Life as a Mom...

....means pausing your regularly scheduled activities to create makeshift straps for a Barbie dress that won't stay up.

And then getting lots of sweet compliments on how you are the best "sew-er" ever.

For My Grandma's

I love to have things in my house that have memories for me.  Here's one example:

 

The milk can is from Grandma-my mom's mom and the bear is from Granny-my dad's mom.  Thank you to both of you, not only for your hand-me-downs, but also for your love through the years!

~Amy

Pizza Night

Around here we know how to celebrate when Friday rolls around.  No homework, extra screen time, and Scott home early.  

Tonight we added pizza to the mix.  I tried out a new recipe from a food blog that I've started following called Candid Rd.  I made a few modifications and it was a hit!  You can see my changes here.  The best part is that it only takes about 3 minutes to make and uses pretty common ingredients. 

My kids eat cherry tomatoes like candy, so I always have them around and now that I'm making homemade larabars, I have dates, too!

 I've gotten so used to the kids rejecting my dinner offerings, I couldn't believe it when Little Man actually asked for a second slice!

Happy Weekend, folks!

Sunny & Rainy Days

Today I made a day planner page to match my food journal! It took me most of the morning, but it's gray and rainy anyway. April showers bring May flowers, right?

Yesterday was perfectly lovely.  We played outside all day.  Tea parties, forts, swings, and even a family game of frisbee after dinner.

I did it!

I've been sorting through some dietary issues lately and have been trying to keep track of what I eat every day and then how I feel later. It's helped some, and I'm trying to be more consistent with it.  

So today, I finally figured out how to use PicMonkey to make a printable food journal.  I think it turned out super cute!  

A little girl's room

I finished Kip's duvet cover this afternoon (it's a drop cloth + flat sheet!), so I thought I'd post some pictures of her room.  

We got this antique bed on Craigslist.  It's large enough to use for company and makes her feel like a little princess!

 Her closet is overflowing with stuffed animals (see the upside down Care Bear hiding in there?), and I found this on the floor:

These can be almost as painful to step on barefoot as the Legos in her brother's room....but not quite:)

Kids + Camera=

 Fun Times.

 

Ice

Beautiful, but I'm counting down the days until Spring!

Ta-da!

Set up the dining room today.  Rug and table are Craigslist finds, chairs are from Ikea and the corner cabinet is from Freecycle.  We are a thrifty bunch around here.

Country Living

The last few weeks it's really felt like we've been living out on the "back forty."  We've been snowed on and iced in, and have dealt with frozen pipes, gale force winds and a persnickety old well pump which works some days and not others.  We've flushed toilets with water from a full bathtub and washed hands and brushed teeth with water from a jug.  

So, today I decided to channel the country vibe and rearranged the living room so we could have a little sitting area by the fire.  

I brought back the drop cloth slipcovers which have just been moving from piece of furniture to piece of furniture.  I think it's swell.  

My little helper was been her cheerful self as we rearranged:

Now, I'm off to clean up the mess that accumulated while I was otherwise engaged!

Quick, before he gets home from school!

Today I literally spent the entire morning organizing Gus' bedroom.  We moved his dresser in yesterday so I decided today was the day to put everything away.  Until now it has ALL. BEEN. ON. THE. FLOOR.  Our kids have happily spent the last few weeks stepping over piles, and empty boxes and who knows what else.  Scott and I have been doing that, too, just not very happily!    I thought I'd share a couple pictures before the little guy comes home and takes everything back out again.

 

Now, for a reality check.  This is what the hallway just outside the door looks like!