Snow What?

Is everyone sick of hearing us talk about the Snow? Here are some more pictures after the last 8" we got. We went sledding in the street today. Audrey is all set with her new snow pants. Hi-Winter Fashion all the way :)

The road to our street... Can you believe how the Snow sticks to the trees? I know, Snow What...

Living in Snow

School was closed yet again. Job Site was closed down too. That means mom has restless children and husband to keep busy. We woke up to this on Thursday morning... and the snow never stopped all day.
Meet Sally our snowman. She is constantly smiling and from her view I can see why. She looks straight into our kitchen window getting a front row seat at all of our family drama. Who is going to sit by Mom at dinner? How come winter doesn't have High-Fashion clothes? Why did she get to eat the last candy? Now if only Dear Sally could talk. She could tell me who really pinched who and if we are as nutty as the family to our left. (Actually, I am glad she can't - I wouldn't want to know.)

Today is Friday. It is bright and sunny and only 26 degrees. But we decided to brave the weather and take the girls "sledding". We started getting dressed at 9:45. Convincing the girls it was COLD and they needed pants under their pants. After 4 rounds of different combinations and 1 hour and 20 minutes later we were in the car. We returned home 45 minutes later with possibly one emotionally scarred child. Here is Carissa - pleasant the whole way. What a trooper!
Audrey not pictured. Although I do actually have a picture I thought I would be nice and not post. So the snow, although beautiful, takes some getting used to. It is a wonderful treat on the first "snow day" but as the times goes by the novelty of Hot Chocolate may lose it's power.

Good News - Supposedly we are getting the "sequel" to the snow storm this Saturday. Perhaps Sally will get a friend?

All our love ~

Look how it sparkles!!

We woke up yesterday to a blanket of white. It was so amazing to watch the girls reaction. They have seen snow but never in there own backyard, covering their possessions, and SPARKLING!!

No AM Kindergarten today - here is a tip ** A faster way to find this information out, rather than driving to the school and seeing it bare, is to call the school - HA! I wonder if they have a camera on all the moms in pajamas with the confused look on their faces...

Looks like the girls and I will be Christmas crafting today - not such a bad deal :)

Where is December?

Wow - tell me it isn't the 11th of December? There are no christmas cards with the girls on it. There are no baked cookies. There are no lists. I am not checking anything twice and if I don't hurry up under the tree will be bare!!

To get me in the spirit here is a picture of our tree - it really did turn out pretty. And for sure, starting right now - we are all Christmas, all the time!! Starting with the Christmas music for your listening pleasure ;)

Weekend Update

It seems like the faster the leaves fall the quicker time goes by...

We had such a nice Thanksgiving ~ Our table was decorated compliments of Audrey.

I finished this fall inspired quilt, just in time to pack it away for the red and greens.
It is so easy to get into the Christmas Season with the cool weather. We actually did decorate all weekend and spent Saturday downtown taking in all the Holiday events. The girls were such troopers and I am so sorry but I forgot the camera :(

I will be sure to post pictures of our Holiday decorations soon. All our love~

Beauty in the Backyard

There was so much Beauty in our Backyard today I just had to share...

Thanksgiving Break

We have no school this week so I treated the girls this morning to eggs. I never make eggs and when Audrey requested "Dip Eggs" (which Dad usually cooks), and I produced them, she looked at me and said, "Mom, you are amazing!" Wow, you know, I thought I was but that just confirmed my suspicion!

With lots of time on our hands what is a girl to do but play beauty salon??

Report Card

So my little kinder got her first progress report today. Rather, I should say I received *my* first progress report on my parenting skills today. That is how it felt. She is receiving marks on Personal Growth, Quality of Work, Cooperation, and on and on. The things I have been responsible for training her on for the past 5 years. And not to say that she did bad but to see it all laid out - the judging... ugh! It was agonizing.

But tonight I am harshly reminded of what is so precious in this life. It is not the tuning of your fine motor skills but rather showing someone kindness. Nor is it sounding out each letter as you read but just the time spent reading together. For sure it is genuine interest in each other's lives, not the correct grasp of your pencil. What is so precious in this life is love; the kind we give, the kind we receive, and the kind we remember forever.

Sleepyhead

We are always wondering how our kids got so wierd. I mean, we know, I KNOW, that it is not from me. Before little C will even get in her bed she must find every animal in a 20 foot radius and place it strategically on her bed. No assistance can be given from anyone else. You know, to make the process faster. Heaven forbid anything at night is rushed!!

Then she leaves just enough space to fit her little munchkin head and snuggles in. Of course, I leave the room and I can hear her rearranging, discussing, singing, and dressing, and undressing all of her furry friends.

Clever me has even attempted to sneak back into the room late at night and clear the bed. Who would want to sleep like that? Appartenly she is headed towared a career path as a night guard. No sooner do I leave the room, most proud of my successful mission, does she jump right up and begin rearranging. It is almost scary, what 2 year old sleeps with one eye open?

Check out this giveaway...

If I could only make quilts like these being given away at Old Red Barn Co. I try and I dream but it never happens. I think the real problem is I am too cheap. I won't invest the money in the awesome fabrics. Instead I buy whatever is on sale and use it all up until I am crafting with nothing but scraps. Anyhow... how cool would it be to win one?

Sew Cute

It is perfect sewing weather here in Seattle and that is just about all I want to do. I snagged this idea when my mother-in-law and I were drooling over fabric in the Country Village in Bothell. The dresses and skirt were made from a Mother Gooose & Friends by Moda Jellyroll (2 1/2" strips of fabric).

This is Audrey's skirt - not to much flare, which she wasn't happy about, but I think will look really cute with some brown shoes and tights :)

This dress was so easy to make and I knew it would fit perfectly because I purchased her shirt and attached the skirt to make a dress.

Of course, this is my favorite, by far. It is for my niece Lilly (watch your mail sister). I attached the skirt to a onesie so it should fit just right.

I have lots of fabric left so who knows who might be next!!

Traditions

This time of year I am always trying to think of ways to make the holidays memorable and important to the girls. It probably starts with the Sloppy Joes I have to make on Halloween but our family is huge on tradition. If you are lucky enough to be a part of it here are some that might make you nostalgic :)

• Kris Kringle
• Barley Soup
• Midnight Mass (Great-Grandma's B-day cake)
• Oranments off Grandma & Grandpa's Branch
• Breaking Bread
• Lasagna on Christmas Day and the "kids table"
• J's Side - the Christmas Program

I am probably missing so many. What will my daughter's remember? I hope whatever it is, the memory brings an instant warmth and feeling of love to their hearts, as it does mine.

Daddy Carve Me!!

Daddy is great - check out our pumpkins...

Saturday Drive

This past Saturday we took a drive out to Snoqualime Falls. It was a really clear day and the trees were just amazing. I soooo wish I could take good photographes but for now this is all you get...

The girls went crazy running in the leaves. I think this might be the only time they have every seen a pile so big. It was so fun to watch them enjoy it.

Daddy had to get as close as possible to the waterfall. Him and Audrey left the "designated" boardwalk and hiked down a way for this shot. (I couldn't watch ~ and judging from this shot, I am glad I didn't!) Where was I? A little ways down planning on any moment diving in and saving her as she rushed passed me...

Is a waterfall ever ugly?

I know my daughter isn't :)

All our love~

Day of Mentionables

What a perfect day today. The weather was gorgeous (always have to mention that because everyone keeps referring to the awful grayness ahead - yikes!). At dance today Audrey was asked to move up to the 5&6 year-old tap/ballet class. I was spying on her through the window today and she was concentrating so hard! I am so proud of her.

She also went to her first party without me. It was a Halloween party put on by one of her friends from school - she is getting so big. She was Rapunzel and of course loves the "long" hair I made her out of yarn.

Carissa also went pee-pee on the potty!! I am attempting the casual potty-training technique with her since I think I overwhelmed Audrey for about a year. Maybe I will get lucky and this will stick (Yeah right!) Here is a picture of the little ham...

5 is Fabulously Funny

For those of you who don't have the utmost privilege of currently living with a 5-year old, let me just say, it is Fabulously Funny. Everything is hilarious to them. From brushing teeth and making the bubbles drool down your chin to finding a chicken nugget shaped like a ghost. It is the constant comedy channel around here. And watch out, heaven forbid the comedian toots or burps when laughing, the whole day is thrown into complete nonstop hilarity.

(Only contagious, by the way, if you are male or under the age of 3.)

All our love~

Week of Vistors

TGIF! We are experiencing some randomly warm weather today - feels like 68. The sun is shining and the leaves are changing. Very nice way to start the weekend. Hopefully it will stay this way because I bought 55 tulip bulbs to plant. You know me and my green thumb... ha!

The girls Grandparents were here this past week and we stayed super busy. Here are some pictures from our trip to Remlinger Farms.

Carissa riding "Peaches". Close to the cutest thing I have ever seen!!

Posing with the Grandparents

Canoe ride (super cute ride!)

They had a huge hay area with a spring under it were the kids could just jump around. Great for the allergies ;)

The great Pumpkin...ride.

Sisters in a cage will do funny things. Mom watching from the ground will go nuts.

Happy Halloween!

New Background

I am having so much fun with this blog.

Okay I just wasted about 30 minutes trying to get this Halloween background to show. It was really easy once I figured it out. Thank you to AshScraps for your template.

Who says stay at home mom's aren't busy???

Goodnight Moon

After reading "Goodnight Moon" by Charolette Wise Brown for the 100th time to Carissa and Audrey tonight I noticed something only a tired mom would. At the beginning of the book the clocks start out at 7:00pm and as the Bunny progresses in telling everything in the room goodnight the time moves. At the end of the book the "quite old lady wispering hush" finally exits the room at 8:10, a full hour and 10 minutes later! How wise Ms. Brown was even back in 1947. To bad she never did a sequel showing the "quite old lady" returning to the room twenty more times (one more hug, a drink of water, it is too dark, I have to go pee, I can't sleep, can you close my closet door...)

Thanks to my Mommy friends!

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficent for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am so sure that is why I love talking to my mommy friends!! We can readily admit that we lost it in the parking lot leaving the dance studio or we went and hid from the kids just for two minutes of peace. Because it is in admitting that we are not that "perfect mom" that Christ can show his grace.

Thank you to all my friends who let me tell all :)

Seattle Saturday

Nick and Meg came and stayed with us this weekend so I had to post our adventures. We started our day by heading towards the Space Needle knowing there was a "Festa Italiano" (Italian Festival) just 2 blocks away. The day was so nice, as you can tell in the pictures.

At the Festival we watched a puppet show and Carissa ate raisins...
Then the girls learned how to toss pizza. Here is Carissa and Megan working on their dough.
Justin and Audrey - notice the fine noodle necklace :)

Then, of course, Uncle Nick had to try. We are Sicilian, didn't your know?The best part was next. THE FOOD! So delicious. Here is Audrey eating chocolate covered strawberries. She told us it was the best day of her life.

That was before we started walking and ended up right in front of an amusement park. Uncle Nick tried to abort but it was too late. There had to be a ride on the carousel... (and the dumbo ride, and the train...)

Hopefully the girls didn't smother Uncle Nick and Aunt Megan too much and they will visit again soon!

Ruffled Capris

I had to come back and post tonight. The pants turned out so cute and they were super easy to make. Not to mention that the whole project was totally free because I was able to use fabric scraps from other projects. Here is my little model showing off my work. The shirt even has a matching applique... Let me know what you think, Cute or Clown?

Camera!

I am so excited we now have a camera again. It is a Nikon Coolpix and probably not the top of any line but so easy to use and will get the job done for us.

Audrey and I decorated on Saturday and I swear that girl has got such an eye for anything beautiful! It was so enjoyable to go through the Fall Decorations with her. Here she is posing by the mantel.

Justin surpised me and picked up some
flowers on the way home from work. I love that man! They matched our decorations perfect ~ Now if I could just work on taking "good" pictures then this blog would be worth reading.

So we start another week. I grabbed 2 extra lbs of peaches from our farmers market so I hope to freeze those for the *brrr* winter today. Since it is getting rather chilly here (for me anyways!) I stole an idea from Crafty Daisies blog. Carissa's capris fit her pefectly but if she wears them now her little leggies will get cold. So I plan on attempting a capri makeover this morning. I hope to post the results soon.

Have a great Monday~