Axel, Phoenix, and Rubix: January 2022

We have been regularly going to the track once a week for a couple of months now. The kids love it. Axel runs his mile and the two little ones run a half a mile.

I time and take picture :) I love seeing Rubix fly around the track with his little legs. He has broken 2 minutes a couple of times for his 400 and Phoenix has run around a 1:40 + - a couple of seconds pretty regularly for her 400 effort. They jog an easy lap after they do their 400 for time. Axel just goes out and tries to PR. He has been hovering around 6:40 for a while.

The last week of school before break included lots of fun activities. Here Rubix is holding his gingerbread house. He was so very proud.

The kids made their own gingerbread houses on Saturday the 18th. The boys worked on the "mansion" and Phoenix had a house that she received from her school/ homeroom holiday party.

Rubix was a good helper and Axel did most of the decorating.

Phoenix was somewhat happy with her end product.

The Gunnions, one of our two bubble families have joined us a handful of times at the track. Joel and Axel run the mile together and the other kids do their normal routine and then play. Here they are doing a fun "zombie" warm up.

Axel has been working on earning "money" by doing chores. His class trip costs a couple of thousand dollars so he has been doing laundry, dishes and putting out the recycling and bins. This is working out nicely for building some responsibility in Axel and sets a good example for the younger two. Rubix asked how he can help. He chose doing dishes. It is all cute and all, but he washes them in cold water, which doesn't seem to work as well as hot water :)

I captured a cute moment where Rubix wanted to give Phoenix love and Phoenix was happy to show Rubix how the holly we had hanging, in place of a mistletoe, worked. So they kissed and hugged! So sweet!

I had to work the week before Christmas so Christmas Eve snuck up on us quite quickly. I was able to capture some cute photos of the kiddos in their new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

We enjoyed virtual church and a nice meal together as well as watching "Elf" before bed.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful children.

I love when they get along :)

See the cool Christmas tree they are making?

And my wonderful husband and I smiling for our camera girl.

Christmas morning Phoenix requested to have pumpkin scones with our pumpkin lattes this year so Axel made the frosting!

Stocking time!!!!

Merry Christmas!

How we love our stocking!

Time for the big gifts around the Christmas tree.

We were so excited!

Rubix went first and got the marble maze he couldn't wait for.

Oh my!

Axel, all cute, in his new rain coat.

Phoneix giving Daddy the most wonderful gift of all.

So sweet!

Phoenix loving her new books!

Axel with his new phone!

Phoenix holding the Phoenix Axel made her.

Time for Christmas "dinner". What breakfast for lunch? Yes, a huge spread of pumpkin pancakes, waffles, breakfast sausage and fruit. We all enjoyed a change for once. We were so grateful everyone made it down. It was a horrible rain storm and took the Jolly's and Gma Susan and Gpa Brian 3 hours to get to our house and over 3 hours home. It was a short visit, but we were still grateful for them to persevere through the rainstorm to make it.