Patriots Win Their 5th Super Bowl! 2017

We enjoyed the Super Bowl this year. By half-time, it looked like the Patriots were definitely going to lose. And then everything magically turned around!

Kevin's joy in the fourth quarter

This gravity-defying catch!

The cupcakes

Yum-yum-yum

Num-num-num

Patriots win and Gisele immediately takes an insane selfie.

Kevin's Giselfie

January Report on New Year's Resolutions 2017

Marriage:
1. Monthly date night! Check!
2. I'm going to try to make sure that Kevin spends some time alone doing something he enjoys at least once a month (hiking, reading at coffee shop) Check!
3. Make sure Kevin is able to spend time with his friends at least once a month Check!

Family:
1. Kids- Monthly "family day" where we take the kids to do something fun. Check!
2. Going to try again to teach James Spanish. NOPE- TRY AGAIN (Need a plan to get this done!)
3. Grandma/Nana: Keep seeing them about once a month. January was an off month but Grandma is coming in February.

Me:
1. Meditate daily - 31 days in row!
2. Walk 10,000 steps, 5 days a week. 2 out of 4 weeks.
3. Read 200 books/ listen to audiobooks this year (about 17 a month)- Read and listened to a total of 31 books in January
4. Try to see a close friend at least once a month. NOPE, TRY AGAIN
5. Get comfortable driving to the grocery store.  NOPE, TRY AGAIN

Miranda's final grade on my January attempts:

Mmm, not great... try harder.

James's Caring Award- January 2017

Caring, Sharing, and Kindness Award Recipients- January 2017

Close-up

Kindergarten Birthday Parties 2017

Last week, James had two birthday parties. On Saturday we celebrated Nolan's birthday at Saf-T-Swim. On Sunday we celebrated Vince's birthday at Spins Gymnastics.

James loved swimming at Nolan's party!

Group picture in the pool!

Singing to Nolan

Birthday boy Vince on the beam.

Parachute fun

Group picture in the foam pit

Miranda Playing Pretend 2017

M as a doctor: It’s important stuff to do. Let me check your heartbeat. Now it’s time for a band-aid.
M as the patient: Why? I don’t want a band-aid.
M as a doctor: Because I checked your heartbeat.

Miranda wearing her Doc McStuffins costume

James Made a Scavenger Hunt 2017

While Kevin was away at Boys' Weekend, the kids and I had a pretty good time at home. The best though was that James made a scavenger hunt for me. It was completely his idea and execution. I was so surprised when I found the clues and it all worked!

 

Found the first one where I couldn't miss it- by my computer. 

 

Found the next one in the shoe basket in hall...

 

Under the bathroom stool...

 

I had to look in all the beds. 

 

Found the last one in the guest bed.

I asked James to pose with his last clue. So cute!

Boys Weekend- January 2017

Kevin and Jon went to visit Casey for the weekend. They drove up Saturday and went to a concert that night. They went to see Jesse Dee play at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Sunday they stayed in and watched the NFL Playoffs. Patriots won! Woo!

Jon, Kevin, and Casey in Cambridge

Jesse Dee performing

Inauguration 2017

The Presidential inauguration fell on Friday. Kevin was at work, and James was at Kindergarten so Miranda and I watched together. I asked her to pose for a picture when President Trump was sworn in, and she posed like so:

I don't blame you, baby girl.

Stomach Bug- January 2017

James got the evil stomach bug that's been going through all the schools and the whole town. He started puking right after his bedtime on Saturday and I stayed up with him all Saturday night while he was sick. So obviously, then it hit me Sunday afternoon. And then, Kevin got it Sunday late night. Poor Kevin still had to go to work.

Sunday sick day.

Lots of mom love

I'm down next. Miranda tried to comfort me and James, but she was fine.

Poor Kevin! Father-daughter nap.

January Family Day 2017

It was cold on Saturday so we took the kids to the library which they enjoy. We checked out a Martin Luther King, Jr book, the movie Wreck-It Ralph, and the kids played with the toys and kindles at the library. (Yes, even though they have kindles at home.)

Miranda with My Little Pony, James with crown

 

James checking out more toys

Playing Toca World or something

Then we took the kids for hot chocolate and cookies at Tiger Lily. James, Miranda, and I each picked out a cookie using the display case, but when the cookies arrived they wanted mine instead, so I let them share mine and the second most edible one. The inedible sugar cookie was probably forgotten in the diaper bag.

Kevin using spare change to buy cookies because they don't take debit cards.

Me, pouting, because I chose my children's happiness over my own.
#guilt trip