Feb 2014

We kicked off the month by having our own little Super Party. We don’t usually let Adam watch football on Sundays but since one of his favorite teams was playing we made it a “special event” complete with orange and blue kettle corn, orange and blue cupcakes and even cheesecake.  It was sad to watch the Broncos get pounded….

We finally got some a real snow storm and the kids were able to make a tunnel in our little mound of snow. It started to melt the next day and we haven’t had much more then a dusting of snow here and there all month. It has just been really cold. BRRR….

Adam and all the fourth graders put on musical program called “How I Became a pirate.”  They were giving the option to dress like pirates for the morning and evening program so I had Grandmas Linda send over her pirate costume with Grandpa a week before. Adam decide he didn’t want to wear the costume for the morning program and I was under the impression he just didn’t want to were it, so I took it over to Grandma Linda who was at Julie’s to return it. Just moments before we need  to leave for the night program Adam asked me where his pirate costume was...WHAT!?!?! I then told him that I was impress he didn't want to wear it, and told him I returned it Grandma earlier in the day.   Then he said if he didn't dress like pirate he was suppose to dress up "nicely." I found a bandanna in the costume box tied on his head, torn a t-shirt in to a couple of strips and made a belt, rolled up his pants and threw on his snow boots. He looked like pirate! Then we left the house about 6:45 and as we were pulling out he informed me he was suppose to be at the school at 6:45. HAHA. He thought all this information was on the sheet sent home from his music teacher but it wasn't . Anyway the program went a lot better then the morning one and I think everyone had fun. Adam got to dress like pirate!!!

Adam’s HAL project: Build a bridge using only popsicle/craft sticks and Elmer's glue making cable of holding  50 pounds. We were given about 2 weeks to complete the project. Luckily we were smart and realized this was step by step process and allowing time for the glue to dry before moving on the next side or level.

Kids after their Valentines day parties at school. I think they got as much candy as they did on Halloween.

Cute artwork by Sarah and Isaac.

The kids were out of school for few days so we head to the zoo for  few hours. Then picked up Greg and headed to Des Moines for few days.

Love these Monkeys!

Sarah was Grandma’s “helper” in the kitchen and loved wearing matching aprons. Grandpa and Greg took Adam to a coin store and then the bank. Adam and Isaac are starting to get into coin collecting just like their Dad. 

We got to be there for Mom’s amazing “tasting” party. She really outdid herself this time. YUMMY

This was Sarah’s first “babysitting” job. To keep baby Brayden happy. Isaac helped a little too.

MORE FUN:

Isaac favorite thing to play was bakery.

Sarah is Great Grandma Cottrell’s dress.

Isaac “stamping” and Adam “burning” leather.

 

Carmel popcorn treat.

Reading with Grandpa.

Making a pillow.

We were trying to come up with something to the morning before we left and ended up setting up the tent. Complete with a fake fire and fake smore’s. The kids even set up a river with rocks and went “fishing”

It finally warmed up enough to go play outside.

Adam’s Blue and Gold Banquet. The theme was the Olympics each den made decorations and center pieces to represent  different countries. For dinner we had pizza (Italy), lo main noodles and egg rolls (China), and chips and salsa (Mexico). For dessert we had each boy/family bring a cake. Adam did the Olympic rings made out of cupcakes.

 

Adam’s finished bridge project. It held up to 121 pounds before he got nervous and didn’t want it to break.

 

After the bridge project it was time to move on and start getting ready for the pinewood derby. We’ll see how it does on March 8.

Cottrell Family Jan. 2014

Sledding Fun

Future Wildcat night at the Millard West

Little messages on the front window.

Super Bowl Party

Adam’s 10 year old birthday party.

The kids made Lindsey’s Birthday cake, all by themselves.

Lindsey’s Birthday Flowers, a little bit of sunshine in the cold winter.

Van Natter - January

Already one month down in 2014. Hope you all started the new year with a bang!

Our year started with Addie's new haircut which got rid of the straighter ends and left a mass of gorgeous curls. I've been amazed at how many people have asked if they are natural!!

John and I got a new group of 14 year olds in Sunday School. They are so different from our last group. Much quieter but good to participate. They just don't talk over each other all the time! Those boys last year could NOT be quiet! They are a good group. We have a girl who was just baptized at Christmas-time, so we gear the lessons for her understanding. She didn't have scriptures so we got her a set. We also have a boy whose family has just gotten reactivated and he was ordained a Teacher just last Sunday. If we can keep those two coming, and not lose any of the others this year, we'll call it a success! We do love teaching Sunday School. These Come Follow Me lessons are amazing. We are having them do journals this year so they have a place to keep all the papers we give them.

Season 4 of Downton Abbey started! Something to look forward to watching again! Do you love it? This photo is misleading though isn't it, since it shows Matthew and Sybil. Why?!?!

Neil turned 6 months old! He is sleeping better but he is a bit of a fuss-budget when awake! Reminds me very much of Ian as a baby - he was seldom happy, until he was 3 years old!! Neil giggles, mostly at Addie's antics, and there's no sound like that! He 'talks' a lot, which is adorable. He still sleeps in the car most of the way to and from Provo which makes the drive to preschool a bit easier on Emily. We just adore this little guy and realize what a gift it is to get to see him every single day of his life so far.

Addie wakes up early, runs all day but hardly eats, adores her daddy, is beginning to think Neil is okay, wants to help us no matter what we're doing. She has spent hours in this box - sometimes it's a plane or a boat or the Octopod (from Octonauts on TV) but usually it's her art studio where she paints the walls and floor, puts tape everywhere, then starts again. She has the adoration of 5 adults here and we just can't get enough of her excitement about life.

John and I celebrated the 37th anniversary of getting engaged, January 23rd. He ALWAYS remembers before I do and almost always brings me flowers. The silly boy even went to get me some even though he'd torn a ligament in the bottom of his foot (he didn't know that yet) but he was hurting so bad he had to leave the store.

Yes, John's limping around with a torn ligament he got from using the cement stairs a whole bunch over a couple of days at work plus overdoing it in his workouts. He has lost 70 lbs!! I am so proud of him. He sets an amazing example of self-discipline since most days he doesn't eat during the day except for dinnertime. He still works out - they have a gym at work - but he avoids the treadmill now.

I'm keeping busy with digital scrapbooking, lesson preparations, and time with the little ones.

See you next month!