Snow Baby

Yesterday Dashiell got to play in the snow for the first time! He had so much fun! (And I finally got to use that baby boy snowsuit I splurged on before he was born! Ha!) We let him play around in the snow for a little bit and feel how cold it was (and then taste it a little bit. He wasn't too sure what to make of it at first but then he really seemed to like it. Snow: good for teething!) then we buckled him in to the baby sled and dragged him around the yard for a while as he giggled. Babies are so much fun!

Coolest. Toy. Ever.

So if anyone is looking for a gift for Dashiell, or wants to save up for his first birthday, or want to all pitch in together.............or wants to get ME one............

Product Details Here :)

Look What I Made

The girls have been begging for curtains for ages, and I'd completed ONE panel when I was whisked into the hospital last summer, so that really put a damper on finishing the pair. Recently, to the girls' delight, I dragged the ol' sewing machine out and completed panel number two. The heart fabric in the center of each panel matches their duvet covers, which is the same fabric in red. The rest goes with the overwhelmingly bubblegum pink on the walls. (For those who do not know, I DID NOT paint that color on there, it was here when we moved in, Had I tried to change it, however, I would have had a mutiny on my hands! I've noticed, though, that with so many pictures hanging on the walls I no longer see spots after looking straight at the pink.) The pink fabric on the window panels sparkles, though you can't tell from the photos. As for the orange polka dots....well, if you're going all out with color and pattern, you might as well do it with gusto!  The green ribbon tabs match the color of paint I have for the soon-to-be-purchased bunk beds. (We've gotta break up the blush and bashful at least a little bit, no?) The panels are lined with super-thick, super-soft insulating fabric which has been lovely on these below freezing nights and should be even more lovely on 100 plus degrees in the summer!
Anyway, they're a huge hit with the girls, and that's what counts! Every room should spark imagination!

Sick Days

"If she can avoid catastrophe two days in a row, I might have a chance to make up my mind." 

-Marilla Cuthbert

Thank God for Anne with an "e", not to mention Matthew, Marilla and Gilbert. The past few days at our house have involved nothing less than terrible coughs, runny noses, 104 degree fevers and excessive, umm, discharging if bodily fluids. At the moment my living room is a jumble of pillows, blankets, tissues, cups of tea and listless girls. Hence, the Anne Shirley marathon has commenced. Now that they're actually eating frozen Stonyfield Squeezers and attempting some fluids I'm sure we're out of the woods, but some time with our favorite kindred spirits can't help but cheer everyone else up, eh?  (Did I mention that the baby is also teething?) Now, if you'll excuse me, Anne has lost her temper again and I need to go watch Gilbert profess how sorry he is.

A Few Simple Pleasures

 Against the grayest of gray and dreary skies, a few bright and early blossoms bring the promise of  Spring approaching!!

 An odd little pleasure, but every time I pull a cooking utensil out of the antique 3 gallon crock Joel bought me last year I get a little smile on my face.  I love the thing.

 Since temporarily giving up caffeine (*gasp*) I find myself drinking 90 to 100 cups of decaffeinated English Breakfast Tea every day.  I get to use my little tea pot, a past Valentine's Day gift from Joel, all day long. I love the steaming little tea pot, the warm and delicious tea, and the constant reminder of my husband's affection. It doesn't get better than that!

Storybook Theater

The girls are loving their acting classes so much!  In the beautiful surroundings, I must say, it would be impossible to not be inspired to learn.  The main areas for their classes are the Storybook Theater and the Looking Glass Hall, a giant space full of over sized columns and mirrors.  We were the first ones to arrive on Friday, so Seleia and Elora got the Storybook Stage all to themselves before class, and put on quite a show!  Amarra enjoyed exploring backstage and looking at all of the various props that were laying around. The Theater really has become a magical place to them, and they can't wait until the day they get to perform on the Main Stage upstairs!  (For that matter, neither can I!)

Baby Laughs

Dashiell looooves his Daddy. (I'm pretty sure that the feeling is mutual.) I love to walk in on those two just chatting away and laughing with each other. They are already great buddies, and I look forward to years of little man traipsing around imitating Daddy, learning how to be a big man someday. I'm filled with joy and gratitude every time I hear my two favorite men deep in conversation. For now, though, I'm quite content that my little man stay, well, little.

Marina

One of my favorite things about childhood is that anyone, human, person, stuffed animal, bath toy or doll, can be one of your best friends. Amarra got a new best friend, named Marina, for Christmas.  Amarra and Marina spend hours together.  They play, they dance, they read, they do hair and have tea parties.  I happened to walk by Amarra's room as they were dancing and I couldn't help but go grab my camera. (After I took a few pictures they let me dance, too.)

I'm Reading a Book!

I had a proud moment this week! I had to punish Seleia and Elora for sneaking books after bedtime. Flashlights under the covers and everything. (Now if they would like to read in bed they know to ask and that unless it is very late that Mama will probably let them keep the lights on for 20 minutes.) Joel laughed at me for coming out after dealing with a smile on my face.....but my little girls are finally picking up on the joy of reading!  And now, the adventures begin!

Love Letters

I get love letters on a regular basis.  Sometimes they come in an envelope. Sometimes they come in picture form. Sometimes they are addressed to Love, Honey, Melanie or Mom. Sometimes Mama. Sometimes even an Amamama slips in when the letter's author gets carried away with their new handwriting skills. They always, however, are accompanied by a hug, a kiss, and a beaming look of pride as they are presented to me....a tiny treasure, a token of affection. I post them on the fridge, the walls, by my bed. I might even use one as a bookmark or keep one in my purse "for special".  The one thing I never want do do with these letters, though, is take them for granted. I cherish every picture, every heart, every X and every O. I am overwhelmingly blessed by this love, and all I can do is strive to be worthy of it.  With Valentine's Day fast approaching, don't forget to write a few love letters. Decorate something with hearts or ribbons.  Do something, anything, special to show those you love that you don't take them for granted, either. They see the best versions of ourselves, more than we could ever see in the mirror.  They don't dwell on our mistakes, they forgive and forget that time (or twelve) we lost our tempers. Our loved ones shape who we are and who we want to become. So this year, don't forget to say, "I love you, too!"