Seasons

Most people would probably call me crazy but I truly love living in Michigan.  I love the change of seasons and the fact that it is not an uncommon occurrence to drive to work with your heat on and on the way home be blasting the air conditioning.  I love the fact that we get to experience it all, from 100 plus degree summer days spent lazing around the pool and lake to sub zero temps with multiple feet of snow.

Winter is one of my favorite seasons.  What with the hot cocoa, sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, fort building and snowmen there is plenty to do.  Well plenty to do as long as there is snow actually on the ground.  This winter has been an odd one.  It started out quite mild and now that we are heading into spring we are just now getting the gobs and gobs of snow.  But with that unfortunately timed snow comes one of my "must do's" for the winter season.  

The kids (and Scott - that lucky guy) got a snow day last week and we finally got GOOD snow.  You know the kind that packs and that is absolutely perfect for forts, snowballs and the most important 8 ft tall snowman that now adorns our front yard.  This thing is mammoth and I love it.  The only thing that would have made it better was if I was able to stay home and help construct the big guy, but knowing the girls and Scott had a blast doing so is pacifying me for now :).  Plus I get to drive up to this friendly fellow every day after work and so far it has never failed to put a smile on my face.

Changes, Changes, Changes

Wow has it really been almost 5 months since my last post - where has the time gone and how has it flown by so quickly?!?  To be honest I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed with life and all the crazy business that goes along with it.  The girls are getting to that age where we are so busy with activities, parties and just enjoying every minute we can with them.  Work has been crazy busy since my promotion and it just felt like something had to give.

I started this blog as a way for family and friends to keep up with our crazy busy life and as a sort of journal that my girls can look back on once they are older.  Then I was bit by the crafty/re-decorating bug and the blog took a bit of a turn towards DIY projects and re-decorating.  I still love taking on the furniture re-do every now and then, but that has become less and less as I just realized that life was passing me by while I was painting.  Don't get me wrong I still enjoy my DIY projects - I have just made a point to extremely limit the time I am spending on these and expand the time I spend with my kids.

My kids will never be this age again and I have to say I am really enjoying 5 and 3.  They are so inquisitive, curious and full of joy and right now they think I know everything (I realize that will change before I know it).  We have been spending time getting outdoors and exploring, teaching and just plain living.  Lilly is beginning to read, which is really an amazing thing to get to be a part of.  I can't tell you how much it makes me smile and fills me with pride to see her recognize words everywhere now.

In the next few months there are going to be a few other changes going on as well in our life.  These are all positive changes and I am totally excited to start this new chapter in our lives.  I'm excited to spend more time with my family and to start enjoying my life a little more.

This weekend was a great example of our new more laid back lifestyle we are trying to achieve.  We spent Saturday and Sunday up at my parent's cottage at what is called Ice-A-Palooza.  This is the first year we have attended and it was such a good time.  There was a tent, food, a live band, snowmobiling and fireworks (awesome, amazing, totally take your breath away fireworks) all right out on the ice.  I have never seen fireworks in winter, let alone while sitting on the ice a mere 100 yards from where they were being set off, but let me tell you it is definitely an experience I can't wait to repeat on a yearly basis.

Soccer Apparel

So the girls are all signed up for soccer and the first game/practice is Sunday. We decided to go out and get them the appropriate gear...mainly just because it was so fun.

The best part is totally the socks hands down.

Saturday night

The girls all dressed up and ready for Grayden's baptism.

Dairy free snacks

With Nolee having a dairy intolerance we are always looking for fun, healthy and tasty snacks that don't make her feel like she is missing out.

One of her absolute favorites (and actually Lilly & I love it too) is hummus. She loves this stuff. We eat it with all different kinds of veggies and our latest new addition is pita chips.

The thing is Nolee loves this stuff so much she doesn't require any dipping apparatus at all...as demonstrated by the picture below :).

She just full on dug in with both hands. And although it looks like she may have taken eating tips from Charlie and licked the bowl - I assure you she didn't go that far.

Poolside...while being poolside

It was just cool enough last weekend that the big pool was a tad bit too chilly. So what are two water lovin girls to do?

Get out the kiddie pool and slide of course. And do it all right next to the big pool while in your little pool.

So Proud

So I slept in Nolee's bed the other night because she had a nightmare. I wish I could say that wasn't a common occurrence but I can just be thankful her twin bed is pretty comfy and fits both of us pretty well.

Anyway the next morning we are talking and I tell her "Did you know mommy slept with you all night last night?"

And she says "Yes" then she puts her hand on my face and smiles "and I am so proud of you!!

Nice :).