Half birthday cookies!

Friday was Nate's half birthday.

He is not a cake fan.

So he usually requests cookies when I am to send a treat of some kind to school.

So, we hauled out my cake decorating tools and made some decorated sugar cookies!

We did little "birthday present" shapes!

And of course, they had to be in purple!

Nate's favorite color, teehee!

I thought they turned out quite cute!

He had a very nice half birthday at school, as it fell on the same day has their "Box Tops For Education" pizza party day!

So he got a special lunch too.

It was also a "Mrs. K Friday"...she taught all day and brought in a special dessert as well.

She made blondies and chocolate chip cookies.

So between the pizza and all the sweet treats, his class had a pretty special day!

Nate also got a birthday sticker, bookmark, and pencil from his teacher.

Happy half birthday Natee!

I love Mrs. K... (Nate's a.m. teacher)

We've been talking a lot about Nate's "half birthday" this week.
For anyone who has a child born in the summer, you know what I'm talking about.
For those who don't...or who've never heard of it...
A "half birthday" is when you are born in the summer...
But you do not get to celebrate with your classmates because you're on summer break.
Thus, you get a "half birthday"...six months to the day of your "actual birthday".
So, with Nate being born on August 25...he gets to celebrate with his classmates at school on February 25.
I baked some sugar cookies today.
Tomorrow we'll be decorating them with all my cake decorating supplies.

Nate (and I) love his morning teacher.
Today Nate was talking about how his a.m. teacher addresses birthdays.
He said...
"Mrs. K always says such nice things when it's your birthday.  She says..."

-God has a special plan for your life!  Ten and a half years ago when you were born the angels rejoiced and said, IT'S A BOY!-

Isn't that the most precious thing!  I just love his teacher and how special she makes each child feel!

It's not over, 'til it's over...

That's not rain you see on our windows.

It's still winter here...February to be exact.

Last night we got the ice storm of all ice storms!

It started out with white-out conditions.

Snowed like CRAZY!

Then came the freezing rain/sleet.

It was pelting the windows so loud that it almost became irritating after a while.

This went on from about noon-ish until we went to bed.

I took these photos of our living room windows.

We had approximately 1/4-1/2 inch thick ice on all the windows.

It was crazy.

All the schools cancelled today.

But luckily...

Our district didn't have to use a snow day up...
We were already off for "Teacher In Service" day!

Traffic seems to be moving in and out of the neighborhood better now 24 hours later.

But we still have quite a layer of ice on our windows.

Evan had a dental appointment today...and thankfully Jamie took him.

I hate driving in ANY kind of winter mess.

Thanks Jam!

I owe ya!

:)

Mom, how do you know?...

Though I love all things girly...and enjoy reading fashion magazines...
I have never considered myself all that "fashionable"...as my wallet and job just don't allow me to dress how I'd like to!
But last night, Nate says to me..."Mom, how did you get so fashionable?"
LOL!
WHAT?
I said, "What do you mean sweetie?"
He said, "Well, how do you know how to mix the right colors and patterns when you pick out my clothes?  I just don't get it."
So sweet.
He's so cute.
"Time, honey...and lots of practice."
LOL!

My February is complete!

My February is complete now!

Valentine's season can go away!

I got my bag of Dove chocolates...FINALLY!

I am not high maintenance in the respect that I need flowers, balloons, jewelry, candy, etc. for Valentine's Day (though it is all great, lol!)...

All I need to make me happy is a bag of Dove Promises!

One bag!

I searched and searched and even had a $1.00 coupon!

EVERYWHERE was out!

FINALLY...

I found them.

I bit the bullet and paid full price (minus my coupon) and got some Dove Caramel Promises!

Yes.

Now my February is complete!

My Valentine...Through The Years...

Little did I know, that night Monica asked me to come for a walk with you two how my life would change for the better.  I tried and tried to get out of going.  But she persisted.  None of us knew what would transpire over the next few months.

I liked you immediately...though you had a bit of an, um...assertive personality, LOL!

You told me later that you thought I didn't like you and that I was "blowing you off".  You said it was almost "three strikes and you're out".  I guess I came around, huh?

I was shy.  I wasn't blowing you off.

I adored you.

I worried you might break it off though after I splashed you that night at the fountain, LOL!

But you didn't.

We didn't have much.

But you made me feel like a princess.

You made me picnics during the World Series...hotdogs, popcorn, pop, and goodies as we watched.

I know...

I tricked you into thinking I liked sports.

But I just so desparately wanted to be around you.  Teehee!

We did it.

We got married.

I don't think anyone would have guessed we would do it or that it would work.

You being nine years older than me.

Our different upbringings and backgrounds.

But we're perfect for each other.

We balance each other out.

You've made me grow.

Stretch my limits.

Made me a better person.

Nothing can separate us.

NOTHING.

We have made it through some rough times.

Together.

Hospitalizations/NICUs of our newborn babies.

Lack of work.

Surgeries for you.

Complications with my medical condition.

Nothing horrible compared to some.

But trials.

And we get through them.

Because God brought us together.

And He will keep us together.

I love you.

Neither of us are outspoken in that regard.

But I do.

No one else would put up with me.

No one else would complete me.

You are the only one for me.

I <3 you!

Happy Valentine's Day...

Today...

And many more...

Forever.

I dream in pink...

One might not know it by looking at me on a daily basis.

But I LIVE and BREATHE all girly, pink, feminine things!

I can't pull this look off on a daily basis with the job I do.

Working with small children makes it difficult to pull off the look I'd love to do daily.

If I had my way...

I'd be in pink head to toe daily.

Casual...jeans and a sweater with boots or tennies.

Dressed up...dress, stilletos, jewelry.

It's pink all the way baby.

If I weren't married and didn't have two sons...

My whole house would be in shades of pink.

Every room.

One room would be pink and yellow...my two favorite colors together!
Another would be pink and brown.



Another would be pink and black.
And yet another would be pink and silver.

My home is yellow on the outside...I'd have pink flowers EVERYWHERE!

My nails would be done in a french manicure with some shade of pink daily.

As would my toesies!

My kitty would have a pink collar with rhinestones on it, LOL!

I would have pink aprons to cook in.

My life would be pink!

And not just pink...
SPARKLY!
I love glitter and glitz!
And diamonds...
Real or fake...I don't care. ;)

But alas...
In a world full of guys...

I have some sacrificing to do.


Ya can't make three men live in a house of pink.

And working full time with children, I can't dress the glitzy way I'd like.

So...

I continue to dream in pink! ;)

Destiny...

Ok, I guess it just must be destiny, LOL!

I post about my craving for Dove Promises yesterday and what should I find today?

Coupons for $1.00 off any bag of Dove Promises!

Go to your Facebook.

"Like" Dove Chocolates.

Go to the "Share Love" tab and you can send your friends coupons for Dove chocolates.

You might want to ask them to send you one back! 

LOL!

I am lucky since my boys have Facebook accounts...I just had them send me some "love"!

Enjoy!

I don't know what it is...

I don't know what it is.

Maybe it's that Valentine's Day is coming up and I'm seeing all these sweets.

But I am craving chocolate big time...

Which is strange because I'm not usually a chocolate kinda gal.

Give me salt.

Give me chips, give me crackers, give me salt!

I fully intended to do a blog post during the kids' naptime...

But I have such a headache.

I think I know what it's from too...

Valentine Dove Chocolate withdrawal.

Yes...

It's been way too long since I've had any Dove Promises.

Forget flowers.

Forget jewelry.

Just bring me a bag of Dove Promises for Valentine's Day.

I'm all set.

Dove is like no other chocolate.

No other kind/brand is worthy of even being called chocolate next to Dove.

Dove is so creamy and silky it melts in your mouth.

Oh...

I'm torturing myself.

Ok, honey...

If you're reading this...

I know you don't...

But...

I NEED DOVE PROMISES!

That's all I want for Valentine's Day!

LOL!

Nate's and mommy's morning...

Today, Nate and I worked on his Valentines for school.

We made the decision last week, to make them by hand instead of buying the cheap, cheesey ones that they sell in the stores.

Like I need one more thing to do...

But I thought this would be a great thing to do with my baby!

We had so much fun working together.

I love spending time doing things like this with my boys.

Nate did so good.

I was so proud of him!

He punched out all the hearts and swirls.

He did all the stamping.

I helped with cutting and gluing.

And we placed chocolate heart on each one too.

We had a blast and made such a mess, LOL!

I thought they turned out really cute!

We still have about 15 more to make tomorrow.

Whew.

It's a task!

But someone's gotta do it, LOL!

We enjoyed every minute of it!

The "Bob" is back...Never growing it out again!

I've tried.

I've failed.

Miserably.

Many times.

I can NOT grow long hair.

I do NOT look good in long hair.

I LOVE short hair!

I love long hair on other people.

I do NOT like long hair on me.

Even my hubby, who likes longer hair...supported my decision to get it whacked off again.

He asked, "So what is your goal with growing it out?"

He wanted to know, "So how are you planning to style it?"

He questioned, "Are you happy with how it's coming?"

A big emphatic "I DON'T KNOW!...I HAVE NO IDEA!...AND NO!" came my reply!

He knew how frustrated I was and always get with growing out my hair.

I think he finally came to the realization too, THAT I AM JUST NOT A LONG HAIR PERSON, LOL!

"Why don't you go get it cut for your birthday", he says to me.

HALLELUJAH!

He knew how much it meant to me!

He realized how happy it made me!

He SAW how CRAPPY my hair was looking as it grew, LOL!

I am so happy to be back a part of the "short hair club", LOL!

I love what she did with it.

I have such baby fine hair and all the layers she put in back make it look so full of volume and body!

I love the angle she cut on the sides.

Though I may go for a more dramatic angle next time.

I am such a happy camper!

The BOB is BACK!

And I am feeling good!

Snowday for the kids...

I think I might have failed to mention in the earlier blizzard post...

That the boys FINALLY got their snowday!

Not only did they get one...

THEY GOT TWO!

Yes, they were off Wednesday and Thursday.

As nice as it is to have them home,

(and I do enjoy it)...

I think we're all ready to get back into our routine though.

It's very hard to balance work and family at home at the same time.

It has been an interesting week that's for sure.

The snow plow FINALLY came into our subdivision (after Jamie plowed the driveway) of course.

And the lovely fellow left a three foot wall at the bottom of our driveway.

So Jamie had to go back out and cut through the nice wall with the snowblower...
AGAIN.

Don't get me wrong.

I appreciate all the plows do.

But I do think they're a little lazy when it comes to doing the neighborhoods.

Ours for example...

We live on the corner and they scoop everything from the entire entrance all the way around the corner into the foot of our driveway!
Sheesh!

THANK-YOU VERY MUCH!

NOT.

Well, what are ya gonna do?

I'm just ready for the weekend.

Ugh.

Blizzard 2011

Usually the storms they predict aren't near the hype they make them out to be.

However...

This time, I'd say they were pretty right on par!

This top picture is taken from inside our garage where we measured 16 inches of fresh snow on top of what we already had.

Looking out into the yard.

My hubby snow-blowing the driveway.

Looking out to the parking area of the School Bus Depot.  Nothing has been plowed.  The only thing you can see is where a few pick-ups and SUVs have tried to drive through.  If you were to deviate from those tire tracks...you'd be done for!

S-T-U-C-K!!!

We witnessed a couple cars attempt it this morning, both getting stuck.

Since then, no other "cars" have attempted getting out.

Even the pick-ups and SUVs are barely making it through.

My dedicated hubby out there plowing!

EVERYTHING is cancelled or closed.

Schools.

Churches.

Businesses.

Large corporations.

For the first time in the five years we've attended our church, they even cancelled tonight's activities!

THAT IS A FIRST!

You KNOW it must be bad!

There's Jamie in the far right corner plowing.

When he came in, his hood was FILLED with snow.

He took off his coat and snow dumped all over the rug in the entryway.

His coat, pants, hat, gloves, EVERYTHING was soaked!

One of my favorite pics.

The picture above is our front door this morning.

The snow was literally higher than the door and when I opened it, it was scraping snow back into the corner of the porch.

What a mess.

The picture above is out our front window.

The snow drifted all the way up to our window panes past the flower boxes.

You can see it's midway up the window.

One last picture of my hubby out there!

(far right corner)

I have not heard ANY plows as of yet and it's 1:09pm.

I am assuming they're tackling the highways and major roads first.

The back country roads and subdivisions are last on their list I'm sure.

So even if the snow stops...

If the buses can't get through tomorrow...

I'm wondering if we'll have another snow day until the plows catch up?

We shall see!

Stay warm and stay safe!

Don't go out unless absolutely necessary!

It's nasty!

Hugs from Michigan!