Sunny Days in February & Garage Organization

I am struggling a little with the flow of this new weekly blogging format.  I like the topical posts that I used to do better, because I felt they were probably more interesting to follow along with than just a weekly update of 'here is what we did this week.'  However, it is much easier to make sure I actually stay on top of the blogging when I do a weekly post on around the same day each week.  So please (if anyone is reading this ;-) ) bare with me while I try to get the flow of this down and figure out what is best.


We have been having some wonderful weather the past few weeks (possibly even too warm), so I am trying to get the kiddos outdoors a little more.  The unfortunate part of that means more baths/showers (not my favorite part of parenting), but I guess it is worth it, right?  Katelyn doesn't have school on Mondays and Fridays, so on the very rare occasion where I'm not working and we don't have appointments, I try to do something fun with them.  Last week we went to the park on Friday.  There happened to be another girl from Katelyn's class there that day too, so Katelyn had a blast.

Lunch Time!

On Saturday, we had a work day in the garage.  We bought some new shelving and moved some things around so that the kids will hopefully have better access to their toys.  Before it was just all in one huge tub and finding balls/helmets/toys could be difficult.  It was beautiful outside and we pretty much spent the whole day in the front yard. 

We love chalk at our house.

The finished product

 I might still pick up some more baskets and we need to get rid of a few basketball (I think 5 is too many), but I am really like it so far.  Our hope is that the bikes will stay far enough to the right so that they don't block everything else.  Fingers crossed.

On Tuesday, Katelyn celebrated 100's day at school.  She had to bring in 100 snack items (she picked marshmallows) and she had to turn in a project of her choice last week that included 100 items on it.  After looking through some ideas on Pinterest, she decided to make a skittles rainbow.

The highlight of my week was that they opened a new Hobby Lobby less than 10 minutes from our house on Monday!  So, of course, I had to go this morning with my mom to check it out.  Brooklyn thought these flowering trees in the parking lot were cool and wanted to go stand by one. 

The sun was a little bright . . .

Funnies of the week:
- I found an ice pack in the trash the other morning when making lunches and I asked Katelyn why it was in the trash.  "It's not cold," she said.  Evidently she thought that because it was no longer cold, it was broken.  I promptly took it out and put it in the freezer.
- Why is it that the only time flip flops fly off a kids foot while riding a scooter is when you are in the middle of a 5 lane road?  This of course happened to Brooklyn (aka Speed Racer) while walking to Katelyn's bus stop yesterday afternoon.

Life & Love

It's amazing how quickly life keeps moving.

It appears the kids are finally getting over their coughs, colds, runny noses.  I have probably missed more church over the last few months than ever before in my life.  I think I have been absent more than I have been there and I am missing it.  So, Lord willing, I hope to back in church this Sunday.

As it seems all homeowners do, we have a never ending list of projects we want to complete.  2 weekends ago, Kyle completed one of the projects by putting in a new sink & faucet in the girls bathroom.  It looks great.  I have yet to get a picture of the finished product because the bathroom hasn't had a deep clean yet - oh well. . .

That evening, when the work was all done, we went for dinner at Chipotle and then for a walk around the outdoor mall by us.  We spent some time hanging out in Barnes and Noble, which the kids loved.

The fountain was off, but the lights were still on.  This is Brooke & Madison in the middle.  The big girls were never slow enough for a non-blurry picture.

This is how the girls tell me what they want from the library.  I snap a picture and get it the next time I put books on hold.

Katelyn came home from school with some sightword books about a month ago, but she already knew how to read all the words, so she has been taking 2 lists each week and learning how to spell them.  She has a spelling test each week and is doing great!  The words get significantly harder each week.

As usual, Valentine's Day was a pretty big deal around our house.  I did much lower key than normal, but the girls handmade Valentines cards for many people and Katelyn celebrated for the first time at school.
 

Katelyn made a bunch of cards like these all on her own.

Katelyn and her Valentines card holder from school (I need to work on my picture taking).

Food in the hair has been common lately, but this was a little ridiculous.

We also planted some flowers last weekend.  Our snapdragons are still alive from last fall and they are quite large, so we left them in.  

We have had some great weather this week and the girls enjoyed playing outside now that they are feeling better.

Snack time!

We also had some visitors.  Visitors are usually required to read to one or more children in our house.

Madison with my Grandma & Aunt.

Sick Kiddos and a Parade

UPDATE 2/8/16:  I finally added in the video below.

Starting last weekend, the kiddos (all 3) have had varying degrees of coughs, runny noses and Brooklyn has an ear infection.  We had a total of 3 various Dr. appointments this week for the kids.  Needless to say, the tv has been on a lot more than usual.

Brookie all cozey on the couch watch Frozen.  (Sorry it is a little blurry.)

I was a little hesitant about Katelyn going to school on Thursday because she seemed a little worn down on Wednesday night, but she woke up on Thursday morning completely her normal self.  So, she was able to go the book parade at school!  I am so not creative and I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I looked at some ideas on pinterest, and Katelyn loved the idea of going as the coconut tree from Chika-Chicka Boom Boom.  It was pretty easy to put together and I think she had a blast.  The two little girls and I went to school for about half an hour to watch the parade.

I also have a really cute picture of her class, but I don't like posting pictures of other peoples' kids on here. :-(.

Madison is still not talking much, although she often repeats things when we ask her to.  Lately, she is really enjoying all things Frozen (she might get that from being around Brooklyn so much).  She likes playing with the miniature dolls the girls have and reading Brooklyn's Frozen books.  She now sings 'Goooooooooo.   Goooooooo.'  ("Let it Go," the famous song from the movie).   I finally broke down an was able to get a YouTube channel so I could post videos.  Here she is :-).

Here's a few more fun pics of our week.

Bubble bath in Dad & Mom's tub!

A quick trip to the library.

Snow in the Mountains

I am not a big fan of the word 'busy,' as an excuse or an explanation of how you are doing.  It seems like people are always frazzled when they are 'busy.'  I prefer to think of my life as 'full'.  Full of things that our family has decided to place an emphasis on and full of people that I love.  I have really been trying not to over-commit myself or the family so that we can enjoy our lives and not feel so 'busy.'  So, with that said, I was not too 'busy' last week, but we did have a lot going on and the blog fell by the way-side for a week.  However, it was a full week and so I do have a lot of pictures to share.  This post will be about last week and I will upload another post in a day or so with pictures of this week.

For the adult birthday presents this year, my mom & step-dad decided to give us all a weekend in the mountains.  It snowed early in January and was still there when we went a week and a half ago.  The snow was not soft enough for snowmen (much to Katelyn's disappointment), but it was great for sledding.  The cabin we stayed at has a large hill perfect for sledding right next to it, so we never even had to drive anywhere.  The girls all LOVED the sledding (yes, even Madison)!  And they even got the hang of putting on all their snow gear, which I was dreading.  Thanks Laura, for some of the pictures below :-).

Brooklyn on one of her first sled runs the afternoon we got there.

Walking back up the hill.

B sledding with Grandma.

They loved going with Daddy all the way from the top and then catching air over the bump.  That might be why one of the sleds didn't make it home. . . .

Katelyn & Brooklyn on the sled.

Fun with Micah & Auntie

Hot Chocolate in the Cabin with Micah.

The whole group

Saturday afternoon we walked to the lake that had iced over portions of it.  I didn't even know it could do that in Southern California.

We drove up on Friday afternoon as Kyle was able to work from home and get off a little early.  Then we headed home after dinner on Sunday evening.  A great weekend!

Ever month in Kindergarten, there is a themed day.  For January that day was Penguin day, and it was last Thursday.  The parents are invited to come and help out.  This was the first one that I was able to go to.  Katelyn was SOOOO excited that I was able to be there and her sisters were glad to spend some time with Grandma.  They walked around to each kindergarten classroom (there are 4) and did one activity or craft in each room.  I also was able to go to music class to see my aunt teach Katelyn's class.

Reading Tacky the Penguin.

(Katelyn is in the middle of the picture in the blue shirt with the ponytail.)

Katelyn made this penguin in one of the stations, but when she got home she wanted to create a backdrop for it.

The week was also full of unpacking and laundry when we got home from our trip. ;-)