Monday, January 31, 2011

Winter Wonderland Program

Yesterday was Isabelle's "Winter Wonderland" program for preschool.

The kids all did a fabulous job, and I tried to get a video loaded on here because it's hilarious but, after 15 hours of it "loading", I decided that I would just post pictures instead....



One of the mom's made their cute little scarves.... Thanks Lisa!




Isabelle was the one little girl in the group who did not do any of the motions to the songs.  Maybe she realized she has no rhythm.  Like her mother.

 


The last song was so incredibly funny.  They were supposed to dance all about with certain motions that went with the song.  And yes, Isabelle just stood there smiling while her "best friend" to the right was so completely animated.

So much fun to see them perform!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cowboy

Dirty Cowboy


In my Grandfathers hat,
Baby in hand,
Purse on arm,


He skips off.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Helpin' Daddy

Thursday evening after work, Isabelle and Jackson wanted to "go outsigh".  I bundled them up, and had every intention of finding their father and coming back inside. Baby it's cold out side!  But he talked me into staying out... he's a smooth one that husband of mine.


When I came around the corner of the house, there they were. Waiting for me to cross the road.  Yes, they thought they needed their umbrellas! It was snowing a wee bit, and really, it blocked the wind.  Smart.  Those little people of mine!


Helping Daddy feed the calves. Helping = scaring them with the big yellow duck.


This made me laugh.  So bright with the white snow.  I was sure to keep track of him.


Helping= shoveling snow ON the calves....


When Jackson saw this sweet little cow, he said: "Cow."  "Marker".  "Naughty".  Yes, this little cow does look like you after you use the markers. And it is naughty.  Perfect.  He retains.

And then to the pigs.


Remember these guys?


Getting chubby!  Check out those hams on the right!


Last chore for the evening... filling the wood stove.

Friday, January 21, 2011

It's Been a Short Week.... Or Long?

Hmm... not sure which.  It went by really fast, but we did a lot of stuff too.

Last week we got our first real snow, and the kids were very anxious to get out in it.  After homework and chores, we took them sledding at our neighbors hill.  So convenient.



They rode the gator, I took the van.




The kids got new "saucer" sleds from their Grandparents (Ryan's) for Christmas, and they were very excited to put them to use.  




Elizabeth and William were old pros, and hopped on like they did it every day.  Isabelle surprised me, and followed suit!



Someone else had been at the hill before us and created a little jump in the middle of the hill.  It was so fun to watch them bounce over it.  Isabelle was trooper and didn't cry once when she wiped out.




Jackson, on the other hand, was not having any of that crazy business.  After several failed attempts with all of his siblings, he decided (was forced) to go down with his dad.



He did enjoy a few more runs down the hill, but was really more entranced by the corn field you land in at the bottom of the hill.  Once Ryan and I were chilled to the bone, we made them all load up and come home.


For the rest of the week, Elizabeth and William went to snow camp.  It was a tough call.  They had been behaving so badly, they did not really deserve to go, but I was so sick of their arguing, I needed a break.  Guess who won?


Elizabeth and I have been busy sewing.  She's practicing up for her 4-H projects, and has made a few of these hot pads.  Any time on the machine is good practice I think. William needs to start getting familiar with the machine too, but I think I'm going to need to save up my patience for that.

We've had a two hour school delay, and a cancellation too, I like the delay, not so much on the cancellation.

William finally got to spend his Christmas money, and purchased a Batman Lego Wii game.  That is where he has been spending ALL of his free time.



We all went to the Farm Show in Fort Wayne.  Ryan likes to go every year, and he's taken the big kids with him once, and this year we all decided to go.  He thinks he'll go alone next year.

Jackson has been cracking me up with his verbal skills.  Of course I cannot remember any of them now.  He is growing so quick, and not the baby I want him to be.  Although, this morning after dropping the kids at the carpool spot, he snuggled in bed with me for another 20 minutes.  Felt so good.  Especially since I woke up with some sore muscles today.  I fell on the sidewalk at work yesterday.  Pretty embarrassing, not to mention wet for the rest of the afternoon.  I thought a long soak in a hot tub last night with a malted beverage would make things feel better, but not really showing it today.  Maybe I needed more beverages.

Today I'm off to help a friend move to her first house! How exciting.  I'm not sure how much help we'll be with my two little people, but we are going to try.  I also have to go to the dentist.  Again.  One of my fillings decided to come loose yesterday.  Freaks me out.  But, I get to see my friend, Andrea.  Isabelle has dance tonight, and Friday is laundry day, and this house needs to be picked up and the bathrooms cleaned.  Tomorrow right?

This always happens to me, I miss several days of blogging, and I find it hard to get back to it, but just like right now, I feel so good having it all out, and down, and I find I have so much more to say!  But, alas, the kids are upstairs and quiet, so that means something is up, and I better get going before the day is completely gone.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday

A two hour school delay was a wonderful way to start our day.  I, of course slept in, and so was still running behind.  I realized a block from Isabelle's school that her classes had been cancelled for the day, 20 minutes that I didn't have totally wasted. Over two hours in a boring office conference, resulted in me getting a new laptop!  So really kind of worth it.  I spent the afternoon in jail.  Wednesday's are a bright spot in my week.  I always learn so much.  Pick up the kids, and now home.  The snow is falling in big flakes and it looks pretty out the window.  Running the dishwasher for the third time- for some reason the little door is not opening to let the soap out.  Need to get the kids ready for snow camp this weekend but they really want to go sledding tonight.  I'm trying to decide how I'm going to get rid of my headache and wishing someone else was responsible for feeding the clan.  The kids are alarmingly quite at this exact second.  I'm sure it will all end  in a matter of yup, seconds.  It's over now.  Two crying kids are headed my direction....

Monday, January 10, 2011

Me+Motherhood=Failure

Facts to support my findings:

1.  I had to google third grade homework.

2.  Jackson had a tootsie pop and a pepsi for breakfast.

3.  William has a raging infection in his mouth.
     A.  Probably due to the fact that he didn't brush his teeth his ENTIRE two week break from school.  
     B.  Probably because I never told him to.

4.  Elizabeth broke one of my favorite coffee mugs this morning, and I cried. Real tears.

I'm sure there's more.  These findings are within the last 5 days.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Ok, Ok, Ok.

So everything I do seems to be a day late.    Life happens.

I am in the middle of cleaning the house today, the upstairs is finished.  On to the main floor after a quick break!

The kids are upstairs re-messing it as I type.   They are playing some kind of animal game, and Jackson's pack and play is the pen.  I'm pretty happy that they are playing nicely, not so happy that they are making another mess they will not want to clean up.   I'm going to yell for them to go to the basement. They'll be happy about that.

Any - hoo! On to our final winner!  Have I told you guys how much fun this is for me?  IT IS!! And new shoes?  I'm always about that!

The winner of "Favorite Things" day 5, is......





Number 11!!  


Congratulations Goddess Divine!

Friday, January 7, 2011

And..... I Fell Asleep On The Couch Again.

The winner of "Favorite Things, Day 4" is.....






Number 10!

Congratulations ladypoulin!! 

Let's chat and figure out what kind of bag you would like! 

Don't be sad if you didn't win... I have a special surprise for the rest of you commentors!  Stay tuned! 

Later tonight, depending on if I fall asleep on the couch or not, I'll announce the winner of the Toms shoes! 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Winner of Day 3...

number... 8!

Congratulations Carol Collett!! 

That's all folks!
I'm to tired for anything else.  

My Tuesday, and a second WINNER!

Today we've been productive.  Not happy, but productive.  I helped Elizabeth and William clean their rooms.  Three thirty gallon bags of trash from those two rooms.  No joke. Yesterday I made them pick up the yard.  It's a little thing I like to call: "Glad to go back to school".  The teachers will thank me later.

We put the Christmas decorations away.  Always makes me sad.  I love little white lights.  Makes the house look so warm and inviting.  Now, just blah.  Maybe I should work on getting some things hung on these bare walls.  I want to put up a family tree.  A really cool one.  Anyone have any ideas?


I completed four *started* sewing projects since Saturday.  Makes me kinda sad to have this break over.  I was on such a roll!  Also makes me feel a little better about the new projects I'm planning on starting Friday.  *smile*

I just finished watching the season premier of "The Bachelor".  Is it wrong to get so much pleasure from a television show?  It might be a sin.  I'll have to ask one of my catholic friends.




I should really go to bed.  5 am is not going to be pretty.

Oh, yeah!  the winner! is lucky number 7!

B. Stein you are the proud owner of fair trade hat and mittens!! 

For all you local folks, One World Handcrafts is having their annual "after Christmas sale".  Great stuff on sale! 

AND, in case any of you was wondering, mine is: Function, better be fashionable! (you have to wear shoes right?) who cares if it's comfortable?
Note: I do use the "random number generator" but I'm not smart enough to figure out how to get it on here.... 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A bunch of drivel and a WINNER!

We've been having a stellar break!  William has logged hours on his lego star wars wii game, Jackson has hardly let go of his horses, Isabelle has been dancing around the house being her diva self, and Elizabeth and I have been sewing!  I've been working on finishing some started projects, and Elizabeth has made several hot pads, and she's made two pillow cases, and has one in the works for William.



Elizabeth's first pillow case.  For herself of course! - modeled by William.






Yesterday, while Isabelle was at school, Elizabeth and I hung some things in Isabelle's room.  Christmas gifts - I'm thinking we are ON IT! Up before next Christmas anyway!  She loves them, and they look really cute in her room.  I got the paper lanterns at Pier One Imports.  They were on the clearance shelf.... $1.98 each!  I would love to find some more- I doubt I'll get that good of a deal again!  Her "wall art" I picked up at Hobby Lobby.  It says: "Princess, daughter of a Heavenly King".  I love those wall stickers.  They are reasonably priced, go on relatively easy, come off even easier when you are tired of them, and the best part?  No holes in the wall!!



Now that you've suffered through my mumbo jumbo, should we get to the good part??  We shall!

"Favorite Thing" week is so much fun for me!  I love reading your comments and giving things I truly, truly love.  The only sad part is not being able to give to everyone.  Blech.

Another exciting thing in my world??



I did not get to watch last night, fell asleep. (also the reason for this Monday post on Tuesday afternoon)  Thank heavens for dvr.  That just may be favorite thing #6!

Sorry.  The winner I promised....


Number 3!

Congratulations Deana! 

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Favorite Things.... day 5

I am SO excited about day five!  It's hard to convey proper excitement in type.  I could, I guess use all caps, but that is just ANNOYING! ha! see?

Day five came down to this: "What is my most favorite THING from 2010?" It was a tough call.



Kate Spade.
I truly, truly love this bag.
I use it multiple times a week, if not daily.

And these:


TOMS
wedges
I have not wore them in a little while, because everyone knows that you cannot wear open toe shoes after Labor Day in Indiana. BUT, they are the shoes that got the most wear in my closet this summer.
After seeing them this week in a store in Chicago, I'm trying to decide if I can wear a "regular" pair...although the charcoal wedges are pretty cute...

And so, I was down to a hard decision.
After thinking for awhile, "what do I really love?" shoes? bags? hmm.







SHOES!! 


One lucky winner will receive a $75. gift card to TOMS shoes!!

If you would like to enter, just leave a comment telling me what your favorite thing is.  
*No: family, friends, husband/boyfriend crap.*  
I want to hear your favorite thing.  Is it shoes? bags? are you addicted to jeans?  stationary? any thing President Lincoln? fabric? eye shadow?

What is it??


I'm putting "going on a TOMS donation trip" on my bucket list.  Right under "front row seats at a prize fight".  Maybe before...