Fun in the snow!

We decided to go to Josh's families this weekend. We won't be able to go again until end of February so we figured that this was our chance. Besides this, we were celebrating Josh's sister, Kaiti's birthday. The kids needed no excuse to enjoy cake, icecream and good food. As you can see they clearly had a great time!

On Sunday we went to Josh dad and Cheryl's house. it was the first real snow that we have had this year that the kids could play in. They build snow men (mini), went sledding down the hill driveway, and made snow angels. They LOVED it. Kayleigh's favorite thing was sledding down the hill with Papa John. Grace was more interested in makign mini snowmen with daddy. Caleb just loved walking around in his boots. He did have fun sledding until he was trying to get into the sled and faceplanted into the driveway snow and then went too fast down the hill careening sideways. While Caleb finished the snow time with a nap, the girls came in and warmed up with a mug of hot cocoa while watching Little Mermaid. It was quite fun! :)

Kay- Snow angels! 

Grace snow gear ready!

Grace's snow angel in the making

Caleb playing in the snow

Kayleigh making her very impressive snow angel

And another.

Grace's snow angel 

Caleb was sick of the gloves after 2 minutes!

Daddy threw a snow ball at Kay's head!

Sledding fun! Caleb, Grace and Kay! :) 

Ready to go again! 

Rushing down the hill!

Caleb isn't so sure about it this time (see face-plant results on hat).

Flying down the hill

Daddy and Papa getting the girls ready to race

Caleb 'oooohhing"

Papa John and Kayleigh- Kay loved sledding with Papa

Grace and daddy building her mini snowman

hard at work

Say cheese- (note hot cocoa moustache)

YUM! Hot cocoa is sooo good! 

Overall we had a great weekend! :)

Trip to the mall

I love taking the kids to the mall to play in the winter. It gives them a chance to run, climb, jump, and get out all that energy in a fun and safe way (that does not include climbing up my hutch or jumping off the coach!). I also enjoy meeting friends there . It is nice for the kids to have some play time with other friends. I especially like that they play independently and I can visit and talk about life with friends. This is just a glimpse of our last trip to the mall. They all had a blast and passed out in the car before we were 2 minutes down the road. I wish I could have too! :)



Seriously, cutest pic ever! :) -Grace, Molly, Kay and Caleb

Girl overboard!

Cheese!



Thye love 'riding' these rides (that don't move because they never remember their piggy banks ;)

This same week I registered the girls for 4 year old preschool. I have been doing the homeschool ABC Jesus Loves Me curriculum for 3 year old preschool and have absolutely LOVED it. However, I think the girls could use a transition year to kindegarten socially. I  really can't believe they are so old! They have become such little ladies and I love every minute of being their mommy.

this and that

Caleb went poop on the potty chair! YAY! It is the beginning of the end of my diaper changing days. Granted I am sure it is going to be a long road still, but I am still glad to be started. :)

The girls and I worked on an art project this week that we found on pinterest. They were the ones that actually picked it out as the project they wanted to do. We do have a problem though: they are either picking up on my perfectionism or they just naturally take to it. Kay has it in her mind exactly what it should look like and she gets so frustrated when it doesn't work out perfectly. We finished Grace's and I was helping Kay, when I look over at Grace and she has drawn a face, arms and legs on her ballerina outfit. I had to bite my lip because I instantly wanted to say, 'but that isn't part of the project.'. Of course I didn't say anything as I quickly checked myself since it is HER project and that that is what SHE wanted to do. She really did do a good body . :)

Grace decided hers needed a head, face, arms, and legs.

Kayleigh's ballerina outfit (she was very mad the paint got on the leotard.

Overall we really do have fun doing it. Caleb also did a finger paint project and had a very messy time doing it (and fun!).

Caleb's fingerpaint picture :)

It was a pretty good day!

Organization January Part 3

Over the last week I have managed to at least start quite a few projects.

The car was actually an easy one. The shop vac works miracles with all those cheerios, fruit loops, and random junk that builds up in a car that holds three kids.The girls insist on not wearing their coats in the car so we use the coat hooks to hang them and instead they cuddle in their blankets. I really actually think the space in a minivan is great for a family (even though it is seriously so uncool), but it drove me nuts how everything just rolled around. I decided to make my own junk holder bin that I have between the two front seats to hold hats, gloves, movies, and the miscellaneous stuff. I actually really think it works well. I still have to wash the outside, but I figure I will wait until I can go to car wash (because I am not doing it outside in the cold!)

Coat hooks are awesome!

Notice my new green bin to hold everything that rolls everywhere.

The basement storage room was actually probably the most challenging project and still not even close to done. When we had the robbery in October they broke through the basement window. Josh replaced the window, but since it was the window that was in our storage room it left a disaster of tons of glass behind to be cleaned up. This meant we basically has to remove everything from the storage room, clean it, and then put it back in. It was a great opportunity to throw away boxes and donate things that we no longer use. I also converted an old desk into a work bench to store Josh's tools, screws, and miscellaneous stuff.

We have yet to put away the Christmas tree so that is only a quarter of our Christmas boxes. 

Josh's new makeshift tool bench. Shoe boxes work great. :)

No more glass! YAY! 

We are about half done. Josh still has to go through the computer junk accessories and wires that he will not let me touch (I tried and he would have nothing to do with me helping).

yeah, definitely a work in progress!

I also worked on the back area of the basement where all the baby stuff is stored. WAY too much baby stuff. I am just waiting for Marian and Trev to get their baby room together so they can take it all! For now though I have it stacked in the corners of the basement somewhat neatly. It at least leaves the floor clear so they kids have more area to play in.

Definitely need storage bins for the basement too, but it works for now. 

Baby stuff stacked high!

AND MORE baby stuff (at least it's just in one area)

The last basement place we conquered was the kids' play area. We still have more work to do, but overall it works much better. I would like to get a kids' toy storage area with bins but that is yet to come.

Love having a treadmill to watch tv while working out & still lots of area for the kids to play

Kid area (with a tropical twist).

What to do with GIANT TV boxes? and weight benches?

These are all the areas yet to come: the laundry room, bedroom area, the rest of the storage room, and bookcases.

There is ALWAYS laundry to do!

I figure for a weeks worth of work, it is not too shabby.

Brother like sisters ... oh dear.

Oh dear.... my son is clearly related to my girls. About 2 years ago I had the unfortunate experience of walking into the girls' room while they were supposed to be taking a nap and finding them covered in butt paste from head to toe. I can not begin to explain to you how much of a pain it was to remove butt paste from their eyelids, nose, ears, and hair... much less from my rocking chair cushions (which is why it is still white in places).

Fast forward 2 years....

As I am getting the girls out of the bathtub, I walk into the living room to find Caleb has pushed a chair to the counter and has managed to cover himself in petroleum jelly. All over his hands, face, arms, pants, and my storage ottoman. Yes, he is definitely related to his sisters. No doubt about it. Let me tell you, petroleum jelly is no easier to remove then butt paste; the one bonus of jelly is that it is clear (praise God!).

Notice it coming from his nose?!

Uh... what's the problem mom?

"hey mom, doesn't this look like fun? Here take the glob from my finger."

Thank goodness I caught him before it was any worse (and that there are not two of him to help coat  each other). Ah the fun of having kids. ;)