Just hanging around the house.

We've been really productive around the house lately. But, when Travis and I are productive, it's usually because we are not spending as much time with the kids as they would like...
Travis sat down to watch something on TV with the boys, when he sat down on the love seat, the boys were all over the floor and on the couch. Within less than 2 minutes, the boys all migrated to the love seat and to Travis.



Olivia is turning into quite the fashionista, she's always accessorizing, primping, and looking for an opportunity to wear her cowboy boots. When we told her it was time to go to bed, she told us she couldn't sleep without her pink sunglasses... (and yes, they are on upside down).



One morning after the boys left for school, Maddox and Olivia put on their superhero capes and went onto the deck to chase away the bad guys. I loved it, they were out there for almost an hour just running around in circles.

What a great weekend!!!

You know how you set out with really good intentions to get lots accomplished, enjoy yourself along the way, and try to have a little fun? That was this past weekend for our family. There was a lot to do after being in the house for over 4 days. We had things planned starting when Travis got off work on Friday afternoon and going through Sunday night. Most of it was for me or Travis out of the house... Most of what needed to be accomplished was in the house.
1. We had GREAT family pictures taken and had a lot of fun doing it! Portrait Innovation is FANTASTIC! We had a great photographer and the price is amazing.





2. Saturday morning we started by cleaning the boys' rooms. Spring Cleaning... moving beds, dressers, emptying closets. It was way overdue and way necessary. Maddox decided he wanted his bed "up high, in the sky" so we lofted it! He has bunk beds, we just never put them together. He is in love! His favorite activity is climbing up and down the ladder. Cooper and Nelson's beds also got bunked again. I needed it done for better management in the room. They had gotten out of control with the clothes, books, toys, and junk! With the beds bunked we can put a bookcase in there for them to display all their "treasures" if it doesn't fit on a shelf, it doesn't go in the room. As of today, Tuesday, they are still working on putting their clean clothes away...

3. Back to the fun, I discovered that McDonald's is running a promotion by us. $1 Big Mac sandwiches daily from 11AM-4PM. I told Travis about this and in less than 7 seconds he decided that's what we were doing for lunch on Saturday. The kids loved it!!!! Cooper declared it "the best burger he's ever eaten" (I know, huge parent FAIL). Maddox called it a "man burger" and asked if he could have one every day (that's a negative). Nelson inhaled his and asked for another (I said no).

4. Saturday afternoon was spent doing laundry and grocery shopping. All in all a productive day.

5. Sunday we went to church and then home for 2+hr family naps, this was my favorite part of the entire weekend!!! That night we went to some friends' house for the football game. The only thing that would have redeemed that half-time show was "The Lift" at the end featuring Fergie and Slash. I'm just sayin'.

This week is shaping up to be "normal", something I haven't been able to call a week since Christmas! I'm very excited.

Snow days

We have had 6 snow days since Christmas. If we reach 10 we don't have to make them up at the end of the year.

When the news started reporting a blizzard people went crazy! They were all nervous about running out of bread, eggs, and milk; I never knew french toast was such a popular snowed-in food! I wasn't worried about those 3 things, I have 3 loaves of bread in the freezer, 2 dozen eggs in the fridge, and 2 gallons of milk (this is normal with 4 kids and me trying to only grocery shop once every 2 weeks). We were out of much more crucial things... ice cream, pop, and wine!!! I did venture out Monday afternoon to make sure we had plenty of the "essentials".






Toby hates cold so much he would rather sit on a person than on the floor. Maddox was nice enough to let Toby sit in his lap for a while (read 30 seconds).




Travis and I decided to do something "fun" for dinner tonight. We roasted hot dogs in the fireplace. We called it an indoor camp out! I made pasta salad and cookies this afternoon so we would have all the makings of a good ole' fashioned camping meal. I love that I'm inside (warm and dry).

Toby and Tallie were fascinated with the snow. Toby hated the cold, so he would go out for 45 seconds, come in, and then go out 30 minutes later. Tallie was very content outside for as long as I would let her be out there.