Frosty the Snowman

We were finally able to make a snowman! CW wanted in the worse way to go out and make a snowman. And the one weekend it snowed, we were out of town and then the weather was so warm it ended up crunchy.  And for most of you, you know you have to have just the right snow to make a snowman.  So, we got busy, Jim started rolling and as you can tell, it took every ounce of snow with just grass and leaves left over. 

You can also tell it's not your typical snowman with coal for the eyes, buttons and mouth. Jim had to improvise, hence the use of the sticks. We didn't even have a carrot for his nose, gah. :-(  I can say, CW had a mighty fine time helping roll and create this snowman.  

Horrible picture but it's what we have. The snowman masters posing with their snowman. :) 

CMW, JAW, & EKW 

EKW with her penquin hat, so cute! 

Mr Frosty himself.

Until Next Time,

Lexie ><> 

A wonderful weekend.

It was a wonderful weekend, with a good amount of craziness too.
  I start out @ 6:30 am (yes, the earliest I've been up in a very.long.time.) and headed to church to clean up after the sheltering night.  Side note: Six area churches in the Fargo/Moorhead are helping out the area shelters by rotating and hosting a group of homeless that need a place to sleep. Each morning, our church needs to clean up completely.  Well, I was one of those cleaners.  I was out by 8:30 and back home by 9:00. And it jump started my day!
  Jim had the house under control and he was able to work on his guitar. A happy man.  After loosing the money for our sitter (a certain child took it) and me being quite irritated, we found it but I was still irritated. Then the husband proceeded to tell me the parable of the women who lost her coin, looked and looked, when found it, she rejoiced. A short Jesus lesson for the day!  We headed back to town for volleyball and shopping. We got a sitter to come to church for our girls and played volleyball. A whole 2 hrs and that's a long time!  But we had such a great time and we survived! We then headed to a couple of thrift stores (found a new bed frame, woot, woot!) and a home improvement store for some shelving supplies.  Home again, home again, jiggity, jig.  
  After the girls were in bed, I was on a roll.  Jim assisted in hanging the shelving (this makes my heart smile) and I filled them quickly. I've been in the process of rearranging our basement since it's unfinished, so it didn't take long, I've thought about this for a few week.  Now I am ready to place the 'Model Railroad' table across the room and make a space for a table to work on my projects!  I also was able to get a window prepped for another 'one of my latest projects'. It had broken glass, so I removed the rest and now it's ready to get sanded and painted. I'm so excited!  Last but not least our bed got put back on a frame! This frame is so much nicer then the one I threw away, obviously. And I heard the dogs first attempt to get on the bed, she failed. I'm pretty sure she hit the side with not enough air. Better luck next time M-Dawg!
  Sunday was a day to relax since we did so much the day before.  Jim lead worship at church, we had a very quiet, sleepy afternoon and then visited with my parents over skype and went to see Jim's parents too.

Now, it's a very dull Monday, I took the trash out to the curb, and i'm ready to start the day.

                                                                Until Next Time,
                                                                       Lexie ><>  

A little Valentines.

   Some people looove Valentines Day, other's don't get to up and up about it.  Well around here, I think it's just another holiday to spend money on, right? And I guess I fell into the trap a little, but not really. Anyway, I'll write a little about our Valentine celebrations.

   Last week, CW and I took the time to make Valentine cards for family and friends.  I really enjoy creating cards and stamping but I really like it if I have a reason for it, such as Valentines. Along with the cards I was able to get a few packages together for friends that I have been meaning to send items too. Simple items but I know they'll enjoy! :) (this is where I fall into the trap of spending $$)  Plus, we made her and EW boxes for the Valentines party for Saturday.

   On to the weekend, Saturday the 11th and girls and I went to a very busy, exciting, and fun Valentines party!   We decorated homemade heart shaped cookies, cut out over size mustache and lip's from foam to be placed on a sucker (super cute), passed out valentines and got to check out their toys. I as the mom got to visit with other moms and dads, yes there were a few, drink coffee and observe the many, many children and try to have a conversation among the roar of the kids.  My CW, well she was in the corner after the real rowdiness happened and read books. My EW, she observed and then started in on the toys.  

   Tuesday at bible study, they celebrated Valentines since it's was Valentines day! They also made a trip to the gym for a few fun games! We made sure we had her tennis shoes this week, her cowboy boots just don't made the cut. The girls and I were able to go to lunch with a great friend Gail.  It was delicious, the girls sat very well and actually ate well too. I will have to say, one of the best lunch outing we've had in a long time. :)  Valentines dinner wasn't anything spectacular, just a good dish of spaghetti w/ brussels sprouts. I know, the combo isn't what you were expecting but we just needed something different for a veggie option.
   Wednesday the girls go to a girlfriends house while I run around town accomplishing errands or meetings or appointments.  They were able to enjoy another Valentines party, yes another one, but I promise the last one. They made Valentines for friends and special ones for their mom and dad. They are so cute, hearts cut from paper with their hand prints. CW said they played a game including hearts and of course lots of play time with the other 6 kids available.
   The girls were lucky and received Valentines in the mail from their G'mas and Great G'mas too.  Jim and I, well  it was just a good old fashion kiss and hug.  No money needed!

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentines week!

                                                                          Until Next Time
                                                                   Lexie ><>  

Happy, Loveable, and she's four!

I have done it, I have managed to blog about every person in my house hold by the end of the month and plus some.  Yay!  

Next up, CW. Our lovable 4 year old with lots to give and receive.     

 

Claire out riding her trike and bike, Jan. 9th, roughly 50 degrees and feels like spring. 

CW with her butterfly and flower pieces. Each piece has 8 or so places to connect and one can build random shapes and such. CW loves to match all the same colored butterflies to one flower. 

CW with EW and the oatmeal sensory bin. CW played for a good hour scooping and dumping and using the farm animals we have.  It was so refreshing to know I provided something that creates imaginary play and it's exciting for her. 

The trip home New Years weekend, this barbie car CW got from Christmas from her G. Gma. Kay. Decided she enjoyed it such, she couldn't put it down to rest.

We went to the cities for a small road trip and Claire was able to visit the new nephew, baby O and she was able to meet and to play with my cousins children, O and E.  She had a wonderful time playing with all their fun toys and 'camping' out in the living room. :)

The latest fun for CW has been her dad's new iphone.  He was recording her singing songs and it was so fun for her. Then he started video recording and she was quite confused because she couldn't hear herself sing. She wanted to sing along, we have a few funny video's of her starting and stopping.  She presented us with wheels on the bus and twinkle, twinkle, deep and wide and head, shoulders, knees and toes.

Such a fun girl we have and we love watching her grow.

Until Next Time,
Lexie ><> 

Our 18 mo. old!

Our Eleanore is now 18 months. Where does the time go?  She is busy climbing, eating very independently, starting to put cloths on all by herself and she loves shoes! When you can't find the girl, look in among the shoes, you'll find her. She likes her tea set, pushing cars or sending then down a card board tub (a heavy duty cardboard tub from a roll of upholstery.).  She very much enjoys outside even if it's to cold. I found out this week that she does not like falling over. She gets stuck and can't get up on her own. I think it's a feeling of being stuck that she does not like. She gets a kick out of the chickens, dog and our cat.  She is very high on the motor skills but speech is minimal.  Her words: ouch, whoa, wow, mama, daddy, please (in the form of 'wee,wee,wee' and using the sign language sign), more, all done have signs too. Tickle is in there vaguely and so is eew or icky. We think she says aqua for water even though I don't use it to often and either does she. But my thought was, If aqua was easier to say, then I'd start her out on that.  

She is sleeping at night quite well and is out of her crib.  We spent a week battling her climbing out multiple times a night and gave in.  She stays in bed pretty well too, but i do believe that nap time is a bit shorter since she slightly wakes up and then gets up vs. in a crib she'd wake up and then realize she was stuck and fall back to sleep.  Since moving her from her crib, her longest nap has been 2.25 hr compared to a good 3. But   I am thankful that she is napping and we can have a little down time.  

 

The sensory oatmeal bin we created!  Eleanore loved playing with it and needed to try with her feet too.

 

Jan. 9th, we were out riding bikes. Roughly 50 degrees with a little wind. 

Obviously done with taking a bath... enough said. (New Years weekend)

Eleanore styling her babies hair. 

EW in her picnic basket, she enjoys getting in and out of containers. 

EW must of  thought something was funny.  Here she is with baby O, Jim's nephew and the momma auntie C. 

Until Next Time

- Lexie >&lt;>  

A mid winter trip.

We just got back from a mini winter trip to the Twin Cities and it was delightful. 2.5 days packed with lots of visiting and we still managed to catch up on sleep. :) It truly was delightful! 

We were able to visit Jim's brother and SIL and see the new baby.  He is a very sweet baby boy. The girls enjoyed visiting him too.  We got to see their house too. Very nice. 

Saturday evening, we had a wonderful dinner with Lexie's aunt and uncle, g'ma and her friend. We were able to  celebrated two birthdays. :) One turned 29 and the other 60.  You can guess who's 60 right?  

Sunday we managed to get to church, shop, esp. for material (Oh, Happy Day) and the evening we shared a meal with a cousin of Lexie and her family.  We got to see their bea.u.ti.ful house.  It's larger then I ever want but it is just so spacious, a great view including a pond, room for the kids to grow, and so many fun little perks.  It sure makes me want a bigger house, completely finished and everything I really would like (extra rooms, my own sewing space, exercise room, walk out, LOTS of light (meaning many windows), and the girls very own play nook), but then I come back to realty and see how our house is wonderful, it works great for us, and we have such a small amount to pay off, it would be ridiculous for use to move. 

Monday, we slept in as much as we could and made our way to S.R. Harris, a fabric outlet. I was really looking for leather for my booties but I did walk out of there with some amazing flannel and cotton.  After our excursion at the fabric store and our girls behaved just amazingly, we headed out of the cities. We stopped at Lexie's aunts and uncle to get some fabulous home made soap and go to our destination: home by 6pm.  

I'd throw in some pictures but non to be had.  Here's to a good week of getting back to a schedule and some serious sewing done!   

Until Next Time

- Lexie ><> 

 

Fun with the Marble tower.

Jim got a marble tower for Christmas, one we can build over and over and always be different.

The girls mainly place marbles and watch them roll down but they have an input to where to place the 'whirl circle' (lg blue and yellow circles) or the 'spinners' (one is orange, green ad pink) and all the other parts.

 It's a simple, whole family activity that we are enjoying.

The towers can get tall too, EW is little taller then 30". :) 

Until Next Time,
Lexie ><>