Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Our 8th Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just another wonderful excuse to get the kids candy and dollar store treasures, the way I see it. I found tons of activity books (Ben's current obesession), new big fat crayons, some puzzles, Diego spinning tops, socks, Buzz Lightyear goodies, and a nice Bear's hat for ben on clearance. My mom also sent a box of candies, Valentine's Day cards, hotwheels, moster trucks, and classic cartoon movies including Felix and Gumby. The kids were delighted, and occupied for most of the day.

H loved his stickers of Buzz!


Ben got Batman and Spiderman goodies.

The boys and daddy got mom a heart covered coffee mug, and small cuddly bear. Also, Theo spoiled me, and got me Nina Ricci perfume and a scrapbooking die-cutting machine called the "Slice!" This week we happened to finally get our paws on my Christmas present, too, a wii fit. So spoiled, and so excited. I love the machine, the perfume, and the wii fit. I couldn't be happier, or more occupied.
Daddy got a huge frame full of pictures of the family for his office. He's not had updated pictrues at work in some time, so this was the perfect time to fill up one of those frames with a matt that has multiple holes.


In addition to tons of dollar store goodies for the boys, and candy and treats from Grandma Anita, Theo and I also managed to get some time alone. This Valentine's Day marks 8 years since the day we met! We wanted to acknowledge that, and take some quiet time together at The Cheesecake Factory near Milwaukee. Alyssa was nice enough to wacth our wild children for a few hours, thank you so much.
Aren't we cute?



I love you baby! Thanks for lunch!
After lunch we came home, we cleaned the house, and had our friend Ben and Casey over with their kiddos. We played wii, scrabble, knitted while the man played poker. It was sooo nice.
Later, Jason and Alyssa returned from their dinner date and announced they are engaged! I have a sister! Very exciting stuff, folks. Congratulations to the new couple.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Silver Toof.

Ben: Look, mom, this is a silver tooth like daddy's new silver teeth.

Me: Oh?
Ben: I want to put them on so I look like daddy.
Me: (snorts) Let me get the camera.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

A Crafter's Inspiration

I've been unusually, exceptionally crafty this winter. If my desire to create things could, in anyway, be expressed adequately, I'd write a book. From morning to night, I want to sew, knit, paint, decorate, embellish, scrap, and so on. I have "life" getting in the way often, but I have, atleast been keeping track of my ideas.
It's no wonder I want to make pretties, I start out my morning checking my e-mail, weather, and then my favorite craft sites, like these:

Soule Mama
Softies Central
Posie Gets Cozy

Go get yourself some ideas. :)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Lately...

We've all been up to our own stuff, keeping busy to fend off the winter doldrums. I've just finished another scarf, and I like it so much that I'm going to make a hat to match. The color is jarring, and not my normal earthtone pallet, but it's so soft, and it reminds me of the ocean.


I took care of another thing on my 30-thing to do before I'm 30 list, and finally found a fabulous antique stepback cupboard to house all of my china, crystal, and Mikasa classes. I found this on Craigslist, and it's the most beautiful, wonderful, cupboard I could have ever asked for.


One of my amaryllis bulbs, which I force indoors in the winter time, is open and looking beautiful on the dining room table.





This little one has been taking out all of the umbrellas everyday. I guess he's ready for spring.




This bug guy is back to work, and working hard. He's already doing weekend duty, too. I just want him to be home with some darn time off. :)


Hunter's also been playing with his Buzz "Hybert," a.k.a. Buzz Lightyear. This guy, and his ship, have to rank somewhere near #1 for Hunter.




Laura has been soaking up the winter snow. She's definately a winter dog, you'll never see her as happy as she is when she's in the snow. With each winter warm up (20F) she's outside running and sniffing about, and it's hard to pull her inside. She is queen of the yard, you know.








And Ben has been busy, busy, busy. He's discovered activity books, and he's plowing through them like their nothing. He completed a Thomas activity book filled with connect the dots and such last week, and now he's into a Bert and Ernie Math book, and he LOVES it. I'd say he did more than 75% of it yesterday alone. We're signing him up for ice skating lessons, and he's been having playtime with his BFF McKenzie, all the time.
So, we're all good. I hope you are all good, too.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Sledding

This weekend I insisted we get out into the snow and sled. We've had so much snow, and since fall really we've had chances to sled, and just haven't. I'm no dope, and I know taking both Ben and Hunter by myself would have been way too much, and someone would have got hurt. Now that Dad's home, and I have some help, we were on our way!
Here's Ben and Dad before they headed up the hill.

And down Ben and Dad go together.

At the bottom of the hill.

There's Ben after going down all by himself, he laughed the whole way, and LOVED it!


See, his joy?

And back up the hill they go.
I love where we live.
Hunter follows Dad and Ben up the hill, pulling his little purple sled.
Ben on his way back up again... I lost count of how many times he went up and down.
Dad and Hunter went down together. Hunter, although hesitant at first, loved his ride, saying, "Weeee" the whole way. Ben rode down simultaneously on the blue sled.

Happy boy.

My three beautiful boys.

Hunter helps Dad shove Ben down the hill again.
There goes Ben!
LOL! Hunter insisted on pulling his purple sled down the hill. You can see Ben made significantly better time on his sled. That speck at the bottom of the hill is Ben.
My love.

Me and my littlest love.
Working hard, pulling his sled.
I love my life.