Happy New Year

With each passing Holiday this year we've realized that all of our awesome traditions were more centered on the awesome people we spent them with. We were contemplating a New Year's Eve party but later decided to just keep it low key. Cody's one wish was that he didn't have to stay up until midnight. Deal!!!!

We started our day candlestick bowling. Seriously can't go wrong bowling. We all love it and with the smaller balls all the kids go do it with ease. It was very fun. Afterwards each of the kids got four tokens to either play games or ride rides. Lacey spent her token riding a bumper car in a circle. She was hilarious and that one three minute ride made the whole day worth it. We came home for naps and we all napped peacefully and then I explained to the kids what New Year's Eve is and I pumped them up for a fun night of finger foods, mixed drinks, (lime Rickey's) and games while we ate. They loved it and so did Cody and I. We played several rounds of Uno and connect four in teams. We then watched Sword in the Stone and called it a night. I'm pretty sure we were all sound asleep by 9:30! It was a very fun night and the kids loved it.

On Monday night we set resolutions with our kids. We reviewed the last year and Cody had us all write two things that we learned last year and two things we wanted to learn this year. It was fun reflecting on the last year and seeing how far we have come. I'm still amazed by that we did in the last year and overwhelmed how many times we saw the Lords hand leading us to where we are. I have one goal for the whole year, which is to have a gospel centered conversation each week with someone not of my faith. But, I get tired of having the same goals for the whole year so I'm setting monthly goals. My January goal is to "enjoy January!" Which is often hard for me to do. I also had a goal of painting the downstairs bathroom, redoing the laundry room and getting caught up on our scrap books (which is going to take me well into February.) so far, the downstairs bathroom and laundry room are finished and I also threw in the upstairs bathroom which Is complete as of today.  I love a good check mark next to a nice obtainable goal! 

On a side note- a few weeks ago Julia became interested in sounding out words. Yesterday she picked up one of Kevin's beginner reader books and shocked our socks off when she read the whole thing with very little help and then continued to read two more books. Kevin is also doing well in reading. If he doesn't gain more interest Julia will catch up to him soon. It is fun to see their confidence bloom as they begin to master new words and need less help. The joys of being a mother. I just couldn't soak it all in enough last night. I was snapping mental pictures left and right and even snagged a video of Julia reading. Most days, I love being the Mom!

Some recent funnies-

Kevin-it's a foot note. I said a foot note. Mom- do you even know what a foot note is? K-yeah! It's a note about someone's foot!

Lacey- mommy what's your name? Mom- Jessica Ann Gray. Lacey- ok, Mommy Ann Gray (as she scribbles notes on a paper.) and Daddy is Dad Robert Gray (more scribbling.) and Julia is Julia Ann Gray (more scribbling) and Kevin boy is Kevin Robert....HEY! I only Lacey Gray. Julia is Julia Ann. Why I only Lacey Gray? (I was shocked...I knew the question would come, but not at 2! Here I was thinking she was so bright when not even two minutes later she walked in and said in a shocked voice,) "MOM! Where is the CHRISTMAS TREE???????" (That I took down the day after Christmas!)

Our kids come in and get the iPad in the morning and watch a movie so that Cody and I can sleep a little later. Our rule has been 6:00 is the earliest. Lately it seems Kevin and Julia are in a competition to see who can get up here first. Yesterday I made it know that no one gets the iPad until they are dressed, teeth brushed, beds made, and rooms cleaned. Thinking then they would be less motivated. Kevin was here at 5:18 with all his stuff done ready for the iPad. I sent him to lay back down until six. When Julia promptly walked in. I asked her if she'd done all of her things to which she whined, "but Mom!" I said, "it's not fair for me to do all the chores, you live here, too." To which she replied, "Kevin and Lacey live here too, just tell them to do my chores and give me the iPad!" HA!