not making me sweat it out, Jer:) They lost their next game (probably b/c we weren't able to be there...that's what the kids think anyway...ha) that would have put them at the state tourney. And my mom planned an early b'day party for me, so I was able to see some of my extended family while visiting. Thanks, mom!

Starting to roll out the dough for pretzels...pardon my messy kitchen in the background...we'd already made granola bars and just kept going:)

They tasted way better than this pic shows...I could never have a food blog:)

Seth and his teacher, Ms. Phelan, at his Writer's Workshop Sharing Day (the kids had earned pajama day, which is why her pants look a bit funky...of course, Seth thinks PJ day is babyish, which is why he's in plain clothes:))

Me, Josie and my dad

My SIL Leah and niece Cayla

My mom and step-dad

Take two

My aunt Cindy and cousin Sonny

My grandparents

Cayla and Josie...Josie was in her undies because she was sweating after playing a jumping game with the boys...she definitely takes after Gabe in this regard.

Things were going well until some hair pulling took place:) I love how Josie is heartbroken and Cayla is chill...they quickly made up, tho!