Battling Bugs, Birthdays and Balloons

Well once again, it's been a LOOOOONNNNGGGG time since I've blogged. I posted on the first of Jan. so it's fitting that I at least post on the 31st of Jan. After all the Christmas craziness and getting cleaned up from that (I love the Christmas decorations but what a pain it is to take them down and put them away), we ended up getting sick and battling bugs--the tummy kind. It started out with Justin and Owen. I thought Dale, Hannah and I were going to luck out, but we ended up with it too. Everyone recovered fairly quickly except for poor Owen who just couldn't get rid of it. He was sick in varying stages for 3+ weeks. He's finally over that, although now has a nasty cold. Tis the season...

Hannah and Justin both had birthdays this month, which is another thing that kept us incredibly busy. I can't believe they are 7 and 5. Justin's birthday was first, and he had a Spiderman party at a gymnastics place where the kids all got to do fun things in the gym like do a trapeze and zip line into a big pit of foam blocks and trampoline in a harness with very strong bungees that would send them HIGH in the air. Hannah and Justin and all Justin's friends had a great time. It was very quick and easy for me too because there was no set up and clean up and I didn't have to entertain the kids. Hannah's party was just last weekend and was a High School Musical party at home with 4 friends from school, her cousin, and 2 long-time family friends. I had them make little scrapbooks, they danced to High School Musical music of course, played games like musical chairs and danced on the dance mat that she got from her friend, Maya.

Here are some pics from their birthdays:










As for the balloons, we were at the mall last weekend and saw a guy doing balloon animals. He gave Hannah and Justin each one and then Hannah requested just a blown up balloon, so she could try to twist her own animal. She did manage to make a hat before popping the balloon. We ended up having a snow day on Monday (not that we really had snow) and went to Target and they found some of the balloons and a pump for them, so I let them get it. Blowing up balloons and trying to make things kept them busy for a good portion of the day. I even went online and learned to make a few things. The dog was easiest. The kids made some crazy things and Owen just loved running around with the balloons.







It's been a long January, and I am glad that it is just about over, although I can't believe it's going to be Feb. already. I am tired of the wet cold weather and am definitely ready for Spring, but it will probably be a long wait.

TTFN--Ta Ta For Now