Friday, February 24, 2012

365 Project: February 18, 2012

Getting ready for Larren's birthday party meant THIS...


... is where Caidrie spent a good part of her morning!

365 Project: February 17, 2012

I bought Caidrie a new (to us!) jumper and it's a big hit...


... can ya tell?!?!


365 Project: February 16, 2012

Since Jon was away we decided to take a little vacation too. 


Right on down to Nana Betty's "swimming pool!"

Thursday, February 23, 2012

365 Project: February 15, 2012

Jon left for Alberta for a couple days and good gracious... the girls kicked into "highly spirited" mode to make up for his absence.


This is supposed to be wind down time...  sure makes for an interesting bed time routine, I'll tell ya that much!

365 Project: February 14, 2012 - Love Day

Sure, Valentine's could be classified as being "overrated" and "commercialized" but... I still quite enjoy it! An excuse to go over the top in reminding our loved ones how much we love them can't ever be a bad thing!

And when you throw little kids into the mix... it bumps up the fun factor another notch! 'Cause let's be honest here... I just don't think decorating the house with hearts and eating heart shaped bacon screams LOVE to Jonathan!


But the girls? Now they were tickled pink!

 It's a completely original idea... I know :) but our menu this year consisted of all things heart shaped.

For breakfast we had pink heart shaped pancakes... 


... and an attempt at heart shaped bacon!



For lunch we had tomato soup and heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches...


For snack we had mini heart shaped banana/chocolate chip muffins...


And for supper we dressed up in our fanciest clothes again then enjoyed salad and homemade heart shaped pizza with heart shaped pepperoni's.


Sugar cookies for dessert... and I'd say that's a wrap!


Phew wee... it's a REALLY good thing we don't eat this way every day, goodness!

We made "flowers" (out of lollipops) to hand out to our local loved ones...


... then went for a beautiful walk in the afternoon to deliver them.



But not without a sample of the goods first!


Daddy even surprised his little sweeties (and his big sweetie too!) with flowers...


... and kisses all around!


Our kids don't need hearts and flowers to know we love them... and sometimes I get a little stressed out in trying to make everything JUST right... but it's all in the memories, and a little heart shaped grilled cheese sandwich never hurt anyone!

365 Project: February 13, 2012 ... Larren's Birthday!

Our little Larren is no longer a wittle one weer old. *sigh* It happens... kids grow. It's good. It's normal... but I'm still shocked by how fast it happens!

Tradition in our house is to decorate the girls' door and/or room (depending how on the ball we are!) while they are sleeping.  


If they happen to forget it's their birthday than they are reminded (and celebrated!) the second their eyes open in the morning!


For breakfast the birthday girl chose baked oatmeal... Daddy made it a little extra special with a chocolate chip & marshmallow smiley face!


What would a day in the life of a brand new two year old be without dress up?


Or "camping"... in snowsuits... and rain boots?


When asked what she wanted for lunch the automatic and excited answer was MACARONI & CHEESE! Any guesses what the supper request was? Why not have mac and cheese TWO times on your SECOND birthday, right?


Jon never complains but macaroni and cheese two times in one day might be the limit... so he got something a little more "man friendly" for supper!

Larren only opened a couple of cards and one gift since her big birthday bash was taking place the next weekend. We ended the day with her new Berenstein Bears DVD and both she and Alia were all smiles!


Mission: Make Larren feel extra loved and valued...  successful!

Stay tuned for the "Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Bash" - it'll make you, umm... nibbly!

365 Project: February 12, 2012

Aaaand tomorrow....


... she's two. Wowsers.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

If You Give a Mom a Muffin


This was shared with me by a friend of mine, and gracious... it's just too accurate not to share!! :)


If You Give a Mom a Muffin

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. So she'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.  She'll wipe it up. 

While wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the  washer, she'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight. 

She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. 

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer it and hang up. 

She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee on Friday. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Written by Kathy Fictorie
Based on the book "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff

Sunday, February 12, 2012

365 Project: February 11, 2012

Another daughter...


... that's 100%...


... smitten with her Daddy!


365 Project: February 10, 2012

Somehow dinner with kids, at other people's houses, is crazy.

Are the girls energy levels at their tip top peaks? Better believe it.
Will Alia or Larren be interested in eating? Doubt it.
Do we usually have an out of the blue spill or two? Absolutely.
Will they touch something they aren't supposed to? Probably.
Do early bedtimes beckon just as we're getting into good conversation? Yuppers.
Will we get to play games like we had hoped to? Sorry... maybe next time.

Yeah, it's a lot of work... but seeing the girls interact, play, and be loved on by the generations before them makes it worth it!


From falling asleep in a great auntie's arms...


... to baking enough cookies for a small army...


... we'll take it.

The layed back, relaxing family dinners have changed... but we'll savor these new ones, cause before long we'll miss spilled drinks, lost mittens, and blanket forts... guaranteed.

*and I also guarantee that I'll need reminded of that! :)

Saturday, February 11, 2012

365 Project: February 9, 2012

Caidrie and I had a wonderful time catching up with a good friend of mine. But it's times like these that I realize just how much she takes after her mama... wanna know what she's looking at?



NOT kidding!! But really... can ya blame her?! :)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

365 Project: February 8, 2012

Since there's no snow...


... their newly acquired sled becomes a boat, an airplane, a train, and a shuttle.

Of course! Why didn't I think of that?! :)

365 Project: February 7, 2012

My weekly women's Bible study means...

- daddy/daughter time for Jon, Alia & Larren
- connection and conversation with grown ladies for me :)
- learning about (and soaking up!) God's love for His bride
- dusting off the ole' piano skills and leading ladies in worship
- and plenty of snuggle time for Caidrie

She usually goes from this...



... to this before ya can say "Anybody wanna hold a ba...?" :) 


365 Project: February 6, 2012

365 Project: February 5, 2012

Make homemade pretzels or watch the Super Bowl?


Pretzels win every time!

I wish we could say we made football shaped ones... but we didn't! We'll try to be more on the ball (ha!) for next year! :)

Monday, February 6, 2012

365 Project: February 4, 2012

Dress up...


Tea parties...


All the kids getting along...


Visiting with good friends over lunch (that THEY brought!!)...




and old fashioned peanut butter pie....


now THAT's a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon!! :)

365 Project: February 3, 2012

Visiting our friends...


... and their little boy blue!

365 Project: February 2, 2012

So of all days NOT to get a great picture... goodness... it wasn't for lack of opportunity, I assure you! My good friend April and I spent the day in the city getting massages, manicures, and pedicures at the spa, we had lunch at Olive Garden, and of course, we did our fair share of shopping!

All that and THIS is the picture I got for the day!! :)


Of Caidrie parked beside me as my feet get painted a lovely shade of burnt orange! 

Ah well... another lesson learned : don't be too shy to ASK someone to get pictures of us... whether we're relaxing with our feet in hot sudsy water, stuffing our mouths with salad & bread sticks, or skipping happily to the car with bags full of clearance finds!!

365 Project: February 1, 2012

Nana Betty and Papa Ron came home from Mexico bearing gifts! Sadly the girls hats were too small...


... but Papa Ron's hat fit "just right!" :)


365 Project: January 31, 2012

This girl is a sponge for learning!


Alia finished learning the upper case, lower case, and sound of each letter today and couldn't wait to have her picture taken with all of them!