life as it has been since our last post

We had a great Christmas at home just us. The kids played with their toys. We were so blessed by Those who gave our family gifts this year. The kids loved every thing they got and suprisingly they are still playing with it all weeks later. 

The day after Christmas we headed out to Iowa. We went and stayed with our wonderful friends the Allison's. They are like family and staying there for over 7 days was wonderful. The kids played and played and played. I read 2 of the house of Hero's book. I bought the 3rd and read it as I drove home. Then read the 4th in one day. (this is why I never read, but the bonus this time was Chris was home and the house and kids survived) We played the kids favorite game 7-11 on New Years Eve. We had dinner with wonderful friends a few nights. It felt like being home when we were there. We miss Iowa and all our friends there. While we were there Chris went and visited Algona (small town in N. Iowa) where he was offered a job. He also visited a few other contacts while in town. He has applied for jobs all over. Hopefully we will discover which is the right job and place for our family. 

We came home and enjoyed a day or 2 before school started. The 1 day of school then the "polar vortex" hit us. We went and exercised and had fun in the -5 degree weather. The kids were glad to get back to school. As I was glad that they went back. 

Chris just went back to school on Monday. He will be in classes m-th this semester. I'm not looking forward to it but hey this is the last semester right?

There has been warmer weather this week. I got to run outside and lived it! life is moving along and we are healthy and happy. That is all that matters right. Here are photos (very few, I've been bad at taking them) of what has been happening. 

Jeffrey loves to workout when Chris and I workout. I love that!!!

On our drive to Iowa. Henry loves Annmarie a little too much sometimes. 

Love this sign!!

My only photo of Iowa. Henry rocking it out on the horse.

 Back in VA with good friends. Henry loves him the girls!

While Chris was home and I was done reading we deep cleaned! oh it felt so nice. Now to keep it up.

My favorite part of Christmas. I love getting cards from friends near and far. 

I still haven't taken it down yet. . . 

After my first run of the year. It was about 43 and beautiful!!!

Spending the afternoon at a local farm/park

one of my favorite photos ever!

Our dishwasher doesn't get the dishes clean so we have been doing them by hand. When this happens Henry tends to roam. . . And guess what he can turn the shower on now. Needless to say this was cold water he had dumped all over himself and his shoes. 

Love this guy and his mischievous stage he is in. 

Sorry Its Been Two Weeks but .....

1. Chris finished his first semester at Georgetown. His first final was in October.  He had three take home exams and two in class finals.  One test was completely multiple choice; 20 questions and 3 hours to complete.  The sad part is that all three hours are needed to complete the final.  The other in-class final was for partnerships.  Two separate students that it was "honestly thee hardest test I have ever taken in law school."  Chris survived, not too bad.  Now we wait for grades.
• Two of the other finals were accounting spread sheets.  The goal was to determine the tax liability based on fact pattern.  One was 10 questions based on property.  The other test was 30 questions based on the timing of when the tax liability was due.  Got to love that tax code.
2. Georgetown was an interesting experience.  On the first day of orientation the school made it very clear that as students you went to Georgetown and not to any of the other JD programs we matriculated from.
3. LL.M. stands for the Latin phrase Master of Law.  Curious I did a little research.  Originally the Juris Doctor degree was award as an LL.B. or a Bachelor of Law.  That later changed to JD; however, the LL.M. never changed.
4. The Georgetown Law Center is literally five blocks from the Capital Building.  Every once in while a politician or high ranking Judge will cruise through the law center.  Early in the Semester Antonin Scalia wondered through the campus.  He is shorter than I thought. 
5. Traffic is as awful as advertised here.  On the bright side it is not quite as bad as L.A. traffic.  We still have a while to reach that level.  
6. As the Christmas time comes around it is interesting to see lack of faith of those in the DC area.  Very few lights or other holiday celebrations.  The country is clearly moving away from God and at a very dangerous rate.
7. Karen's brother Rob came to visit.  During that time we went to the nations capital building and some of the surrounding museums.  It was good to see that kids have their own personalities completely separate from their parents.  For example Taylor looks nearly identical to his cousin Drew physically, clearly coming from his parent's, but acts nothing like Rob or Jill.  Makes me wonder how our children will act when they hit the teenage years.  (Well mostly Jeff and Jed)
8. Speaking of the Dynamic Duo, we went to the Temple with Rob and Jill.  We took turns watching the other's children.  Those two can nearly do nothing good when Chris is around then behave like angels for Jill.  I guess the reward of gummy worms help.
9. Henry now walks around the house calling "Mmmmrrry, Mmmmrrry" (Annmarie).  When he finds her he demands to be picked up.  She does so.  I think this is replacement for Brooklyn, Brianne, and Belle.  He then usually bites or hits her.  (little stink-pot) 
10. Will's for some reason does not think it is cold.  He tells us every morning he is "Iowa Boy" and there is no need for long pants until the temperatures crack the teens.  One day he will learn the hard way about being cold.

Snow day post

We are on snow day 2. Needless to say I have a better attitude about it today. I got off my bum and played out side with my kids. Here are photos, and this will be our pot for this week. I love this season!

This was why there was no school monday

This is all from today. Henry's first time in the snow. Love him and his faces

10 on Tuesday

1. Ah where to begin. How about Henry, following the examples of his siblings. They set a supurb example for him in everything.

2. 2 saturdays ago Chris and I headed up to beautiful Annapolis and ran 13.5 (yes not 13.1 but 13.5!) miles. It was a way to hot 33 with a cool wind that made for perfect running conditions on the perfectly flat course (or not flat at all!!) we were trashed but still smiling as proof of the 2nd photo.

3. A kind friend decided to give Henry some of their very quiet Elmo toys. Henry does not like them at all. (ok done with the sarcasm) He loves them and I love turning the sound off. 

4. I know overload on the Karen photos. I loved this moment. I was swinging with Henry while Jed was pushing us and Annmarie was taking photos. Jeffrey was having a play date 20 feet away playing hockey. While Will was a half mile away playing football with a friend. Oh What a great moment this was and I want to remember it!

5. Jed did something. This was his punishment (for all of 15 seconds, he really wanted photos of it)

6. Decorating our house. For some reason Jed seems to end up in odd places when someone is home.

7. When we moved, I got rid of all but 1 box of Christmas decorations. I must admit this was very very hard. I had houses, and more houses that I had fond memories of buy with my sisters on Black Friday. It was hard to not have them this year. We also got rid of our Christmas tree because it didn't light up any more. So we improvised this year. We got picture hanging wire and hung up all our decorations. Personally I think it is pretty cute. 

8. We spent Thanksgiving with 2 families in our ward. We had a great time eating, and chatting,and eating again. The kids played in the basement for hours. It was a wonderful day and we had lots to be thankful for. 

9. This weekend we spent watching College football. How can you not when such amazing games happened. first off Way to go ASU!!!!! hopefully they can beat Stanford and go to the Rose Bowl. 2nd Auburn's win was . . . wow words cannot describe that one. 3rd Michigan's loss was heartbreaking. But hey they went for it. We don't love college sports at all. (but Hey the Broncos beat KC in KC!!)

10. Chris has his last week of classes this week. Finals are next week. It has been a very very difficult semester for both of us and we are not sad to see it go. It has flown by and we cannot believe he is almost 1/2 way done here. Now to figure out where we go next?