Spoiled

Not this guy. Me. I am spoiled. I do not have perfect, all the time easy kids. But most of my day is spent with this guy and I would say that 85-90% of the time he is a piece of cake. So much so that I have to make sure I'm proactive in spending purposeful time with him. He plays so well by himself and is very content "snoggling" on the couch. I can piddle around the house and he'll play with his trucks. This was yesterday morning after the older two had caught the bus. Love my mornings with this little man. (right now he's on the floor talking to and then smashing ants. i don't know why they are in my bedroom!) B loves catching a little quality time with his pal gal Sydney.

I Make Messes

And I 'm proud of it.

Getting warmer...

Fizzy Foamy Science. The kids always ask to do this and I almost always put it off for rainy days. This time they asked Dennis. It is pretty fun!



Play dough bed for Luke Skywalker. Everyone in the rebel alliance is going to want one of these.




Saturday we went to the farm and Den and the kids spent the afternoon finding and marking the iron pins that designate the lot's boundaries. I even got to use a borrowed metal detector. I want one.


Pounding in the steak. J was in charge of spray painting them. Until he lost that privilege after repeated random sprays. Life lessons are tough.

Somebody learned something at church last week.

And sweet neighbor Martha gave the older two pony rides on Diamond.

My daffodils are about to burst because it is getting warmer!!

And I bust out my high fashion footwear for such occasions. If you'd like to create this look w/o the high price just ask and I'll fill you in on my fashion secrets.

He spent the morning outside and loved it. He's old enough that he can play in the back by himself and I can watch him through the windows.

We don't have as many cats around so picnics can be fun without having to shoo the little beggars away!

neeked baby

This and That

Being a little brother means your sister might dress you up in a butterfly costume and you might like it.


We had a couple really warm days and we took advantage with a bike ride/walk in our shorts!



These two are really starting to interact and play more and more everyday. It's so fun to watch their little relationship grow.


This is my view of this guy when I'm getting dinner ready. Yes, we cage our kids. The chair is to help the 3rd one back and forth over the gate, instead of having to constantly respond to "hold you please".




E decided to experiment with some fashion design the other night. "I'm going to make B a hat" she said. And she did, w/ my sewing machine. It's an E original. A one of kind though....if you're interested I'll ask her about special orders.



Also when you are a little brother to a big sister you might think it's fun to wear her Cinderella shoes because "look mommy! they have stars!"



Baking with the boys last weekend.



They were watching a movie and this is what I found my daughter sitting in. It's what we keep the stuffed animals in. (For the record this room has been since cleaned and no longer looks like a tornado went through it.)



Sunday we celebrated (a week early) Den's grandma's 80th birthday. I think she enjoyed everything and hope that she felt loved. J played his cello and my daughter spontaneously sang Jesus Loves Me all by herself, into a microphone in front of everyone. I was surprised and proud. Beautiful moment :)

I like to win things....

I might make my own bread someday if I won this. It could happen....right?

Love is in the air.....

I love any excuse for theme days and festivities, not to mention an excuse for chocolate. Not only does February bring us the Hallmark holiday of Valentine's day but I know of at least seven birthdays this month! (Including my grandma Lee's 90th today!! Happy Birthday Grandma!)


For my niece Elliot I made this sweet heart headband, as well as an not photographed sparkly rosette hair clip.


Here of 3 of the afore mentioned birthday celebrators. The one on the far right is just sneaking in the shot. She's cute, I'll allow it.


The morning of the 14th I made chocolate waffles with a strawberry sauce for dipping and mini heart shape quiches. V was the first one up (as usual) and loved every minute and every bite. It's so fun to see him understand special days and get into the spirit of it all.

Then of course the kids had to take Valentine's to school.

E's this year were Blow Pops in the center of a paper flower, w/ a heart shaped leaf of course.


J's treats were airplanes made from gum and Sweet Tarts.
Of course I saw both of these general ideas somewhere else and I don't remember exactly where. BUT I'm sure I was led to them by One Pretty Thing. I love how she gathers great ideas from all over the place. It saves a lot of browsing time when you are looking for a project.


This is our basement. Several of you often ask us if we are building, or "What's the status on the house?" Well here it is. Den has dug it out. With work being slow due to weather he had time to do this much. We have house plans. That's it. We don't know when we'll finish. We don't have a set goal of when to finish. We really want to be on God's timing. We also would like to accumulate as little debt as possible in the process of building. We could find a way to borrow a bunch of money and get it done but neither of us feel comfortable with that right now. We are trusting the Lord to open and slam doors as we move slowly forward in this process. All prayers are appreciated! Donations are accepted as well ;)

Tae Bo

I couldn't pick a favorite so here they all are. V and E's new favorite time killer. Notice too cool big brother in the back who couldn't stand not being a part of the video. Also, notice at the end the shirt comes off, it's serious.

February brings good things...

like...


being with these girls...(and sister in law not pictured),


and having this baby happily play...



while I sew an apron,


a tissue holder and a birthday card;



like sunsets,

and kids playing on the ice





and laughing like crazy.

What He Does

You think you'll remember but you don't. I think that I'll remember that everyday he lines up his cars and trucks on his toy chest and talks to them and moves them and drives them off the edge. This is what he does.


He also plays play dough with me.

Closing January 11

We do this now....and we are not always happy when we do it.


We barely fit into this, it's the long torso from the father's side.



And we are proud of ourselves when we get in the kitchen and pull something out.



We share sweet moments.



We prepare yummy treats.


Salted Caramel Vanilla Cupcakes....with sliced pear. yup.
(not made in the easy bake)

Cousins.

Sometimes you love to play the music and sing.

And sometimes you need to be the music and get down with your bad self.

We tried banana. We gagged.

We finished big Lego projects.

We had more cousins over to build snow women with,

and to leap into February with,

Only to find more snow!