resourceful

"Hi James, How is your snow fort coming along?"

"good"

"Why is your head covered in snow?"

"The shovel wasn't working so I started using my head."

"Way to use your head buddy."

Who dunnit?

I put a bright white table in the girls room and "somebody" colored all over it. Problem is, NOBODY did it. Let's try to solve this "crime".

The couch in my bedroom:

The bathroom stool:

Blinds:

Window Sill:

I think someone may have finally figured out that you should avoid leaving any obvious signs that you were at the scene of the crime.

Happy Halloween

Best seat in town. . .

(or in the neighborhood anyway)

When a dump truck arrived to deliver fresh wood chips in our park this afternoon, these two were as entertained as it gets. I wish I was so easy to please. My favorite part was the huge smile on the dump truck driver when he saw he had an audience.

Feeling Halloween Crafty

It isn't too often that I see a craft that interests me enough to want to actually make it. When I came across these, I knew it was perfect for me, it looked inexpensive, easy, fast and cute! I am thinking of all the different holidays and seasons it would be fun to make one for. I found it here.

I turned these:

Into this:

and my mom turned them into this:

Where I found my supplies:

candlesticks - Michaels, 2.99 each

round base - any craft store, .50

letters - Hobby Lobby, .99 each

Glass Jar - Hobby Lobby, 2.99 each

Finial - .99 each or knob - bag full for 2 dollars or so at any ol' craft store

ribbon - any craft store, about 2 dollars

paint - my paint bin, free

(about 20 dollars to make all three and just over a half hour. I didn't have any coupons or sales and was not patient enough to wait for them, you could do it for quite a bit less if you did.)

I used hot glue for all parts excepts to adhere the glass onto the

candle stick and then I used super glue GEL.

Preschool

Literally ran and would never look back . . .
Unless I asked them too.

First Grade

1st grade

5 missing teeth!

and a brother who loves her

First day of school

What 4th grade looks like around here:

(pretty handsome, if I do say so myself!)

Asleep

Just another afternoon nap

I scream, you scream

My twins turned 4 on Sunday. We had not one, but two ice cream parties for them. There was a friend party for their girlfriends and then a family party. Happy birthday girlies!!

Cute ice cream garland, compliments of my crafty sister in law, Alissa.

Ice cream crafts (ice cream sunday foam craft magnents from Oriental trading), pin the cherry on the ice cream cone and ice cream cone balloon races.

Tip for ice cream parties: scoop ice cream into balls, freeze on cookie sheet then put in bowl when ready to serve. Saves time and messes as they go through the sundae bar.

Decorations:

Pinata!

Party favors, ice cream bubbles, lip gloss, shooters, stickers, ring and chocolate suckers.

Our Family Reunion

My whole family got to go to my sister and her husband's family cabin a few weeks ago. As always, we had the most wonderful time. I wish I could somehow have captured the fun the adults had playing games at night and sitting around the fire after the kids went to bed. Too much laughing is definitely good for the soul! I also can't believe I don't have a photo of the boys shooting their new guns. Here is our trip, in a nutshell and in no particular order.

My favorite view, my nephew Calvin's chubby little hand. Asking me for more. More treats, more bubbles, more glow sticks. Whatever he wants from his Aunti Jane, he gets! This hand is so cute, I want to eat it up, dirt and all. He had to go and move to DC on me, darn it.

My main girl Debbie (Dawn's cute sister). I love her, everyone does. I love how she makes
everyone around her happy and smile. I love how she has a great memory and I love her use of words. She has such a big vocabulary. We are going to miss her when she goes back to Kansas.
Lots of kids! (15 to be exact) Notice tiny baby at the top.
Clueless baby, he had no idea he was sitting on the top step as part of a photo.

Our strong and handsome men. Lucky ladies are we!

4 wheeler action

Rides, sidewalk chalk, outdoor fun.
Big cousins comforting little cousins.

Water slide!

Forest scavenger hunt

Impromtu glow dance by me and Aaron. We had a million glowsticks around the fire so we copied an idea we saw and taped them to ourselves. First and probably last time I ever saw my husband dance.

Living on the swings, hours of fun everyday.
Bubble makers and finger knitting lesson by Aunt Katie.

Fishing, everyone caught some! The boys ate them for dinner.

Thanks Bracken family, we had too much fun and we love your cabin!