Fire Station

On Monday afternoon, we took the cub scouts to our local Fire Station for a fieldtrip.

We were given a tour, given fire safety tips, and put up with, by two amazing firefighters with incredible patience and fortitude when it came to answering a bazillion questions.

Lieutenant Harris fielding our scouts many questions

I of course spent most of my time chasing these rugrats around, and keeping them out of trouble. OK, not Joshers, but the other two little imps gave me quite the workout. 

Everyone had a blast, learned a ton, and all agreed, "It was awesome!"

Random Thoughts..

I am sick of sickness.  - My house is currently a combination of coughing, runny noses, and utter destruction.  I suppose that's what you get when you have three kiddos in school who pick up the germies, and lovingly pass them on to the rest of us.

Vacuums rock! - For some reason unbeknownst to me we have excessive amounts of crumbs, dirt, and small pieces that find their way onto our floors, especially the carpet.  We run the vacuum at least once a day, and when we do, I almost feel like everything is new and pretty again, until it isn't :)

I love jammies - They are truly a favorite of mine, and to own a pair that are super comfy are the best.  My favorites are two pair that I recently treated myself to as an early Christmas present.  They are from Gap, and of course I got them on sale, but I would have paid full price for these babies as they are amazing!!

My boys are growing up - I see it every day in their comments and the way they carry themselves.  I also see what gentlemen they are becoming, and their sweet sensitive hearts in action.  This is truly what makes me the most proud.

I feel yucky when I don't exercise - The last week and half have been crazy busy, or littered with sickness.  During this time working out has been pretty much impossible.  I haven't even made time to do a quick workout at home.  I feel sluggish and my energy is lacking.  Eating right is only part of the solution, and next week I will be better!!

Looking forward to a fresh start tomorrow, the family getting over this sickness, and tackling some goals, and things on that dang to do list!!

Sickies

My house is full of them!!

It starts with quiet being interrupted by a cough, and then another louder deeper one, then more until the house is filled with an entire chorus of coughing.

Caleb looked especially awful by Tuesday morning, so to ease my peace of mind, and let him know that mommy does indeed care about the never-ending coughing he is enduring, I took him to the doctor.  The doctor said he didn't have any sort of infection and just had a deep chest cough, he was probably tired from the lack of sleep due to the constant coughing, making him even more miserable.

By this morning Natalie had a light cough, Daniel a medium cough, and even Josh was sporting a slight cough.  Who do you keep home? How bad are they? Is it just a cough?  Could you be infecting other kids?

I hope I made the right call on who to send and who to keep home, and I hope the chorus of coughing ends soon!!

Signs

So many of you know that I do custom vinyl signs...


Lots of enrichments and Super Saturdays for church, and of course individual requests. With a busy toddler, I have mostly put it on hold, and taken requests as they come.

Recently my talented friend Melissa that owns her own children's clothing company asked me to do a few signs for their upcoming trade shows. Most were one color, simple logos. But one request was for a five color banner with their logo for their girls line. It was something I had never tried, but determined, I pressed on.


Here is the finished result. I'm a little impressed with myself that I did it in a few hours with children climbing on the table trying to assist me.


If you like this, you'll love her kids clothes, so cute and unique. Click here to see more...

Valentines

Wednesday afternoon/evening was a busy one for us.  With three kiddos needing Valentines for classes and parties, we definitley had our hands full..

We started with these..




Then added a little heat, then a little cold.




Then we addressed our Valentine's to all our friends..





and finished with these...




(We also baked four dozen sugar cookie hearts while simultaneously doing the above, yes, we're over-achievers!!)

Caleb and Natalie had a great time helping mommy mix, cut and prep the cookies.

Monday

Today, I have lots and lots of cleaning to do.

My house is in need of some love.

Evidently we had way too much fun this weekend, because I can see it everywhere!!

I actually enjoy getting things back in order, the cleaning part, not so much!!


The best part is, after it's done I can play and do heart shaped crafts, snacks and fun. 

I love this week of Valentine's parties, exchanges, and all around love giving.


First things first...on to the cleaning I must go..

Need I say more...

These are the people I love...

In preschool yesterday, Caleb was asked to make a Valentines card,


and on it, he was to draw the people he loved...

My boy is growing up..

When Daniel was a little guy I used to dress him in adorable collared shirts and polos.  One day when he was still quite little, maybe three, he decided that collared shirts were for church only, and refused to wear them on any day except Sunday.

As I passed down these same shirts Josh delighted in wearing them, and even preferred them over plain old tees.  I guess this just shows indeed how different my children are from one another.

Well this last week as I was looking online for new shoes for Daniel, and showing him pictures so he could approve, he asked sheepishly,

"Can you get me some plaid and striped shirts too?". 

I told him that most striped and plaid shirts were collared, so he was kind of out of luck. 

"That's OK, he said.  I want them to be collared."

I couldn't believe it.  My child is growing, changing, evolving.  He picked out a few striped polos, and rather loud plaid shirts and I ordered them. 

The package arrived yesterday, and I seperated out his items. I casually told him that his stuff had come in, and knowing how he doesn't get excited about clothes, I mean at all, I really wasn't expecting much of a response.  Instead he surprised me again by running into the house, and inspecting each and every one. 

Still hesitant to see if these were after all what he was after, I asked.

"So what do you think?".

"They're perfect, he replied. I can't wait to wear them tomorrow!"

Really are you kidding, he's excited to wear his new shirts and shoes tomorrow?? My oldest, that hated collared shirts, and clothes in general, is now interested in picking out his clothes, and excited to wear them?

Wow, is really all I have to say!

I just love my kiddos so much, because they continue to surprise, and impress me.