Special Week

What a blessed week we just had. I can't even begin to explain the many blessings God has provided for us during these last few months, but last week was quite a treat. A former 5th grade student of mine (who is now a whopping 16 years old) asked if she could come spend a week with the kids and I. Wow! I never would have thought of such a wonderful idea. So, not only did she ride back to IL with us (and let me tell you how much easier it is to drive 6 1/2 hours with two small kids when there's another person there to help) but she spent a week helping me with the kids, taking care of them so I could run errands and get things done around the house, and she helped me get the house organized after the craziness of Christmas. To say we are blessed is an understatement! Thanks Betsy for an amazing week! And it's safe to say that my children are absolutely in love with her.



Once we got the suitcases unpacked, Christmas presents organized and put away, and reorganized the closets and playroom, we decided to spend a morning having fun at the Children's Museum.


Here's the kiddos sliding down the slide:





Playing in the new exhibit; Water Works:






Jaxon playing cars and trains (sorry about the blurry pic):





The kids loved shopping in the grocery section:






There's a pretty cool exhibit that I need to learn more about, but it's basically a bunch of clear PVC pipes connected in varying directions. I believe the exhibit teaches the kids about wind power, but I really need to read more on it. Anyway, the kids put soft balls and handkerchiefs in to the pipes and watch the wind carry the objects throughout the pipes, then suddenly shoot the objects out a hole. The best part of watching the kids do it was initially putting the objects into the pipes; the wind would blow their faces in the cutest ways!



Jax was trying to catch the soft ball as it came shooting out of the pipes.





What an unbelievable week of weather we had last week! Really the last several weeks have been unusually mild. I think the week of Christmas, the temperatures got close to 60! Last week we had two days above 50 and Betsy and I decided to take advantage of the second day and get the kids outside for some fresh air. It was crazy to think about being outside, in jackets, in January! The kids even got warm and took their jackets off for awhile!








Hi Jax! Sometimes he randomly asks for his picture to be taken, of course I am happy to oblige!




Here's our sweet Betsy and Dakota. Kota was so content to sit on Betsy's lap and have stories read to her.




Both kids with Betsy on her last night with us:




Betsy's mom drove up Friday night and the two of them left Saturday morning to head back to Kansas. Jaxon had to get in one more game of Candy Land before they left: