JANUARY...

went by fast and there were a few really great things that we were able to experience.

The first being that Joe turned 40!!!!

We spent the first part of his birthday weekend with a night at the St. Regis which was amazing!!! The food we had was all incredible as was the scenery. We are now ready to go spend a week away somewhere we just need to find someone brave enough to watch all 5 kids :)

On Sunday I had planned a surprise party for him with his whole family. He suspected I might be up to something because it did not seem like I was making a big deal about his birthday dinner so I guess I played it too cool. He was however truly surprised because everyone made it out to celebrate his big day and it was so much fun.

Another great event was Anika participating in her schools GEO (geography) BEE. I had received an e-mail from her teacher that the kids would be talking this test and that the top 2 from each class would compete. Now I love geography and I got very excited mentioning this to Anika. Her response was "Mom, I stink at geography." Well she took the test and was one of the top two scores. AWESOME!!!! So we got to go to the BEE with the whole entire 5th grade watching as well. She was the only girl up there and she did amazing. The questions were really difficult and she did great. There was however one kid that got all 7 correct. It sure was fun watching her and hopefully this makes her realize not only is geography interesting but she is good at it as well.

My dear Anika has been waiting to go get her nails done forever. As she always tells me "I am the only girl in the 5th grade who has never gone" I am wiping away my tears as I write this because her life really is tough. Super Grandma saved the day and for Christmas got her a gift certificate. Now we just need to take her skiing because she is the only girl in the 5th grade who has never done that either.

We had Grandma for a few blissful weeks in January and the kids were excited to have her experience Farrells because after all this sunny 80 degree weather we needed something to cool us off.

He could not finish this but boy he was not wanting to share and freaked when I took the smallest bite. Do not get between a boy and his sundae.

We had a special visit by my cousin from Wisconsin and his 2 boys. I wish they lived closer because we had so much fun with them.

This was not really a highlight but I had taken the picture so I thought I would post it. My tire popped on the way up to Disney. I was in the carpool lane and we were so scared. Thank goodness for prayer and My sister in law Michelle. Luckily we only had the young kids with us because my older ones would have been freaking out.

We made it up safely the next week.

Anika went to a rollerskating party that was up in Orange and I have been wanting to try this cupcake place ever since I saw her compete in Cupcake Wars. They were amazing!!!! I think even better than Sprinkles. If you are in Orange it is soooo worth the stop.

My skating diva.