Life as of January 9, 2018

Thanksgiving 2017:
We got together with friends, all resident families.

Christmas 2017:
Spent at home in NY. Kids love finding Benji (our elf on the shelf), even Maya was excited to look for him each morning. The kids would wake up extra early just to look for Benji. Kids made a gift list. On Christmas morning Maya ended up sleeping in and it was hared for the boys to wait for her to wake up. Adrian makes a Mexican meal for our Christmas feast. We invited friends over this year. We all enjoyed the food. Pazole, horchata, arroz con leche and key lime type pie.

New Years:
No celebration. We were woke up at midnight by the neighbors being noisy.

Winter happenings:
Adrian: Getting burned out with the long commute. About 3 hours a day. Blessing: there was an explosion near the train station one day. Adrian would have usually been in the area a that time, but just happened to be off that day. Adrian is tired of work drama. He works 40 hours/week. Commutes 15 hours/week. He is the Elders Quorum President. Has seen the hand of the Lord in many things.

Tammy: Stay at home with kids. Teaching preschool for Malachi every 3rd week. Goals: talk kinder to kids, read scriptures everyday.

Levi: 1st grade good. Many friends. Well liked. Doing well in school. Reading and Math are good. Needs to improve handwriting.

Malachi: Bored with preschool. Doing reading lessons. Whines all the time. Loves to snuggle.

Maya: Increase in vocabulary.

Winter 2017-2018

I always find that the hardest time of year is right after all the holidays end. It's cold outside and we're deep into the routine of school with no break in sight. This year was no different. January and February seemed to drag on.

Maya with her left hand down her diaper. It must be a comfort thing. She usually does it when she sucks her right thumb.

The goldfish got left on the table and the next thing I know Maya had dumped out the whole box! Notice the goldfish in her mouth.

A photo snapped as Adrian trekked through the city for work.

The boys love playing the snow! We got a couple good snowstorms this winter. Enough to use up all the allotted school snow days.

Christmas work party for Adrian at a fancy restaurant on Coney Island.

Maya loves to play and wrestle with the boys.

We woke up one Sunday morning to the house being 40 degrees. It was so cold outside that our oil line to our boiler froze. Malachi piled on the winter clothes to get warm.

Big snow storms meant snow days for all.

Malachi and Maya get along great. 

Maya loves to be with Levi and has tried several times to get me to let her sleep in his bed. But, smart old mom knows that no sleep will be had if I let that happen.

Malachi loves to snuggle and begs for us to stay and snuggle all night. He also loves us to sing him songs before bed.

Maya is constantly trying on all clothes she can fit into.

Sick day for Levi.

Maya was so proud of herself for getting Malachi's shirt on!

Satisfied she got her coat on.

Adrian is really getting burned out from work. Or I should clarify the commute to work. He works about 40 hours a week and commutes about another 15 on top of that. Driving in NY is no stroll through the park. It's aggressive and having to be on constant guard. Adrian gets home and he is so overstimulated from the drive.

Tammy stays at home and takes care of the kids. Very routine. Goals are to talk kinder to the kids and read scriptures daily.

Levi is doing good in first grade. He has many friends. We walk home and as we go I hear constantly "bye Levi" from classmates. Doing well in school. Reading and math are good. Needs to improve his handwriting. 

Malachi is bored with preschool. He already knows everything he his learning which is numbers and letters. He is a bit ahead of the other 2 kids in his class. Still doing reading lessons with me. Whines all. the. time. 

Maya has had a major word increase. Is becoming very independent.