Jean Skirt

A friend of mine shared a post on how to make a jean skirt from a pair of jeans, so I gave it a try!  I posted about it on my website- go check it out!  :-)

Way Over Due...

I know that I am way over due for an update.  Things have been pretty "out of norm" around here lately.  (Yes, I sat here for about a minute, trying to decide what words to use to describe our life as of late.  That was the best I could come up with.)

Caiden is doing well.  He loves trying to read new words, sounding things out, playing with numbers- watching the clock or adding things, playing, singing, and having fun.  He is such a smart little guy and I sure love him!  I really need to decide if I'm going to homeschool him because it's already time for kindergarten enrollment!!!  He loves to be outside and he LOVES to go biking!


Ellee has been paci free for a month now!!!  It was a pretty rough transition but she never even asks about her pacis anymore.  I am thankful they are out of her life, and that she is starting to get back to a normal night sleeping routine.  It is still a battle getting her to sleep (naps and night) but at least she stays asleep (for the most part) once she gives in!  She, too, loves singing, playing, coloring, drawing, learning, reading, and most importantly, cuddling with Mama!!  :-)  Hard to believe she will be three next month!  Oh yeah, and she loves helping me with everything around the house (dishes, laundry, cooking, caring for Cole- anything I let her help with!)


Cole had his 15 month well check a week or so ago.  He is growing well (19 1/2 lbs) and doing everything (or more, of course, right??) that he is supposed to be doing.  He brings a joy to everyone he meets- even when he is showing off the little bit of attitude he is starting to show off.  He is such a happy little guy- loves music, playing with his big brother and sister, and his little cousin, too.  His favorite word right now is "downstairs" and he gets his shoes and runs to the basement door regularly to let us know what he wants to do.  He is still a great sleeper, though he has been waking up around 1 am the past several nights.  All the kids have dealt with different sicknesses the past month (ear infections, colds, coughs, tummy bug) so I think it might have had something to do with that.  I am sure am looking forward to getting back to sleeping through the night again someday!  He is so much fun, but he is great at getting into things he is not supposed to!!  :-)

 

I have been having fun with my sewing projects.  They have been an opportunity for me to just enjoy time to myself and feel like I am being productive.  I have been thankful for the "customers" I have been blessed with and hope to see my business continue to grow!  It has also been fun for me to figure out how to build a website (thanks to my wonderful brother's guidance).  Go check out all the changes on my site, especially if you haven't seen it yet!

www.PaciFinderEtc.com

Valentine's Day!

The kids get really into making holidays lots of fun, so even though I was feeling very unmotivated and exhausted on Monday, I decided to try and make Valentine's Day lots of fun for them.  Phil brought me roses on Friday, so I got to enjoy them early, and got to pose them with all the photos I took during the day.  :-) 

We all looked pretty cute wearing red- Caid even made sure I wore red socks (but I don't think I took any pictures of myself, oh well.)  The kids didn't really feel like cooperating for a photo, but I'll take what I can get.

    

  

For breakfast, I added red food coloring to their oatmeal and Caiden thought that was awesome.  (Oh, the little things.  Loved red food coloring that day.  ;-))

Then, while Cole was napping, we tried an idea I found online a while back (but couldn't remember where I found it, so I kinda had to wing it) where you mix glue, shaving cream, and red food coloring (or any color would work) to make a mixture to paint with.  When it dries, it leaves a puffy texture which is really cool, unless your kids paint it til it is as flat as possible, which is also fine, because ultimately the activity was about the kids having fun and thinking about loving others.

  

  

For lunch, I cut their PB&J into a heart and served red peppers, strawberries, and grapes, with red raspberry yogurt for dipping.  Oh yeah, and red (cran-raspberry) juice.  (Oh, and left over green beans for the oldest child of mine who takes after his father and doesn't enjoy eating delicious treats such as red pepper. ;-))

  

Later, we made one of Daddy's favorite treats to serve as dessert after dinner (I had chili cooking in the crock pot- yum!)- a heart shaped, red colored, rice krispie treat.  

In the afternoon, Cole and I had lots of fun playing together while the big kids napped.  He is in between stages with his napping schedule right now.  Sometimes skips the morning nap, but sometimes sleeps for over 2 hours still, which then throws off afternoon naps.  I try not to mind too much since it gives me alone time with him while the others rest in the afternoon.  After all, look at how cute this little face is!!!  

(Those Thomas party hats that Phil picked up for Cole's 1st birthday have been one of the biggest hits around here.  We even brought them to Texas Roadhouse on Sunday when we celebrated Papa Joe's birthday.  :-))

After naptime, I took the kids outside for a little fresh air and playtime.  

  

Then we came in and decorated by hanging our Valentine cards up so the kids could surprise Daddy. 

We enjoyed our yummy dinner together and then the kids got a quick bath before we enjoyed our rice krispie treats, played a quick family game of Sorry, and then got the kids to bed.

 

What a special day filled with lots of family love!