snowed in

the kids have had about three weeks off from school.  they were supposed to go back for the first time tomorrow.  as of now, we are experiencing blizzard conditions and are expected to have -20 to -30 wind chills.  so much for school.  so much for a clean house, a schedule, catching up on sewing or any other home project.  everything's on the back burner for now.

and you know what?

i'm kind of enjoying it.

while most moms are pulling out their hair and cursing mother nature, i've kind of enjoyed having my kids around, being forced to "slow down" because, this is like snowstorm number,

 i don't know, 4(?) since they've been on "break." 

we took down christmas decorations the day after and immediately put up valentine ones.  people have teased me. i think i'm just on a roll.  it starts with halloween, you take those down and then it's thanksgiving, clean up from that to decorate for christmas, and then... i need another "celebration." 

surely holidays aren't over.  valentine's day is right around the corner, so i decorate.

nothing big... just subtle decor.  a banner, some red candles, a hurricane of conversation hearts.

and since we are snowed in, we've done some valentine crafting.  the kids did a word search today.

we've made several batches of these.  and i bought a bunch of wooden hearts that the kids painted today.

i also continued the boredom busters that i used this summer and did one for the next couple of days.

the kids love to run over and check the list for fun things to do.

i just type up a list of things that they enjoy:

color, read a book, watch a movie, eat a healthy snack, do a word search,

do a dot-to-dot, have a fashion show, bake cookies, go on a scavenger hunt, etc.

the scavenger hunt was a blast for them.  i just typed up a list of random things for them to find around the house: paperclip, gray sock, pink crayon, webkinz, marble

i had them meet with their partner, come up with a team name, estimate the time it would take them to complete the "hunt" and look over the list.  they had a blast and were so dang cute doing it.

i'm finding that it doesn't take a lot of money to create great memories for these kiddos,

thank goodness. 

sewing

i have sewn a lot this year. from skirts to dresses, bedspreads, pillows, burpcloths, checkbook covers...

you name it.  i think that i sewed more this year than i ever have before. and i enjoyed it.

my problem is that i'm very impatient, maybe a little adhd... i need instant, or pretty quick,

gratification.  so the best sewing projects for me are the quick and easy ones.

i'm excited for the projects that this year will bring.

i've already got some in mind.  i really want to make this, this,

and i'm going to "encourage" little margo that having a flower

birthday party would be sooooo fun so that i can make these.

vacation

the children have been on holiday break for... a while now.  the days start running into one another... especially with all the snow we have gotten.  i love having them home and just hanging out together.  i also love to see the things they come up with to amuse themselves.

here they are dancing to our new favorite song by taylor swift "the best days"

then lunch was served by the waiter, daddy in the hallway.

he took their orders and quickly "whipped" it all up.

and afterwards, it was time to take every single pillow from around the house and make a path to walk on.  seriously... every... single... pillow. 

they had a blast and i enjoyed watching.

when i say the days run into one another, i mean it.  their bathing schedule is off. like, i can't remember the last time i bathed them.  as i was watching them brush their teeth last night as they got ready for bed, i sniffed the air, looked at mere and she giggled.  "it's me," she said.

 "what's you?"

more giggling... "i haven't changed my pants since sunday."

we all cracked up and then i seriously stopped.  really?  no way. that would be like, a week.

so today (sunday) has been declared "bath" day.

welcome 2010

it was a good year

a year of good health, a new cousin, new friendships,

a broken arm, starting a new grade, soccer, basketball, cheerleading,

the zoo, the lakehouse, two wii birthday parties and an elmo one, 

lots of sewing projects, and a new job.

but, I'm ready to start a-new...

a new year with hopes of continued

good health and happiness

i have a good life

family rules

christmas break has flown by. my mental list that i had wanted to accomplish is... unaccomplished. oh well. we've had a great time being snowed in and just relaxing.

i did finally complete a project that i've wanted to create for a while now: our family rules. the idea came from here

i'm going to forget about make a resolution this year... because... well, it just won't happen and then i'll just feel worse. so, instead, we (my family and i) are going to commit to following these:

the girls helped me come up with the "rules" via (ahem) some careful guidance from me.  i love how it turned out.  it's very far from perfect but that just makes it all the better, right? 

so now if we can just attempt to "follow" the "rules."

happy new year everyone,

shelly