Shoveling Snow

The kids have been going a little stir crazy around here.  Jayden had school canceled on Wednesday because of snow and then Thursday and Friday were scheduled off for parent/teacher conferences.  And thanks to snow and Willow's hurt foot and super cold temps, we've been spending A. LOT. of time inside.  Jayden keeps asking me when it's going to get hot again, because he's so tired of being cold and being inside.

At one point, Jayden laid blankets down on the floor, from his room all the way to the kitchen, to make a "runway" for him and Willow to race on.  Carpet just wasn't good enough.  :)

 

But then yesterday, it was a sunny 20 some degrees, and my friend Megan, who happens to be like 8 months pregnant was coming over to drop off a crate for Sam and my driveway had a good foot of snow sitting on it.  I did not want her to have to try and walk through it and worry about there being a bunch of ice underneath.  So, I bundled up the kids, Willow miraculously let me put snow boots on her, and we headed outside to shovel snow.  Royal and I don't have any snow shoveling equipment, being from Washington and all, so I had to do it with a flat nosed shovel.  Just so Royal knows, I am not doing that again.  There will be snow shovels, if not a snow blower in our garage the next time it dumps snow on us.  :)

Willow mainly played with our sand toys and shoveled snow into buckets and made snow castles.

 

 

And Jayden decided he was going to start by shoveling the street. 

 

I am wondering why in the world I pay HOA dues, yet my street did not get plowed????  I really don't mind that much, the kids always want me to go fast through the snow so that we can get the back end of the car to start slipping all over the place.  We think it's kinda fun.  :)

Once Megan dropped of the crate, the kids were really worried that Sam might not fit in his new "room".  So, they decided to get in it with him just to make sure he would be comfortable.

I think he fits!

What Willow Wears :: 9

(This post is for Jojee, because Jojee bought Willow the sparkly chucks)

Last weekend, while Royal, Jayden, Willow, and Sam were all wrestling, Sam managed to step on Willow's foot.   For 2 days she wouldn't walk on it, she crawled or walked on her knees or had me carry her places.  Eventually she started walking on the outside of her foot and limped around to get places.  She also wouldn't put on any shoes, she would start crying and say that it hurt her foot.  So, for 3 days Willow had to be carried wherever we went because there is snow everywhere and she couldn't wear shoes.  Finally, on Thursday, while picking out every piece to her outfit (including how her hair was to be done),  she picked out Jojee's sparkly chucks and since they are the only tie shoes she has, I could tie them loosely so they wouldn't hurt her foot.

Sometimes I love the outfits Willow picks out!

Snow Ice Cream

I have never even heard of making snow ice cream until this year.  After all the snow we've been getting the past couple of weeks, I see people posting things about making snow ice cream as a kid, making it with their kids.  And I'm like, 'what in the world is snow ice cream?'  Finally, my friend Molly posted a recipe!  So, since everything around here is canceled again because of snow and the kids and I needed something new to do, we decided to make some.

The kids put on their boots and coats and ventured out to collect some snow.

 

 

Then we brought it inside and took turns measuring out the snow.  Added some milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  And took turns stirring it up.

 

And then the kids ate it!!!!!   Jayden said it was the most delicious thing he has ever eaten.

 

Recipe:
5 C snow
1/2 C milk
1/2 C sugar
1 t vanilla
pinch of salt

Mix all together in a bowl and eat

What Willow Wears :: 8

Willow likes to wear headbands to help keep her hair out of her face.  She likes to wear them flash dance style though!

And I love the 2 fingers in the mouth and 1 up the nose look too!

Painting

So, I am a big time emotional eater. I stuff my feelings and then I stuff my face. :)

There has been a lot going on with my family recently that has caused me to bake cookies and brownies and cook dinners that I can just eat and eat and eat. And since my pants are getting tight and I know eating like this isn't healthy for me physically and emotionally, I decided to try something else.  Something that kept my hands busy so they couldn't be shoving food in my mouth and something that was slow enough and intentional enough that I can sit and process what is happening.

I have loved going to the painting classes at Paint the Towne, but since I don't want to be away from my family in the evenings all the time, and some of the paintings on the days I could go I don't really want, or whatever, I just decided to get some of my own supplies and see what I could create.  This is what I did this weekend.  One for each of the kid's rooms.  I like them.  I was obviously feeling polka dotty.

Orbeez

My sister, Kaylee, and I talk to each other pretty much every day, sometimes more than once.  :)  Well, the past couple days every time I talk to her she is talking about these orbeez that her kids got from some friends.  She sends me text messages with pictures of them, she talks about how she just likes to stick her hand in the bowl and play with them, how her kids are playing with them.  I don't get it, but if she thinks it fun, it must be.  So the kids and I had to go to Target to get some snacks for Jayden's class and I swung through the kids section and picked up a couple packages of orbeez.

Yesterday, the kids and I emptied these teeny tiny colored balls into a clear bowl, so we could watch what happened to them.



And what started out as this :



Became this :



And low and behold the kids love playing with them, and I do enjoy sticking my hand in the bowl and swirling them around.  :)

Kid Quote :: 13

The fam and I were racing through Target, picking up a few things, when Jayden and I walk past the women's section, which had a big fat display of bras all along the aisle.  I don't think anything of it really, but Jayden starts snickering.  When I ask him what is so funny....

Jayden :  That is so silly.  Tank tops....with boobs!