Happy Leap Day!!!

Happy Leap Day!!!

Celebrating Isaac with Bingsu

I think I've been doing a lot better at avoiding grocery stores late at night ... but tonight is an exception.  I realized we were running low on milk which we will need in the morning so I ventured into the cold night.  I also remembered that tomorrow is St. David's Day so I picked up some currants and we'll see if I can find time to make Welsh Cakes tomorrow.  My maternal grandfather was Welsh.  I don't remember hearing about St. David's Day as a child but my cousin encouraged me to mark the day a few years ago and it's a great excuse for a treat and an opportunity to teach my kids about their heritage.

All of my Valentine's dates with the kids were late this year.  Lily-Anna and I went for our date to Starbucks yesterday.  The kids and I were all sick with colds at various times this month so the outings were spread out.  Thankfully Lily-Anna was finally well for her dentist appointment yesterday.  We had already rescheduled twice due to her being sick.  No cavities and her teeth look great.  

Graham and I were going to go out for a meal but I was sick so he picked up some yummy Indian food and brought it home.  

A major highlight this month was Isaac's spelling bees.  He won for his class, his grade, and then for his school (he had to compete against the grade 7 winner).  He advanced to the Regional Finals where he tied for second place.  We are very proud of him and so was his school.  Eight teachers from his school showed up at the finals to cheer him on during a Sunday afternoon and only two of those teachers actually teach him.  

We spent a night at my in-laws' home to celebrate Family Day.  Kohen and Lily-Anna enjoyed sleeping in hammocks.  

Graham and I attended a Marriage Summit at our church.  It was a great opportunity to meet new couples and focus on strengthening our marriage.  Our church has a new Marriage and Family Pastor.  We are looking forward to hearing from the pastor and his wife during the parenting event in March.

Last Saturday evening, Graham, Kohen, Lily-Anna, and I walked the 5K route in the Coldest Night of the Year to raise money for Ray of Hope which is "a place of refuge and hope for vulnerable people in our community."  We walked with friends and had a good, though chilly time.  We had celebrated a friend's 50th birthday with a hike in the woods earlier that day so we were tired.  Isaac was at a youth retreat so he couldn't join us.  

I'm falling asleep at the table so I will stop and say goodnight.  Kohen is hitting double digits in a few days.  He's been counting the days for a while.  He's been reading a lot lately.  I found a stash of Beverly Cleary books at the used store to add to my own stash as a child.

Blessings,

Elizabeth

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.