ZZZzzzzzzz...

Do you remember when you could sleep anywhere?

After church,he just couldn't make it more than a few steps before he was out.

Snack Time

He's Two and hungry... need I say more?

Living Dangerously

Yesterday a friend of mine was visiting. Through our conversation she soon found that I let my children use real scissors (Not those nasty little kindergarten scissors that don't cut) whenever they want to. An unmistakable look of horror crossed her face. (This particular friend was a pediatrician and has recently joined the ranks of motherhood).

At first I felt a need to defend myself and my children's artistic needs... All four of my little Rembrandts are constantly drawing, gluing, painting, coloring and yes, CUTTING. As a child I was free to, and encouraged to use any of the incredible supply of art media that was always at our fingertips.

I remember going to a friend's house to do a school project when I was in the third grade. I was shocked when she had to ask permission to use a pair of scissors that were safely kept on top of her refrigerator.

I love that my kids can create something on their own and right when they get the idea in their heads. Granted, there have been a few casualties... the two or three unscheduled hair cuts, the crayoned walls, permanent marker on the counter tops, pen on every writable surface, a cut finger, and a few more. But on the whole... I'd rather live dangerously with art supplies and SCISSORS... than the alternative.

Chocolate + Ice cream = a happy me

There are two things that I would eat rather than anything else... chocolate and ice cream. My sister-in-law recently gave me this recipe for the most delicious Hot fudge ice cream topping. Oh man, if you like chocolate and ice cream, you've got to try this!

3 oz semi sweet chocolate (I just used milk choc chips)
1/4 cup butter
1 can Sweetened Condensed milk

Melt until creamy....

I wish I had a mouth watering picture to show you... I did just make a batch on Monday. Unfortunately it is all gone now. (Brett says I like to have a little ice cream with my chocolate). Yikes! I am going to have to run a whole lot more this week to make up for it!

Business as usual

Ben was playing with his daddy's cell phone after church on Sunday. We were laughing because he looked like such a little businessman.

"Have your people call my people..."

This kid drives a hard bargain.But apparently the deal went well.

Be my Valentine

Valentines day and I have had a love/hate relationship over the years. In grade school I LOVED it. What's not to love? There is candy, cards with pictures or stickers and the Valentines day box decorating contest. (In sixth grade I won by making mine a toilet with a lid that opened for the cards to go in).

A few years after that I HATED Valentines day! Every girl that I knew was getting flowers, balloons or candy from a boyfriend. I avoided the whole boyfriend thing, but it did occur to me that having one just in time for Valentines day could come in handy. Hee hee.

Now, I am back to loving the holiday again. It might be because I get to re-live that fun childish excitement of candy and cards, with my children... The kids and I are having a ball decorating and doing lovey crafts. I can't wait to put their valentines in the funny little boxes they've made.

But I think that knowing that I have a Valentine and get to keep him forever might also be the key to me loving the "Lovey holiday" again. (I don't expect to get flowers,balloons or candy. In fact if I wanted them I would either have to get them myself or specifically say to Mr. Wonderful... "See those flowers? Those would look nice in our house for Valentines day. Don't you think?") But isn't it fun to be surrounded by the people who mean to most to you on a day that is all about love? I hope you all have a love filled Valentines Day!

A little somthing...

Before:

After:
I bought a cute ruffly shirt that didn't have much of a sleeve... so I ruffled up an undershirt to go with. Fun huh? (This post is mostly for my amazing seamstress mom). I am SLOWLY learning.

Devilish delight

Saturdays are family days and we love them! I took a long shower comforted with the fact that all was well with my little destructo-beasts because I knew their daddy was keeping a dutiful eye on them. As I got ready, I savored the leisurely pace... "He's got everything under control."

That's when I heard the first signs of distress. The two-year-old had eaten and then sprinkled the toothpaste in every room on the second floor. (I had to chuckle a little). What is he supposed to do for a snack when dad is not paying attention to him? I just kept getting ready, pretending that I didn't notice. While the daddy was scrubbing the carpets and walls, the said two-year-old was on to greener pastures. (Duh! Again I had to laugh. Daddy should know that in order to stop this inevitable continuation of devastation, you must contain the tornado until your attention can move with him to the next disaster area.) Two-year-old was discovered playing with spilled laundry detergent. Daddy groans and I laugh and keep getting ready. This continued for the forty-five minutes of "mom's off duty time."

I am sad to say that I took a sort of devilish delight in the struggles that my man was experiencing in that short period of time. All I could say to console and comfort him was... welcome to my EVERYDAY world!

Unfinished projects

My house never seems to stay clean even when I clean all day... so yesterday I decided to craft instead and let chaos rain. It was a great day!!! There are so many fun, crafty ideas that I want to try to make. Unfortunately I am the queen of unfinished projects. (Partially due to the fact that I am a mom of young children). So yesterday I tried to FINISH as many of those half-done projects as I could. These are a few:

I started making these in early December for Christmas gifts. I had a little fleece left over so I made this scarf and matching ear warmer for Brooke.

By the by... I did not come up with all these ideas. I try to give credit where it is due... but some of these ideas I have just seen around. You can find the ear warmer here:http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2010/09/ear-warmers.html

Finished making all the rolled flowers I care to make at the present time. Sorry about the bad picture.No, I am not wearing a shower curtain... well I kind of am. I finally got around to finishing my hair cutting apron. (It is a necessity when I cut all three of my boys hair all the time). It's made out of shower curtain samples and ribbon. I even whipped up a tiny hair cutting cape to put around the boys at barbershop time.


FINALLY finished my valentines day rose balls. Whew! If I had known how much time they took I would have picked a different craft! You can find this craft here:
http://www.theidearoom.net/2011/01/tissue-rosette-kissing-balls.html

Finally used the polyester my sister gave me to make flowers. Madi wore hers in her hair this morning... but I like this one as a broach I think.

A few down... only about twenty plus more to finish. Unless I start something cuter first. Hee hee...