This month we:
- We enjoyed a fun few days at the Wilderness Resort at the Wisconsin Dells with the Kilmartin Family.
- We unpacked from the Dells and restocked the house with groceries to prepare for my mom’s arrival.
- Clara had a special day out with me and went with me to pick up my mom in Champaign. We arrived early and tooled around Target together. Clara wanted a new piggy bank (hers broke) so I let her pick one out — it’s pink with a tiara and tutu. Sometimes, I’m not sure these are my children… 
- We met my mom and her friend Georgia at Panera for a late breakfast and then drove Grammie back to our house.
- Mike took Bo on a special day trip to St. Charles to see his parents and his brother, Pete, who made an impromptu visit to the area. They visited with family, went out for lunch, and made a quick CostCo run.
- While Mike and Bo were gone my mom and I took Clara and Anna shopping. We went to Kohls and hit some of the after Christmas deals. We had pretzels at the mall, shopped at Marshalls, played in the mall play area, and topped it all off with ice cream on our way home.
- Mom and I went to Target and Red Lobster one morning while the kids were at school. We also went for manicures and pedicures on another school morning.
- We all went out to dinner at the Olive Garden while Grammie was here.
- The trio had a noon dismissal from school so Grammie took us all to IHOP for lunch and then we spent the afternoon playing board games. Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Connect 4 were all hits with the trio.
- Grandpa and Grandma took the trio overnight so that Mike and I could de-Christmas the house and accomplish a few projects. We went to IKEA for a few new organizational pieces and finished our evening at the Melting Pot for dinner. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished with nearly 24 child-free hours.
- I took the trio to Harrison’s 5th birthday at the Y. It was a tumbling party and the trio had fun.
- Mike and I met up for lunch at Mickey’s Massive Burritos. Love their EnSalada!
- I took the trio for their first tumbling class at the Y. It was quite the ordeal — getting them there, changed, etc. but I think they had fun. We managed to make it there every Tuesday this month and we are signed up for February as well.
- I met up with Jen for breakfast and to walk a few laps at the mall.
- The girls and I were sick. Then Bo got it. So we spent the weekend at home.
- I got a case of cabin fever after all the sickness, so I went to the mall to have my eyebrows threaded. And went to The Limited and found 2 dresses and a blazer that I didn’t need for 34 dollars. At that price, even though I didn’t need them, I couldn’t say no.
- We celebrated Martin Luther King day with a trip to CostCo and a stop at Five Guys for lunch.
- I started my new full-time job. Overall, it’s good. And I think it will be good. But I’m not a fan of the transition period. Or of trying to get the company cell phones to work in the rural Midwest…
- Frustrated with my job (or lack of ability to do what I needed due to technology issues…), I went to Target in the middle of the day. Twice.
- Laura and I sneaked out for an evening and enjoyed dinner at Red Lobster followed by a bit of mall shopping as well as sodas and chatting at McDonalds. Sometimes, you just have to get out of the house!
- I made delicious Oreo cupcakes for Abby, Cade, and Cara’s birthday celebration at the bowling alley and Pizza Hut.
- Mike worked overtime on a Saturday morning.
- Mike and I took the kids to Maze Lumber to look around and price a few items. We are debating remodeling/adding on to our current house v. building a new house. We waiver back and forth about every 5 minutes. 
- Abby and Neil watched the kiddos and Mike and I went to Good’s in Kewanee to look at dining room tables. We found one we like — but it would pretty much mean gutting our kitchen. Needless to say, we came home empty handed. We ate dinner at the Station House and hope to take a train adventure there soon with the trio.
- The trio celebrated Catholic School’s Week with yellow day, pj day, career day, spirit day, and dress up day at school. I utilized Pinterest to make teacher appreciation gifts too.
- I baked cupcakes for the spaghetti dinner we attended at school as part of Catholic schools week. We let the trio each pick a book out from the book fair — Bo chose Dinotrux, Clara chose Doc McStuffins, and Anna chose a Disney Princess book. Oy.
- I took the trio to the chiropractor (first time all three have been adjusted — Bo and Clara both were as babies) and they did great.
- We met with Father Blake regarding having the trio baptized. Plans are in the works for an Easter baptism. Laura and Derek Kilmartin will be their Godparents.
- Since Mike and I had a sitter for the baptism meeting, we ate dinner at Red Lobster on a random Tuesday night. It’s still weird to be out on a school night!
- We had a surprise visitor at lunch time on Wednesday! Mike called and asked me to come to town because his best friend, Owen, was stopping through during some business travel and wanted to have lunch. We enjoyed chatting over lunch at Applebee’s. Seeing Owen is always a great surprise.
- Laura and I hosted a girl’s night out at Fajita’s in LaSalle. Each month our group keeps growing!