Spring!

Libby sporting the Dora yard work gloves.  We got these as a housewarming gift and Libby insisted I dig through the costumes to find them so she could work outside.

This week the girls helped me in the yard.  They were actually kind of helpful.  I told them I would give them money in their Barbie rewards for each pine cone they picked up.  They filled a couple of small pots!  They had a good time out there.  I hope they end up liking yard work like I do (now--I hated it as a kid.)   

Sarah wore a pair of my gloves for a bit, but it was tricky.  She kept shoveling dirt onto my plants. 

Libby is SUPER into umbrellas.  When our friend Aubrey brought this one to the church on Tuesday night, Libby  asked if she could borrow it and has taken it everywhere with us.  I guess it is convenient for her that it rains A  LOT here.

Oh yeah, and once this March (or was it twice?) it snowed!  Here is Libby showing me all the snow she has been eating.  

AIM 2

I missed posting last week because I went to a 2 day training called Advanced Instructor Module 2.  It was the first time they offered it in our area, and Derek had the 2 days off, so I signed up!  It was great!  I learned a lot about teaching to who is in front of me, some better coaching techniques, and got lots of feedback on my own teaching.  I love learning.  I am glad Derek let me go--especially since it turned out he had nasty sinus infection the whole time.  What a good man!

Barbie Bedtime Rewards

Libby has been really difficult lately (check out the party post to see the tantrum footage).  Bedtime was the worst.  After a particularly bad bedtime the other night I started checking out some other mommy blogs and other websites to get some bedtime chart ideas.  I found a great idea where the mom had a chart of things the kids loved to do during the day.  Each time the kid came out of their room she would simply go to the chart and move a clothes pin down the side to indicate that they had lost one of those items for the next day.  I loved it.  I wanted to apply it to Libby.  What is one thing she has been asking me for lately?  A new Barbie.  So I made a Barbie Bedtime Rewards Jar for each girl.  I made a list of their Bedtime Routine.  If they do each thing on the list (including clean up their room, brush teeth, pray, etc.) they get money in their jar toward the Barbie.  If they come out of their room or ask for anything extra after they are in bed I take money out of their jars.  Simple.  Perfect.  (So far--2 nights have been great!)  And, last night Libby even asked if she ate all her breakfast could she earn more money.  YES!

Super Fun Party

My friend Emily's son Easton turned 3 this week.  She held a construction themed birthday party in his honor.  So CUTE!  Look at the little vests she made all the kids.

They also each got a hard hat to decorate.

Each vest had the kid's name on it.  

She made a bib for Ben ;)  And yes, I am letting him play with a balloon --major choking hazard!

Libby was REALLY REALLY sad to leave.  This is one of the two tantrums she threw on Friday.  I didn't get to film the first part because I was busy carrying her kicking and screaming out of the church.  Luckily my friend Julie helped carry Ben.  One of the best parts of this video is watching Sarah look over at Libby in amazement. When we got home Libby ate basically an entire kaiser roll with peanut butter and jelly.  She was so hungry!  (Why would she be hungry after a birthday party where there was delicious cake?  Oh yeah, she won't eat frosting.)

Green Bodystep Party

We had a St. Patrick's Day party to bring in Bodystep 87.  I was so impressed with everyone's green!  I did bring a few items for those who forgot (see the leprechaun headband :).  It was a blast!  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Grandma Norton baked us a loaf of green bread to celebrate St. Patty's day (she is 1/2 Irish after all).  We had a great time eating it on the floor.

Ben does seem a bit confused that he is eating green bread.

I love all 3 together munching.

 

 

Ben trying to pull himself up using my face.  Man he is getting strong!

 

Come Together!

Last night was the Shorewood Booster Auction.  The theme was "Come Together" and it was everything Beatles.  Super fun decor and costumes!  It is amazing to see a room of people raise over $12,000 to support student clubs and sports.  Derek didn't wear a costume, so the picture is just me ;)

Fun Times

Ben got his first hair-do from his sisters.  The girls loved it, and he didn't mind.

 

The girls helped lick the bowl after I made batter for my first batch of cake pops.  They turned out pretty well (the cake pops and the girls :)

Sarah has a tough time putting on and taking off her clothes.  Here is her attempt to put on her leotard by herself.  

Poor Ben!

He cut his first tooth this weekend, and had an ear infection!  I knew he had a cold and was having a really rough time.  Then we spotted the tooth...so I blamed his troubles all on the tooth.  But when the fever came back last night, and he was up and down all night AGAIN, I finally took him in today.  It is an ear infection.  He looks miserable, sounds miserable, and is making all of us feel a bit miserable.  He has the cold that Sarah had last week, Libby started with mid-week this week, and now Derek seems to be getting.  I had a bad day that had me worried, but KNOCK ON WOOD, I haven't succumbed.  I probably will soon though.  It seems cruel that when my kids are sick I lose a lot of sleep helping them deal with their colds, during which they cough and sneeze on me constantly.  So, I get super exposed to their germs and super tired.  Recipe for disaster.  But, look how cute he still is ;)  He is standing up and cruising around along anything he can.

Sarahisms

This week Sarah said a couple of cute things that I managed to write down so I wouldn't forget them...
She was eating some bread for a snack the other day.  Ben was giving her the eye because he wanted some too.  She gave him some and then said, "That's so sweet of me!"
She also sat down with her dad one day this week during his short break between work and wrestling.  He picked up the remote and she said, "Let's watch PAWN STARS."
Hilarious.  Libby's favorite show is LOVE IT OR LIST IT (although I think she likes the name really) and Sarah's is Pawn Stars.  I just love my girls!
Another note on Sarah, she is so into baths right now.  She would take a 2 hour bath every day twice a day if I would let her.  She plays until the water is cold and she is a prune.  She loves it!  Libby usually joins in for part of the time at least.

Sarah with her S pretzel.  This is what I made instead of dinner one night last weekend .

Bedroom Makeover Gift

These shelves were the hardest part.  They came with defective wall-mounts.  Grrr.  They both fell down last night.  I will have to figure out a better hanging solution.  

The candles on the dresser are battery ones, but you blow them on and off.  Awesome, right?

Ahhhh....the bed, and the lamps.  Should have taken one shot with them off so you could see how awesome they are.

For my birthday I went to (finally) see my friend Jen's house.  We hung out in her room and she told me about how she had done all the decorating.  As I drove home I started thinking about our friend Emmi whose birthday is this week.  I thought about how fun it would be to do a bedroom makeover for her and give her a "spa retreat" bedroom.  Okay, so I admit I watch WAY too much HGTV.  Anyway, I pitched the idea to her husband, and he actually said YES!  So about a month ago, when she was out of town Jen and I evaluated the room and created a plan.  We went out that day and bought the most important pieces.  All month I shopped and schemed.  I couldn't believe how fun it was to get ready.  Yesterday, the family went snow shoeing and we went crazy doing the room.  We painted, rearranged furniture, put up new wall decor.  It looked amazing.  We were there when they got home (having just finished, literally seconds before.)  She was so surprised!  And excited.  She loved it.  I am sure it will take some getting used to--we moved a few things around...so she will have to reorient on where some of her stuff is, but we got her new organizers for her files and for under the bed...it was beautiful!  Jen and I came home exhausted, but happy that we gave a good friend a gift she would NEVER have expected and will enjoy for a long time.