Boys Playing in the Snow

Huge fluffy snowflakes fell most of the day. It looked like we were in a snow globe. It was a beautiful day . . . cold, but that's what winter is supposed to be.

Castiel didn't like the big flakes falling in his face, but KC got Emmitt to face the sky and open his mouth : )

Emmitt is a snow eater. I think he thinks it falls from the sky for him to gobble up. It may be gross, but freshly fallen snow, what's the real harm. I know he's eaten worse things off the ground . . .

Cameron did the same thing. At that same age, he would go out into a snowbank and sit down to just eat snow.

KC and Cameron spent the afternoon playing Disney Universe on the Wii. The twins woke up just as they decided to go out to shovel the snow.

Emmitt wasn't letting them go outside without him.

This was his first time in snow pants and boots, and he didn't mind a bit if it meant going outside.

Castiel wasn't interested and stayed by me, until he saw them walking across the back yard. He freaked and tried opening the patio door.

So I suited him up. I realized just recently that I only had one pair of boots that would fit them. So Castiel, being the second out, got plastic bags on his feet and a pair of shoes. It kept his feet dry  : )

They played until they were all red in the face.

When we forced them in, especially Emmitt, I had hot chocolate waiting . . . actually more of a warm chocolate  :)  The twins first hot chocolate, and they loved it!

•     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •

My project planned for the day was Zoe's side of the closet. There is just too much in there, and I know that she doesn't wear it all.

We easily went through her hanging clothes, so we moved onto the dresser. That went smoothly so we went through the drawer under her bed, treasure boxes, jewelry and headbands.

We were finished and it was only dinnertime. I couldn't believe how fast we were able to go through everything.

So after dinner, I looked at Audrey and she immediately threw a fit.

I asked her if she could just go through her hanging clothes with me and she unhappily started picking out her favorites.

And then she shockingly was helping me with more then I had planned.

By bedtime, their room was done.

I wish I would have taken a picture of this side of the room, because it was worse than the closet.

Yay! One room done, a couple of happy girls and a VERY happy mommy  : )

I removed 5 trash bags of clothes and shoes, so now they have room to move and places to put everything away.

I didn't plan on getting so much done today, but when kids are being cooperative, you just have to take advantage!

Too Busy to Blog

I know that I've been slacking on my blogs.

Just been too busy . . . here's a little recap.

I spent 10 hours on one of KC's days off going through the mountain of boxes in our bedroom. It's still a mess. I am trying to figure out what stays and what goes. It's obvious that we have too much, and it's slow going. But I am trying to make some progress daily.

I did manage to reduce my shoes from 48 pairs to 26  : ) I was afraid of reducing by too much and then feel the need to go shopping . . . 

KC was a huge help and watched the boys for me the entire day. At dinnertime I introduced him to Pinterest. He made dinner from one of the recipes  :)  He wasn't as interested in appearing in my blog because of it. I did ask him to smile : )

PINTEREST #5: Chicken bundles

We agreed that it didn't really feel like a meal to us . . . good, but more of an appetizer recipe. I suggest jalapenos added!

•     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •

Since joining Pinterest, I have felt like I should be buying Ball glass jars. There are so many pins using them. I had stopped myself a couple of times and promised myself that I won't buy them unless I found a project that I was going to use them for.

So I found 3  :)

PINTEREST #6:  Miracle lotion

I have the worst dry skin in the winter. It only improves slightly over the summer. I had all the ingredients expect Vitamin E lotion.

I love it! Noticeable difference already.

PINTEREST #7:  Room Fresheners

I am always paranoid that my house smells like stinky diapers. I am a sucker for the Glade Air Fresheners that can be hidden in every corner.

I thought, why not try and make them.

I already have a bunch of essential oils (from my days when I was going to make soap . . . fail), so all I needed was Gelatin.

Not very impressed by this one. It can only be smelt when shoved under your nose. I may try it one more time and add more oil, I haven't decide yet.

PINTEREST #8:  Body Sugar

I have waxed to go on extended vacations in the past. So this didn't scare me. The hair on my legs grows back so fast, I'm a every day shaver . . . it sucks.

The recipe is so easy to follow and so cheap! I actually had everything needed in my house already.

I have taken care of my lower legs and haven't had to shave them all week! I'm in love with this one.

True, ankles and the back of the leg . . . OUCH! But I think this one might be worth it.

•     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •

And here are a couple more Pinterest projects . . .

PINTEREST #9:   French Toast Casserole

Won't do this one again either. It took A LOT longer to bake then the recipe said, and frankly . . . I like regular old French Toast better.

Zoe loved making it, but we'll find something else better.

PINTEREST #10:  Zoe's birthday cake - inspired by the tie dye cakes seen on Pinterest  : )

The Peace sign cake pan is a birthday present. She's excited to make use of it  : )

I almost forgot. PINTEREST #11:  Potato Soup

We love potato soup, so I spent an afternoon making this and then threw it in the slow cooker to simmer for a while. We definitely liked it, but I'll add more to it next time. My mother passed on a different recipe for potato soup, I might give that one a try next, because her and my dad raved over it.

And last, but not least . . . PINTEREST #12: Lip Balm

Just have to say, it's impossible (tried it twice) to completely dissolve the Hawaiian Punch in a sprinkle of water . . . and then you add more water to get it dissolved and it doesn't mix in completely with the Vaseline . . . I may be doing this one wrong, if anyone has some pointers.

We tweaked it and made it work. It is a great balm. Made one for each of us, girls : )

•     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •

Add in Cameron's speech classes (which is going great and he is loving)

Cameron's regular preschool started up again today 

Zoe has officially been moved up to 5th grade band  : )

Zoe also started taking a field hockey clinic. (It's the first time she's showed any interest in trying out a sport and KC & I both quickly said "yes!")

Audrey spent 4 out of 5 days of the school week home with a low grade fever. One of the days was beautiful, over 50 degrees! So we had to spend some of it outside for some much needed fresh air.

Zoe's birthday sleepover  : )

A cousin sleepover  : )

And a surprise visit from all 4 grandparents  : )  Didn't get any pics...

A family birthday party  : )

A 3rd grade Music concert  : )  Audrey!

And the biggest change . . . 

To this . . .

And instantly we could see the pride Castiel had for his new bed  : )

Just as easily as we could see Emmitt telling us that we could no longer keep him in.

Night one and two went perfectly . . . too perfectly.

Then night 3, we returned Emmitt to his bed 5 times. And the next morning, when he came into our room with a cookbook in his hand from the kitchen . . .

A baby gate was installed right outside their bedroom door.

For his own good. And our peace of mind  : )

Never a dull moment with a family of 7 and
I wouldn't change it for the world!

Zoe is 11

Eleven years ago . . . I became a mother.

Wow, the time sure flies!!! It's amazing how much she has grown and changed year after year . . . and how much my love for her grows and grows daily.

We are starting to struggle a little with our relationship. Don't get me wrong, we are very close and have a very strong mother/daughter bond that will last forever.

It's just the normal tensions that every mother and daughter go through.

It's hard with all the bouncing back and forth between child and young adult. She wants to be treated like a teen, but she's not one yet. She is mature past her years, but still innocent, and I don't want that changing yet.

And at the same time, I don't want to hold on too tight. I've been questioning myself daily with the little things. The little things that seem little to the eleven year old . . . but HUGE to the mother of the eleven year old.

There are the times that I treat her like an adult and she acts like a child . . . my first instinct is to get angry, but then I have to remind myself . . . Zoe's only a child.

A child that I still like to surprise with her birthday cake  : )

I still like to see her excitement that shows me the kid I know  : )

Zoe has truly been a gift. I don't think that I was completely ready to be a mother when she came into my world. She has made it easy to want to be a mother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY ZOE!!!

You will always be my baby, and I may treat you like one for years to come. You may not like it, but I do it out of my love for you and my mother's instincts that you do not yet understand.

Just so at the end of every day,

you know that

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART <3

Poor Zoe,

Just wanted to share a short video.

Can you guess what Zoe just finished telling the boys before I shot this video.

Zoe has many more years of this ahead of her  :)

Good thing she loves them.