February Fun

Happy Valentines Day!

Sew much fun!

I am learning to sew! Just one of the many benefits of living so close to my Mom and Brendan and Jess. Its only been a few weeks so bear with my amateur work, but here are my first attempts!

 Trying to find a way to use my left over material.  Little dress and headband for Maggie.

 First dress.  Thanks to Jess for the lesson on "smocking"

 Cute idea on pinterest using Rob's old shirt :)

Modeling the new dress

Photo Friday

 Cheese!

Blue crayons are especially good for dinner :)

Christmas 2011

 Getting ready to see Santa at the mall with some friends.  It was not a success.

 Headed to Christmas Eve Mass. No nursery during the service meant Charlie was doing gymnastics on the kneelers/pew while Maggie proceeded to pass out :)

 Is this the cutest knight costume ever? Now Charlie can be the handsome prince when the kids play dress up.  Thanks Aunt Jess and Uncle Brendan!!

 Matching jammies from Auntie Julie

 Just what I wanted!!

 ANIMALS

 Roar

 Hanging out at Nana and Papas the day after Christmas

 Our favorite soon-to-be-married couple

Maggie was a big help during the rousing game of charades led by Aunt Erin

O Christmas Tree

Two weeks ago we went out to Laingsburg to cut down our first ever real Christmas tree.  After years of using our artificial tree, I finally convinced Rob to get a real one.  We stopped at Tom and Becky's house before heading next door and had a very special visit with the family.  Maggie drank hot cocoa with Becky and demonstrated her Irish dancing skills for Tom.   The kids loved seeing the animals and riding in the big tractor pulled wagon to find our tree.  Maggie even helped Rob cut it down.  I am so excited to begin family traditions that will continue as we celebrate Christmas in Michigan for years to come. 

Merry Christmas everyone!!

 Checking out the animals at Peacock Road Tree Farm

 Riding in the wagon to pick out our tree

 We found it!

 Rob handled the saw and Maggie helped tip it over :)

 Brrr! It was pretty windy and started to rain

 Decorating our first real Christmas tree ever!!

Merry Christmas

First Snow

See Charlie? Isn't this fun?

 Its not so bad Maggie, and the snow is great for eating!

 Here Charlie, let me help you with your mittens!! OK, time to go inside!

 Sun peeking over the trees

 Lucy LOVES the snow

 and I LOVE our backyard on snow days! So much room to run around!

Winter has arrived! We got our first snow right after Thanksgiving and it was a wonderful 8-10 inches.  The kids were so excited but Charlie only made it outside for about 10 minutes before he ripped off his mittens and decided he'd had enough.  That was, of course, after 30 minutes of getting them bundled up.  We got a little more snow this morning and I am remembering how slippery it can be, especially in our neighborhood.  Maybe we will be sick of it by next month, but for right now I am really loving our first winter back home.