And pictures

In case you were wondering... the work kids were not ridiculous at all today. I was quite shocked. It was a very pleasant surprise. Supposedly we have another storm headed our way tomorrow in to Wednesday. The snow amount keeps increasing. I'm not pleased. At this point we only have a 1 hr delay tomorrow... I guess they are trying to see if it starts before school. We shall see!

Now pictures from last weekend. I'm gonna have to do a couple of blogs with them b/c there are just so many!

Trying to wade through the snow...

Smile!
Trying to clean off my car...
On her way to see me taking pictures

She WAS smiling...

Checking on our LOUD heat pump...

what happens when you get 'snowed in'?

You get antsy. When you get antsy you start doing ridiculous things...

Let's see. I finished up a project for a friend... here are some pictures of what came of that...

(they are onesies)

Then I did some baking. A lot of baking!

We've had "Ultimate" Peanut Butter cookies. But those were just break and bake. I honestly will never buy them again. They weren't bad but they were nothing spectacular. I can make peanut butter cookies just as easy for a lot cheaper.

Yesterday afternoon I visited the Bakerella website. Nothing good (for the waistline) comes from visiting that site! Last night I made the Peach Crunch Cake (minus the walnuts. Our friend has a peanut allergy and I wasn't sure if that included a peanut allergy or not. Found out - it does not. Maybe next time I'll add 'em). That was FABULOUS. Today for the SuperBowl FryFest, I made dessert. MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmm. I love me some good dessert. I made the (super easy) Lemon Bars and (super easy) mini cherry cheesecakes! Both were a SMASHING hit with everyone. I tricked them in to thinking I slaved over the oven for hours upon hours. I surely did NOT.

Another weekend accomplishment. I sold off the tall dresser in Riley's room. We've been meaning to put it on Craigslist for a while now, but I keep forgetting. So while I had nothing better to do yesterday, I listed it for $50. I really only expected to get $20 for it. Lucky me... I had about 10 or so offers and only 1 was offering less than what I was asking. The first person to email us got it and they picked it up this afternoon! YAY!!

Tomorrow we go back to school. 1 hr delay. THANK YOU, GOD. I am ready to be back to 'normal'. The kids have had a week off b/c of the weather and they are going to be INSANE. With the delay, at least we can ease back in to it. The day seems to FLY when we have a delay. We only need 3 more snow days this year to start before Labor Day next school year... I think we'll make it.

I'll try to put snow pictures up tomorrow... but for now I must go to sleep. I'm exhausted!

Julie & Julia giveaway!!!

Go check out Mama Wants a New Pair of Shoes RIGHT NOW!!! She is doing a drawing for Julie & Julia!

...and be on the lookout here for a giveaway in the next week!

Want pictures?

Plotting where to go play...
this smile will never get old

and look at that cute little butt with NO DIAPER!!!!!! She's so old!

Can you even believe how old Riley is getting? We are fully potty trained while she is awake!! Nap time is close, but not quite there yet. Night time training will be a long while. I asked the dr about it when we were in last week for ANOTHER ear infection and she was just impressed that at 2 years 3 months, Riley is -for all intents and purposes - potty trained. Being dry while she sleeps will come in time. I'm just amazed each day at how much she is growing and changing! She is fully of hilarious things to say!

About 4.5 months... first time getting "food"! He wasn't real sure at first...

All smiles!

and goofy faces!

::sigh:: Asher is growing too fast, too. He is rolling belly to back and back to belly. He is eating all kinds of new foods. He talks a mile a minute. His favorite thing though... when Riley gets all up in his grill and talks to him. He just smiles and giggles the whole time. I LOVE IT!!!

To my dearest 2 yr old

Dear, dear Riley: When you go to bed, we are well aware that you play. For future reference these toys do NOT help you be discreet about it: Chatter Phone, your talking Foofa (and the giggling that follows), the Laugh'n'Learn Puppy that sings all kinds of crap, and your potty book (that you obsessively push the flush ...button on). At least play with something QUIET when you're supposed to be sleeping. A little effort goes a long way, my dear.

Thanks,
Your (highly amused, yet somewhat aggravated) mother

the rumor is true.

no no, not the rumor that I'm "with child" again. Oh dear Lord, that would seriously make me want to go and jump off of a bridge. LOVE my 2 babies, but that is plenty for this moment in time.

The rumor that is true is that I have a new obsession. Sewing. Seriously, I'm OBSESSED. I've slowly started acquiring more and more (and more... and more... and more...) fabric over the last year - year and a half. I'd make small projects here and there, but nothing huge. I mastered rag quilts and they are a nice "long term" project. But I like doing things w/ immediate results. Last weekend I completed an advent calendar for Mollie and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. She ordered the pattern from an etsy shop and had me make it. I'll be doing one for myself and my sister this week... I had a TON of left over fabric. I'll be sure to post a picture when I make another. The only one I snapped of Mollie's was w/ my cell phone so the quality totally blows! This week I made a little toddler backpack for a friend. I used this pattern from blueprints and it was SO easy that I decided to do one for Riley! I completed hers this afternoon...

Right now I'm working on a hooded reindeer towel and washcloth. I got the original idea from the Gooseberry Patch Christmas book and found a similar pattern online. Now I'm combining the 2, improvising, and creating my own!

Oh! And I have MY ETSY shop open again!! I only have 2 things in it right now, but keep watching. I plan on updating a few times a week for right now...

Here are the backpacks:

Friend's:

Riley's:

A new project

Alright. I have a goal. I have seen some table cover playhouses that are out of this world cute. That's a BRILLIANT idea for our house. We are limited on space for toys since toys go in the kids rooms and I am not a fan of toys "homes" being in the family room. (I just can't wait for the day that we have a playroom!!).

Here is the goal... Since we're on a budget, I'm going to do this for $10 or less. That's r? ight - I'm going to build my kids a playhouse for less than $10. But I'll need everyone's help, ok? Any old flat/top sheets anyone has lying around, I need them! This may make for a very unique/colorful playhouse, but it'll be fun!

Here are some of the idea blogs...
This and that
Homemade by Jill
Sew Much Ado