Fun Stuff

First off, this was my "labor of love" that I failed to post from last year. It was quite the project, but many, many hours later, here it is. Hopefully it'll be one of those things that can be handed down when my kids have kids of their own. That's what I kept telling myself, at least, while I poured over the sewing machine day after day. It was Blake's Christmas present, but Natalie has been the one playing with it. I like to give the kids one homemade gift from me every year. This was Blake's and Natalie got her doll bunk bed shown in my last year's Christmas post.

This car mat features a school, "In-N-Out", a cupcake shop, car wash, firestation, zoo, playground, park, pond and of course "home". I actually bound the thing by myself (complete with mitered corners)! That was a project in and of itself since I had never done it before, but thanks to YouTube tutorials, I did it without any major glitches.

There's also a pouch on back for car storage and it can be rolled up and buttoned compactly.

Not perfect, but made with love.

Just the kids being cute and crazy-a normal day for us. How I love these kiddos!

Blake is my little "helper". Every Monday (laundry day) he helps me sort, wash, dry and fold the clothes. His favorite part is sitting on top of the washer and putting the clothes in while the water's running. The task is so much more enjoyable (or less miserable) while sharing it with my sweet baby. What a fun memory.

His favorite helper spot.

The Bells came to visit in February for a weekend ski trip. Grandma was so wonderful, as always, and took the kids to Chuck-E-Cheese and the Natural History Museum and bought them lots of fun new clothes. And Grandpa, just like Grandpas should, played endlessly with them. We love these guys.

My handsome boy. I had to capture him in this shirt. He looks like such a little man in it. He's going to be a chick magnet!

Our last real snowstorm of the winter. We got out first thing in the morning (it was probably barely 7 AM), so we could get our playing in. The sun comes out and melts everything so fast here. It's kind of a bummer.

Mommy's method of making a "snowman". Rob laughed at my "pile of snow". But it had a face and hands-all the essentials, so the kids didn't care.