Week #10: March is a Roarin'

This week...

...we're still vacuuming the grass. As you've seen from a previous post, the wind is a blowin' and wreaking havoc on our 6 month old sod. Our poor little baby grasslings! All I've had going through my head is the saying, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Well, I'm sick of this roaring beast already. Claire tried to help a little with the vacuum, but that didn't last long.


...we got some new pillows to go with our new couch. We really wanted to buy new-new on the couch, but our kids are still young (lots of wear and tear still going on) and we just can't afford it right now. Craigslist was the next best option. We found a couch in good condition, with plenty of seating (which we also needed), and for a good price. Jason talked the woman down from $450 to $350.


...Emma played Star Wars Monopoly with Grandpa E.


...Paul and Claire had some domino fun with Aunt Shawnee. We're glad you came for a visit!


...Paul is learning to read. He is so proud of his book bag. He brings home books to read each night throughout the week.


...Lainey had a little static action. The couch and pillows were making Lainey's hair stand on end. It was quite funny to watch her roll around on the couch and then sit up with her hair straight out in all directions.



...Paul and Lainey were sharing some love.



...Lainey rearranged the FHE board for us this week. I loved how she was up on her tippy-toes to move the flowers around.


...the kids helped Dad wash his patrol car. With this nice weather lately, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to get out and get some spring things done.

Week #9: Fancy Ear Plugs

This week we...

...found some fancy earplugs. Jason gave these earplugs to Benjamin as he was cleaning out our closet. Ben thought they were pretty cool. When I saw him wearing them at dinner, I it so surprised me, that I laughed out loud and quickly retrieved the camera. Isn't that such a good Benjamin smile?


...played a little game of copycat. Lainey is learning and growing so much. She loves to play along with her older brothers and sisters. So when Claire got cozy in her sleeping bag for a family movie night, Lainey wanted to do the same.


...saw teenagers and technology at their finest. I forgot this one from last week. This is my nephew during the game we were playing last Sunday. Ha! Made me smile, these kids and their phones...


...woke to a ground cover of snow. It wasn't much and it didn't stay long, but long enough for snow pants, boots, and gloves. Perfect, if you ask my kids.

Week #8: Funny Times

This week we...

...spent the long weekend at Grandma Zirker's house. The kids played with cousins, played outside and downstairs, stayed up late, and ate A LOT of bomb pops. Yes, indeed A LOT of bomb pops. I read a book, cleaned and threw things away with my mom, and wore some super cute high heels to church (they were my sister Cherice's - I do not have a picture at this time - one to follow).

Ben, Claire, Katie, (Alex), Emma, Paul

Christian with his mad bomb pop skills.

Here's the whole gang for the sleepover.
Paul, Trenton, Sydney, Brennan, Emma, Claire, Keaton, Benjamin

Claire, Keaton, Benjamin

These three love to play together. We made them beds together on the floor for the sleepover. I love this one of Keaton being silly with his glasses.

...made a pennant banner, finally. I love this cute decorating style, but had yet to actually make one for myself despite all of my pennant pins. I made up some reusable monthly calendars using vinyl and frames for a sort of command center. But it needed something else. Hence the banner. I like to see two months at a time and then I just rotate them.


...started the day out upside down. Didn't know that was possible? Just look at this shot. Doesn't Lainey have on the cutest, silly face? Almost like she's saying, "Bet you didn't know I could put my coat on." Bet she doesn't know she put it on upside down.


...vacuumed our lovely sandy, grass beach. After this lovely that blew through, this is what we found at the edge of our grass. Our neighbors on this side do not have lawn yet. And now, they no longer have sand. We were going to rake it out, but Jason had the brilliant idea to vacuum it out. It went a lot faster, but it was still slow going.

The lovely dunes

Jason testing out the vacuum

It looked like so much fun I thought I would try it.

Here's what we picked up out of the grass

This is the strip we finished to pick up that much sand.

I've always wanted to take one of those beach shots.
This is as close as I'm going to get to the beach for a while. :)

Week #7: Happy Love Day

This week we...

...made valentines. Emma loves paper folding so it was only fitting that we should happen upon an origami folded heart pocket for her to use.I had wanted to get bouncy balls for Paul's valentines (he loves bouncy balls) and make a cute tag that said "have a ball," but I admit that I did not want to pay over $8.00 just to get enough. (I know I'm terrible. We'll have to use some of the cute ideas I found on pinterest when I can find a better bulk deal.) So he picked out his favorite candy bar instead and helped me make some hearts.

We included the lovely heart garland that Emma made in the picture.
Without her, we wouldn't have had any decorations this year.

Not available for photo: Paul

He was grumpy this morning because I undid the
staples on his bag to get a valentine out.

...ate Valentine Candy. Claire and Benjamin loved the fun dip packs.

Emma and her stash

Paul and his stash

Oops! Claire was trying to get her own fun dip.
Not much fun to dip now that it's all over the floor.

...made pancake hats. So fashionable if not functional. But isn't that fashion at it's finest?

...cozied up on a tower of blankets. I put them there as I folded them to put away. Claire had different plans.

Week #6: 100th Day of School

This week...

...Paul celebrated the 100th day of school. He was so excited about going to school today because they were doing all sorts of fun things. They clapped 100 times, did 100 jumping jacks, counted out 100 snack items, and made this book of 100 different things.

...we made pizza. Jason had a lot of helpers as he made the dough. And Lainey was eating the olives off almost as fast as Jason was putting them on.

Which one?

This one,

and this one,

and this one.

Hey, you're skimping me here!

Yum!

...Grandma and Grandpa Zirker treated us to McDonald's.

Here's a group shot of everyone in our favorite spot by the window. Lainey likes to sit across from Grandpa so she can talk with him.

Here's Grandma and Grandpa with Lainey.

This is the real reason why my dad comes in. Lainey gets so excited to see him and be with him that it lifts his spirits. Half the time I joke that I'll just have Lainey ready and they can swing by and get her to take her out.

...Emma finally got to do a cool craft. Score one for mom! I saw that this cute heart craft would be really easy for Emma to do on her own and let her at it while I made dinner. Her and her friend had a blast making these.

Week #5:Sweeter by the Minute

This week we...

...had an outpouring of sweetness. Lainey dumped the sugar. She was very repentant as she walked down the hall along side Jason. "Sorry," she said sweetly, looking up at me. I had no idea what she had done. My only warning that it might not be good was Jason telling me to stay calm and bring my camera. "Oh great!" I thought. "What has she done now?" Because that day I felt like she was out to get me.

...played a game of acrobatic Sorry. I didn't know that was in the revised rules or I may have sported the move myself.


...acted like puppies. This is still the longest running past time in our home and now Lainey has learned how to crawl and pant like the rest of them.


...had fried chicken. Lainey loved it. What? You wanted her to save some?


...made tents on our sick days.

We all got hit with sick; this is how they occupied themselves. The kids made a tent in the boys room and slept there. Then they moved to the girls room and slept there. I'm not sure if you can tell by the picture (sarcasm intended), but I was ready for those tents to be cleaned up by the time we were done with them.

...attended Emma's Winter Concert. She did so great and wasn't nervous at all. It was a long night though. We had to sit through the Band, Orchestra, and Chimes performances before the second graders got up. Phew!