new around here

this family of monkeys

it's a 10, it's performing a daily miracle for sure, my hair and i love it

valentines

heart attack of love notes 

my map of the world

hearing so much about this (even my hair dresser asked if i watch) that i finally hit play and started watching and now can't stop

netflix app on my phone, so awesome

30 four

 

What a fun {birthday} weekend!

I loved checking the mailbox everyday, birthday mail is the best.

Jason and the girls took me out to dinner on Saturday to the Olive Garden.  I love the picture Ash drew of herself.

Sunday I walked into King's Corner at church and was so surprised to see a Happy Birthday banner and balloons hung up on the white board and party hats on the chairs for the kids. It totally made me smile, thanks friend!

We had lunch with my family, they invited me over for hamburgers and ice cream.  It was nice to all (Mick was home for the weekend) be together.

And then it was finally the day, the girls both had school today so this birthday girl got a date day with her husband, which included shopping ... the perfect way to spend a birthday!  The moment I really loved was when he picked a table for us to eat at he picked the one that was half in sun, knowing I'd like to sit in the sunny spot.

Tonight we made pizzas and brownies, it was a perfect stay at home night with the ones I love!

Sunshine on a Rainy Day

One of the things I love most about Idaho is that even on a rainy day there's still a good chance that the sun will break through and shine.

That's exactly what happened Thursday.  The morning started out wet,wet,wet, and then by the afternoon the sun peaked through the clouds for us.  It was so nice and totally lifted my spirits.

I wasn't sure how long it'd last, so I jumped at the opportunity to go on a {nice} bike ride with my favorite dog, Jake.

Doesn't he look happy!

Everything Friday

Monday I got to tickle and cuddle a sweet baby boy.  It was so nice to hang out with Pal and her 3 kids!

 While she was here she showed me instagram on her cool iPhone and it sparked me to find something comparable for my Droid.  After searching I went back to the app I already had downloaded, retro cam.  You aren't able to customize a picture like you can with instagram but you can pick cool cameras that give your photos a fun look.  Well, then I thought, hey, I should capture my week in photos, but you'll see just how long that lasted.

So Tuesday Melissa and I made these bad boys.  She made the sugar cookie bar and I made the icing and then we split them.  Yes, I got the easier part of the deal!  And let me just say, they were sooooo good!!  Do you see how thick they came out!

Ash set up a tea party for her and all her furry friends.

Wednesday we enjoyed all the snow we got.  J was home for part of the day, we enjoyed our time together shoveling the driveway and sidewalks and playing with Jake.

The girls came home and we played outside with the boys.  Melissa got the cutest pictures of the kids, you can see them over here.

Thursday I ran some errands and spent a few hours with my friend Stacey.  I enjoyed the afternoon with her and her amazing kids.  That night I heard my phone dinging, meaning I'd just gotten a text.  Then it dinged again and again.  I went to look for my phone and found Abigail with it.  I asked her who was texting me and and she said the family.  Come to find out, she had sent a text message to everyone in the family saying, I love you. From Abigail.  Isn't that just so sweet.  Everyone texted her back.

And today, I finally went into the office and put in a day of work.  Now the girls and I are headed to Pizza Hut to redeem their book it awards for dinner and then home to catch up on some laundry and zone out in front of the TV.

A Hoot and A Half

The other day Ash said, "Mom look."  I walk in and see her buried under a pile of J's work clothes (I had just taken them out of the dryer).  I tell her to quick get up before J see her, and she replies, "Don't worry, I already checked to see if there were any underwear in it."

Ash had a bunch of UNO cards out.  I asked her to pick them up and put them away a few hundred times.  Anyways, right before bed she does.  I watch her walk over to the chest we keep the games in, open it up, and say, "I'm going to feed you now" and then drop them all in.

Last night I was talking with Abigail before bed.  I was teasing her that she is a lot like the girl in the book she is reading, Clementine.  We start laughing about some of the things Abigail had done recently, like somehow falling off the couch, or how during Christmas she landed right on top of a present instead of stepping over it and totally crushed it.  Anyways Ash hears us, comes in, and says, "Yeah, you're a real tooter fruiter."

Ash's new favorite show is AFV, which see calls, Americas homemade videos.  While we were all watching and laughing out loud, Jake walked in to see what all the commotion was about and Ash said to him, "Boy, you should really be laughing at this too!"

Seriously this girl has been cracking me up, she's a hoot and a half for sure!

I love you Ashy, thanks for all the smiles you bring to my life.

This picture was taken back in October, that was just a month after she turned 6.  I can't believe it when she says this year I'll be 7.  What, how can that be?  Let's just enjoy 6, okay Ash!

I think that toothless grin is not going to be around for long, I see that her adult teeth will be in very soon.

Do you like the chalkboard.  J made one for the girls after making a big one for me that hangs in the living room.  And yesterday at Target they had the cutest heart shaped chalkboards in their cheap bins, I bought 2.  I think they'll be cute to hang and write love note on during Valentines.

Anything for His Little Girl

Ash had an idea.

She wanted a place to hang her necklaces.

She asked Jason to make her something.

She asked for it to be in the shape of a heart

and she wanted it to be red.

I'm sure he thought

{anything for my little girl}

and so he went to work

he found a heart template online

cut it out of the extra wood he had around

sanded the edges

ran to the store and bought the perfect red

spray painted it, 2 times

and added 3 nails

then he made one for Abigail too.

Hello Twenty Twelve

Happy New Year!

The girls and I rang in the new year watching Little House on the Prairie.  We're in season 8 now, it's the years when Mrs Olsen adopts a daughter, Nancy, and she's just like Nellie and Laura is all grown up and having children.  

Jason had New Year's day off, we went to church and out for lunch and then came home to hang out together and enjoy the last day of Christmas break. 

One of my new year resolutions is to eat more salad.  I want to have a green salad at more of our dinners, there are just so many more nutrients in your vegetables when you don't cook them. So, guess what we had with dinner last night? ;o)

 I saw this on pinterest the other day

(source)

and it convicted me.  

Am I giving thanks always? for all things?

I ran across this post and loved the idea but then more recently I saw her talk about this app and liked the idea of that too!

Basically, I've decided it's a great year to keep track of and record one of the gifts I receive each day.  I hope that in doing this it will open my eyes to the many blessing the Lord gives me and how much I have to be thankful for.

1 Thes 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

I have to share what Abigail told me, she said one of her New Year resolutions is to be nicer to her sister, how sweet is that.

And Ash told me last night that she wants to be baptized.

It's going to be a great 2012!