Dancing with Daffodils

 This past week was so wonderful. Monday we slept in and stayed in our pjs and watched a movie and I did laundry and read my book and Josh made pizza. I love having Josh home and this is such a special week to just be home and relaxed together. Tuesday they all went to play more basketball at the church while I went on a nice long walk. Later the boys played laser tag in the woods and Josh and I planned our anniversary trip and then we watched another Christmas movie. Wednesday was a big day though. One of our main gifts to the kids was a DC adventure so we left around 12pm and went up to the National Mall. We walked around a bit and then went to the American History museum, which was pretty crowded. I love seeing the flag there and the first lady dresses and the On the Move exhibit in the basement. We went by the ruby slippers but that area was crazy busy so we didn't stick around. Then we went to Smash Burger for dinner and the boys went to the Wizards game while I took the girls...

 It has been a great two weeks. All of the music at church went so well, which was a huge relief and wonderful blessing. We spent the first week of break hanging out with friends, baking, and wrapping. We had the sister missionaries over for dinner one night, I went to book club and we did our fun book exchange, kids had youth activities and Lily did some babysitting. We went to the library a couple of times and Leisa came to the gym with me which was so fun. I made cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning breakfast and bon bons, chocolate nut roll, candy cane cookies and spritz. It was so wonderful to sleep in and not worry about getting up in the morning.  Josh worked all week but had Friday off. He took the boys to church to play basketball and also had a lot of ward Christmas stuff to do (presents to buy and deliver for some ward members). It took all day and then Lily had her seminary nerf gun party that evening.  Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. We watche...

 Lily performed in her studio's performance of the Nutcracker this year and it was so fun. We all went Friday night (Noreen and Brianna came with us too) and she did so well. She was in almost the entire first act as an aunt at the party so she is on stage through the whole party which was fun. Then in the second act she was Mother Ginger and also in the waltz of the flowers. She is really growing and it is wonderful to watch. I'm so proud of her for her hard work and dedication. Some other families from church were there with their little girls (one of whom adores Lily and it is so cute) and it was nice to share the evening with them. So grateful for people who love and support my kids. It is such a blessing.        Saturday was Brandon's first basketball practice and Curtis's first game. His team is pretty good and fun to watch and I love that the games are indoors and over in 45 minutes. Then it was the ward Christmas party and since it ended much earlier tha...

  It has been a good two weeks. The first week was filled with regular life stuff like piano lessons, dance, house work and grocery shopping. One night was book club and that was a good discussion. I had read the book in fourth grade and disliked it; in fact it was what turned me off to fantasy. So it was interesting to read it again as an adult. I can't say I liked it much more but I appreciated the symbolism and and depth of it that I certainly did not appreciate in fourth grade. That's part of why I love book club; I appreciate how it expands my understanding and I learn and read things I normally wouldn't have on my own. Plus it is fun to talk with friends and eat treats.  Michelle and I also went to the temple that Thursday, which was awesome because we had just been two weeks earlier. Our Relief Society was invited to go either Thursday or Friday but no one else was there with us on Thursday so I hope a lot of people went Friday. I love having the temple open again an...