All dolled up!

We live in a Land of Bows! at this house!

Kevin is such a trooper I tell you! Tessa and Ella love to play beauty shop! Tessa has recently learned how to "Do hair" as she calls it. She has come up with some pretty "fancy" styles for her and her sister. I am careful to keep a good eye on this scenario, I would "freak" if they ever got up planned haircuts.... ( I have been thankful that is hasn't happened, and hope it doesn't!!). Ella is such a good sport and she thanks her sister for her "pretties"! Will this continue into the teenage years.....we'll see! Until then, it is so cute to watch these little sisters have fun together!

Sarah Palin Fan!

"I can see Russia From Here, ...Well, Almost", this quote has not been said by Sarah Palin, but from Tessa as well. She loved!! the series "Sarah Palin's Alaska". She really noticed who she was first by seeing the book on my nightstand last spring. I am a fan, I really respect how "real" she is and I have some similar views on things. Tessa, at four, learned that there was a show about her she was really interested. Tess would beg to watch our tivo recordings of the show. The four of us would watch at The Palin family would experience the beauty of Alaska. Tessa was extra thrilled when she learned that she was in Alaska at the age of 4 months. She would sit (we all would) as enjoy the stories of their family and all of the intriguing things they could do there. One night while we were reading library books Tessa climbed up and sat on the top corner of the couch. I asked her what she was doing? She put her hand up to her forehead, squinted her eyes and said "I can see Russia from here, Well, Almost" and exact Sarah Palin quote.... she also will hum and sing the theme song. She says it is her favorite. There are dolls in our house named Piper, Sarah and Bristol..... Who knew???, I guess we will be going on another trip to Alaska someday.... and we also know who Tessa will be telling her parents to vote for someday! Here's to Alaska, good role models and strong women who stick to their values!

A Full Pantry because ....

Some times days are just challenging.....Some are just "on"... We had an "On it" kind of day! There was a 2 hour delay from school (yes, off schedule....but I am starting to embrace this and lighten up a bit).... this meant extra cuddle time with the girls in the morning. They were happy little campers, they slept in a bit, and then wanted to snuggle....good stuff. We had a calm breakfast and they both had wonderful days at Lorene's house. This meant this was another reason to brave the grocery store and stock up in some things. I have been trying to shop smarter, stock up and plan meals for 2-3 weeks.... We will see how it goes, we are off to a pretty good start. The new magazine that I have subscribed to has been helpful "All You"...

Off the Grocery we went....The Girls put their happy feet in the cart and were awesome the whole time we were in the store. Ella was singing and saying hello to everyone. She wanted to add things to her area of the cart "I am shopping Mommy". Tessa was my helper, helping me find things in the store, looking for certain numbers and letters as we walked down nearly every aisle....things were going great! I thought I was in a grocery store Happy Utopia. I kept praising them that they were being so helpful! Extra Bonus, we paid only $3.00 per gallon of gas, (Love the bonus points at our grocery store!)

The Lesson for the Day was.....If you are good things will come your way....

With a car full of groceries we went out to eat of all things....even more surprising for this Momma was going to a fast food restaurant....with a play area.....HEY, I know that is shocking for me, but they were SO good! We were the only ones in Burger King, we ate as healthy as we could....?!?!? and then they played in the play area and got to go down the slide "2 Extra times, Mommy this is so fun!"

It was a Fun night of the simple things in life! Now, we have a pantry & refrigerator full of

I was so proud of our kiddos!

Helper Bear....Ella Bear

Ella is taking after her sister in being a good helper! It is so enjoyable to have little girls who want to be involved in helping. They want to be "in the mix" as Tessa has coined the term. Little helper bees that want to be right where the action is ....we wouldn't want it any other way. "Me Help", is how Ella gets involved. She is certainly independent and wants to make sure that she is helping out!

Feel the Love....Happy Valentine's Day!

Many things come to mind today....I can feel the love....The love from my amazing and handsome Hubby....the love from the 4 year old and 2 year old that we adore.....the love from above that continues to bless us with all of this!

Valentine's Day is a fun holiday! I love all the little details that you can add to the day to make it fun! The Girls are really starting to get into this aspect of the holiday, which add to the fun. Tessa made adorable Valentine's for family, she loved putting them in the envelopes, such a smile of pure pride. Thanks to Grandma and Pops and the goodies they sent us, we made many cupcakes on Sunday.... The girls were thrilled that Jamie, Eva and Jaden stopped by so we could share with our friends. On Valentine's Day we fixed dinner for the Man in our lives! The girls were sooo excited for his arrival (all three of us).

Kevin took extra special care of his girls today.... I received beautiful flowers at school and the little loves received balloons, teddy bears, and baby pink roses, delivered to Lorene's house....they sure are special!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Let the Sunshine!

Tessa asked me, before her slumber, if we could open the windows and have a cruise. I told her not yet, but spring is coming, maybe not real soon, but that the weather will be warming up in a couple months. I had to capture a photo of her enjoying her nap in the winter sunshine. Our girls are certainly rays of sunshine in our daily lives!

She is at it again...

This little cookie....Loves cookies.... This photos are proof. I found her in the pantry in the vanilla wafers....then, when I ran into the house to get something before we left to go to Grandma's house....she got into the cookie plate from Lorene. She talked Tessa into handing it to her. "I thought she just wanted to hold it"....Look at the smile and the look in those eyes.... Like Daddy Like Daughter!

There is "SO" much snow...

It has was a very snowy week.....But the end result is beautiful. There are piles of snow everywhere! I enjoyed the snow day home with the girls! It is one of the many joys of living in the country...sometimes you are "snowed in" as Tessa calls it. Kevin does an amazing job of plowing! I also don't mind it when he says, "Just stay in with the girls today, there is no where we "have" to be!

There is such a peaceful feeling seeing the calm snow in the morning as the sun is rising. Would living in the south be nice? Yes. but living where the seasons change and your can enjoy all the beauty of each season is where we like it best!

Make-Up Time

The girls are often getting into my make-up, they love it, and they are girls so it is only natural....so, I figured, we should just roll with it. WE all enjoyed make-up time. Kevin walked into the bathroom....smiled, shook his head and chuckled. I told him it is sign of things to come in the future. I can only imagine what make-up time will be like in 12 years or so.... I can clearly remember when I was first able to wear make-up. I had to wait longer than I thought I should have to wait at the time, but it was worth it. Mom and I had a special outing to a store called Lazaurus. Mom took me to the Clinque counter and they did some colors for me. I was able to get some "mild" makeup to wear. I remember treasuring it and making sure I took really good care of it, it was worth the wait. Someday, I will be taking the girls to do the same thing. But, hoping time marches slowly, I will continue to enjoy the girls giving themselves and Mommy "Make-overs" as Tessa calls them.

Time Out....

Well, When Ella gets a time out she is obviously NOT happy! In fact, she even tries to use those adorable crocodile tears to get out of her Time Out. "I get up now Mommy?" Now Daddy on the other hand has NO, strength when it comes to those tears.... I could not resist getting some quick photos of the moment....

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Happy Birthday Grandma! We love you. You are wonderful person, Mom, Mother-in-Law, and Grandma to our girls! It is such a blessing all that you bring to our lives and we are thankful for you on your birthday....and everyday!!