Go Zags!!!

 Gonzaga is ranked #2 in the nation this week!  WE are loving GU basketball this year!  Currently we're watching them play BYU to move into a #1 ranking...

It's tied with 4 minutes left.






I don't think there's enough PB & chocolate ice cream in the WORLD to calm this couch stress.

First Day of Track Practice, 2013

The last Monday in February marks the start of HS TRACK in our coaching household.

This is what we woke to find...to welcome in the "spring" sport season.

 Someone was NOT impressed.  This meant a day without riding her bike.

And this was just amazing bed-head.

But not to worry--this time of year, the snow melts by midday.  Wasn't it gorgeous?!?

My Birthday WEEK!

We really know how to stretch out a good thing, here at the Lochhead house.  Birthdays are at the top of the list of good things--right up there with sleeping in until ten and eating g'ma caroline's potato soup--so when my birthday came into view, we commenced the celebrating!  The Lochhead family mustered up a couple of delicious gluten-free cakes for this Friday night brew-ha-ha--and I almost thought it would've been funny to put the cakes in the wrong order to see if anyone noticed, but then thought again.  34 < 43, fyi.

And the Mosers thawed out the frozen huckleberries for this tasty birthday cake.  Digging through the candle drawer produced no "4" candles, so instead of celebrating my 35th or 36th EARLY, Jeffrey saved the day with his mathematical genius.

365 Days Older.  Or 365 days of fun had by all.  Or 365 days until we do this all over again!  (I think that was the 365th reason why I love him!)

It was a fun weekend of celebrating.  I love this picture of Mom with the World's Largest Meatloaf.  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy--I got to pick the dinner!  But we just kept thinking of family to invite over for the party, so Mom quadrupled the size of the average loaf.  It was quite hilarious--and delicious!

This cute girl didn't eat any meatloaf, but she entertained us all with her walker tricks.  (And her mommy put her in the cute little Carter's outfit that I found for her while thrifting this summer!)

 Ham bone.

 Cheese ball.

Jeff and I are so blessed--not many people can say that their grandparents came to their birthday parties when they were growing up...and still when we're growing up at 34...

And it wouldn't be a family function without things getting a little zany...placemats received turned into doily hats...

...and wrapping paper turned into snow!

I'm a spoiled girl.  And completely partied out...until next year!

50 / 50--The Chances These Days

50/50--Play make-believe or "wish I didn't have a sister"
0.500--Ability to work things out on their own (aka-go with Gracie's plan)
50/50--Cute or mortifying?  When they look back in ten years to see that they used to play "Wedding..."  (They asked me to be the photographer--what was I to do?)

Happy 1st Birthday, Oden!

Oh, how messy to turn ONE!

Happy Birthday, O-Diggity!  We love you!

24-Hour Vacation

Jeff surprised me last Friday with an overnight stay at the Davenport--with no children!  He was pretty sneaky and arranged for G'ma Colleen and Papa Scott to watch the kids overnight so we could have a getaway.  We're calling it a Valentine's/Engagement-Anniversary/Birthday/Track-is-About-to-Start treat.  :)

Sigh.

Yes, we just finished Season 3.  And the only reason I'm posting is out of ending frustration.  I feel like I did when I finished reading Anna Karenina.  Did it really have to end that way?!?

Well, I guess I can move on with my life now...back to boring ol' Sunday nights with no Abbey to look forward to...

Happy Valentine's Day!

After a crazy day of teaching on Valentine's Day, four teachers gathered their sugar-laden children for a RED dinner.  Pizza, chocolate covered strawberries, watermelon, red grapes, and red jello...they LOVED it!

Brooke's Basketball Season

Brooke played varsity basketball this year for Clarkston HS.  We were excited that most of the teams in her league are Spokane teams, so we made several of her games.  This last week marked the last game of the season as they ended up losing their district matchup with East Valley.

 Here she is jumping at the beginning of the game...

 ...and the only shots that I took that turned out were the ones where she was standing still.  So obviously, there are few pics.

She did a great job and they had a good season.

...but I think she's a bit relieved that it's over, for now it's on to soccer!  She's playing with two different Club soccer teams this spring.  Uncle Jeff is trying to console himself, as she's decided to dismiss track this year...but we know that soccer is her first love!

Can't wait to watch you this spring, Brooke! (Someday I WILL follow through with my Clarkston Bantam--er, Chicken?--"Broo..brroo...broo-Broooke!" posters!)

The Average Day

Oden crawling toward his beloved laundry room, Joshy eating way too many raisins, and Gracie reminiscing the days when SHE was the baby.  I love this zoo!

Let's Do Something Special, Mom.

 There is a little stretch of time when Gracie gets up from quiet time and her brother is still napping.  Gracie lives for this "special time" with Mom.  I captured a couple in pictures.

Making cookies...

 ...and making bird feeders!  

Lochhead-ville

With the help of a little bit of blue painter's tape, a city was created in our kitchen this week.

This mommy will do anything for an hour of contented playing!  :)

Love these play-days at home...

The Melt

I shouldn't even say that.  It's only February, and I'm sure we haven't seen our last snow.  No need getting my "Spring!" hopes up...  :)  But last week we started seeing clearer sidewalks and black asphalt so we decided to start getting exercise again!

The kids were so excited to get out and RUN that I had to slow them down by asking for this posed picture.  This hug quickly turned into a sidewalk wrestle.  Good thing most people are at work during this circus parade!

The kids have been DYING to try out these rain boots that G'ma Joan gave them for Christmas.  And BOY, did we try them out!  Thanks for the boots, G'ma.  Nice job on the puddles, God!

He still wants to hold my hand.  Precious days!

Mimi and Kai Mornings

We've been having some fun mornings this year with Kai and his grandma Judy, whom we all affectionately call, "Mimi."  Last week, before pinkeye and hacking coughs hit our house, we put together puzzles.  Joshy and Kai put together THEIR letters first.  :)  It's so fun to have these two birthday-buddies grow up side-by-side! (And I might add that Mr. Kai is SO SWEET to his Auntie Ellie!  It always makes my day to be loved so much!)

Superbowl Farm Visit

We went to the farm the first weekend in February.  Ben just got a big screen TV and invited us all down for Superbowl.  This also meant all sorts of farm treats...

...one of which is reading with G'ma Joan at 10pm before the kids fall into bed, exhausted from an exciting arrival.

 ...another treat was getting to see Abby play basketball!

 ...and her coach was pretty amazing!  :)  KT (and asst. coach Brooke) had a great time coaching Abby's team this year.  Katie told me that she better hang up her coaching shoes after this season though--she's 6-0, a perfect record!  :)

...another treat was getting to see Megan in her NEW glasses!  I oohed and ahhed over them in the way only an auntie is allowed to.  "Hey," says Megan, as she holds up her palm as a stop sign.  "You're messin' with my street cred!"  She is the best movie-quoting 7-year old I know!

...and Abby looks like a giant here, and she IS tall, but it's an optical illusion.  This sweet #3 was a little height-challenged...but BOY could she sprint!  :)

Connie and George (Brady's parents) are the biggest Morrow fans.  They are ALWAYS at the games we show up to!  ...but I suppose G'ma Joan is always there, too.  It's hard for her to miss a game!

 ...another treat!  Gracie LOVES making cookies with G'ma Joan.

 ...and Joshy's favorite thing about G'ma and Papa's house...MOVIES!

Ben and Kelly were great hosts for the Superbowl!  The game itself was pretty lack-luster...although the power went out in the stadium the 2nd half, which made for more time to snack.  :)  G'ma and Papa ended up watching FIVE grandchildren during the game at their house--but we gave them a well-earned drink when they brought the kids down to Ben's at the end of the game.  :)