How well I know the FREEEEZING winters in Omaha.
Jacob and Laurie have had their babies or have gone on cruises in the winter months and it seemed I was always going to visit them in the dead of COLD wintertime.
I will never forget the year it was -34 windy degrees. I don't think I ever warmed up the whole time I was there. I was never so happy to have a sick grandchild on Sunday of that week so I could stay home and not have to go out in the waaaaaaay below freezing weather.
So, I can well relate to Logan's sentiment of being out in the cold Omaha winter. I can't relate to the dog part, but I can relate to the cold part.
He reminds me of what Ben wears to go outside in the winter--t-shirts, shorts, beanie and gloves. Although, in Ben's defense, this was a warmer winter day that was just perfect for taking the little ones outside to enjoy some fresh air.
Oh how happy little children are to play outside--no matter what the weather. Haley is a knitting pro, and Kade is a perfect model of her beautifully-crafted neck warmers.
Kade tried his hand at making cotton candy. Although I love sugar, this is a treat that does not appeal to me at all.
A plastic water mat with floating water creatures in it makes tummy time fun for Levi.
Both boys have pretty eyes.
Levi got his bald head from his dad. Ben was bald until he was 3-years-old. He had hair for a few years and then he went back to bald for several years when he had a buzz cut.
Haley has commented about how different from each other the two boys look when she does age-comparison photos. Kade is on the left and Levi is on the right in this 4-month-old side-by-side photo.
It sure didn't take the preemie baby long to catch up in size (might we even say surpass his brother in size?).
I absolutely love the cleft chins both boys have. I am a little partial because I, too, have one.
Ben also has a cleft chin. I was so happy to see the dimple chin when he was born, especially since we had decided to name him Benjamin Malan Thomas.
The cleft chin comes from the Malan side of the family--from Grandpa Malan.
My mom also has the dimple chin.
I wasn't sure if my Aunt Mary had one.
It appears I come by my dimple chin honestly.
Rebecca said it was hard to know which glass frames to get because it's hard to tell what a person looks like wearing a mask. (COVID!!!)
We have yet to see Spencer in glasses because he is very self-conscious about wearing them.
I keep thinking how it's a good thing he is getting them now when glasses are a fashion statement rather than when I was in 2nd grade and was one of the very, very few students who wore glasses at school and those of us who did got made fun of in a very unkind way.
At least they all get out of the house a couple of times a day to make the runs back and forth to school.
We invited Rebecca's family and Ben's family over for Sunday dinner. Then I found out it was Super Bowl Sunday and figured that was why Glen invited them over. Who cares about the Super Bowl anyway?!?!
Our guests came in the afternoon and didn't stay for any evening entertainment. I enjoyed seeing all the little darlings once again.
Kade knows the drill to wait until after dinner to get the popcorn makings out of the cupboard and then climb up for a front-row seat to watch his grandpa sing the Popcorn Popping song while waiting for the popcorn to bubble up and spill over into the big bowl.
Madison didn't want to miss the popcorn action as she came up wearing the stylish red glasses she found in the toy box.
Rebecca was the baby whisperer this time as she got Levi to sleep soundly in her lap for quite a while as we were visiting.
Knowing how much Glen likes (raw) hot dogs, I found the perfect Valentine's Day recipe for him.
Speaking of school...
It appears Eli still has plenty of time in his school day to make himself a buddy to hang out with while his brothers are in school.
Sarah's boys only go to school 2 hours a day. Carson and Lincoln go in the morning and Eli goes in the afternoon. I think it must feel like having a bunch of half-day Kindergarteners.
Unlike Natalie who was quarantined to her room for a week. The girl she so kindly drives to seminary tested positive for Covid. Makes me think of the saying, "No good deed goes unpunished..."
I enjoyed this photo Jacob sent showing him, Emma and Laurie playing a game with Natalie via FaceTime. So nice of them to include her! She was begging for people to FaceTime with her to relieve the monotony, so we enjoyed a nice visit with her one afternoon.
She was hoping so badly that when she went to get tested after her quarantine period that she would test negative. She has big plans for the weekend and didn't want them spoiled by Covid!!
The test results came back...
It looks like construction after demolition is happening at Abe and Klarissa's new home. I am sure they love being able to see the progress whenever they can make the trip from Florida to North Carolina.
We ate dinner at our three separate, socially-distanced tables.
We celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary on February 9th. Glen's work calendar was pretty full all day and even into the evening with zoom meetings. We did manage to squeeze in a Texas Roadhouse take-out meal between appointments. YUMMY!!
So thankful for my hard-working husband who has always provided so well for me and our family. Love him so much!!
In keeping with my goal of making new recipes, I made brussels sprouts with bacon. Instead of oven roasting them like I have done in the past, this time I pan fried them with a splash of balsamic vinegar. I even got Glen to try some and he liked it. (Success!)
My sweet friend Jan brought over a bouquet of flowers and a freshly-baked loaf of Kneader's bread for me for Valentine's Day. I told her I am so happy I am her friend because she frequently gives her friends gifts like this. That made my day!! Love her!!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!
