More snow days!

The snow started falling Wednesday January 17 mid morning and fell into the night for a total of about six inches! The kids were thrilled since it was the most we have had in their memories. We made snowmen and snowballs and sledded a lot! It’s a good thing they like the snow because we were out of school Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and they had to cancel the Saturday make up day for the previous snow. I hope it’s worth it! They will be going four Saturdays in the next two months!

And these are some of the pictures from the first day when I attempted to capture moments on my good camera. However, the snow was really coming down, and I am not practiced enough to keep the camera dry, so it made me nervous. And the last few had drops on the lens.

Jason is three!

Wow, Jason is three! It’s so hard for me to believe! I remember his birth and his newborn days so vividly, but he really is such a big kid now. He plays with Leo and Olivia so well—building huge Duplo creations, hide and seek, horses and lions on the third floor. He often goes outside to play with them while I am following a few minutes behind or watching from the kitchen. He does battles and ninja training outside, rides a scooter and a tricycle a little and the EZroller a lot. He loves pink milk and macaroni and cheese. He dances and laughs and tells jokes with such joy! Jason has a great vocabulary and only struggles with some sounds—j, sh, v, l, and th. Jason has a great memory and often says, “‘Member when...”

Jason opened presents early in true Kraft fashion. Thank you to our family for showering him with love and gifts!!

For his birthday, Jason wanted to visit a fire station, so we did! He wore his new fire fighter outfit, but was a little shy when it came time to get into the fire trucks. He had fun seeing the whole station, though, and getting to see four fire vehicles!

Then we went to his favorite restaurant for lunch: Chic-fil-a!

We played in the afternoon sun and Nicholas replaced the battery on the red car Grandpa Bill and Tamara gave him years ago. Jason LOVES that thing, and did donuts in the street!

Then we had dinner and cake and watched Cars 3! It was a sweet day for our wild child! 

Next week he will have a small party at school and a play date with two of his friends.

And, finally, the birthday quiz for the first time for Jason!!

1. How old are you? Three

2. What makes you happy? Fire trucks and monster trucks

3. What is your favorite animal? Lion

4. What is your favorite thing to eat? Waffles 

5. What is your least favorite thing to eat? Green beans

6. What is your favorite thing to do? Play

7. What is your favorite TV show? Nexo Knights

8. What are you really good at? Hide and Seek 

9. What is your favorite movie? Cars 2

10. What is your favorite color? Blue

11. What is your favorite song? Yellow Submarine 

12. Who is your best friend? Leo

13. What do you and your Mom do together? Play in the playroom

14. What do you and your Dad do together? Read Max and Ruby stories

15. What is your favorite sport? Spinning

16. Where is your favorite place to go? Grocery store

17. What is your favorite book? Backyardigans

18. What do you want to be when you grow up? A fire

Activism—our first time!

To make a long story short, the NC legislature enacted a law in 2016 that requires public schools to lower their class sizes in K-3 from 24 to 16, 17, or 18 depending on grade. However, they did not fully fund the new teachers and classrooms this mandate would require. In 2017, they gave a one-year mechanism for flexibility. Now that year is up, and we are back in the same situation as last year where school principals, if they are even physically able to house the new requirements, are battling decisions like using the library, gym, or art classroom to do so, or filling 4th and 5th grade classes up to fire safety limits of 45 or more and moving the teachers to lower grades. It’s a terrible situation. So, Olivia and I took to the State Capitol Mall on January 6 for a rally led by Piblic Schools First NC, and I am glad we braved the cold temperatures!

Then Tuesday my friends and I participated in a tweet storm to appeal to the returning legislators.

And on Wednesday a few of my friends went to knock on doors at the legislative office building. It was a good experience, and I really hope it helps!

Snow days!!

The kids had a two hour delay on their first day back to school on January 2. Then they got out two hours early the next day due to impending weather, which came with about an inch of snow and cold, cold temperatures. The kids had two days off and had a blast sledding!

Sledding with friend!

On the iced over creek!

Climbing trees with friends!

The pool pump is still on!

Jason pushing sis.

New Year’s Eve 2017

Happy New Year! We went to our neighbors “kids New Year’s” party and counted down via YouTube at about 7:15. That’s the way to do it! The kids had a blast and we had fun visiting with the adults!

Then we had a game night with a couple friends and rung in the New Year at home. It was quiet and lovely and just our speed! Here’s to 2018!