.reasons to smile.: Lots of reasons to smile...

The days have been crazy busy... but, making time right now to catch up on this. I will not let this slip to the end of my to-do-list (as easy as that would be)... it's too important to me. :)

Again, so thankful I take lots of pictures... without them I'd never remember what all happened over the last couple weeks.

[kids had 80s day at school... love what they came up with! Eli wasn't interested in participating.]

[one of many basketball road trips... the kids are troopers!]

[Rachel's team did great in Sun Prairie. There was some very tough competition, but they finished strong and learned a lot.]

[and, the shirt she had to get... :)]

[Rachel helping me reach my huge goal and proud to say we did it!]

[Eli off to baseball practice... it was a memorable one, but I won't share why. ;)]

And, the kids' newest cousin, Bailey Mary, was born!!! She is so perfect... we love her so much!!!!

[Proof that it does happen sometimes in the morning... the kids get ready right away and have time to chill before school. They are so busy all the time... so nice to see them enjoying some time and not running all over the place.]

[Night-time snowman building. Eli made an alien with a hot dog nose... that Maggie ate the next morning! ;)]

[pirate day at preschool. very thankful I could find this costume we got for Eli about five years ago.]

[Sometimes I'm proud of myself... "problem solving 101" passed. This marble was stuck down this hole by our fireplace. Proud to say I figured out how to get it out. I will admit... I failed with my first two other ideas. ;)]

[Kate and I had a great time at supper while waiting for kids at practice. I noticed a small blister on her finger (looked like it was a burn) and we had a great talk and lesson about telling the truth. I was almost crying at McDonalds. She is such a sweetheart and I hope she always confides in me, trusts me and is never afraid to tell me anything.]

[Nate and I playing one of my favorite games... we do a lot of this!]

[Eli had a Super Bowl party at school and Kate celebrated her 100th day of school with a beaded necklace... that had 100 beads. At least I thought it was 100. When she got home she counted them and said there were 99... didn't recount, but she could definitely be right.]

[The Fondy Boys' Basketball game was fun last Friday. Kate got to dance/cheer during halftime...]

[And, Eli got his name announced and did a layup on the big court to celebrate Youth Night.]

[Eli had a basketball tournament last weekend. We were there early, so I stayed in the car for about 30 minutes while Mike and Eli went in to warm-up. I realized Nate still had ketchup on his mouth from supper the night before. Pretty normal here!]