They stole my heart

This week I took some cute pictures of the kids.  

Of course I get these ambitions about 2 in the afternoon and then run around creating a backdrop in my living room, and then pick out clothes for the kids out of the closets and pray that all the kids are in a good mood after school.  I was not disappointed.  We had very little homework, and the kids were all smiles and excited to be my models.  Yeah!! 

 

My makeshift backdrop, made of extra fabric I had down stairs and a ceiling fan dusting rod hanging over an armoire.  It did its job.

Here is a few of the pics... 

Can they get any cuter? 

 Lil Miss

 Gigi

 Bubba

 

Rosie

 

 

  

 Of course, Lil miss was her usual self.  

Lots of hilarious outtakes... 

  

 They are not perfect photos.... but they make me smile. 

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
Thoreau

Because I love you

So our nontraditional Valentine's date was to...

No I couldn't get Nate to join me at a spa.  We went to a shooting range. 

Nate has been bugging me to go to the range with him to shoot his hand gun and

I have avoided it until now.  All the stars aligned with babysitter, early day because of Valentine's parties at school, and time. So I gave in and told him we could go as long as he takes me out to dinner afterwards.  Honestly I wanted to hate shooting the gun. 

The idea of a hand gun freaks me out. 

I have shot his shotgun before at clay targets and didn't do half bad, but the idea of a hand gun scares me.  He has coached me on how to handle it since we got it.  I've held it reluctantly and been told how to add the rounds, load the clip and put one in the chamber. 

But holding it loaded.... never had done that. 

I didn't like the idea of shooting at the targets that looked like people so we shot at the bullseye targets and targets that looked like a golf course. 

It made it more like a game and less like a deadly weapon. 

I expected to feel out of place at the shooting range. 

It isn't a place many go on Valentine's, right?

Wrong.  There were 3 couples there shooting together when we walked in. 

After a few coaching tips from Nate and a reminder not to close both eyes when I shoot, I was actually hitting the paper target.  My first 15 bullets hit the paper.  4 in the black!! 

Impressive showing first time around.  

The shots were so loud!  I wasn't ready for that.  I jumped every time the guy beside us shot his gun. 

Nate might have been a little embarrassed at my rookieness, but after a few rounds he changed his tune.

 {my Valentine}

I like to do new things, and this was definitely a new thing for me. 

 Check out my cool safety glasses and ear muffs.

We finished the night with a dinner at Symposium Cafe.  It was delicious.

It was nice to do something other than go Christmas shopping or a movie while we have a babysitter. 

Spending time with my hubby is the best and do you know how nice it was to have a conversation without an interruption? 

I hope you all found a way to celebrate that was as fun.  

Spread the Love

I love Valentine's Day.  I know so many people don't like this holiday and

say it is a Hallmark holiday (pinting at you Nate), but I like the idea of showing your love.  I don't like the fact that all the

prices on flowers and chocolates are jacked up in the month of February, but I tell my husband not to get me a large bouquet now... I will take one any other day of the year though.  *wink wink*

He did get me a pot of tulips which I love. 

He surprised me last weekend and had the kids make mommy Valentine's cards. 

So Sweet. 

He even took pictures of them doing the cards and the determination on Lily's face as she colors

her card is priceless. 

I celebrate Valentine's the entire year. 

Little things here and there.  Love notes in kid's lunchboxes, special kid dates, and

telling them "I Love You" daily. 

But around Valentine's Day I usually step up my game. 

This weekend I got to go on two special dates with two of my kiddos.

On Sunday after church I had planned to take Bubba to a local greenhouse to get some plants.

He missed a boy scout outing where they did leaf rubbings and before he gets his Tiger Cub badge he had to cross off that elective.  So Daddy sent Bubba and me to the greenhouse.  Big Mistake. 

I couldn't just go in and steal some leafs off plants, even if that is what Nate said to do, so I let Bubba look at all the house plants and pick one he wanted to take home and pot up. 

He picked up a ZZ plant.  Very Cool.

This plant thrives on neglect, so if you are needing a exceptionally easy houseplant, pick up a ZZ plant.  Then as we are just doing a little browsing (always dangerous for this girl) we came across all of their fairy garden supplies.  Bubba was amazed at all the tiny chairs, benches, wheel barrows, and little toadstools. 

I caved and we came home with a few materials to make our own indoor fairy garden. 

More on this in a later post.

 

When we got home and unloaded our garden purchases, I had planned to go to the mall and go shopping for a cocktail party dress.  I was going to go alone but decided at the last minute to take Rosie because she needed some jeans and it would be easier if she tried them on. 

We walked into the mall with our purses over our shoulders (yep Rosie had to bring her purse just in case she found something she had to have!) and on a mission to find a dress and some jeans. 

I knew she tired of shopping quick so I decided to do my dress shopping first then surprise her with a stop at Justice to get her energy back. 

She was not impressed when I picked up more than one dress to try on.  With six dresses flung over my arm and still looking through the racks for anything else that might look flattering on, Rosie finally had enough and said I needed to stop and just try them on. 

The fitting room was interesting. 

Rosie is a really good critic.  A few of the dresses I picked out got vetoed right away with the comments she used to describe them.  One floral dress I didn't even try on after Rosie commented "Mom, if you don't like this one we should wrap it up for Grandma Pam because she likes flowers." 

Uh... that one was not for me. 

When I tried one dress on twice, I got the "you already tried that one on mom, don't you remember what it looks like?" 

It sped up my decision process. 

We ended up picking out new accessories for a dress I already had in the closet instead of buying a new dress.  A much cheaper option. 

Next stop was Justice.  My girl had a permanent smile on her face as soon as she walked into the door.  She saw one of her friends from school and they discussed what tape and hair ties to buy as I looked for a few items for her to try on.  This was our first fitting room experience for her. 

The usual routine is that I buy clothes bring it home, then she tries it on and I return what doesn't fit. 

I know what my girl likes so I picked out a few items that mommy approved and had enough bling for her to like.  Success!!  

 After trying on clothes wore us both out we headed to the food court for a lemonade and salted pretzel before going home.  It was good.  I don't think there was a lull in the conversation all afternoon.  She has so much to say.

When we got home we had a pretty relaxing family night watching Peter Pan, which is daddy's favorite Disney movie.  Daddy also treated us to a fun drink, grasshoppers sans alcohol.  The perfect touch was a thin mint as garnish.  I love that man.  Served in margarita glasses, the kids were on cloud nine.  It paired perfectly with our popcorn for supper.

 

The rest of the week we have had love and hearts galore on our mind. 

Rosie made this for a school project and it was so heart warming to see the wonderful adjectives she used to describe me.  Also she knows her mommy likes chocolate.

 The kids have worked diligently on their valentine's for their classmates. 

They each picked out their own Valentine's cards. 

Bubba picked Star Wars of course.

Gigi picked Lalaloopsy themed cards and even with mommy trying to

persuade her to pick ANYTHING else Rosie picked Justin Beiber Valentine's.  Ugh.

Rosie made her valentine box at school, Gigi had to make a valentine's bag and Bubba had to make his own Valentine's box.  We had fun creating his Darth Vader box. 

He spent alot of time making Darth's chest plate just perfect. 

It is complete with its own light saber.   

He was mad I didn't give it a head, but making a cape and arm out of an empty toiliet paper roll was enough I said.

 As the kids were doing their crafts, mommy was busy at work taking her role as room parent seriously.  We have Gigi's Valentine's party this afternoon and mommy created heart bingo cards as color coded instead of numbers and cut out crowns for the kings and queens of Kindergarten. 

I learned after the Christmas party that it takes Kindergartners twice as long to do anything so we are simplifying today's party.  I hope they have fun. 

 

We are ending our Valentine's week with a night out for mommy and daddy. 

Can you believe we found a babysitter on Valentine's Day? 

We are doing something a little unusual but it will be fun. 

No dinner and a movie for us. 

I am a bit nervous and slightly excited... will tell you about it soon. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. 

I hope you all know how much you mean to me.

 

Hugs and Kisses

 

Happiest People

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just MAKE the best of everything.

 

We are in the Valentines mood. 

During the OSU vs. Nebraska game on Saturday we made a paper heart garland and put it up. 

It made the house festive. 

All dolled up on Sunday morning, I thought I would snap a few pics of the kids. 

I have done this in the past around this time every year and it is fascinating to see the change in each of them from year to year.

The pictures aren't professional but it gives me a chance to try out different poses I have seen and saves alot of money.  I don't expect perfection... but I capture moments. 

Can you believe how they have grown?

 

 

This little girl keeps us on our toes.  It's amazing how fast she has grown.  She sure didn't stay

a little immobile baby for long.  Now she has the run of the house and knows it. 

We were up in my bathroom doing the girls hair and she wanted in on the action too.  For the first time she let me curl her hair!  It didn't stay curled for long, but just the thought of her standing still long enough for me to curl it.... is shocking!

(do you like her skirt?  I made it!)





 It's amazing how much this girl has grown in 4 years. 

She is now a little lady and turns 6 in a week! 

(P.S.  I made her skirt too!)

She was a perfect little model giving me pose after pose.  The flash would go off and she would strike another pose.  I believe at one point her back was so arched she was almost doing a back bend. 

Entertaining!!   I need to get her into modeling.  She would be a natural!

 

Little Man.... adjusting his tie. 

This boy loves to dress up.  He asks to wear a tie to school at least once a week. 

This girl is not a little girl anymore.  Such a lady. 

I love that smile though.  It is hard to coax out of her, but when she smiles my whole world gets better.

Sisters. 

 The big kids adore their little sister and it shows. 

I LOVE this picture because it captures how they dote on her night and day.

 And seriously can they be any cuter.  Our little girl LOVES her big brother, and it shows.