what's up weekly.

Happy last Friday of February!  Spring is so close, I can smell it.

Look at these girls, enjoying the weather and wearing their new matching overalls.  (Or, "trousers," as they call them for some reason.)  They bought them with their Christmas gift money and have worn them almost every day since they got them.  Lolo was wearing hers when a neighbor kid knocked her off her roller skates, and she was heartbroken when they ripped.  Luckily, Target has a one-year warranty on their kids' clothes, so I took them back the other night and new ones are in the mail.  

Valentine's Day took place since the last time I posted, so I'll cover it here.  It is increasingly becoming one of my favorite holidays.  It is so nice to have something so cheerful and fun to break up February.  I left the decorations up for over a week.

I got all the kids small gifts.

And made heart-shaped waffles for breakfast.

Knox didn't get the memo about the spirit of the season.

An upside-down soggy heart waffle (that he thought was gross) seemed to sum up his feelings perfectly.

At least one of us cheered up when I revealed his Valentine's Day-themed mafia boss sweatsuit.  (Hint: it wasn't Knox.)

Oey got a notepad with a fancy pen.

Juni got a heart-shaped mug

Callista got new slippers.

Rocco got a watch.

Lolo got a jewelry organizer.

Finneas got a sleeping mat for the floor since he thinks he's too old and cool to share a bunk bed "with a bunch of other guys."  (His brothers.)

Penelope also got a jewelry organizer.

Atticus got a cover for the backseat of his car.

Knox finally came around to the joys of Valentine's Day.  See, buddy?  Isn't it good to be loved?

We had a cheeseboard and chocolate covered strawberries for dinner.

And we watched The Princess Bride and ate popcorn for dessert.

The next morning, I dressed the kids in Valentiney outfits for church, and the boys gave the girls flowers.

Later in the week, Todd drove Atticus to Lawrence to take his driving test.  He's taken it a couple of times here in town, but I was starting to suspect that it might be wise for us to try our luck at a different DMV.  Maybe my gut was right on that, or maybe he really had improved that much, or maybe the third time is the charm, but whatever the case, he PASSED!  He is now a licensed driver.  What a nerve-wracking stage of parenting.

Todd took him to Culver's for lunch to celebrate.

Everyone was so excited for him!

And other photos of note from the week:

This week we've been busy plugging away at our last week of school before break.  We will wrap up our last week of the term today and then take a week off.  I'm hoping for good weather to do some yard work, and I'm going to try to get the younger girls' room painted.  Spring is coming, and my creativity is starting to wake up a little bit!  I have all kinds of grand ideas for the things I'm going to attempt soon, so we'll see how much I actually accomplish, but I feel like yardwork and a single room painted are do-able goals, so wish me luck!