playing catch-up

2 class parties
1 field trip
1 crazy car adventure
Sewing Club
Valentine's Day
and LOTS of homemade goodies
= no time for blogging

and that doesn't even include the 2 birthdays (Lance & Papa J) coming this week!

Good news is everybody is back 100% healthy, the weather has been just beautiful (hello, neighborhood park!) and I even managed to take my SUV to the car wash for a very needed inside & outside detail job (what is it about a clean car that drives so much better???) :)

So let's start with Hudson's school valentines, since his party was first.

Yummy treats for his sweet MDO teachers, Mrs. Brooke, Mrs. Rebekah, and Mrs. Cheryl, the Director. There's something about homemade chocolate chip cookies that just says LOVE...More warm & gooey chocolate chip cookies on fun rocket ship melamine plates for his little buddies. Of course a fun little sticker makes everything better!Personalized labels from HERE.

And of course, what's a school party without a little sugar rush... The Crunch mini bars were his favorite ;)

And don't worry, he burned off all that sugar in no time. This little guy is WILD & CRAZY.

This week's tricks...
- climbing the built-ins like a ladder
- stuffing his whole self into the oven, yes, the oven
- taking out all the laundry in the dryer to find himself a new cozy little spot
- taste-testing playdough and dog food
- trying to "love" on our fish...twice
- playing construction hammer on our mirror; and
- eating a mini pack of m&m's, wrapper included.

But did I mention he gives the best hugs, counts to 10 in the sweetest voice, loves to sing Old McDonald, and melts my heart every time he climbs onto my lap, book in hand, and says "Read it"???...............Mama loves you, my little tornado!

please, please pray!

Although I do not know her in person, little 7 year old Kate McRae tugs at my heart like there are no words to describe. I'm sure it's the same for all of you that continue to follow her journey. If you'd like to learn more, please visit her caring bridge site HERE or her page HERE.

Please, please continue to pray for Kate with every fiber of your being. Let's continue to storm the gates of heaven interceding on her behalf.

God bless you, Kate!

rainy/snowy day fun

Please ignore the messy counter...we're playing catch up on all our usual crafting since last week's hiatus. I wasn't sure if Hudson would be into this craft or not, but he loved the excuse to tear up crayons...and he only tried to eat the orange ones...cheeto resemblence? ;) My resident princess gets excited about pink and
aqua blue...hmmm, wonder where she gets that? Aren't they pretty? Click HERE for more on how to "bake" them :)

Heart-shaped silicone baking tray: Target Dollar Spot
(2 for $2.50).

Print THIS cute card courtesy of the long thread and you've got a fun {almost free} school valentine for the itty bitties. This first batch will be part of the little pumpkin's valentine treat bags for her preschool class.

More on that soon!

brothers and sisters...

It starts early...
Wanting what we don't have.

Brother & Sister. Two swirly lollies. But wait. Yours is a teenie tiney different than mine. I.WANT.IT. HA, HA, I got it! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Fine. But on my terms. I'll show you... I changed my mind. I want it BACK! Admitting defeat. For now...A little unfair size advantage. The End.

They really do love each other. Really.
Grace (3 yr, 11 mo.) & Hudson (20 mo.)
02.08.11

5 days.

Really, just five?
Because it feels like 5,000.Little monkey brings home a winter bug. He's a trooper. Snotty, icky nose (sorry!) but that's it. Little pumpkin catches said bug three days later. She's a trooper. Constant drippy nose (sorry x2) but still wanting to do "homework" during her 3 days off from school. Mama catches dreaded bug and it runs her over. Fever, chills, joint pain...the whole thing.

It's now day 5 and I still feel horrible. I think I've consumed enough Sudafed and TheraFlu to buy stock in both companies. Today I caved and asked my mom to call me in a prescription because my chest feels like it's on fire everytime I cough.

So we spent our "snow days" inside. No pictures
(so sad!). No crafts, just barely getting by. We had some commitments that couldn't be avoided so Lance and I ventured out for those but my, it's so hard to try and be social when all you feel like doing is curling up on the sofa in your comfiest jog suit.Needing to send pictures to the graphic artist working on Grace's birthday invites, I ventured out with the little pumpkin today to snap a few more pics in her cute little outfit made by my friends Angel & Amy. I think maybe we should have stayed home.

We were walking toward the carousel hand in hand, talking about girly things and watching the little birds play with each other. The little pumpkin must have been watching them too closely because as she laughed about one stealing a chip from the other, WHAM! she ran right smack into an iron bench, busting her little lip open.

My, my, my, why do lips have to bleed so much???? I wanted to turn around and go home but a little someone wanted to ride the carousel reaaaally bad so after getting cleaned up, off we went "fat lip" and all.We quickly bundled back up with a jacket and pants and headed back home were jog suits & comfy sofas awaited...right along with kleenex and the dreaded TheraFlu.

Is it March yet?

------------------
NOTE: All birthday hat invoices have now been sent out.
Sorry for the delay :(

did he or didn't he?

I still don't know if the groundhog saw his shadow or not, but what I know is this...these little cuties went were supposed to go to preschool with the little pumpkin this morning, but alas she woke up with watery eyes and by the time it was time to get in the car, she was hoarse and sneezing so no school for her today.Hudson was a bit under the weather this week to, so I guess it's going around...

We still managed to drop them by Grace's preschool and her classmates were so excited about them!Such a fun way to celebrate Groundhog Day. Did you notice the groundhog's "shadow" atop all that "snow"? he, he, he - I didn't have cocoa powder so I had to make do with crushed oreos. Free printable toppers courtesy of Meredith, Lily Jane Stationery.

Of course the little pumpkin was so sad that she wouldn't be at school with her friends today. As we were driving back home she said to me, "Mama, I want to go to New York. THAT would make me feel better." Whaaat? No clue where she gets this stuff (she's never been). BUT...it sure would make me feel better too :)

Now, onto my current love...

Delilah by Tanya Whelan
{via here}

Pillows...perfect february project, eh?

Let's call them "Happy Day Pillows", yes?

I heart fishbowl pockets.

I'm sure they have some fancy, proper name...

but I call them fishbowls :) {via here}

Completely unrelated but if the quilt fairy is flying

around trying to find a good home for this little ray of

sunshine, I sure know the perfect little spot for it ;) And fairy, while you're at it, bring the chippy stool too!
{via here}

February and March...two of my favorite months.

It's 16° here - Brrrrr.

Spring...I'm so ready!

heLLO, february!

I love february and all things pink and red and
robin's egg blue. Yes, I think robin's egg blue fits
right in with the other two, don't you?
And yes, we couldn't leave the mantle well enough alone. We just had to add that sweet garland too. I love handwritten notes, love notes especially. 'Know what else I love?
That sweet little squiggly 3 year old handwriting.
(and those heart shaped chocolates too! shhh)
What's your favorite thing about FeBruARy?