ava's snow day in black and white

The big kids went to spend their snow day at a friends house.  

Little Ava was stuck at home with me, her mom.

First we played some Candy Land.

Then she watched a little Dora.

It was a pretty exciting episode by the looks of it.

Then she had honey nut cheerios for lunch.

Why not?  She loves them and I see that check mark on the box talking about whole grains.  Yep, I see it there.  

Then we got all bundled up and faced the storm.  

She told me Santa Claus was coming tomorrow.  That seems about right.   Snow is for Christmastime not spring.  This weather is so confusing.

Then one last photo before naptime.  

I'm thinking maybe after naps it'll be a good time to trim the ol'bangs.  That's an idea, as my sweet Ava would say.

As good as these snow days are, I would be OK if it all decided to melt...like yesterday. 

in love

I'm in love with soft curls, ruffles and this girl.  

I took away her crib yesterday.  She cried.  She watched me take it apart and saw it in pieces in her room and looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, "you broke my crib."  Then I cried and was *this* close to putting it all back together.  I have nothing against her staying in her crib, but we moved the extra twin bed in there yesterday, which makes for two twin beds in her room.  It was just too tight to try and keep the crib, too.  I put her down for her nap just now and she cried for her crib again.  It breaks my heart.  I asked her why she loves her crib so much and she said, "cause it's just so soft-tilly."  It's my goal to make her big girl bed as soft-tilly as her crib.

in my girl's rooms

I guess Ava thought the babies needed a good cleaning and maybe a little tumble dry.

I'm not really sure what to say, other than... I sure do hope my Stella doesn't end up on TLC.   You know, on the Hoarders show.

currently

My kitchen looks like this

Cabinet doors missing.

Cabinet drawers missing.

Sean says it's very European.

I find that every time I walk through I try to shut the doors...but there are none.

One week I have to live with this.  

One week until our cabinets look like new instead of like ugly-peeling-paint cabinets.

I can't wait.

just like the old days

Jonah didn't have kindergarten yesterday, so he picked up right where he left off last year.

The living room turned into what they call a "fort jump."

They had to be "bare bellied."

They raced around the loop again and again.

They jumped from couch to cushions again and again and again.

It was a day just like the old days.

jonah's valentine's

In Kindergarten they encourage the kids to bring in their Valentine's early.  It makes sense.  Can you imagine if they all brought them in on the same day and had to pass them out?  When you look at Jonah's cards I think you'd understand why that might be a bit of a struggle.  It takes a super sleuth to figure out the name of his little friends on each of his cards.  Super. Sleuth. I. Say. 

                                

This wasn't Jonah's favorite job.  I caught him trying to pawn it off on his, more than willing, big sister.  More than once, I might add.  

Stella's pleas... "Mom, he really wants my help.  Can I pleeeeeeease help him?

                                      

                                               

Stella loves this type of thing; organizing, writing names, checking off the list... She takes after me, well except for the list thing.  I'm no good at lists.  

Jonah pretty much thought this job was for the birds.  But yesterday after school and then again after dinner, he got them done.  All 22 of them.  It was painful; for both him and me.  We survived it.  They made it in his backpack this morning.  I sure hope his teacher will be able to figure out who is who.  Worst case scenario, they forget the names and just pass them out so each little friend gets one. :)

frosting

Ava got out of the car, after we dropped off Stella and Jonah at school, and she looked out at the grass and said, "it's frosting."

This morning our lawn has a layer of frosting.

the funny thing is

I used to think these Earth Grains *thin buns* were a little thicker then they really are....

I first bought these *thin buns* awhile back.  The name really caught my eye.  Finally we can eat bread and have thin buns!!  'Bout time! :)

I served hamburgers that night.  Sean saw my plate with my new *thin buns* on it and he gave me a puzzled look.  He informed me that he thought I might have two of the buns on my plate instead of one.  I assured him that wasn't the case, I mean then the name of the buns would have to be *reeeeeeeeally thin buns* and the package just says *thin buns.*  He didn't believe me.

I noticed I went through the packages of those *thin buns* pretty quick.  Weird.

A few weeks later we had my nephew Andrew over for dinner.  I served up some hamburgers and, yep, I got my *thin buns* out.  Andrew told me his mom buys the thin buns too.  Sean looked at my plate again and said, "seriously honey, I think you have two on your plate."  Psshhh, that can't be true, so I picked one up to show him.  But what do you know?!  It (what I thought was just a half a bun) split apart and made for two verrrrrry thin buns.  We laughed.  No wonder my buns weren't getting thinner.

I've gotten used to the thinness.  They really do make for a good sandwich and burger.  Go ahead and try them, and if they're too thin for you, well just put two of them together.  That's what I used to do.

a new spot

I moved miss Mac to this little nook in the kitchen.  When we designed the house the plans said *kitchen desk*  so it only seems appropriate that we actually use it as a desk.  It's a good spot.  I like it.  Ava likes it too.  She does some serious work on the "pom-puter" :)   Oh, and please, try your hardest not to be jealous of the large gaps in our floor... or the scratches... or even the dirt in the gaps.

xo

while sean was gone

I took the garbage out 3 times.  Including the compost.  I'm not a fan of trash and I blame it on my keen sense of smell and my extra strong gag reflex.  I'm so blessed.

I stoked the fire each night before bed.  That's 5 nights if you were wondering.  Stoking the fire ranks right up there with taking the trash out... not my favorite.

I had a child in my bed every night.  Stella and Jonah took turns sleeping in *dads spot.*  Which means little hands smacking you in the face and little feet kicking you in the shins.  All.  Night.  Long.  Sweet.

I unplugged one toilet (insert gagging here).  My kids like toilet paper.

I shoveled off not one, not 2, not even 3, but 5!!! dead mice and one dead bird from the garage steps (insert major gagging here).  God bless our cat, but really, he makes me want to scream things like this  @#$%^# .... if you know what I'm saying.

I sure am thankful Sean's home again, for many, many, many more reasons then what's listed above.