Basketball Fever

2 Points for Abby Jane 

She did it!  She scored her first basket for the team!

 Back to back games.

Abby #33  played at 7:00 at MPJH.

James #3  played at 8:00 at our Stake House.

 When I watch James play ball, I remember

why I fell in love with this guy! :)

The Fans

It's basketball time!

Zebra Fever

 Bathtime with two of my favorite zebras!

Rachel and Lucy sporting their Zebra coats.

It is Zebra love at our house! 

Creative Kids

Creativity runs strong in the Derrick family.

 Books, Books and more books.

Kate and Ella make books just like these everyday....
sometimes 7 books a day.

We go through a lot of paper and staples these days!

 Kate and I have a journal of letters going back and forth.

She writes me, I write her.  Her notes are always so sweet

and add sunshine to my life.  I love this poem she wrote.

 Abby is apart of a book club with a bunch of her friends.

This week she came home with some fun bookmarks she made.

Abby LOVES to read and has really enjoyed being apart of a book club.

 Kate made this disco ball.

She thinks we need a "real" disco ball,

but for now this will have to do. 

I often find notes like this around the house.

Good reminders for everyone.

Bathtime

Love these beebops!

Orange Leaf

 Sweet escape!

No cavities for Abby, Kate, Ella or for me, 

so off to Orange Leaf to celebrate.

"I want to live here," Ella's deep thought for the day!

Curly Kate

Kate has decided she prefers her hair to be straight.

Today she wore it curly, and took a umbrella to 

keep the curls from getting wet.

I love you Kate, and I love your curls!!!

Packing In The Fun

The Sunday Snow packed us in....so we packed in lots of fun!

During the month of January, 

we have had  school canceled two times, 

basketball games canceled, basketball practices canceled,

art classes canceled, numerous church activities canceled.....all due to the snow.

Today, another 12 inches of snow, and it is still snowing.

Tonight they canceled Kate's Baptismal Preview, because of all the snow.

It was another magical day, being snowed in.

Kate started her first latch hook. It is a lady bug.

Abby and Kate painted tiny tea sets.

Artisits in action.

Tiny Tea Sets for American Girl Dolls.

We watched Cheaper By The Dozen.

James had one Ipad, and Abby had another Ipad

and they played against eachother in Risk.

 Ella made these beautiful magnets.

Beautiful!

Chocolate Makers

The girls made Valentine Chocolates and flowers.

"Delish", as Ella would say.

After dinner we headed downstairs for more fun!

We sang karoake,  played eachother in hoop shot, 

and had a ping pong tournament.

Luckily we are not sick of each other.

Kate and Ella have insisted on sleeping in the same bed

(notice the empty top bunk).

James helped sliding and stuck neighbors. 

I am amazed how storms really bring our neighbors

together.  Everyone really looks out for eachother.  

 Today we watch one car slide backwards all the way down

to Moss Hill barely, missing 2 other sliding cars.

We are so glad that everyone is okay,

and hope that everyone had a fun day too!

Sunday Rotations

Sunday Stations 

 We switched to afternoon church, so we started Sunday Stations again.

Rotation 1: Writing in Sunday Journal (topic changes weekly)

This week was The Brother of Jared.

Rotation 2: Reading Church Books

 Rotation 3: Project Store & Music

The girls can use allowance to purchase sewing projects, art kits etc.

We set it up each week on the Ping Pong table.

They LOVE projects and I love seeing them discover new talents.

Rotation 4: Music

They can sing, play the piano, or play the keyboard.

 Rotation 5: Writing Letters or Drawing pictures

to mail to family, friends or penpals.

Rotation 6: Helping Mom or Dad

We alternate and chose 4 different rotations each week.

It has been a fun way for our family to enjoy Sunday mornings,

and to keep our thoughts and family focused on the Savior.

Manicures

 Abby, Kate & Ella didn't have school on Tuesday.

We decided to treat ourselves to a girls day out.

Shellac Nails and lunch at Cafe Rio. 

Day 2 - Ice Day

 This morning schools actually closed because of the icy roads.

Instead of starting at 8:45, they kept the schools closed until 10:45. Late start.

The roads were SO much better today!
I went to volunteer in Kate's class,

so we stayed and had lunch with Kate and later got to see Abby.

I love that Lucy and Ella are mixed in with all of the friends.

I also really enjoying helping at the school.

 Abby and all of her friends! Cute girls!

Olivia ~ Abby ~ Kaia

Lucy's Black Eye

 Baby girl got her first black eye jumping on the

small trampoline in the basement.

 Ella teases that it looks like makeup.

I am sure it doesn't feel like makeup. :(

Day 1 - All Iced In

 

All "Iced" In
Who knew it was possible to be iced in?
Looking at the roads was decieving.
They looked wet, but nothing unsual.

However, we watched neighbor after neighbor back
out of their driveways, only to slide sideways into snowbanks.

Neighboors called and texted to let us know

how terrible the roads were.
I am so grateful for good neighbors!

It was quite the site.  With 4 neighbors stuck in their driveways,
but kids all dressed, lunches made, ready to head out the door.....

the decision was tough.

It was the snowplow who helped us make our final decision to stay home.

The plow tried three times to get up the street.
Finally he backed down to Moss Hill,
turned around and reversed it..

Dropping salt and driving in reverse, he finally made it up our street.

It was amazing to watch!

 This is our driveway at 4:00 pm last night after a bag of ice melt.

Still so icy.  Kate's art class and Abby's basketball game were both canceled.

 So what do you do when you are iced in?

 J made his famous homemade tortilla chips.

 Kate painted for about 4 hours straight.

At 4:00, she realized she had forgotten to even eat lunch!

 Abby did crafts and projects and read.

 Ella danced the day away....in her nightgown.

I don't think she ever got dressed. 

Perfect day for an indoor picnic.

If I had to be "iced" in with anyone....

I am so glad it could be with the people I love the most!
They said that this morning there were 130 car accidents in Salt Lake County alone.
So glad we stayed in!