Places to Go in 2014

Places we need to go in 2014. Maybe if I make a list we'll actually get to them this year...

One of the Great Lakes while it's frozen
AA Children's Garden
Impression 5 in Lansing
Waterford water park
Domino Farms

Round and round

Decided that part of cleaning my craft space was using materials. Made these strip blocks and finally got them pieced, and I'm quilted them in a circle; got a tich dizzy, though. Girls seem to enjoy the blanket (although Jane has kind of claimed it as her own!).

Low Key

Decided that low key holidays are kind of nice.  Enjoying chilling the day after Christmas.

New Hair

Jane has been dying for a haircut for about forever now.  I've been getting so stressed with all the screaming that hair brushing brings on, that it was definitely time.  Jane has also been hinting that she wanted substantially shorter hair.  I do love long hair on little girls...but I've also been trying to take the stance that to a degree, it's her body.  Same reason I tell her that I didn't pierce her ears as a baby--it's not my decision to put permanent holes in her, she gets to make that choice.  She has, of course, told me that 'hair grows back, ya know'.  Anyway, we got to the salon and she kept pointing higher and higher til our awesome stylist said, ummm, we're just going to donate it, okay??  I took a deep breath and said fine.

 So, it's pretty short and she's flipping ecstatic. She's so incredibly happy about it, that I don't think I'm even that sad.  Except for the part where my little six year old looks like she's 10 all of a sudden!

Penny also got her first haircut.  She's got these crazy wavy curls that have been a bit of a pain.  Luckily, they don't appear to be just baby hair; even though she cut off almost 2 inches, it's still quite curly, whew.  She did great, and was happy she got a haircut after watching her big sis.

Not School Girls

Public school started yesterday; Jane is super excited that we can now visit the indoor play spaces (since they're not insanely busy). We went to a homeschooling storytime at our library and got a couple of not back to school photos. Cutey-pies!

Last Days

I'm kind of refusing to believe that summer is over.  When you don't 'start' school after Labor Day, you don't have that defined end of the season.  Especially the last few years, it's been warm into October.  However, all the local spray parks and such shut down after Labor Day weekend; we got in our last visit of the year by hitting the one at Indian Springs (can't believe we were only there once this summer!). 


The girls had fun with friends, until Penny hit her wall...she almost fell asleep in the wagon ride back to the car.

How much wood could a rented splitter split?

Mike's brilliant plan for the year: rent a wood splitter and process as much as possible in one day.  Mom came to help with the girls, and Dad came to help Mike and I with the wood.  It was pretty fun running the splitter, and we will be warm this winter!




Jane also lost another tooth tonight.

Busy Season

Summer seems to be flying.  We've been hitting as many playdates as possible, swimming and having tons of fun outside.  We went to a tye-dye party with some of our homeschool friends and made some very cool things. We're all ready to do it again!  The girls are doing a short gymnastics session this summer, which has been another good way of expending energy; it's been pretty hot this year, and sometimes we end up inside more than I'd like, just to get out of the heat.  I wish we had more shady playgrounds in our area. 

4th fun

Low key 4th of july at home this year.  We did have some local fireworks that we sat across the highway to check-out.  Jane was pretty impatient as they were late.  Penny made a wish (or a vish) upon a star--for a sparkler (for her), for the fireworks to start (for jane), for a new camera (for me!), and a car (for Daddy).  She's pretty perceptive for a barely 3 year old.

Sandy Mess Love

Magic happens when I stop trying to direct their play or control the mess on them or the lawn.  Sheer magic and joy...even if it's only for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes. 

Summer Fun

Busy warm summer so far!  Girls are enjoying summer fruit, playdates, and the climbing pyramid score from craigslist. We managed to get a little garden in, and they have a container pot each with some mini-pumpkins and sunflowers...hopefully!

Happy Three!

Kind of hard to believe I have a three year old and a six year old!  No more babies around here... Nice day, few errands, lots of outdoor fun.  Dollar store visit for a couple of balloons turned into blingy plastic birthday crowns. And earrings. Oh, the horror.  But they're so happy and fantastic in their craptastic jewels...I yield.  I also release the mommy guilt in not having a big bash and not making any gifts...or even making a birthday cake this year.  She's smiling, I'm not stressed, and Mike's managed to get the electrical wired to the gazebo (which will allow the hole by the house to be filled and hopefully not flood the basement corner again!)  

Homeschooling warm fuzzy today...as we walked around Meijers and Jane did addition problems on my grocery list pad.  With joy (like I've just given you chocolate kind of joy).  And excitement over figuring something out and 'knowing' the answer.  And then she drew a clown with a wart on his nose...cause that's how she rolls.

Penny's Swing.MOV

Silly Swing with Bling

Fairy Party

Penny's 'party' at Heavenly Scent Herb Farm.  Jenny and the girls came, as well as Grandma Deb and Dave.  Beautiful day...tired birthday girl!

Fairy Garden Fun

Been wanting to build a fairy garden, and figuring we're going to the fairy fest (where they have really expensive 'garden trays' you can make)...why not make our own?  We've had this old wine barrel full of weeds sitting around, so I cleaned it out and we put our finds from our earlier shopping expedition into it, along with a few things from around the house.  Girls had a blast, and I did too.  We even got Mike into the project, by having him cut down an old grill grate to make a little ladder, so cute!

Low Key Easter

We woke up to ham we baked overnight which was an awesome-o idea! Lovely spring day.  Just nice to have some time around the house without a big production.  Easter baskets, little egg hunt, and Mom & Dad came for dinner after dropping Gram Nomi at the airport.

Tweet

Robins are back!

Slow and steady...

Upstairs project...insulation and knee-wall for the girls' rooms is in.  Mike's working on the desk area, as well.  Little by little, and we'll get there!

St.Paddy's

Girls spent last night at Gram D's and were fairly tired out when they got home.  Did a little yard work as it's crazy nice outside, and then they watched a movie.  Unfortunately, Penny took a late nap on Mike...oh well, both of them were really tired, apparently.  Had some corned beef and cabbage, and I attempted to make some rainbow cupcakes from Pinterest w/o food coloring.  They were tasty with all the fruit in them, but definitely not that colorful.  Took a couple of cute pics outside after dinner.  Mike's trying to pull up all the bricks and pavers in the front garden, and the girls were running around enjoying the nice evening.  Jane made us a St.Patricks Day chalk picture in the driveway; she was pretty proud to have written everything herself!