Made Me Smile Monday

{a  snapshot --or two-- from my week. with or without words. something exciting. something ordinary. something special. something silly. just something. that made me smile this week. a memory to brighten my day. to make me smile again. even though it's MONDAY!}


Given a choice between roses and cheesecake, I'll take the cheesecake almost every time! But for the record: given the roses without the choice, I'd be quite delighted as well! But I decided to drop a teeny, tiny a big ole obnoxious hint this year  for the Mr. I think it had more to do with the fact that the closest Cheesecake Factory is more than an hour away, (read: lots of time together, uninterrupted at that) than the cheesecake itself but it was DELISH!

Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake

Throw in some salmon, shrimp and a few hours at IKEA, all with the best looking, most funnest date ever....

...yup, I have plenty to smile about!

Hope your Monday was Grand as well!

Happy Hearts Day (& the battle of the Mamas)

Some days, well, most of them, actually, there is a struggle going on here. A struggle between the rational, conservative, realistic Mama and the idealistic, "sure, why not," over achiever Mama. The rational Mama knows that Mama's can. NOT. do. everything. She knows that sometimes it's just not a good idea to try to squeeze in one more thing. And she knows that everything planned for today's to do list is merely a suggestion and could be over-ridden at any moment. The other Mama, she knows that if she waits until the laundry is finished, the floor are clean and the kids are happy, there will never be a project completed, ever. She knows that sometimes you just have to keep on going when you're beyond exhausted. And she knows that memories do not make themselves. And so goes the constant tug-o-war...do more...don't try to do it all...just one more thing...really, enough is enough...but that would be fun, the kids would love it...but we don't have to do every. single. thing. we see on Pintrest...oh sigh!

This week the "try to do it all" Mama won. There has been years when I suddenly realized that Valentine's day was less then 24 hours away and I had no clue what I was going to do about it. There was the year I joined the throngs of men at the card racks in the Dollar store on Valentines day to purchase cards for my kids and the year I decided at 4:00 p.m. that if I cranked out a heart shaped meatloaf for dinner that that counted as celebrating. This year however I had it in my sights well ahead of time. I think Pintrest is to thank for that. All those organized people pin cool things the first week in January and remind the rest of us that it's coming our way too. But really, you don't HAVE to do all of them!

First there is the matter of valentine's for 6th graders. Apparently there was a meeting held amongst the 6th grade class wherein the decision was made that went something like this, "We're too old for those cutesy little cards that say 'Stuck on You' but we still want the candy!" There are also strict rules as to the usage of hearts. i.e. Moms are supposed to make heart shaped toast for breakfast, but one must n.e.v.e.r give anything to a classmate with a heart on it, because "that's just weird!"

I anticipated at least some of this so I suggested we make something homemade...cookies, brownies, rice krispies (but definitely not cut with heart shaped cutters :) He finally decided on this...

He did all the dipping himself. And did an impressive job of it I must say.

And while we're on the subject of valentines. Somewhere, sometime, someone has upped the ante on kindergarten valentines. Me. I look for the biggest, cheapest box that doesn't have creepy characters on and includes the sought after sugar rush in it's smallest form. Not so with other Moms these days.

This boy came home with a grocery bag of loot today. It's insane! He didn't find it to be over the top at all.

Mama even made a few treats for her friends because little paper polka dot bags are not to be resisted and left on the Hobby Lobby shelves. It just wouldn't be right.

This little project (again courtesy of  the great P) was really much easier than I thought, perfect for the crafty impaired. I avoid paint projects at all costs so they thought they were really living it up.

My mission today was to make every possible heart shaped food. I learned 2 things. #1- It takes A LOT of time to cut everything you eat with cookie cutters. #2 - Valentines just might be the most wasteful day of the year in our house. I felt like I threw so much food away in the form of scraps today. I recycled as much as I could but... I produced heart shaped pb&j for lunch but I did draw the line when the little man wanted me to cut his grapes into hearts too. I even tried the heart shaped hard boiled egg trick but you will not  find any pictures of the results here. *Ahem,* diced eggs are just as tasty!

The requested 'heart shaped toast' for breakfast.

My husband was not home for dinner tonight but I decided to treat these fine little men (and the little miss) to a special dinner.

some were more excited about it than others

raspberry tea

rolls

salad

ham balls (with heart shaped cheese)

heart shaped roasted potatoes

broccoli  

(that's a hard one for the heart shapes too)

heart shaped jello

and

chocolate raspberry trifle 

w/ chocolate covered strawberries 

for dessert.

Mmm!

I think they enjoyed it. The tablecloth sort of stayed on the table (but is now appropriately stained in shades of pink and red.) They only played with the fire (candles) a little bit. And perhaps a manner or two was dusted off and put to use.

And at the end of it all.

This boy declared "I'm stuffed!"

(I did not know that was possible these days!)

And this Mama is exhausted but my heart is happy! The memories are made. The fun has been had. But you can expect the reasonable conservative Mama to talk me out of most anything for the next day or two. Except I should probably still wrap the gift I bought for my Valentine before he comes back tomorrow afternoon.

I've kinda missed him. a little. just a little!

Did you know?

...it's just after 7 p.m. dinner was served and the kitchen cleaned up over an hour ago... little people had already been bathed and jammie clad before that. {my husband rocks!} 

one boy chose to go to bed immediately and listen to music. the other 3 were tucked in at 7. one is still out at the class roller skating party with his dad...my house is really, really, quiet!... i do not really know how to function.

...this family puts away an exorbitant amount of food!! this particular trip should last us most of Feb. but I have my doubts. plus, I see this problem getting {much} worse before it gets better. have to say here though, that I am ever so grateful that there is food and the money it takes to buy it available to me. how heartbreaking is it for a mommy to be completely helpless when her child cries, "I'm hungry mom." It's happening all over the world, we are blessed!

...filler packaging can double as a life preserver? "look mom, now I'm ready to go swim in the pool." {results not guaranteed. do not try this at home.}

...coffee just tastes better in a pretty mug. oh yeah, of course you knew that already.

...this is arguably thee best seat in the house. 

...spring is just around the corner. but I do fear these beauties might not live to see it. and yes, I took that picture this week in my very own front yard.

...being the "waffle maker light watcher" is a job of great prestige and honor. one that is to be taken seriously. especially after one has fought off other kitchen help imposters {who greatly resemble ones little sister.}

...we've taken to money laundering around here. well, actually, it was "give Abe a bath day" at school yesterday. {which really doesn't sound appropriate either....but I assure you no laws were broken and all activities referred to here were of the family friendly nature.} the boy was fascinated. he diligently shined every penny he could find in my house. then he checked what year they were made and which one was oldest/youngest. he figured out how much money he had and that the dirtiest ones were not necessarily the the oldest. and I? I just stood back and watched the little wheels turn in his brain, sent his teacher a thank you email for making learning so much fun for him and then dealt with the smell of vinegar all over the house for a day.

...tomorrow is Wednesday already.

...I do not have much in the line of accomplishment chalked up this week yet.

...I could totally handle a snow delay in the morning.

...that is highly unlikely, given there is no snow in the forecast.

...blessings are being sent to you wherever your week takes you!

What Happens When....

...you realize it's been 2 weeks since you've posted and you really have no idea where the time went? It certainly isn't because you have lots of thrilling adventures to post about now.

**You post anyway about random boring bits of life.

...your computer suddenly refuses to recharge?

**You make lots of coffee, cookies and brownies to serve your little bro and thank God the super glue idea worked and saved you from purchasing a new laptop. True Story!

...you finally find a book that's interesting to the boy?

**You find him reading with a side of eggs and bacon. It must have been a pretty good book!

...a Mommy goes away for a whole weekend?

 **No one even notices that there is all manner of gunk on the bathroom mirror. And certainly no one can explain how people who can barely reach to turn on the faucet can manage to spit toothpaste way. up. there.

**And little girls who used to sleep in cribs are suddenly all grown up and ready for a big girl bed. The crib is dismantled and said Mommy is just a wee bit sad.

**Scrapbook pages are assembled with fervor, 41 to be exact.

 ...the Pintrest crafty bug meets the festive holiday mood?

 **Laundry, cleaning and meal preparations are postponed while the glue, and  scissors are put to work with the help of a coffee mug and flickering candles.

...little girls "do it myself, Mom."

**crazy hair cuteness!

...you find the perfect mirror for your decor at a thrift shop and you have NO IDEA whether your getting completely ripped off or hauling off with a steal?

** You check with Esther, the mirror expert! :) How much would you have paid for her? (she's about 18 inches tall and I think perhaps the frame is resin)

...little boys who are just learning to spell write sweet notes to their mommy?

**You ask them to read it to you before you assume it's a reflection on your bad habits. Ha! Ha! "O, of course you meant 'Dear' Mom!"


...he figures out he can read the whole way through his library book all. by. himself?

 

**You know he'll be busy for a good hour. And you're a proud as punch Mama but a little sad again. Do they all have to grow up? And why so fast?

...the Mister decides he can cut down that tree for less than the $500 the lawn care guy wanted to do it?

** You stay inside and watch from your warm kitchen and make a list of creative ways you could spend that $500 instead. :)

...you stay home a lot and keep plugging away those scrapbook pages?

**you can add another 24 to those first 41 and you start to envision your daughter actually having a scrapbook that is caught up...now about the other 5 books that are still 2 plus years behind. Sigh.

...you stay home a lot and ignore the grocery shopping for a couple of weeks?

**The list is frightenly long and you anticipate it to be an all day project. But cheers to getting back to the once a month shopping plan!

...when you get to the end of long random post?

**If you are not sound asleep and snoring peacefully, you are up to date on life on the funny farm!

He's FOUR

Somebody here turned 4 recently.

 This little guy decided to get in a hurry and showed up almost 3 weeks early. He was a tiny little peanut, only 7 lbs. (Well,  that's 2 lbs. less then some of his siblings so it seemed tiny to us.)

 

Trust me, at the time I didn't mind a bit, but I think he may one day suffer from "I'm the least important child" syndrome because of it. Every year I determine I'm going to remember to plan his party early but there is Christmas and New Year's and then BOOM all of the sudden his birthday is here and....

So we improvise. We had friends over for a football game, 

threw in a dozen balloons, served cake at half time and called it a party.

This is just so Ethan!

(Note to self: Clean camera lens before snapping pictures.)

******

I suggested a train cake. You'll see why in a minute.

If I had known what I was getting in for I may not have tried to be so convincing.

I think this may have been one of the hardest cakes I've made.

The 3D fire truck takes first place but this is a close second.

Food coloring.

Stacking.

Balancing.

Pasting together with icing.

Adding this and that, trying to make it recognizable to the untrained eye.

  He loved it and I was okay with it in the end,

 it just took

      way. to. long.   

You may remember this.

 

A few of the pieces showed up at Chistmas. 

A few still remain in hiding. 

The rest....

....were a big hit!

 With the birthday boy and the brothers.

*******

I didn't actually do a Birthday photoshoot.

 I have these from our Family shoot for Christmas cards.

They were a few weeks early, but I think they count.

 (oops, there's that neglected child thing again! He's a fourth child, what can I say?)

 

  

Happy Birthday Buddy!

********
 

Just one more nostalgic, sentimental picture.

I think this may be my favorite picture ever.

I keep it framed in my living room.

The big brother's are not always this adoring anymore.

Glad I captured it then!

     

 

********

My weekend starts early AND I get the weekend off! 

Yup, I'm a little teeeeeny bit excited!

Happy Friday to you!

Made Me Smile Monday

{a  snapshot from my week. with or without words. something exciting. something ordinary. something special. something silly. just something. that made me smile this week. a memory to brighten my day. to make me smile again. even though it's MONDAY!}

He's handsome.

He's sweet.

He makes me laugh.

He picked his own outfit.

He turned 4 this week.

(real birthday post coming soon)

How to have a Perfect Winter Day

We got just a couple of inches of snow over Christmas vacation. Just enough to keep the kids happy sledding and building a snowman but not enough to require much shoveling efforts from the adults. Perfect!

1. Watch with anxious anticipation as the snow falls. Bonus points if you're still in your pj's!

2. Curl up and color a picture or two. One from your sisters Strawberry Shortcake book will be fine. :)

3. Play a game or 7.

4. Dig out hats, gloves, boots, coats and snow pants (times 5.) Improvise when one child's "pair" of boots are two different sizes. Oops!

5. Add sleds.

6. Be really brave and learn to deal with it when you get snow on your boots. They're called snow boots for a reason dear child!

7. If you choose to pick a fight with Dad brace yourself.

8. And come up smiling!

9. Convince Mom to put down her coffee and drag her off the couch to come out too. Who else is gonna take the pictures??

10. She might even help you make a snow man. [Note to Self: Remember to by 'real' carrots in the winter time, baby carrots just don't make very good 'noses.']

 11. Take some time to enjoy the beauty and play with your camera.

12. Be Thankful for a whole day spent with the people you love the most!


I'm not a huge snow fan but the kids do have fun. This was great because I knew we wouldn't be making up school days in June. I'd be okay with one more decent sized snow storm yet and then it can just instantly be warm and sunny again!

 How about you? Are you praying for a blizzard yet or are 3-4 inches over Christmas more than enough to satisfy you?

Happy Friday!