Exactly one week ago

I was off from work and took a very rare day to myself to go to the mall and treat myself to lunch. I even actually read the newspaper! Beyond words, really. I was sure to come home bearing treats and found the boys in heaven parked n front of the window watching the tree trimmers in the front yard. Today, a week later, I am back to work and dealing with crabby boys who have both been a bit sick and who seem to be on a sleeping strike. Yuck.

Baby Gift

Our newest niece was born back on February 1st, but due to so much sickness running through this house it was nearly three weeks before I finally got to meet her and love her up. Back in January I had made these little blankies for her and was so excited to finally be able to give them to her. That orange flannel blanket with giant ric rac just may be my favorite sewing project to date.

Into the box

I'm packing away this year's Valentines into everyone's memory boxes and had to smile at just how sweet something as cute as kids' thumbprints can be. Beck's little smudgy one is just so perfectly him.

inspiration via Pinterest, of course

Love this

Beck is nearly 2 and I have never dressed him and Anderson alike, mainly because I have just never thought to. But Gabe and the boys surprised me at work on Valentine's Day and they were twinsies. So cute. That afternoon we went on a walk and they stopped at the end of the street for a rest and to just be goofy. A low quality phone picture, but one of my most recent favorites.

Giving up

As of Wednesday I have given up sweets for Lent and I have been craving them every hour day since. I think I'm having ice cream withdrawals. Seriously. From every night to none? Surely I should have begun the process of weening a week ago. I'm not so secretly  counting the days until I can have a piece of birthday cake (29!) to celebrate Anderson turning 4 (because I make my own rules and I say everyone in the family eats cake!). Now that I write that, it seems like a really far way off. Hmm.

And if that weren't sacrifice enough, I have also put myself back on the same TV diet from last year and added a new sacrifice into the mix which I'm referring to as the "social media diet". Using the phone or computer in front of the boys to quickly check updates on Instagram or Facbook has become a bad habit that needs to stop. So the phone gets put away when they are awake, only to be used for making or responding to calls or answering text messages (not in their presence). So far it's been totally painless, despite the numerous missed calls and texts from Gabe. I guess if my phone is not going to be near me I should probably at least turn on the ringer.

Part of the purpose for making such sacrifices is to challenge yourself to break bad habits and improve your quality of life in the process. Last year's TV diet resulted in a new found love for reading and I've read every single night since, finishing more books in the last year than in probably all of my twenties. And while I know that I will never give up sweets (that's just ridiculous, really), I do hope that I learn to not be so mindless in my use of technology in front of the kids. It's too easy, really, to become enslaved to such unimportant nonsense. A student told me the other day that it takes 30 days to break a habit, I am hoping he is right.

Out-takes

Enjoying the out-takes from our little make-shift Valentine's photo session. Beck is not one for cooperating these days. I also realized I forgot to post the address labels from the finished product. They might just be my favorites yet (even if the colors here look off).

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love this day. And I love these two. So very, very much. Their Daddy isn't half bad, either.

p.s. It's crazy to me how much Beck has grown since last year's card!

Dino-mite Valentines

I'm not at all opposed to store-bought Valentines, but I am pretty sure I only have about a year or two before Anderson wants to ditch the homemade variety in favor of those with his favorite characters and catchy phrases. So until then I am all too happy to make them myself. With only 12 kids in his class it was easy to make not only little Valentines to pass out, but treat bags stuffed with pink heart-shaped rice krispie treats and chocolate chip cookies as well. What kid doesn't want a treat with their Valentine?

Because this is his first year in school, it was the first time he got to not only choose his design (as if there were any question it would be dinosaurs) and sign the back of each one (well, more like scribble, but it was very thoughtful, to be sure). I love that he was excited to participate. And I love that he came home with a bag full of little cards that we sat down and went through together. That was always the best feeling growing up- so much love!

Sneak peek

We can't wait to meet our newest cousin/niece! I may have even made her a little something.

Sunday Afternoon

It was cold and overcast and we had absolutely no plans but to enjoy our day. For a while there was no one but us as we slid, ran, and moved from swing to swing. And oh my gosh, when did Anderson become such a big boy who can swing all by himself and even push his little brother?! It had been months since I thought about bringing my camera and I am so glad I did. These are my favorite days to remember.