Wow is all I can say!!

Well the month of January is here and gone and Feb. is almost half way over, where does the time go? January brought us back to reality from break and getting back into the swing of things, with preschool, school, tumbling, Girl Scouts and my b-day!!
Well preschool and school really nothing to report in January and the same with tumbling, but Girl Scouts we were busy, with selling our famous cookies, the annual Mall Lock In, and taking the girls to paint their own pottery! The Mall Lock In is always MLK weekend and I was there with thank goodness one other mom from out troop and 9 of my troop, that is more than double from last year and still only about 1/2 the troop!! We have crafts, games, singing and pizza before you try to get some sleep on the mall floor about 1 - 2 am, then lights are back on for clean up and breakfast at 6am - can you say tired??? The Waterstone Pottery was great to accommodate all 17 in the troop, 2 honorary Girl Scouts (Delaney and Emma - us leaders younger girls) and 2 brothers of the troop. They each got to pick one item to paint and glitter. Gretchen has a very "cool" penguin that says Gretchen's Room on his sign and looks like he has snow all over him with the glitter - very pretty and Delaney picked an rainbow and she also did a very colorful job!!
And I have to say Jason always is like what is up girls when it comes to their b-day because they are so excited because they get like 4 days of it they say - school, friends party, family party and their actual b-day celebration, but I guess after thinking about it this year they get it natural, lol. Jason took me out for an date for my b-day, my cousin took me to breakfast one morning, the kids and Jason took me to dinner, my mom had an meal for me and my soon to be sis-in-law Tiff (our b-day's are only 2 days apart) and of course my friends at preschool had to help me celebrate! Loved all my little preschool friends singing Happy B-day to me - too cute!! My girls helped Jason with gifts and did an amazing job!! New cookbook, gift certificate to the book store, music CD's I wanted. I laugh because he usually struggles with gift purchases and I told him to ask the girls for help and he did and this is what I got - keep it up girls!!
So then we moved into February and in Preschool we talked about Groundhogs Day and that Groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter and I said okay get us 1 more good snow and then bring on Spring!! Well boy, let me tell you - Gretchen got out early that same week because of snow and they were called off the whole next week and we will even have to reschedule the Valentine's Parties for preschool and Gretchen's class (I was the Mom in charge of her party too)!! So yes, we actually got 2 more really good snows with just about a day in between! So yes, I am will be okay now, bring on Spring, lol. I must say though it is so beautiful here at our home with all the snow, the girls got to play outside, built an snow family, made snow angels and just had FUN!! Then they would come back in and have hot cocoa and get their warm baths! Speaking of our house, I love our neighbors!! It is so nice on Saturday after the first snow, there was about 3 of us families out, using shovels, snow blowers, etc. making sure every one's drive was cleaned out while our kids played we chatted until we were all needing warm showers and hot cocoa!! The only bad thing about the snow is it made us postpone a trip to Newport Aquarium and an overnight at an hotel for some swimming, but we are planning on going later in the month, so watch for updates! In the midst of all this snow I was a cleaning/organizing fool!! Got lots of accomplished, plus played lots of games with the girls, watched some movies and did some reading - I have to admit I have been a okay with all of this! Then I will reorganize that garage when the weather breaks, because I will have enough things after cleaning out for yet another garage sale!! This past week I was also able to start my cake decorating class, always wanted to do it, so I am very excited and will continue to post about this too!
As far as the family we are looking forward to an Girl Scout Bowling party, Viking Fest (school carnival), and our trip to Newport. Girl Scout wise we will be getting our cookies to deliver hopefully next week. Tumbling Gretchen has got her round off back hand spring - by herself!! Wahooo!!! And Delaney is working on her back walkover - wow girls I am So Proud of You!! And school wise we hopefully will get back into the swing next week and get our Valentine Parties rescheduled. Preschool has a busy month still with special readers for our Read A Thon, Library visit, and school pictures. Gretchen's school will have an field trip (I was to help with) to reschedule in addition to their party and the Jump Rope For the Heart Fundraiser, which is when they play loud music in the gym and do different jumping activities, lots of fun to help with and see all the jumping kids! So in ending we are staying in to be safe and warm! And tonight we will be geared up for Survivor's new season - Heroes vs. Villains - I think this will be the best season EVER!!!