Marley got to go to a "Fancy Nancy" birthday party at her friend Nina's earlier today. She so loved the fancy rainbow cupcakes!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Chinese New Year celebration
The kids and I took a journey into DC this afternoon to check out the Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown. It was really cool and the kids were so well behaved that I felt as if I'd borrowed someone else's ;) It was hard to get good pictures--I forgot to bring a stroller so my hands were a bit full.
Marley got to go to a "Fancy Nancy" birthday party at her friend Nina's earlier today. She so loved the fancy rainbow cupcakes!
Marley got to go to a "Fancy Nancy" birthday party at her friend Nina's earlier today. She so loved the fancy rainbow cupcakes!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Gotta admit . . .
. . . my girl has a unique sense of style!
She looks like a walking Village People tribute.
She looks like a walking Village People tribute.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Latest Creations from the Snowglobe Asylum
Perhaps I've officially lost it . . . Make sure you have your volume on for the second video.
Another Snowy Day Project
The boys and I have started making a 'school' to go with Marley's dollhouse/Strawberry Shortcake Berry Cafe/wooden castle neighborhood which is currently overtaking the living room. Last night we cut pictures from old magazines that Dave & I were finished reading. Today we started making 'rooms' for our school. Used file folders are serving as the walls, which we've covered with scrapbook paper. I admitted to myself long ago that I'm more of a digital photo book person than a scrapbook person, but unfortunately that admission came after I'd already filled a giant case with pricey papers and stickers. I'm glad to seem them finally being put to use. Our magazine pictures are providing the decorations for the classrooms.
Science classrom
Keller works on the music room
The health clinic waits to be decorated
And when they're all done, we'll clip them at the top with paperclips and make a four-room school that can be changed many times. Best part is that these folders can be stored easily, or can go in the recycling bin when the kids lose interest.
I took this picture out the car window on the way home from a friend's house on Monday afternoon. The calm before this raging blizzard moved into town.
Science classrom
Keller works on the music room
The health clinic waits to be decorated
And when they're all done, we'll clip them at the top with paperclips and make a four-room school that can be changed many times. Best part is that these folders can be stored easily, or can go in the recycling bin when the kids lose interest.
I took this picture out the car window on the way home from a friend's house on Monday afternoon. The calm before this raging blizzard moved into town.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Quality time
When the snow finally stopped last evening (at a whopping 27" in our yard), and we were at last able to put the snow shovel away, everything was just so beautiful outside. Calm, quiet, a beautiful sunset and so much fresh, clean snow!
Today was supposed to be Marley's birthday party, but the weather made it impossible for three of Marley's friends and their moms to make it here. We backed up and punted, so to speak, and ended up having a five hour long party/playdate/sledriding/guitar hero-ing/brunch-and-lunch hoopla with a great family who we've become good friends with since meeting at the bus stop on Keller's first week of kindergarten. We had a yummy brunch, and then all of the guys skidoodled over to a sledding hill so the girls could make necklaces and suncatchers. Here are some highlights:
The snow pictures are super bright--the point-and-shoot camera that I sent with Dave has apparently never seen so much white stuff before!
Speaking of my "little camera", I used it to take some photos from the winter picnic the kids and I took a week or so ago. We went down to Gravelly Point by National Airport, had a picnic in the back of the van, and watched planes take off crazy-close overhead.
Looking back over all of the pictures from the past few weeks, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have these kids, this husband, these friends. . .all of the things that are easy to take for granted because they are always close at hand. Life is good. You will just have to forgive me if I sing a different tune by the time snow days are over and kids are finally back to school ;)
Today was supposed to be Marley's birthday party, but the weather made it impossible for three of Marley's friends and their moms to make it here. We backed up and punted, so to speak, and ended up having a five hour long party/playdate/sledriding/guitar hero-ing/brunch-and-lunch hoopla with a great family who we've become good friends with since meeting at the bus stop on Keller's first week of kindergarten. We had a yummy brunch, and then all of the guys skidoodled over to a sledding hill so the girls could make necklaces and suncatchers. Here are some highlights:
The snow pictures are super bright--the point-and-shoot camera that I sent with Dave has apparently never seen so much white stuff before!
Speaking of my "little camera", I used it to take some photos from the winter picnic the kids and I took a week or so ago. We went down to Gravelly Point by National Airport, had a picnic in the back of the van, and watched planes take off crazy-close overhead.
Looking back over all of the pictures from the past few weeks, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have these kids, this husband, these friends. . .all of the things that are easy to take for granted because they are always close at hand. Life is good. You will just have to forgive me if I sing a different tune by the time snow days are over and kids are finally back to school ;)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Still snowing . . . .
Wow. I remember blogging once about how I felt like my kids get cheated out of a REAL winter like I had growing up in Western PA. I guess I'll have to eat my words today. Holy shnikey. Here's what we're doing to keep busy:
First order of the day was to head outside to survey the situation and clear a proper potty spot for my favorite four-footed picky pooper. The snow was beyond belief and it was so quiet except for trees literally groaning under the weight of the snow. Dave had shoveled at 6:00, 8:00, 10:00, and midnight last night. . .but it was hardly obvious this morning when I trudged out there at 8am. We had 17 1/2" in the lowest part of the yard by then.
The boys and I got to work on some mad science projects:
Following a tip I got last winter from a bloggy friend who has tons of cool sanity-preserving craft activities at http://www.pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/
the boys spray painted the snow. We broke small chunks off of old water color paint pellets, dissolved them in water in squirt bottles, and off they went.
And of course we celebrated Marley's big 3rd birthday with presents and rice krispy treats. She was supposed to have a Princess Brunch tomorrow morning with 4 friends and their mommies, but it looks like Dave & the boys will be donning the pink crowns and enjoying some yummy parfaits and strawberry muffins instead!
I feel the need to brag on my boys a little bit here re: the dollhouse. About a month ago, I found this awesome Loving Family dollhouse on craigslist. Marley has played with similar sets at school and at friends' houses, so I knew she would love it. I talked to the boys and explained that if we wanted to buy this dollhouse and accessories for Marley at the toy store, the cost would be $150 or more for everything, but if we bought an "already-loved" set from craigslist, we could get it all for $40. My thrifty little boys were like, "Well, duh" and off we went to pick up the used set. We kept it hidden until a few nights ago when we cleaned every piece and wrapped it all up for her while she was sleeping. She was so surprised and happy with her dollhouse, and I think the boys got a nice lesson in shiny and new vs. a good deal!
Last photo of the afternoon is of the white board where I'm keeping track of earned/used screen time for the boys. See if you notice anything suspicious. . .
First order of the day was to head outside to survey the situation and clear a proper potty spot for my favorite four-footed picky pooper. The snow was beyond belief and it was so quiet except for trees literally groaning under the weight of the snow. Dave had shoveled at 6:00, 8:00, 10:00, and midnight last night. . .but it was hardly obvious this morning when I trudged out there at 8am. We had 17 1/2" in the lowest part of the yard by then.
The boys and I got to work on some mad science projects:
Following a tip I got last winter from a bloggy friend who has tons of cool sanity-preserving craft activities at http://www.pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/
the boys spray painted the snow. We broke small chunks off of old water color paint pellets, dissolved them in water in squirt bottles, and off they went.
And of course we celebrated Marley's big 3rd birthday with presents and rice krispy treats. She was supposed to have a Princess Brunch tomorrow morning with 4 friends and their mommies, but it looks like Dave & the boys will be donning the pink crowns and enjoying some yummy parfaits and strawberry muffins instead!
I feel the need to brag on my boys a little bit here re: the dollhouse. About a month ago, I found this awesome Loving Family dollhouse on craigslist. Marley has played with similar sets at school and at friends' houses, so I knew she would love it. I talked to the boys and explained that if we wanted to buy this dollhouse and accessories for Marley at the toy store, the cost would be $150 or more for everything, but if we bought an "already-loved" set from craigslist, we could get it all for $40. My thrifty little boys were like, "Well, duh" and off we went to pick up the used set. We kept it hidden until a few nights ago when we cleaned every piece and wrapped it all up for her while she was sleeping. She was so surprised and happy with her dollhouse, and I think the boys got a nice lesson in shiny and new vs. a good deal!
Last photo of the afternoon is of the white board where I'm keeping track of earned/used screen time for the boys. See if you notice anything suspicious. . .
Friday, February 5, 2010
Quick catch up in prep for Snowpocalypse 2 pics
I'm sure I'll have lots of good pictures from the coming weekend, as we're expecting over a foot of snow and it's Miss Marley's 3rd birthday. So . . .here are some pics from the last few weeks.
We had a January day when the temps reached 64, so we headed over to the Gildeas for some cul-de-sac craziness:
I took Marley outside in a really pretty traditional Chinese dress for a mini photo shoot. You can't tell from the pictures, but it was only about 45 degrees outside. I just kept telling her that 'beauty hurts'. Bad Mommy!
The kids had a snow day on Wednesday and had a good time rolling giant snow balls in the yard. Marley just stood out there and ate the snow forever. Wait until they wake up in the morning--it'll be knee deep for them!
I made a trip to the craft store yesterday to stock up on some supplies to keep little hands and minds busy during the snow storm. We made some Bikini Bottom Buddies to start off the claytivities. We also made homemade 'gak' with corn starch but there are no photos because I spent 20 minutes cleaning the gunk off of every square inch of the kids and the kitchen!
We had a January day when the temps reached 64, so we headed over to the Gildeas for some cul-de-sac craziness:
I took Marley outside in a really pretty traditional Chinese dress for a mini photo shoot. You can't tell from the pictures, but it was only about 45 degrees outside. I just kept telling her that 'beauty hurts'. Bad Mommy!
The kids had a snow day on Wednesday and had a good time rolling giant snow balls in the yard. Marley just stood out there and ate the snow forever. Wait until they wake up in the morning--it'll be knee deep for them!
I made a trip to the craft store yesterday to stock up on some supplies to keep little hands and minds busy during the snow storm. We made some Bikini Bottom Buddies to start off the claytivities. We also made homemade 'gak' with corn starch but there are no photos because I spent 20 minutes cleaning the gunk off of every square inch of the kids and the kitchen!
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