We had a great New Year's Eve. Ryan and I went out for a date (courtesy of Jill and Ryan watching our rugrats) to Cinco in Suwanee. The food was yummy. The apps were so good, I barely could eat my dinner. And the margarita was one of the best I have ever had. After dinner we had another couple come to the house to watch The Hangover. The movie was great...very funny. Then we channel surfed through all the New Years Eve shows. Did anyone else see J. Lo's crazy outfit?
New Year's Day was spent at the house playing. We had Mike over for dinner. The kids were so happy to see him...especially Tyler. He thinks Mike is his friend not anyone elses. They had lots of fun. Even though it was freezing outside, all the kids went out to play on the new ride-on toy. Afterwards, we had a gun fight with the new nerf guns. Santa brought Tyler one and Ryan got one for himself that day so they could fight each other.
The next evening we had Grandma Tina and Pop Pop Tom over for dinner. Tyler kept shooting Pop Pop with his gun. So....we had to put those away.
The next week brought us back to school at last. The break seemed longer than ever this time. We also had a sleepover with Will. Tyler and Will had so much fun playing together. And Will kept taking care of Jason. It was so cute. He "saved" him from Tyler many times. Unfortunately after one day back at school, Tyler (and Jason) caught a stomach bug and missed the next two days. They got better just in time for our snow days. We had Friday and Monday off of school due to snow. I think we had about a 1/2" but it was enough to close down the city. The snow started late on Thursday so the kids didn't get to enjoy it falling. But on Friday all three of them (and me) went outside to play in it. Jason seemed a little hesitant and didn't seem to enjoy the bitter cold. Tyler and Rebecca made snowballs but couldn't quite make a snowman.
We spent the first two weeks of the month with freezing temperatures and record lows. It was so cold down here.
I went to my moms group 2nd annual unwanted gift exchange. You never know what might show up at the exchnage. We all have fun stealing the gifts to try and get the good stuff. I am so glad one of the girls came up with the idea.
Finally school was back in but we had a short week with early release and MLK day off. The weather completely turned around and was into the high 50's. We spent three days at the park and every day outside playing in the yard. Ryan even turned the sprinkler on one day (I think it was overkill). This is Jason's favorite slide at the park. He is such a big boy now (or he thinks he is). He won't let me help him at all.
It was also time for Rebecca and her girl Galasso cousins to see Annie at the Fox and have a girls day/night with the grandparents. She said the play was wonderful. I heard they sang all the songs in the car on the way to the show and back. They also had game night as part of their sleepover. Libby brought a pretty princess board game, Sidney brought Uno Attack (which was Rebecca's favorite and she really wants it now), Madison brought Battleship and Rebecca brought perler beads and plates and a jewlery making kit. Rebecca has spent all week telling us about the fun times she had. She can't wait for her the next girls night.
Tyler went to the boat show that same day with the Fay grandparents. He went on every boat they had there. He came home telling Ryan and I he wants a boat for his birthday. When we asked him who would drive it around the lake, he answered very seriously that he would. He also informed us that he needs a fishing pole so he can start fishing with Pop Pop.
That night was Ryan and my monthly supper club. Supper club is an idea Amber came up with. It seemed like as time goes on we all were getting so busy we only see each other for special occasions, like kids birthdays or holiday parties. Amber wanted us to get together more often. We meet once a month at someones home for dinner. The hosts come up with the theme and provide the main course. They let the guests know what else is needed and we bring that. So for January our friends David and Rebecca hosted it at their home. They came up with the theme of a trivia night with trivia fromt he last decade. We played girls against boys. And the girls WON! Of course with our group of competitive friends the boys didn't take to it well. They were sore losers. But us girls were gracious winners.
We also went to Literacy night at the elementary school. Libby (and the 1st grade) sang songs from Dr. Suess. It was really cute. After the performance Rebecca, Libby and I went to a class on phonics. It was informative and the presenter gave each of the kids a book. When we got home, Rebecca was determined to read it. She sounded out the first 4 pages before bed. I am so proud of her. Working with her reading is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Second to trying to get Tyler to learn how to spell his name. I was thinking of calling him Ty, T or TJ to make it easier but he finally got it. Teachers need so much more credit than they get. Make sure you give your kids teachers some great gifts this year!
This weekend brings karoake night with my girlfriends, dinner with friends, tennis for Ryan, and my book club is going to see The Lovely Bones. We just read the book for our January meeting. It was a great read. Tyler has karate on Sat as well. Next week is really busy as well. Tyler has a pj party at school and Rebecca has game day. Her team is the Saints and she has a great cheer for the day. I am also heading up to NJ to spend the weekend at my sisters house. I can't wait. I'll have to update you all on that later....
