More Projects

{Again - forgotten post, didn't realize I had so many saved as drafts.  This was right at Christmas}

So no, this is not a project, unless you count finally cutting Jonah's hair - but it is just too cute.   I love his smile!

Jonah has been needing a dresser.  I have
n't wanted to spend a lot of money on one.  One night I was on the way to the grocery, talking to my sister on the phone, driving Jeff's truck.  I look over, and see our neighbor 2 doors down is throwing this out!  I stopped and snagged it.  Score!  Got it home and realized why they were tossing it.  Both of the sides were destroyed pretty bad, but we fixed it by putting a sheet of 1/4 in plywood over.  Now I'm painting it - and stressing it.  All that's left is the Polycrylic to protect the paint.  {and to find new hardware}

{UPDATED:}

The start of our new Christmas tradition: Gingerbread houses.  {some of us get more excited and into it than others}

First up: mine - complete with a chimney for the wonderful fires.

Second: Jeff's

He had a Helipad - but a little munchkin kept eating everyone's creations. 

Lastly: Haley's

Jeff called it the compound.  She was oh so proud of it!  And I was too.  We had so much fun decorating them.  Next year we'll start a little earlier, to give us more time to be creative! 

Playing around

{Another forgotten post}

Most days we hang out around the house, usually in pj's for a while.  

 Caitlin LOVES her little brother!  She's taken to guiding him around, watching him, and of course correcting him. :)  This was her attempt to hug him.

Here's Caitlin playing in some pasta.  This was our first day of potty training.  Hit it pretty hard core all day, she got it pretty good.  She just doesn't really come tell me when she has to go.  But as long as I take her about every hour or so, she stays dry!

Right before Easter - we made sugar cookies for a homeless shelter.  Both girls loved cutting out cookies and icing them.  Pretty sure the loved the icing the most! 

Another love hug.

"Thanks Pop!" He loves his monkey.

Caitlin's sweet face

Say Cheese!  Big ole smile!

Jonah's Birthday!

{woops - looks like I forgot to post this - 4 months ago - next post is Caitlin's party}

Caitlin's Third Birthday

We had Caitlin's party today. 

 Rainbows were the theme this year.  Everything was full of color.  Her cake was a 6 tier rainbow cake!  With Cream cheese icing, decorated with different size M&M's.  She loved her cake, which made me smile.  

 We had a rainbow fruit platter.  Complete with fluffy fruit dip as a cloud, and a pot of gold on the other end.

 A very heavy cake.

 Necklaces, horns, hair braids, and lots of candy.

 Jonah was a big fan of the fruit, and we found out he loves Cheeze It's!

 Jeff's mom, Jan got to come in for the day!

 Blowing out the candle!

 Our sweet cousin Ellery and her two cousins came to celebrate with us too!

{note: my girls faces in both pictures}

Easter

So, in the last post you saw the girl's making Easter cookies.  That was about a few days before Easter.  I was excited about Easter this year.  Was looking forward to really celebrating it with the kids.  Saturday night, we went out and did a few things, came home to put the kids in bed.  As Jeff and I were going to bed, I felt bad.  Something just didn't feel right.  By around midnight - I was still lying awake, just wishing I could go on and throw up, when Haley gets up crying.  She ended up throwing up ALL night long.  Pretty sure about every hour she was up, then I was up too.  So our night was horrible.  Needless to say Easter morning/ day was spent with Haley and I in bed.  Fast forward 3 weeks, and we finally were all able to go to church together.  All those Easter outfits we bought were finally able to be worn, and family pictures were taken.  So here's our family.  (and lets just say, Caitlin is her own person - and she's a nut)

Haley - 7 1/2 yrs old

Caitlin - almost 3

Jonah - 15 months

Here are the best two family pictures we got.  Caitlin is just the silliest girl ever.  

American Heritage Girl's Tea Party

A while ago - we went to a tea party with Haley's troop in American Heritage Girls.  We got all dressed up for it.  The older girls in the troop actually planned everything and did all the food/ drinks.  We had fun.  Haley was introduced to typical "tea" food.  Not my favorite either.  And she had to learn about eating small amounts of food, as opposed to loading her plate with all her favorite things there.  She also learned how properly sip her tea (aka - lemonade).  

Making Butter

There are some things that I just want to try doing myself.  No, it's not exactly cheaper or quicker, but sometimes I just like knowing I can do it, I can make something.  So butter is one of those things.  I always thought people who made their own butter were nuts, but oh how I love and dislike you Pinterest.

I found this site, that made it look soo easy.  Well, it was!

You simply start with a carton of whipping cream

Pour it in the wonderful Kitchen Aid, and whip on high

Keep whipping til it starts to seperate and get chunky

Then strain it

And mush out all the extra milk

And then enjoy it on a piece of toast, or anything else you like. 

So there you have it - super easy, only about 15 minutes or so, and butter is made and ready to use.  Pretty good.  I didn't add any salt to it, next time I might.