First Day of Spring?

This is what I woke up to the first, and third days of Spring. 

Ugh.  As you can see, the canal has filled again and was just calling to me and my boat. . .then this.  It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks, I fully intend to be in that water!

St. Patrick’s Day

Just when I am about to give one of my kids away because of their bad behavior, they do something really awesome and redeem themselves.  Sydney and I were at each other all morning on St. Patty’s day then she disappeared for a while.  When she came down, she had gotten herself and the little ones all ready and in festive green to boot! 

And just for fun, here are my little leprechauns before church that week.

Sydney B7

Since getting a BINGO set for Christmas, Sydney knew she wanted to have a BINGO birthday party.  First we had the girls decorate and bedazzle their own BINGO cards and bags for their prizes. 

After some pizza, I told the girls that BINGO is a game of luck and that they needed a lucky item to help them along.  I had hidden brightly colored rabbit’s feet out in the yard and they all went searching for their own.                                                                    When they came in we played BINGO. It is so funny to watch the different personalities of kids.  One girl never said a word and concentrated on her card intensely.  Another girl hardly looked at her board and was so excited for other people when they got to put a marker on their board.  There were the kids that had to ask after every number “do I have that one?”  It was very entertaining.  Then there were presents to be opened.

  For the cake, I planned to make cake balls and I was going to frost them with BINGO numbers so they looked like BINGO balls.  Although cake balls are very easy to make, I had a hard time dipping them to be smooth enough on top to put letters and numbers on them.  Sydney was so understanding and said she still thought they were super cool and delicious (and it actually saved me a lot of time).

 

Spotlight Competition

This thing called competitive dance has reared it’s ugly head in Sydney’s life.  I walked into her first competition very green, not knowing what to expect.  I was baffled at the amounts of makeup, hairspray, glitter, personal traveling vanities, and shimmery costumes in the dressing room.  Some of the “dance moms” made me want to crawl away and hide.  I looked at girls doing multiple group dances, solos, duos, Miss Photogenic, Miss Spotlight etc, etc, etc, and I couldn’t help but add up all the money their parents had dropped on this ONE DAY of competition.  I was ready to swear it all off until. . .Sydney got on stage.  She was beaming, she was having a blast, she had the most adorable facial expressions and she remembered every move, they won a trophy and were so proud of their success.  I was hooked.  I still think it’s a little crazy and way too expensive but when you see your child find “their thing” that they love and are good at, it’s hard not to jump in and do whatever it takes for them to continue.  Here we are killing time backstage.                                                                                              

Warming up

Accepting their trophy

The obsession has spread!

Carter has always been obsessed with any video game.  Our old retro Nintendo, my iPod, or the computer, he would play them constantly. . .which is why we have never purchased “cool” video games, we don’t want to perpetuate the issue. 

Lately, I have gotten to hear “can I play the iPod?” 100 times a day but from a new little voice. . . great.

A Late Winter Walk

These two got themselves all ready for a cold, sunny walk with mom. . .too cute!

Who Says a Stay at Home Mom Doesn’t Get Paid?

Just look at all these wonderful treasures I earned, just by doing 4 batches of laundry. . .a whole dollar!

Princess Olivia

This little girl loves to be a princess.  She loves to wear pretty dresses, crowns, “stick lips” and “lip glops". 

But don’t give her kisses because “kisses are GROSS!”  (I’ll have to remind her of that when she’s a teenager, I’m sure.)