Life Lately In Pictures.

What a winter we've been having with crazy temps, rain, and even a small snowfall. The change of weather hasn't helped with our immune system, and I've have been spraying the heck of our house with Lysol lately. It still seems as if old man winter is still on life support, and hanging on until the end, but all i have to say is that as much as I love winter, and how fun it can be with kids, being sick along with two kids isn't the funnest, and I'm pretty ready for spring. Living in a 1400 square foot house where the bedrooms are literally 10 feet away from each other is a cause for everyone to get sick. 

Especially Noah. Luckily he's feeling better, and that everyone else is pretty much getting over their illnesses.  

I had lunch with a friend this past week, and we both needed some much needed girl time. We both vented to each other about our issues, life, family, and overall kept it positive with the things we can do to lift each other up. I have so much appreciation for this life I have as a mother because it's so true how we tend to take ourselves for granted. I have come to the realization that I do need time for myself, and that it's okay to take time away from our kids. 

Going to the temple when it was closed a couple of weeks ago still gave me that insight that I needed. It didn't matter that we didn't go inside. All I needed was to step on the grounds of this beautiful building to remind me that everything in this life is worth it. That my whole life truly is the big picture, and that it's up to me to always make the best of it. And lately I've been feeling pretty great! 

Noah and Chelsea seem to be getting it together these days, as well as being a little too independent. I blame it on "growing up."

Noah and Chelsea decided to invent "pancake day." They just started it this past week when they came home from school hungry, ( i fear the teenage years with these two!), and even though I have a few snacks they asked if they could make pancakes, and if they could start making them from now on. I had to pause for a moment, because I just can't believe that my two youngest are growing up! Of course I said yes, and snapchatted the whole thing. They were too fun to watch! 

Noah is beginning to understand a little bit of what a cub scout (scouts) is all about. I have been preparing him little by little as to what it is, and showed him pictures, badges, and certificates including Jon's eagle. Noah was excited, and kept saying, "am i going to get badges like that, and a eagle too?" I said to him as long as you keep putting forth the effort in learning every year on a certain topic yes, you will be getting merit badges like this, and most definitely an eagle like papa's." Then he asked what a merit badge was! I'll let Jon explain more to him on that later! Anyway, when I mentioned how he also gets to build his own wooden car, and races it against other cars he was excited! I bought him a pre-made car in which all he had to do was put it together, and paint it. He was thrilled when I brought it home, and had a fun time assembling it. 

I'm also grateful that my kids entertain themselves when they "get bored." I have to admit I haven't heard those words uttered too much in the house lately. I found these bricks that make a temple which are kind of like legos at the book store. It only took him an hour or so. He enjoyed putting it together with the help of big sis. 

And coloring!! I thank whoever invented coloring books because the kids have enjoyed coloring, and even drawing while being cooped up in the house due to raining so much the past couple of weeks!

We also saw the Philly temple a couple of weeks ago, and the scaffold was down which means it's almost done! I saw recent photos with the sign that read "Holiness to the Lord", and with just a few more preparations such as putting in the furnishings in the temple should be all ready for August. Hopefully the weather cooperates! This will truly be an enormous celebration not only for us LDS folk, but for the city as well! 

When I got my haircut the other day, I stumbled upon this cute little store in Haddonfield called Hooked. I love yarn, and because I fell in love with the Purl shop in Soho a few years ago, I was wishing they had a store like that in Jersey, and I found one! I may not be the greatest knitter, but I'm willing to pick it up again. They have classes starting soon, and you better believe I'll be going to one! 

 /// And we can't get enough of this book. I sure love the Easter season! ///

All i know is that I'm looking forward to spring. I wish we could have made time to go to the poconos to have more fun in the snow, but we obviously settled for the first snow we got in January, and made the best of it. Maybe next year we'll make it back to Utah to have fun in "real" snow, and really take advantage of it!

I am grateful for playgrounds, and bike trials to go scooting around on, because even when it's 40 degrees out the kids don't mind playing, but still...I think 60 degrees is better, and and all you need is a hoodie! 

Which it looks like that's all we are going to need this week because temps are going to be in the 70's!! woohoo!!!


Happy Monday, and have a great week folks! 

A Season Almost Over.

After all the snow we've had I am officially longing for warmer temperatures, and even though we've had quite a few this week it's still not enough! The smell of spring is fast approaching, but not fast enough. We are itching for warmer temperatures, and even though it's still a bit nippy, and windy outside we don't care. These kids of mine are not one to wait until temps are in the 50's to play outside. Luckily temps have been pretty moderate because the hardest part about having a long winter (which in our case is not too long unless you live further north) are when the kids have no recess at school during the winter months! None! No matter if they're bundled up with ear muffs, gloves, and a warm coat the faculty does not allow them to go outside and play. They have indoor recess inside the gym which in Chelsea's opinion is not the same, and I know exactly how she feels. I have Noah all day which means finding ways to keep him occupied. I don't like him being on the computer or watching the telly for too long (although he'd love that) and boys love to explore the outdoors. I have felt a bit guilty lately because I haven't taken him to the park lately. The best parks require a short drive, but once we get a car I promised him that we'd go to the park at least three times a week. You can only go on so many walks on the bike trail without it getting a bit old.  

The other day they went to town in our backyard playing on our dormant grass without a care in the world. I love the fact that it doesn't get dark until around 7pm, and they played outside for a couple of hours. Noah and Chelsea are pretty creative, and their imagination amazes me. After enduring several years of storm abuse my wind chime I had hanging on my little front porch fell apart, and so the kids salvaged the bars and used them to dig in the dirt. They said it was better than sticks, and twigs. 

They have fun no matter what the seasons bring, and even though they don't have a lot of outdoor toys to entertain them they always manage to have fun with what they have. 

For instance they played horseshoes, and Noah laughed the whole time while playing. He'd laugh when he'd make it, and laugh even harder when he wouldn't! Silly goose!

Spring is definitely almost here, and we are trying to be patient in waiting for this beautiful season to turn our grass green again so that we can have bbq's, and have more fun in our little backyard!

Hurry Spring! Save me from motherhood so that these two won't be cooped up in the house too much, or freeze outside when they play! ;-)

ways to keep my toddler active indoors during winter.

The past couple of weeks we have had school cancellations, and two hour delays. Delays I don't mind, but the cancellations I do. Unless there is an extreme Polar Vortex, or major ice storm happening then by all means cancel school. Otherwise if it's raining lightly without snow...c'mon, let's not make a big deal out of it. Although I do enjoy sleeping in these days, and the two hour delays I didn't mind.

This past Monday mother nature stood out and had the snow come tumbling down. Her snowflakes were huge, and looked so beautiful. School was canceled that day, and everyone was home. I had asked the kids if they wanted to go outside and play, and everyone was okay with it except Noah. He responded with a stern look on his face with an emphatic "No!" When the Polar Vortex hit our neck of the woods last month with 9 degree weather we braved the cold temps & attempted to go sledding. Noah was not pleased. He lasted about what...20 minutes out in the cold. I don't blame him...that day was freezing!! Chelsea was the only one on that day who braved the cold temps & was determined to go sledding as you can see on this vine.  

Even though I have a "young heart"  I'm beginning to feel my age. Not that I'm old, but after a while I do get a bit tired (then again maybe it's just this weather). Especially since Noah is becoming more active, and older. Being stuck indoors hasn't been helping, and when we're not venturing outside he constantly wants me to watch a movie with him, read books to him, play a game with him, lay down with him to nap (when I'm not tired), eat with him (when I'm not hungry), & do yoga with him. 

In other words...he wants me to stop what I'm doing and just spend quality time with him. And I do. No matter how tired I become I somehow snap out of my exhaustion and somehow my energy is refueled in order to accommodate my sons needs & endure these rainy, winter indoor days with an active four year old boy!

It's amazing you know. The love that I have for him. The willingness to set whatever it is I'm doing in that moment to just do what he'd like for me to do. Is he being bossy? No. Is he telling me what to do? No. He asks me in a polite manner which makes me want to give in even more to whatever his little heart desires. 

So with the weather continuing to be cold & unable to go to the park because of leftover snow & wet monkey bars we have found ways to keep us occupied without getting on each other's nerves! Luckily the girls have school now & that they are productively learning for about seven hours (five hours if they have a delay.) But when they're not they have a piano to play on, and Lexie has her violin to practice & oh do many books to read!! 

Board games. What a better way to break the monotony of being a couch potato and watch movies or cartoons to educate their young minds. The kids especially love it when dad plays with board games with them. There are only a few games we have for Noah to join in with them so they played a few rounds of Trouble along with a few memory card games. 

Reading books! Had to add in that exclamation point. I get so pumped up when noah would rather read than play with an electronic device. He immediately goes upstairs to his small library shelf to grab books. He has gotten into the Dr. Seuss genre & loves Eric Carle picture books. He enjoys it when Chelsea reads to him too. 

Prepping with play food.  I have had this play food set since Lexie was about four. Chelsea loved playing "Diner" with Lexie and now Noah loves to "Chef." Here he is cutting up bread and putting mustard on his sandwich. 

Crafts & coloring.  Valentines day is just around the corner and even though he's a boy he loves to cut, color, hole punch, mode/podge & glue anything that's a paper product. We made a few decorations out of doily's and some cards the other day. 

Educational iPhone apps. Yes..there are times when I give in to technology with this little guy. After a while his small dose of ADD will kick in and he'll ask if he can play games on my phone, iPad, or computer. I give him about an hour to play and that's about it. There are a lot of mind games for toddlers but lately he's had a fixation on playing "the guitar' on the iPad mini. Although I think it's time to buy him a guitar.

Unwinding with DVDS. I'm an old school movie freak that owns a ton of Dvds & sometimes we need to unwind with a fun movie. I love it when Noah snuggles with me on the couch. He still does that with me & hasn't grown out of it. There are also times when he'll hog up the couch and keep it all to himself! 

Those who don't bake, buy. I seriously need to start baking more for my kids, and for you mothers that have the patience and the talent well kudos to you! My two teenage daughters have spoiled me with their baking skills, & even though Sierra is gone I still have Lexie to bake for me! Every time I ask her to bake cupcakes, cookies, or make milkshakes her face lights up! But when it's mid morning & you have a craving running to your closest bakery or donut shop in my opinion is the way to go! 

^^ yummy heart cookies that were devoured in seconds...not minutes. thanks McMillan's! ^^

Yeah...it's been pretty cold, but not too cold to venture out for some sweets. This week so far has been  pretty great, and I don't mind the snow we've been having. There are days when I'm grateful for school cancellations because it gives the kids time to spend with their daddy. Delays are even better because I'm beginning to like this sleeping in bit. Spring is pretty much around the corner, and that is something we're all looking forward to!