THREE

 

V got to go ice skating with her cousin/friend for her birthday. 

2025 week three

These are literally the only photos we have from the week and we didn't even take them. Ha.

Quotes

V- "So, turns out our science text books make perfect sleds!" A patch of snow remained on the field for the entire week of school. And apparently the 6th graders had a great idea...

V- "If I ask for something green can I have it no matter what?" Nope. 

Me- "Why did I hear you had a pencil up your nose in class?"

V, unabashed- "I had a booger I couldn't reach... But don't worry, I had the eraser side up!"

Theo was interviewed in class for a biography project. When he was asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, he said, "Married." His teacher texted me because it was such an unexpected answer from him. Sweet, but unexpected. 

TWO

 

Kip loves to lay at my feet while I cook dinner. It is just passive begging -hoping I'll drop a tasty morsel. 

2025 week two

School was canceled for Thursday and Friday this week because we had a huge snowstorm predicted. The 9-10 inches ended up being about 3, but it was enough for us! 

I love that I caught Theo's snowball in the air headed straight for V. 

V built a little snowman. Kip LOVED the snow. She was constantly asking to go outside and just bound through the snow like a little arctic fox. She was so sad when it started to melt. She would find a little patch of snow and bite it and rub her face in it. 

Driveway sledding. 

The chickens also loved the snow. They trouped around in a little group digging up the snow to find little treats. 

Theo basically refused to wear an actual jacket the entire time. My kids did not really understand the snow day rules and kept going in and out in and out getting everything soaked and then being mad when I wouldn't let them go back outside with dripping wet gloves and socks. 

This is how I spent much of the two snow days. 

Once the roads cleared, the delivery trucks were able to make it through. Our beautiful new rug from Ruggable arrived. I'm so happy with it. It reminds me of a medieval tapestry. 

Quotes:

Theo mad about me sending him to bed early because he was intolerably rude during dinner, "Can you please respect my body and not touch me?" He refused to surrender to a goodnight hug, kiss, snuggle, handshake, etc. 

ONE

 

Ashley and I met up at The Adolphus for Holiday Tea. 

2025 week one

It is such a spectacular experience. I hope we can make it an annual tradition.

Matt's hopes and dreams of getting the cat litter box in the garage are finally realized. When we replaced the water heater earlier this year, he got a different stand that would be completely open underneath.

He boxed in the stand, putting acrylic on the flooring and plastic paneling for the walls so it could be easily sprayed out and wiped down. He continued perfecting his trim and molding skills for the exterior. 

The cat flap exits into our coat closet that has a cat corner cut out of the closet door. There is also a motion sensor light strip so the cats can have adequate bathroom lighting. It is so over engineered and the loveliest a cat box area can be. And best of all it is out of my house! 

Theo had two of the tiniest teeth hanging on while the grown up teeth were coming in behind. I told him I'd give him $5 for each tooth he got out before midnight on New Years Eve. 

Theo trying to beat me at a game of flexibility. 

He'll never beat me. 

Beautiful flowers we got from Trader Joes. The rose lilies are rather fragrant without being overwhelming as some lilies can be. 

We finally sanded and stained the beautiful table and chairs set we got this past summer. 

Matt mounted the owl house his dad made us for Christmas. May owls move in and eat every mouse who tries to get into my chicken coop. 

The kids got me this great lego set for Christmas. It will be so fun to use it to teach moon phases to my fourth graders this year. 

The second half of Christmas break was spent harassing each other in Minecraft. 

Our car gave out on us at the library! It had to be towed to a shop and they will have to replace the clutch. 

We all went to eat NY style pizza and race Andretti go karts for Gary's Christmas present while most of the siblings were in town.  

It was a really fun three story track that was lit up. 

Matt ended up having the best overall time for the night. 

FIFTY-TWO

 

Checking for eggs. 

2024 week fifty-two

It's been a wild December for my garden. I have never had tomatoes past July, but here we are eating Christmas tomato sandwiches. 

Melissa came to visit us and Kip loved it so much, clearly. 

Christmas eve. After our traditional Chinese food dinner, Matt and V had the idea to make chains "that we forge in this life" a la Marley's ghost. We each wrote silly sins for everyone and made "sin chains." It was weird but everyone really enjoyed reading their silly sins. 

Christmas cat. 

Apparently this was the best family photo we got, no one is smiling and Theo is hiding behind me. Merry Christmas, I promise we were cheerful. 

V loves her new long winter coat. She wanted one that went past her knees, and this one is almost to her ankles, so she's thrilled. 

Matt's got a classic Irish fisherman's sweater for Christmas/anniversary. The 14th anniversary is ivory, so this fits the bill. 

V got a peacock lego set. 

And she got a cat skull hair clip. 

The rest of Christmas was Theo building their The Office lego set and V eating hot cheetos and reading the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events. 

On Friday, V had a friend over to play. 

Alexia and her family came to spend time with us and it ended in a family game of whiffle ball. 

Even Alton had a great time. 

It was a lovely way to spend a sunny winter afternoon. 

Gingerbread cookies and tea. 

A Pickles in swaddling clothes. 

Kip has discovered her destiny as chicken watch dog. We let the chickens loose this week and Kip is fully invested in their safety. 

From last week when we went to the Botanical Gardens. 

Quotes:

Theo sneaks into the kitchen behind me and tries to steal a tomato
Me- "Stop!"
Theo-"...Drop. And rollllllll (he rolls out of the kitchen, tomato in hand) away!"

FIFTY-ONE

 

Pickles is a breakfast lap cat. 

2024 week fifty-one

Class Christmas Party!

Lovely holiday table setting.

Saturday morning, I got to try some of my new tea in a new china cup from one of my students. 

Saturday was also our 14th anniversary. Matt and I spent the weekend exploring Ft. Worth. Our first stop was Coco Shrimp. It was an absolute delight. If you love coconut shrimp and live anywhere close, it's worth it. 

My lovely students and their parents pitched in to buy me this hat. I need a good winter one for car line. I was just going to order it with the money they gave, but when we were walking around Ft. Worth we saw the storefront, so I got to go in and try it on and get the perfect size. I love it. Thank you to my class! 

Before our anniversary dinner. Matt got a leather jacket. He has wanted one for as long as I've known him and Overland had the absolute perfect one. It didn't take much encouragement from me to convince him to get it. 

I didn't get any photos of our food, it just didn't seem like the venue to photograph your food, but I did get photos of us looking so sharp. 

Classy black and gold bathroom selfie. 

On Sunday morning we walked around the botanical gardens in the lovely brisk air. It was a perfect anniversary trip. 

Meanwhile, V and T were having a great time with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Sunday dinner sandwiches. 

Matt came straight home from vacation and put himself to work on house projects. 

"My block tower penthouse." -Theo

Quotes

V has a club at school called "VRA" Veras Roman Army. They all have Roman names and are elected to various government positions in their club. It's delightful.

V wrote a newspaper for the first day of Christmas Break:

"Report of Christmas Fever"

     Theo, son of Lana, is being pesty. He claims to be doing it on purpose. He seems to be having outbursts the closer we get to Christmas. He is becoming violent, crass, sassy, and on the whole, just plain rude. "He pinned me to the wall and slammed a laundry ball into my ear," reporter V. Cole states. 

     As a form of punishment, his mother, radiant Mrs. Cole, is making him clean the house all by himself. In a moody voice, he claims he will never stop being pesty! But never fear, his mother is a kind-hearted soul and wants him to be able to play.

        When doing his chore of laundry, he feigns stupidity, saying he can't put away an "unidentified cloth." More crazy outbursts include ripping down the mistletoe and shooting at his sister! 

        Lock your doors ladies and gentlemen, and hope this ends! -Veronica Cole, reporter. 

"The Grinch of Lewisville"

        With only a couple days 'till Christmas, anticipation is steadily growing. All the Christmas preparation is causing the Christmas spirit to fill even the darkest of hearts. The current Grinch of Christmas, Theo Cole, felt his heart grown three sizes when he repented his miserable deeds. Even his relatives are happy. His mother says her day was filled with golden sunshine because he repented!                 -Veronica Cole, reporter

The Murderous Deer

A limerick by Veronica Cole

There once were two proud deer,

And nothing did they ever fear. 

But one cloudy night

A third came into sight

And murdered those noble proud deer.

(inspired by seeing some reindeer lawn ornaments knocked over by the wind.)