February

For elementary and preschoolers, February is the best! Between the school dance, class parties, Valentine exchanges, Dad coming to the school cafeteria for his annual lunch dates, heart-shaped pizzas at home, and candy galore, the celebration lasted weeks. Even I had a few Galentine parties on the calendar. What's not to love?

Luke's first school dance!

Ms Marlene made the preschool Valentine's day party so so fun

Mom's night out: Galentines with friends

For the second year in a row, Matt and Lydia went cross country skiing at White Grass for a weekend, and they loved it. Actually, they had so much fun that they convinced the rest of us to join next year! Matt already scoped out cabins and ski trailer rentals for the little girls. Honestly can't wait! This year they stayed in a cute motel, had microwave meals for dinner and stayed up late watching home renovation shows. 

One afternoon I took Lydia, Elise and Emmi to the Branch Museum for an exhibit of dresses. The girls had heart-eyes for all the fancy dresses and wondered if maybe Emmi is heir to the Branch mansion?

We visited with Great Aunt Joann and Ted when they stopped by on their drive back from Florida. The kids were standing lookout on the porch for at least 30 minutes before they arrived (Luke with his spyglass Joann gifted him last October), were greeted with a Costco-sized box of Veggie Straws on their arrival (everyone's favorite and making them instant BFFs) and dove right into a very enthusiastic, in-depth guided tour of the house and yard, led by Luke and Lydia. Then we all got Chic fil A!

Plus play dates, activities, a couple birthday parties, walks, the Olympics (accompanied by Cool Runnings for one Pizza and Movie Night), a random snow day, and of course playing outside. 

Great Aunt Joann and Ted! 

Kindergarten art is the best. Cardinal in the snow by Luke

Luke with his buddies Benji and Thompson (from preschool last year!)

Elise and Annie! So much dress up these days. :)
They were mermaids, ballerinas and more!

Dressing up as Elsa at Hazel's

Pajama day at preschool! Elise wanted head-to-toe leopard, down to her boots, and she rocked it!

Activity Girls pajama party!

Neuffer fam video call!

$9 Barbie Dream House from Goodwill was a hit

Grumpy Vivian right after a nap.

Elise found a cozy way to watch Olympics

Fishing!

Lydia started learning the recorder for school

Matt with 14 massive logs that were delivered to the house due to a miscommunication.
They were each over 6 feet long and hundreds of pounds. Between us we couldn't even roll them. 
Thank you to the people from Facebook Marketplace who wanted them and took them away!
Next time we'll make sure the mulch drop is, in fact, mulch. 

A random snowy afternoon! Can you see the snowflakes in Lydia's hair?

Dinner at the Hemsleys. Vivian got jealous that I was holding bb Milo. :) 

These kids found a baby turtle and made a home for him. 

Einar teaching everyone how to fill a tractor's tank with a gas can.