Busy Bags

 So, this is what we did today. We made "Busy Bags." Busy bags are ziploc bags with an activity in each bag that could potentially keep the kids busy and quiet during church, long car ride, restaurant, etc... I thought this would be a fun quick activity but it slowly took up all day long!

 I put numbers at the bottom of an ice cube tray so that they could put the correct number of pom poms in each section. That was too hard for Kater, so she very quickly adapted it to her skill level by sorting them into colors. She is so smart!

This is Claire matching plastic letters to word cards.

Treasured Everyday Moments

 While I was getting ready for church on Sunday, the kids decided to cuddle up to Sam. It was so cute I had to snap some pictures to try to capture these everyday moments that come and go so quickly.

 Kate, sucking her thumb with her "Dee" or "Dee-uh" and sock monkey. She likes to run the silky edge through her fingers and toes.

I Heart You

I love Valentine's Day. It is not a holiday that I have always loved. When I think about it in the past there are some repressed feelings that come to surface, but since I have had children Valentine's Day is so much fun. We decorate the table all pretty and have waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. We usually have one present for the girls to open sitting by their plates.

This year, Claire got the movie Spirit. She loves loves horses and this probably one of her favorite movies. Kate got a doodle bear because Claire got one for Christmas and it usually involved Kate crying because Claire was coloring on the doodle bear and then Kate crying again because the doodle bear was going in the washing machine. I decided to get her her own so that she can do what she wants with it.

Claire also got to have a Valentine's Day party at her preschool. They were told to bring a box or a bag decorated with a Valentine's Day lunch packed inside. They were also to bring Valentine's to share with everyone in the class. My sweet little Claire once again wanted Darth Vador. So we decorated her bag with Darth Vador on it. He is holding his light saber and a heart that says, "Welcome to the Heart Side." She chose butterflies for her Valentine's to share. I am worried about her. I can see her starting to like the "bad boys." She told me yesterday that she was in love with Darth Vador. She has also told me she is in love with Luke Skywalker. The good and evil are battling inside her.

Kate was feeling left out so we had to make her a Darth Vador bag too along with a lunch.

Proud Sister

 Well, time has flown by. I don't know why I am surprised because ever since I had kids time has flown by to where a month feels like a week and a year feels like a month. I can't believe Sam is already about 6 weeks old. I feel like I just had him a week ago. He smiled today for the first time. It melted my heart and about burst into tears.

Proud sister, Claire, and Sam

Claire's Art

 So, Claire makes me SO many pictures and I love all of them, but it is just not feasible for me to keep all of them. I don't have the heart to throw away the ones with her hand prints on. I thought it would be a good idea to take pictures of the ones that I love but have to throw away. It makes it not so hard to do. This way we can always remember them.

Apple tree, house (I call it a hobbit house), and a sunflower

Santa, kitten with mittens