Oh Henry!

I've been a way from my computer for a few days!

Busy enjoying life...

without my camera!

*****

I had a great weekend!

Hope you did too!

I don't think I saw 9pm all weekend.

Yep, still tired from sickness, so have been snuggling in about 8:45pm!

Okay, I was good about getting up early to run though.

Friday evening we just stayed in and enjoyed pizza night!

Saturday, Jon's grandma, mom, sister and I had a girls' shopping day!

Whoohoo!

The spring looks are out and I couldn't get enough!

At the end of the day, I bought a lot of black (what?) but threw in punches of color!

(J.Crew....their spring scarves are AMAZING!)
Yesterday I painted at a client's home!

So fun!

I was jamming to my tunes while I painted...

especially loving MAROON 5's "Misery"....

Guess I got so carried away singing and having fun, I forgot to take pix!

I'm going back to put a varnish coat on, so I will give you some pix later this week.

*****

Great weekend, but it must have caught up with me.

I've been a big ZERO today!

I woke up with sinus again! Ugh! I've been so tired and feel like I'm walking through water!

Oh well, it's the LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY!!!!!!!

I know I will feel better tomorrow...Just hearing the word MARCH brings a smile to my face!

*****

Finally, my little precious boy.

He's had a ball over the past week.

Remember when I said he loves to play in my plant?

Oh, he's so sweet when he burries his little matchbox cars in the dirt.

But...

His face is no longer clean....

permantly coated with DIRT!

And my floors...

permantly covered with dirt, even though we swiffer 1,000 times a day!
My white slipcovered chairs don't stand a chance.
No more dirt = dying plant.

No, the plant isn't my favorite, to be honest...

but

I'll never forget the Mother's Day that the girls carried it in!

They picked it out at our local grocery store.

Oh, their faces...so, so excited to gift me!

So...

I will continue to wash the dirt off my baby's face,

swiffer the floors,

launder the slipcovers,

and try to give my little plant some TLC when the kiddies are asleep.

I think the plant really does love it's new matchbox neighbors!

WILD Artwork And Family Fun

My dear sorority sister asked for a little WILD artwork!

I just finished up this fun piece yesterday!

Baby Dominic's room is going to have a zoo theme.

I hope that this Welcoming Committee loves living in D's nursery!

And we are always a bit WILD here in our home!

My baby boy is always playing in our one little tropical looking plant.

(Perhaps he's pretending his little car is Kit...Magnum P.I.! Zipping around Hawaii!)

Okay, enough dreaming...

We dream of Hawaii because it's just been flat out dreary here.

Last night, hubs and I brought out a new game...

Elefun!

We thought Henry would REALLY go for it!
Oh, did his eyes just light up when he saw those butterflies flying out of the elephant's trunk!

He clapped his hands, did a little jig and giggles...oh, the giggles!

Of course, my little engineer soon had to INSPECT it all!

Soon, nets were out and the kiddos were enjoying!

Wrestling and cuddling were also thrown into the mix!


And once our FUN evening came to an end...

kiddos were tucked all cozy in their beds...

lights were turned down...

You better believe that these crazy two were ready to check out the new game!

Puff Kitty: Back off...It's my game George!

A new game, a nice fun game...definitely something little to brighten up our evening!

How Many People Does It Take To Raise A Child?

A VILLAGE!

Especially on Tuesday Nights...

Gymnastics!

*****

Last night was the first night of our 6 week session.

Two sessions a year...spring and fall.

I teach both sessions, two classes/session.

*****

My parents always come over to help out.

I prepare a meal in the afternoon and get tableware ready to go.

Outfits are laid out on beds.

Once we pick Emily up from school,

we get back home so everyone can have a nice snack!

(Cousin Megan was here yesterday!)

Big sister then works on homework ...

and little sister can get ready to go!

By 4:30pm, my parents arrive...

Laney and I are out the door ...

gotta set up the gym!

Last night, my dad was so sweet and drove up to the gym...

just to help us set up!

And my mom? She served dinner to Emily, Megan and Henry!

I teach Laney's class first!

We just got a new bar and oooh la, la how those kiddos love the powder chalk!

Jon arrives and gets to watch sweet Laney and Cousin Madison.

My parents soon arrive with Emily, Cousin Megan and Henry.

The older girls are in the next class!

After the little girls' session,

Jon takes Laney, Cousin Madison and Henry home...

dinnertime for them!

My parents stay and watch the older girls.

After two hours of teaching,

our evening is finished!

I am tired from lifting 40+ kiddos ages 4-9.

I smell like chalk.

Ready to go home...

get everyone in the tub!

And I soon fall into bed myself...TIRED!

****

Yes, I think it definitely takes a village to raise just one child, let alone three.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just trying way too hard...

doing too much.

But...that question passes quickly.

It takes WORK to successfully raise a child.

Kids don't often see the "behind the scenes" work.

And that's okay.

That's how it should be.

It's their time to enjoy and have fun.

*****

All of the girls enjoyed last night's session!

EMILY....nimble, flexible...Her little body is made for gymnastics!

LANEY...strong!strong!strong! Strongest 5 year old I know!

MEGAN...Determined! This is her first session and I'm so proud of her!

MADISON...happy! She just smiles the whole time!
Now to gear up for next week...

When it all starts again! :)

Color Daze

Well, my weekend started of a bit BLUE!

Hubs stayed home from work on Friday...

took me to the doctor.

Sinus Infection!

Dr. also said something awful was brewing in my chest too! Ouch!

I walked out with a concoction of meds and this prescription...

I love his sense of humor!

And YES! We took him up on his prescription!

(Although arrangements were made months ago.)

We will soon enjoy some Florida time.

Oh, can't wait to get to LA PLAYA!!!!
****

Even though the weekend started off pretty dark,

I did manage to get these cuties finished right before my face filled with cement!

Shoe Clips!

The children's oh so sweet babysitter had a dance...

and we thought these handmade clips would be fun!

Bits of satin, tulle and some small gems...

(Oh, the mustard shoes are mine.)

Karlee was sporting fun silver sparkle ballet flats!

I want to make some clip for my shoes...maybe black and white!

I would wear mine on the sides of the shoes like this...

And my my weekend just got brighter and brighter!

I finally finished baby Allie's artwork!

Her name art goes with the zoo/circus animals in my previous post.
(Guess crazy meds don't help my photo skills! Ha!)

I think that Allie's name art might be one of my favorite creations yet!


I spent A LOT more time than I usually spend,
but I really wanted some crazy fun artwork!

Overall, the weekend went by in a flash!

I'm feeling better...

and have a busy week ahead.

Wonder what color each day will bring?

La Artista And Some WILD Art

Today is Career Day at Emily's school!

Since I failed as a mom when I sent her to school in her Valentine's Day outfit on Pajama Day...

I thought I'd make it up to her today!

*****

My little ARTISTA before school this morning!

Jon searched Target for berets and found this one on sale for $3!

I used one of Jon's old work shirts...

odds and ends, old paint brushes, felt, fabric glue, sparkle paint, fabric...

and a TON of hot glue...

She was VERY excited to live the life of an ARTIST!

******

And I just finished part of an order for a fun, fun couple!

They asked for animal paintings.

Daddy chose some circus/zoo animals.

I wanted to add some whimsy to each piece...

Momma REALLY wanted a duck,

but it didn't go with the circus/zoo animals...

so I told her that I would gift them a duck!

I think Mr. Duck goes very well with the other animals though!

I've already started on their newborn's name...Allie.
Think VERY colorful and crazy...just like my painted furniture!
I know that this new artwork will fit in well with this new family of 3...
COLORFUL, FUN, BRIGHT...absolutely!

All You Need Is LOVE

Valentines Day...

A day of LOVE!

*****

Our Valentine's Day felt a lot like Christmas!

The kiddos get so much!

Family all visits...bringing lots of LOVE.

Yes, we are truly blessed.

So much LOVE!

*****

The girlies were all ready for school.

I gifted them little necklaces before school.

It was Pajama Day at school for Emily,

but she wore her V-Day outfit...

just to please her momma.

*I felt horrible that she was one of the few not in pajamas!

***Note to self...SHE'S GROWING UP! LET GO A LITTLE!

It was a fun crazy day.

Momma taking pix of little sister in the mirror after a little art session! Oh, Henry just laughed and laughed at Laney's new look!
Then little sister taking a picture of momma in the mirror! Ha!
My parents came over for a little afternoon visit.

Sweet Henry loving his little car!
The children received their own little goods...
but this was the grande finale!!!!!!

An ice cream cake!

See that kiss? It's the size of my fist!!!!!
*****
G.G. (Jon's Grandma...and yes, she looks this good) came down for dinner!
We tried to get a nice photo...
this is our reality! Ha!

Once the children were in their pjs,

Jon and I had a little fun with them...

Wrap each babe in a blanket and swing them!

Trust me, the adults get a workout...

and the kiddies....oh how they give you the BEST belly laughs!
*****

We ended our Valentine's Day with gift to the children.

Miss Emily...

loving her doodle fashion book!

And yes, she said I could draw in it too! YES!

And Miss Laney....

ALWAYS wants to be Rapunzel...

So I found this hat at Target.

Added a sequins pin...

then made some yarn braids and attached them!

The girls just had a BALL with their new Polly Pockets!

And Mr. Henry was kicking it old school with his new record player!

Yes, LOVE was definitely in the air on Valentine's Day.

It put a little skip into our step,

and made us smile even bigger.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Sweet Treats

After the girls' Saturday morning basketball sessions,

we came home and I baked.

Thought they would adore these fun pre-made cookies while hubs and I went out on an evening DATE!

Had to add a little Valentine's RED!

Date was great...

and the kiddos always LOVE time with their sitter, Karlee!

*****

This morning after breakfast, we were crafting!

I made this little Valentine sack for Grandma!

Inside...Panera's biggest and gooeyist cinnamon roll!

My sweet SIL soon stopped with a cute plate of homemade cookies!

YUM!

After lunch, Jon's dear parents visited...bringing some FAB valentine surprises for the children!

Then, one of our favorite families, the Klattes, stopped by with some valentines!
We are so, so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family!

*****

This afternoon we spent 4 hours in the kitchen!

Cookie time!

We baked, ruined a few batches, baked some more!

Then we iced, bagged and ripped fabric for garnish.

And PRESTO!

Over 100 cookies later (not counting the few thousand that we ate along the way).

(Well, my SIL ,Suzanne, made one plate of cookies) I stocked up on these ANTHRO tags!

*****A portion goes to wildlife (lecanotrouge)

******(Another favorite...
endanger species chocolate! Gives back to wildlife and the planet...www.chocolatebar.com/giveback)

All of this...and it's not even officially Valentine's Day yet!

Oh, much more to come tomorrow...when the TRUE day arrives!

Have a lovely Valentine's Day!