February 18 - February 24

  Monday February 18th the kids didn't have school due to President's Day Teacher in-service. Bentley and Kyler came to play for the day. We went over to Sarah Schaffer's to play with Claire and the Klug kids. The kids all had a great time playing and I enjoyed Sarah's coffee and catching up with Capri. We picked up Demi on our way home so she could come over and play before basketball league tournament. Monday night we watched Rachel's team play their last basketball game of the season. They played hard but the other team just out played the girls. Rachel was okay that the basketball season was over, after she got sick she just really didn't get back into it like she was at the beginning of the year.

Alec and Kyler playing basketball

Bentley and Becca playing pool

Demi and Rachel checking out Mike's car work and playing basketball

Rachel and Elly warming up before the game

   Tuesday the kids all had school and we took treats to school for Alec's half birthday celebration. We tried to explain that he actually turned 5 1/2 in December but he just was not having it. He is officially now 5 1/2 if you ask him. After school we went to Grandpa Priest's and tried to fix her house phone. We did not have any luck but I worked on different phones most the week before another family member finally brought her a different one. After going to Grandma Priest's we came home and worked on laundry and scoped the driveway. Alec is actually starting to be a really big help outside, I am getting excited for summer and all the things we are going to be able to do outside this year. That afternoon when we got home I got out our hooked on phonics books to see if Alec even had any interest in them. To my surprise he picked up on it quickly and was very excited to start reading. He works really hard on learning the sounds and words so he could read the first book to Mike and Becca when they got home. I'm not sure who he was more excited to read too. He said, "Becca is going to be so excited and Dad is going to be so proud." He has continued to want to learn to read and spends time most night reading his "purple" book. 

His favorite shirt (Soccer) and his half birthday hat

Jessie was wanting in since it was so cold out

   Wednesday the girls had a late start due to snow and ice. Mike was able to take Alec to school and so I just had to take the girls to Hershey then pick up Alec. After Alec got done with school we picked up lunch and went to have lunch with Mike for the last time at his old office. We came home that afternoon and I worked in my office while Alec played and did some more reading. The girls had CCD that night and we had chili for supper. Thursday the kids all had school and I checked on Grandma Priest's phone and then went and bought her some groceries, they were calling for more snow and bitter cold so she was not wanting to go out and I was not sure if I would be back in town before the next Monday so I got her groceries and got them dropped off before going to pick up Alec. After getting Alec we went to lunch at Tempura with Lisa and then came home. 

   Friday the girls had school and it finally worked for Alec and I to go have lunch with them. Becca wanted a lunch-able and Rachel wanted to be surprised so Alec and I went to school at 10:50 and joined Becca for lunch. She invited Bree to eat with us and we had a great lunch. Alec was excited to see some of his friends from preschool last year and was very excited to go to recess with them. He is so funny sometime, I was helping him get his snow stuff on to go outside and he wouldn't take off his boots. I asked him with was wrong and he whispered to me, "Mom my socks don't match!" He was worried one of his friends was going to see them and say something, little does he know most his friends wear mismatched socks and some even wear their socks backwards. They are in Kindergarten! We finally got him dressed and he loved playing outside with them. It was then time for Rachel's lunch at 11:50. I surprised her with ham, her favorite cheese (smoked Gouda) and crackers. We enjoyed eating with her and then it was time for us to come home. Bree and Elly came home with us after school and then night the Hampton's came to play and visit.

Silly kids at First Lunch

Nolan and Hadleigh were so excited to see Alec

Second Lunch

Second lunch with Rachel's class in the back

   Saturday we had a lazy day at home cleaning and playing. That evening Maci came to babysit while Mike and I attended the Buffalo Bill Bash (Kickoff to Nebraskaland Days fundraiser). We didn't stay too late but had a great time. Sunday we went to church and then to lunch at the new sushi place here in town. We then came home and picked up the house because Tyson and Nicole had text and asked if they could stay due to the interstate being closed and they were in CO. By the time they got here around 3 the interstate had opened so instead of staying we enjoyed dinner and drinks at PALs with them before they got back on the road. We always enjoy their visits no matter how long or short they are. After dinner we stopped by Mike's new office to unpack a couple boxed before he started clinic on Monday then came home and I competed in a texting group Oscar party with some of our family on the Tielke side. I ended up coming in 4th which was not bad as I had not seen or heard of most of the movies. 

The kids at dinner

My Oscar Ballot 2019

Alec trying out Mike's partners new desk!