Those Trees...........

............have become 5 years worth of fire wood

Our Valentine's Day

This year we celebrated Valentine's Day a day early..........



We made these delicious cookies..................



and enjoyed a romantic dinner complete with candles and decorations. I used all Pioneer woman recipes. Yum yum yum.

Then on the real day we packed up our snow gear and sleeping bags and headed up to the snow to meet Jordon, Stephanie and their family!



After catching up with the cousins and a good night sleep.........



We (well, they) were ready to play in the snow!!!!!!





(Charlotte informed me that this picture was taken right before her foot got stuck in the snow. It really did, they had to dig her out! I guess that is why you shouldn't wear rain boots in the snow.)















It was a short trip we all had fun, especially the kids.......cousins, snow, popcorn and movies! What could be better?

a spoiled weekend......recovered

A few weeks ago we had a camping trip planned with friends and family. However, with all the rain we have been having the campsite was flooded and our trip was canceled.

Instead we took the kids for a trip to see grandparents and a visit to the planetarium.

I forgot my camera at home so I don't have many pictures from the long weekend, but I did borrow Jodi's camera for the planetarium.





























We went on a Friday so it wasn't busy at all. The kids had a blast and didn't want to leave.
Only the promise of dinner (and dessert) at grandma Siggy's got us out without tears.

Have you ever pulled a load out of the dryer to find everything COVERED IN CRAYON?



I just did....

.....and then I panicked. It was a load containg ALL of Aaron's clothes!! (Well at least all of his favorites)

then I went to Google

The first few things I read suggested soaking the clothes in WD-40, but that the smell from that might not go away....

......I started to think it might be hopeless

but then I found a suggestion using products that I felt were safe for my children's clothing

so I tried it......................................and it WORKED!!!

Every single spot of red came off

So, if you are a mother of small children, I suggest you write this down

2 max amounts of Tide
1 cup Oxiclean
1/2 cup 20 mule team Borax (I didn't have any but it worked without it)
1 cup Shout liquid
1 cup white vinegar

I used hot water and let it soak for about 2 hours, then ran it through 2 wash cycles just to make sure they were rinsed well.

I also check pockets a little more closely now

You can thank me later

Those Trees...........

..............are GONE!!!!

You can't really tell, but these are two trees that have grown together into one nasty pigeon and squirrel infested eye sore.

One of the first things we said when we saw our house was that those trees would be taken out.

Nine months later, it finally happened

and better yet.......it didn't involve Nick climbing them with a chainsaw!
(which was his plan from the beginning)



Instead it was this guy climbing the trees with the chainsaw



they got right to work



and we got right to watching.....it was very entertaining





It was a very gross job. Every branch they cut brought down with it dirt and feathers and who knows what else.



But a few hours later they were down!!!!





They got busy cutting and grinding and now we have fire wood for the next couple of years!



(Nick is currently in the middle of chopping all that wood up!)

Little by little this house is starting to look better

a lovely afternoon

After we washed the car, the Creeks rode their bikes over and we joined them for a ride around our neighborhood



It was the first time we had taken a bike ride since the fall and it felt so good



I am looking forward to more of it this spring

Sunshine!!!

The past two weekends have been beautiful and sunny!! We have been enjoying them to the fullest!


Last weekend we washed the car.


We almost never do this.



I think there are two major factors here

1) White cars don't seem to look dirty too quickly

2) Nick thinks this job should be mine, and I think it should be his



He will sweetly hint here and there "Wow, the car sure is dirty!" or "I'm never going to buy you a new car again....you'll just trash it like this one!"

to which I smile and reply

"Then you should probably wash it"



We go on this way for months at a time, until one of us (usually him) breaks down and finally does it.



This time he really meant business.....he even pulled out the seats to get every last speck of dirt



..........and Lila got strait to work dunking our towels in the soapy water



but filled with water, those towels were too heavy for her to carry, so she just washed with her hands.



Lila was our most enthusiastic worker.

Elsie didn't really want to get soapy or wet..........



.....and Aaron and Charlotte lost steam before Nick was even finished vacuuming, but we made them finish the job (notice Charlotte's very unhappy face) No quitters here!!





They did a great job (minus all the whining and with lots of help) and the car was shiny and clean!!