The last three four weeks have been a jumbled blur for me.

But today, it is Friday.

I know that because when I woke up this morning I checked.

After we finished our Friday house cleaning, Mr. Super Cute In His Glasses was begging for school.

Crazy, I know.

How could I think anything was more important at that moment than saying “Sure!”

So we finished our last day of “rowing” Katy and the Big Snow.

A little while back, I switched up school, and started doing Five In A Row with the two littlest.

SUPER. FUN. STUFF!

The idea is to read the same book five days in a row and then just pick things out of the book to study further.

There is a curriculum for this, which I could not justify spending the money on, so I am winging it on my own using the internet as my help!

With this book we have already studied snow verses rain, weather patterns, warm and cold fronts, community helpers, measuring, a compass and directions. And we made countless snow flake crafts.

Today we learned about the phone, phone numbers and 911.

Then we learned about traffic signs!

Eliza squealed with delight when I handed her some open glue.

That girl is so easy to please.

Since weaning Eliza off of Curious George has been harder than weaning her off those pain meds….we watched a Curious George episode about traffic signs!

We also finished building our own city of Geoppolis.

With snow and all.

Next up?

Madeline.

Should have these two munchkins speaking French by the end of next week!

Not only is it Friday, but it is 2015!! Happy, happy end-of-the-holidays weekend everyone!!

It was 22 degrees below zero wind chill here when we woke this morning.

It has warmed up to a balmy five below zero this afternoon!

But there are no rules when it comes to chunky monkey.

That photo just makes you want one, doesn’t it?

When I asked a certain adorable two year old if she wanted one, she sprinted to the freezer screaming “monkey! monkey!” the whole way there.

Sprinted.

That’s what I said!

Not impressed yet?

Well, this certain adorable two year old has not had any pain medication today.

At all.

The chunky monkey was delicious too.

Although I had to stand in front of the fire to bring my body temperature back to the 90 degree mark.

But it was oh. so. worth. it.

Praising God for no more pain medication, the pitter patter of little cowgirl boots, and sharing chunky monkey with five beautiful rewards. God is SO good!

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

I have been using my phone to take a photo everyday to record and count a blessing.

Our days are always full of blessings, so they are easy to find! But I read this idea somewhere and decided to go for it. It has been good to stop and relish in our blessings each day.

A sleepy baby, who rests well because of good pain management.

Littles. No need to say more.

Beautiful flowers from a beautiful friend.

Attending an amazing Christmas concert (Eliza’s first outing!). Made it feel like Christmas.

Laughter. From her toes.

Late night games, even though I never win.

Already made food for the freezer.

A hospital buddy.

New routines, like getting a bath on the floor.

The most adorable feet on the planet.

Healing.

We are so thankful for the progress Eliza is making! She starting walking by holding both of our hands with both of her hands on Wednesday. Thursday she walked holding only one of our hands with one of her hands. By Friday she was walking on her own. Only two weeks since her surgery! We are able to manage her pain with one over the counter medication every six hours now. She tells us when she is hurting through her body language, or by saying “ow, ow” when she moves. Although we are anxious to have our bath time routine back, her wound looks great. So many blessings.

My Mom has been counting her blessings each day too. She doesn’t take a photo, but she does share them with me.

I think we both should keep counting.

Through all the hard things, we have had a blessed Christmas! I will share our Christmas celebrations with LOTS of photos!!

Our Christmas Eve tradition: eating a big spread of hor d’oeuvres and playing games!

Thanks for chopping all the veggies, Grant!

Nori…Eliza LOVED this!! It was spicy!!

Fruit salsa! Super yummy!

Stuffed mushrooms, and bacon wrapped dates!! Delicious! We had lots of other yummy things too. We have SO much fun making the menu for our Christmas Eve celebration! Our plan was to cook once, and eat it twice. We did! It was yummy the second time too!!

A fierce game of Apples to Apples!

Lane and I were a team!

Our Christmas morning tradition: having family Bible time and prayer, cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then opening gifts!

Here is a sleepy girl, who still wakes up in pain every morning, but is making progress and healing well!

Kayla had Tate’s name!! Love this shirt for him!

Lane was SO excited about Christmas….but only because he had Blake’s name and COULD NOT WAIT to give his Daddy his gift! Too sweet for words!!

Addie had Eliza’s name….we are re-gifting the older girls’ American Girl things! Eliza said “Ooohhhh!!!”

Looking good, Grant! Thanks for blessing your Mama by changing out of your chore clothes!

Loved having this sweetest. couple. ever. with us for Christmas Eve and a few hours Christmas morning!! Their support this last month has been an enormous blessing.

David had my name! My favorite cutting board had broken a couple of months ago. Love that I have a new one now!!

Watching Lane and listening to the things he would say was such a JOY!!

Some school and sensory play for Eliza from her Daddy and Mommy!!

Tate’s new water bottle! Can’t stop thinking about our little man!!

Lots of fun things to open from Grandmas!! Finally got a photo of the girl behind the camera!! But where’s Lane?

There he is!!

Blake and I gave the four middles each a new towel, washcloth, and two pillows for their beds. They loved getting things they needed!

Lane tests out his pillow! Good to go, he says!

Be still my heart…..matching pj’s for Tate and Eliza from Blake’s Mom!! Took my breath away! Can’t wait to wear these on them!

Our next celebration included a visit from some awesome friends and fierce prayer warriors! We are SO thankful they made the effort to visit!!

Look, Greg! It’s blogtastic!!!

Trying to have some “normal” here has not been easy. Having the house full of people helped so much with that! Thank you, dear friends, for blessing us with your visit!! We love you all so much!!!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas too!! This time of year is full of awe for me. A Savior, sent under the law, as a babe, to then later die so we can have eternal life. Wow. Wow!

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5