Jim took D and Jacob to pick up our whippet. We named him Finn. He got quite carsick on the 6 hour drive and Diana lovingly took care of him. Jake wanted to jump out of the window from the smell while they made their way to the quickest exit to clean out the cage each time.
This puppy has been night and day. He's not trained like the german shepherd was. But he is small, doesn't bark or intimidate the kids, doesn't shed and doesn't smell. He usually sleeps from 9:30-5am. He does hate his crate, but he's getting better. The difference for me mentally is night and day. I miss the protection I felt from the german shepherd, but the difference in breed temperament is amazing. The whippet sleeps almost all day. Seriously. Nobody can believe it that he's a puppy when they see how chill he is.
Nicole really rocked it in basketball this season. Won the team leadership award. Her ability to help the team come together and have all these different girls like each other and work together took their team to 5 straight wins in the back end of the season- last minute wins where she scored in the last few seconds, big comeback with her scoring 17 points, and just amazing teamwork where different players excelled in different games but they were all working together. I loved seeing how the teamwork made them succeed and have the only winning season in all the basketball teams.
Diana's cookie body labeled for the respiratory system. A good reason to make a giant cookie.
Can you tell we love him.
The roomba jumped down the stairs and took out a giant planter. Impressive crash. And not the puppy's fault lol.
He loves to snuggle. Oh and he has had just a handful of accidents. Whew.
Jim opening a box, and the knife went a bit too far behind him. oops.
But he's cute so we keep him.
Jim locked himself in the courtyard of Nicole's high school while on the phone.
Diana got a wimpy remote control car for Christmas. The boys cars were on sale at Target and were much nicer. When hers literally started smoking and broke, I said I'd get her what they had. Somehow I messed up what the packaging looked like because it was MUCH bigger and faster than the boys cars.
Yep, as big as the dog. Diana wasn't complaining!
Waiting for his people to get out of school
Katy's solar presentation at school. A whole lot of glitter glue!
Diana got some tortoises. Before we decided to get the dog (a second time). So it's a little zoo at our house. Nicole's bird, Jake's lizard, Katy and Diana's tortoises, and a dog.
I set up an escape room for all the youth in the ward with help from mom and dad and marian. It was so fun to have Mom and Dad visit on their way home from their mission.
They and all the Koffords came to Nicole's game. The giant tunnel and group hug made her feel like a million bucks.
John's art at open house. I will spare you video of the music from the older kids. Their music teacher just...struggles.
Sign for mom and dad! The kids put cute quotes on the sign. We were so happy to spend time with them.
We had a lovely sunny day and so I went on a walk with Mom and Dad at the local art museum outdoor path.
Mike is not a dog kid. But HA! I caught him giving some love to the puppy.
Diana had a crazy fun game where she stole the ball in the last second and almost made a last second winning shot. It was so exciting (and disappointing when it didn't go in). She felt like a million bucks to get ice cream with her grandparents.
You can just see how loved she feels.
Katy and John were invited to a Chinese New Years Celebration with some sweet friends from school. They are SO kind to our kids and it's fun to see them learning new traditions from other cultures.
The kids feed the dog. And I love walking in the kitchen to see the most obedient dog in the world haha. Waiting for his food.
Diana needed some girl time with me. She is at the edge of middle school, with all those emotions, and she is naturally headstrong. It's so important for me to spend time with her to we have a close relationship. This way I'm on her team supporting her, instead of trying to corral her.
We went to Myrtle Beach! The aquarium was our first stop and we saw so many lizards and sharks and unique fish.
Up the elevator to eat at Paula Deen's.
The amount of butter in those biscuits was probably our daily quota.
Lots of fun window shopping and finding some great off season sales. Not much, but still a fun time.
And great food.
Sunset from our room.
The next morning we did Wonderworks, a fun science museum.
This cool video would split your image in a lot of ways. Diana loved this one!
Love my Diana.
Jake is so much help with the dog. Finn cuddles with him every night before we put Finn in his crate to bed. Finn never whines because he's so tired but he is also so happy from knowing he's so loved. It's SO sweet.
Random pic I sent to Nicole when she was feeling tired after a basketball game. There is cake!
Some pics a photographer took of some of Nicole's games. She has really blossomed and grown.
Jim and I have been looking at land thinking of getting a place to camp. Who knows if we will, but it's fun to dream together. I've found having these kinds of adventures and dreams are a healthy part of our marriage. We have fun together!
Well hello cutie.
John being crazy by the puppy.
Nicole going coyote hunting with Jim. She has snacks.
And a book in her pants.
Coyote calling
Once it's too dark they hike out. To the sound of the coyotes coming. I'm not sure I'm a fan of this father daughter bonding haha
My baby puppy loves me.
Tasty dinner.
After their amazing comeback win. Nicole had 17 points and 7 blocks. Clutch free throws. Epic. Funnest game I've ever watched.
That was the score at beginning of the 4th period! That's how hard they played to come back.
Ascend at your own peril.
The sweet love they all have for this puppy is precious.
Valentine's Day gift from Jim and the kids.
I went to the temple on Valentine's Day. Wonderful!
John in class on Vday.
His teacher took this pic. No he doesn't have a girlfriend. He actually has a crush on his teacher haha.
We took Finn running at a park. John was trying to comfort him so he didn't get carsick on the way home. It was a cold morning!
Chillin' with cousins at the park.
Our friends know us well. "Mi casa es su casa (until 9pm)."
On our way to snowboard in the mountains! With basketball season done, we were OUTTA there! Missing three days of school for the best of reasons.
Snow was not plentiful. But thankfully enough!
John was crazy. There weren't enough employees for lessons, so John just learned on the hill. He went down the bunny hill once, and then asked to go on the lift. So we took him. Jim carried him off the lift and John went down, just sitting down whenever he went fast. Eventually learned how to stop on his heel side. And then wanted to go to the terrain park to do tricks. That boy!! I have a feeling he will be our craziest. He had NO fear of jumping.
I feel so great because I am carving and hardly falling. Can you believe it? My fourth year. The biggest change was getting boots that fit so my feet weren't almost slipping out like every other year- whoops. But how nice to have my boots fit! And it feels so good to ride, but don't worry I still have bruises from some falls.
Katy is in her second year snowboarding and it's like she's been going for years. She started going with me since we are both slower. But by the end of the trip, she and Diana were going together which is crazy!
It was so hot the kids were trying to wear as little clothing as possible. It was hilarious. Nicole tried not wearing snowboard socks and that was not a good idea.
Jim was so patient being with John. He'd snowboard behind John so nobody came behind to smack into him, and coached him as they went. For hours every day. Jim and I got a few runs together, and he also got a few hours to do black diamonds. But he spent SO much time just helping John, what a great dad.
We got a different house this time, it was right next to our normal rental. Loved it. Great seating and even a trampoline.
Getting in a little homework. Nicole only mostly electives this semester which is the only way we could do this.
Nicole and Michael
Every day was beautiful. We'd relax and soak up sun in between morning and afternoon runs. The kids even went out for three sets on day...at least 6 hours snowboarding that day.
Deer on the slopes in the morning
Last morning there was nobody there. The kids did their whole first run without a single other person going down. Rain picked up as we left (which is why it was empty) but it was so cool to have it empty. We went Tues-Thurs on purpose to have minimal crowds.
And had some Brick Oven pizza on the way home- tradition!
It was in the 70s back in Apex, so it was perfect weather to clean the boards and take off the wax. Jim taught the kids how to care for their boards, one at a time. Not sure when the wax will go away in the front yard haha.
End of Feb is not spring time, but this warm weather really woke everything up! So it's popcorn popping on the Bradford Pear trees as we walk to school.
Finn missed the sun, but he had a great time at the boarding place. The lady who owns it trains and competes with whippets so it was like a massive playdate for Finn. He was SO happy there, but loves us too.
Flowers that I thought were annuals...that never died and are now in full bloom in February.
He's getting bigger.
Sleeping all curled up
Heron at our neighborhood pond
Diana found a giant pinecone! She and Nicole were practicing basketball.
