We had a sister missionary from Tonga, sister Endemann, in our ward. Stuart absolutely loved her. She brought a lot of love everywhere she went. Our valentines day table and preschool Valentine's day crafts. Stuart and I went for a walk to a farm. He looks a little like a concentration camp victim along the barbed wire fence, doesn't he?
In January we discovered that Lela had lice. It took about a week to comb it all out of her hair. There was a lot of trial and error and trying to figure out what would best work. We flat ironed her hair and conditioned her hair. But mostly we sat for long hours at the kitchen counter cutting out all the nits. Little Stuart also ended up getting lice and I opted to shave his head. I had never shaved his head before and I didn't realize I should use a clipper. So he ended up with a straight buzz cut. He wore a little black cat for awhile to cover his bald head and we put that curly wig on him for a joke. But luckily his hair grew back quickly and we haven't had any more lice. Fingers crossed!
Enjoying time with Bob and grandma Robin. Lela is holding up her "100" project-what she thinks her life will be like at age 100. Selfies, rainy day wear, and playing around. Lela's second grade class had a few weeks of martial arts lessons. She really liked doing it.
New year new look. Dark hair don't care. Lela started ballet and tap. She loves it so much. Her former first grade teacher is her dance instructor which is nice.
My cousin Emily and her family came down to visit from Chicago. Her sister Missy paid for us to spend the night in a hotel so the kids could go swimming. It was so thoughtful of her and we all had a good time. The cousins had fun catching up. New Year's Eve we watched the ball drop and we drink Martinelli's and then we karaoked the night away. Emily had us all cracking up with her dancing and singing. I sang Love Shack baby.
For Christmas mom and Bob came down. The kids loved all their gifts. Everyone was excited about the new piano grandma got us. Since Christmas Day was on a Sunday we opened our stockings first and then when we came home from church we open the rest of our presents. Little Stuart loved his power ranger gifts from Grandpa John and his spy watch from Grandma Robin, and dinosaurs (dad). Lela loved her pink night gown (mom), boots (mom), nutcrackers (dad), and doll houses (from grandpa John). Thula liked her nail and make up stuff and her $100 from grandpa! Aunt Rosie also sent everyone presents and it was all appreciated.
In the first collage Thula is performing in her Christmas choir concert at school. Other photos are just another day in the life!
In the second collage I am celebrating my 34th birthday. Dad sent me the family nativity. I have many happy memories playing with it. Thula also made a happy birthday banner for my bathroom and the kids made me cards. Thula also arranged for her dad to get me a cake so they could sing happy birthday to me. She is a sweet daughter. I also love the photo of Lela playing so sweetly with her toys. Sister Chess from church knits all these boxes for people at church and Lela is playing house with them. I also found that she had taken several photos of her dollhouse, so I decided to include one of them. 😊
The third collage shows some of our Christmas decorations. I have a lot of nativitys from my dad!
The fourth collection is us visiting mom in Owensboro. We looked at Christmas lights, went bowling, played with their kitties, watched the movie, "What About Bob", hung a bird feeder, and admired Bob's guns.
I took the girls and Thula's friend, Phoenix, ice skating. Little Stuart and Lela admiring all the Christmas lights their dad put up. We also went on a couple of walks at night to look at the Christmas lights in the neighborhood. Stuart liked the disco lights on him. Big Stuart also took us to the old waverly hospital to see the laser light show. It was spooky and neat.
