Five on Friday

Not a lot of picture taking going on so I thought this was appropriate.

1.  This past weekend I enjoyed my annual winter scrapbooking weekend away.  It was a much needed get away.  I think I laughed more this past weekend than I have in a long time, I even laughed till I cried, multiple times.  Very refreshing and rejuvenating.  I sure do love those scrapbook friends.  We made some great memories and built on existing relationships.

Julie taught us how to make arm scarves, good times and of course more laughs.

I was a slow learner but in the end, I finished first.

2.  We have been all been pretty healthy this winter until this past weekend.  Easton came down with a pretty nasty cough and cold while I was gone.  He had a runny nose all day and spiked a fever Sunday night.  It was a bear getting him to take some meds, he finally did.  We put him to bed with vapo rub and his humidifier.  A couple hours later he was crying, I went in and he was all sweaty, his fever broke.  He has done fine during the day but just coughs a ton.  Hoping this passes quickly and he can get back to his normal self.

3.  We have not doubled the normal amount of snow we have at this point.  I believe that we have now what we normally receive in an entire winter.  It is crazy.  As I type this it is snowing again.  I'm doing okay with the snow but getting a little tired of it.  Just trying to stay positive as we pry have at least a month and a half yet of snow. 

There are some mailboxes in that pile of snow

My flag is about gone

The bank on the side of the house is super tall as well

4.  The kids and I have had our fair share of snow days.  We all had the two days off after Christmas, they had Friday off, we all had Monday and Tuesday off and then they had Wednesday off.  It has made for some interesting mornings.  Both Friday and Wednesday I was scrambling to figure out where they were going.  Friday my mother in law was able to help us out and yesterday our babysitter Katie was able to help us out.  It is much nicer when it is a snow day for all of us.  They sure did enjoy their time at home though.  I tried to spice it up with some special fun.

cinnamon roll bites - they loved them

drawing birds eye view maps of their room, teacher Kylynn

My girls and their electronics

On a Sketch Hunt - they loved it

All bundled up for the frigid weather

5.  I may not have it all together and I may not always be the most patient mother but I'm doing my best.  I love them beyond any measure and have enjoyed our time together during these cold temps.  They are great kids, not sure how they are turning out so well.  

My three blessings

Mason Turns 2!

Last week we celebrated my nephew Mason's 2nd birthday!  The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and I think Mason enjoyed himself and all of the party fun.

 Enjoying some pizza

The Birthday Boy

opening the Jake Lego we got him

Happy Birthday to Mason

Kylynn and Brinley enjoying some cake

Brinley holding Molly, she loves babies

My baby girl holding Molly, Molly wasn't too thrilled

Frigid Weather Fun

Since we had below 0 temps this week and wind chills in the negative 20's we didn't have school Monday or Tuesday, what an awesome blessing to have 2 more days home with my kiddos.  We had the Friday off before break for an ice day too.  It was the longest Christmas break EVER! We had some fun that is for sure, we slept in, did some baking, and a few other things too.  I was going a little stir crazy but I really couldn't complain too much, the kids played SO well together it was very nice.  We were all ready to get back into a routine by Wednesday though.

So blessed by these three 

Peanut Butter Playdough

Saw it on Facebook from a post made by Selah Art Studio, love that place,

the girls absolutely loved this.  It was so easy and they had so much fun.

My poor hubby out taking care of our driveway, 

this picture looks brutal and it was.

Poor guy had icicles on his eye lashes, or should I say they were frozen.

A little pizza anyone?

Some super hero action

Kylynn had fun building her Lego Friends Heartlake High with Daddy

Addi helped too

Another round of Peanut Butter Playdough

Addisyn wanted to help me bake something, 

we made hot chocolate brownies

We tried the boiling water experiment, we were a day late!  

It only worked a little bit, bummer!

Another experiment to try, snow ice cream.

I must not follow directions well or something, ours was more like soup

But we had fun none the less.  I am so thankful for my time home with these three.  Even if it had it's moments we sure did have a great Christmas Break.  I am blessed to have a job like I do so that I can be home with them.  I need to continue to count my blessings and enjoy the little things.  Life is short!  Before you know it they won't want to be home with me.  So for now, I will enjoy the little things.

Meet Molly

Jason's sister Lindsey had her baby while we were in TC for Christmas.  I was so excited to get a face time call the day after Christmas to learn of baby's arrival.  It was an accident as my sis in law is new to the iPhone but I'm so glad she did it.  I was able to tell by the hat that she had a girl!  Molly Elayne arrived at 6:04 on 12/26 and she was 8 lbs 5 oz and 19 1/4 inches.  Mom, Dad, and Big Brother Mason are all doing well.  We got to visit with her on Sunday when we arrived home.  So fun to snuggle a little newborn again.  I didn't get a ton of snuggle time as the girls were thoroughly enjoying holding their newest cousin.

Addisyn got to hold her first

such a sweetie, love all of the hair

Kylynn Joy with Molly

Easton didn't care to hold her, cute pick though

My girls with their baby cousin

can't get enough of her sweetness

A happy auntie, I can snuggle her and hand her back!

These two were playing on our phones, cracked us up

The family of 4 - Mason, Lindsey, Brian and Molly

SOOOOO SO happy for them!  God is GOOD!

Happy New Year

We spent New Years at my Brother's house in DeWitt.  It was nice to see their new home.  They already have it feeling very homey.  Can't wait to see what else they do to it.  My parents had picked my kids up on Tuesday and took them for a sleepover with their cousin Chloe, they loved it.  We had a delicious brunch made by my sis in law and relaxed a little before our trip home.  A very low key day but it was nice to be with my family again.

hanging out before brunch

the kiddos enjoying some pancakes

crazy kids, wrestling around but having a blast

My boys

playing with Chloe, they sure do love her

Our family

Daddy and his baby girl

Addi and Grandma

My girls

Here's to a great 2014, we are off to a great start.  I have had a wonderful time at home with my kiddos, they are growing up way to fast.  They are finally sleeping in and they don't wake me up, they just turn on their cartoons and are quite quiet.  They all have been playing so well together as well.  I am blessed!  Back to work in a few days and I sure will miss our time together.  Before you know it summer will be here though, I can't believe how fast January 2014 came!

Happy New Year everyone, may God bless your year!