ONE CHILLY WEEKEND. {but we were burning up.}

Our weekend started off with snow, sniffles, & a whole LOT of crankiness. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, I assumed he woke up on the wrong side of bed & that she was teething. Oh, but as I look back today - It was more than just that. She was SICK. Runny nose, warm skin, constipation, lots of tears, & the state of not wanting to be separated from another human being. Yes, it could have simply been teething, but it was much more intense.

So, sick baby on your hip for a few days results in a jealous three-year-old. I admit, I am guilty of the "No, we can't because Baby Sister is sick." There wasn't much we could, especially since the weather was so chilly.



Except of course, head to the Library.



For as sick as the baby acted at home, the second we entered the children's area of the local Library a small smile slide across her flushed face. We spent the first 15 minutes browsing all the books on the shelves, sliding the best ones into our canvas bag to rent & revisit later. After collecting about a dozen books between both Children we settled in by the play area. This is where I should have gone to the adult section for a complimentary cup of coffee to indulge while they played. mental note for next time.







We must have arrived at the perfect time of the afternoon (or there was something going on in town that we accidently missed.) because there was very few families there. It was almost as if we had the WHOLE place to ourselves.







After the Library, we headed to Grandma's for a change of scenery & a change in television viewing. (At a certain time in the afternoon PBS in our area stops playing children's programming. It would mean snuggling to a long movie or finding a cozy spot with dish network. Let me tell you, Bubble Guppies is a better illness cure than any DVD we own. So, Grandma's was the only choice.)






Baby Sister wouldn't eat any of the lunch we picked up, so she got treated with yogurt. I couldn't get her to eat much more than a few bites, but it was enough to help get us through her illness. :(



Oh, Don't you worry! Daycen got to indulge in the sugary snack too!


We spent the rest of the weekend like this....





Everyone is feeling 100% better now. (except for Dad. He seems to catch it RIGHT as everyone else is totally over it) I'm excited our week is starting out fabulous! ♥ I hope you stayed healthy this past weekend! I know we sure had a rough one, but made it through!


Late, but still just as glamorous.

HELLO BEAUTIFUL! { weather that is! }

Have you stepped outside lately? I mean, more than that brisk walk to the car. Have you actually spent time out there? Enjoying the fresh air, feeling the warm sun soak into your skin, & totally consuming yourself around sounds other than televisions & blocks being knocked over. I will admit, the chill has kept us in lately but we decided to chance it.


(I'm afraid he doesn't quite understand the difference between snow & grass yet.)



It took at least 15 minutes to gather & put on all the gear. Boots, snowpants, jackets, hats & mittens. Daycen helped choose what Baby Sister was going to wear; she wasn't quite thrilled with the layers of clothing. It would be her FIRST time actually encountering the snow.



Yes, she knows what snow is. Don't get me wrong. However, the first year of her life was a in & out of places without really touching it. This year so far, she was able enjoy it from a stroller. This was her first time getting right there in it - & at first, she wasn't too thrilled.



She didn't want to sit in it. She isn't a very good walker to be able to stand in it without face planting. So, I offered her the sled. Oh, I'm SO glad we picked this old thing up from a garage sale last year for $2.







It amazes me how much a little fresh air can change everyone's mood. Instead of being cranky & frustrated; the kids were full of smiles & laughter. Nobody was focused on picking on the other - we all just got along. So, much so that I was able to attempt a group picture. (THIS IS A BIG DEAL) The kids don't normally like being close to each other, especially not close enough to snap a picture of all three of us in frame.





It's not perfect photography wise. It's not even centered. The settings were WAY off. I moved in too close & Daycen was eating snow. However, it IS perfect. Frame worthy. I've learned through the years that even the not so good shots are the best moments captured. So, don't worry so much on your camera settings - focus on preserving those quick moments. Sometimes the best shots are the crappiest composed.





After playing outside, we walked down to the local auto body shop & got treated with sweet treats. (COOKIES!) What a perfect ending to a long afternoon playing in the snow. ♥





WAIT!

BACK UP!

DID YOU CATCH THAT?!





After TWO-AND-A-HALF years Daycen finally got his haircut! He did SO well at the salon & is SO proud of his new hair. I can't believe it finally happened but I am thrilled with the new look & great attitude change that came along with it. ♥



haven't done this in awhile ♥

EATING AWAY FROM HOME {can be quite a challenge}

In some situations, it seems, eating in a restaurant can be a pleasant experience. Both kids can either quietly eat, while other times complete chaos. It doesn't matter if they are well rested, or falling into the tired "quite" stage. It doesn't matter if I bring them toys to play with or if we put a rush on the food to keep them from getting bored. I have come to believe it is all about the atmosphere.





This past weekend we went out to lunch with Grandma at Subway. She was a bit hesitant about eating in, but Daycen insisted. There was a couple finishing up their meals when we arrived, otherwise, the entire place was quite. (other than the workers who were chattering away) We ordered our Sub, choose a quite spot to eat & hoped for the best.



The only fuss we received was the sudden change in attitude about eating black olives. No wails, no screams, absolutely not problem.

However, this, was not the case when we went out to dinner with my husband a few days later. We arrived at Noodles & Co. mid-afternoon. About two thirds of the tables were taken, bustling & voices circled the small room. We ordered our food, took a seat, & within minutes (I'm talking QUICK service here, with as many bodies in that place, they were not behind one step.) we had platters of delicious food placed before us.







Baby sister took ONE nibble of her macaroni (& cheese) before the fussing began. I tried to console her from her highchair, but it didn't ease her. I allowed her to sit next to me in the booth -- her pouting quieted slightly.



The boys didn't seem to notice.



I offered up my phone to play baby balloons.

One bite. Two bites. Almost Three.

The phone was down, her eyes were wide, & she was crawling up my arm. Her whines began to top the chatter of the other guests around us. I smiled lightly. Yes, I love eating out but not on the expense of someone else being uncomfortable.



So, to go it was.

I had inventory at work that night & the family thought it would be a surprise to meet for for a late night dinner. So, they arrived in pajamas & took me out to a classy fast food restaurant. 7:00 at night. The only guests in the place was a group of four young teenagers, & an older man in his 50's.

Yes! You guessed it. She was PERFECTLY content.



So, if you'd like to invite us out - we have special regulations. These which include; Off times, non-hopping restaurant locations, delicious food that can be quickly packaged to go, & of course the acceptance plans changing at a rapid pace. I'll be honest, eating out with young children is a challenge BUT it's such a treat when all goes well. ♥

THANK ( GOODNESS ) IT'S FRIDAY.

I hate to admit it, but it is undeniable. I've neglected my blog for a little while til a few days ago -- with this neglect, came the overwhelming amount of camera phone pictures that built up on my phone. I captured them, I love them. So, I found today no better day than to dump them all on you.

Sort of like, how the snow is being dumped on us (slowly.)











WHEW! It felt nice to unload them. Oh, & My phone feels 100 times lighter now.

HIS FIRST SCHOOL V-DAY PARTY { I can't believe this day has come }

I remember as a child going to the store & getting one of those pre-packaged Valentine's Day kits in the cartoon character of my choice (or animal). Than, once at home, carefully selecting which one of my classmates got which one. I'd wait, excited to see who got me some in return.

After all these years, I got feel that entire feeling all over again through my son. We got the Valentine's, we chose designs for each of the names on his list, & today he took them to school. I sat all morning, hoping that inside his bag came back some cute Valentine's...



Five minutes earlier than our normal time, as excited as me & Ripsi were, we headed towards the bus stop. Did he have a good day? Did he feel special? Was anyone else SO into this as I was?



The bus didn't come fast enough. When the doors opened, I heard, "Mom! HAD FUN!" He had fun. It was a good day.




As we headed home, I couldn't wait to open his backpack & have him tell me all about his day. Show me all of his sweet little notes from his friends. I knew not to expect much since his class is very small, but I was excited to see that he got some.

I can't wait til next year.