St. Pattys

Im not a huge St. Pattys person, I don't even really decorate for it.  I normally do a little festive breakfast for the kids..or something like that and that's about it.

This year Brynn was talking about how she hoped she could catch a leprechaun with a trap.

They asked for Lucky Charms last week when I was making my weekly grocery meal plan and since St. Patricks Day was coming I said sure. ;). Lucky for us, the box actually had a trap already made for us...andddd it was a unicorn one! win, win!

Last night we set it up and hoped for the best!

I snuck into their rooms last night after they were asleep and drew little green mustaches on them and one on myself.  Then I sprinkled gold glitter from their beds to the trap.

I left some gold chocolate coins on their night stand and some by the trap with a teeny tiny leprechaun size note saying..."good job try trying to catch me, maybe next year! But, I left you some festive treats!"

I woke up before the girls and sat on the couch waiting for them.  Brynn came out and was so astonished and freaked that I had a mustache!  I said to her," I have a mustache??? you have a mustache!"  She ran to the mirror and was shocked! It was so hysterical.  Her reaction was totally priceless. Jolie was running around screaming" how did this happen!"  It was so funny.

My mom bought them these cute little shamrock tutus that they rocked all week running errands.

Then, we topped off the day by decorating for Easter! haha.

I can't help myself, celebrating one holiday while getting ready for the next! Give me all the holidays!

Steve turns 42

This past weekend we celebrated Steve turning 42.

We had the perfect day. 

We made him a yummy breakfast,  then packed up - stopped and picked up some subs and snacks and headed to the beach for the day.  We've been several times this year already, but this was the best day so yet.  80 and not a single cloud in the sky!  The water was crystal clear and flat, so perfect for the girls.

They played the whole time together in the water while Steve and I actually got to sit in our chairs and talk the whole time.  It was so nice.

We came home and the girls and I made him a cookie cake at his request.

The family came over for beer and pizza.  It was so nice we all sat outside on the patio while the girls played and just talked and hung out.  

Steve treated himself to finally getting scuba certified and buying all his equipment as his gift this year.  The rest of the family gave him diving equipment and gift certificates to fund this new hobby of his.  He is so excited.  I'd say he had a pretty great day.

Valentine's

I put together a really cute and fun "Valentine's" theme school for the girls this year.  I made a bunch of bags and filled them with half Valentine's school work activities and half fun art projects.  They loved taking turns to pick a bag and complete the activities.  It was such a hit I think I may do it again around Easter time.

Our fun play stand had a Valentine makeover again this month...and we dressed up and had a little photo op!

Steve took Brynn to her first Father, Daughter dance and it was so special.  She was so excited and nervous. She told me before they left that she was excited "but still thinking about what moves she was gonna do.  :). Steve and I showed her the "fishing line" dance move and she was so embarrassed and was sure that she was DEFINITELY not going to be doing that move! ahaha. They both got all dressed up and sped off in the "old car."  She will remember this forever, such sweet memories.  I can't wait for both girls to be able to go next year.

This Valentine's I was away in Gulf Shores visiting my grandparents.  Honey had fallen and broken her back again so I went up with my mom and brother.  Steve stayed back with the kids so that I could focus on my family and help out over there.  It was a great trip...we had so much quality time just watching movies and documentaries.  Spent every evening on the porch watching sunsets and talking with our evening cocktails.  We were able to make them yummy dinners and desserts and spoil them a little.  They sure did seem happy to have the company, and Honey was actually in really great spirits and moving around pretty great!  They were just as feisty and funny as ever and really kept up laughing.

At home Steve was holding down the fort.  He really is the best man ever.  He decorated the house the night before for them and laid out their little gifts on the table for when they woke up.  He made them a sweet breakfast of heart pancakes and heart strawberries.  I was so thankful that he went above and beyond to still make their holiday special without me.  It was my first holiday without the girls, but Steve really outdid himself and I don't think they even missed me ;)

January

January came and we spent it taking many rides on our new bikes and also down with a plague of a very bad stomach virus that was passed around.

We began working on the girls "big girl" combined room.  They have been begging to be together for about a year now and finally decided it was a good time. Grammie and Papa gifted them the beds for Christmas.  I really wanted them to have some antique beds so, I kept an eye out until the sweetest set of little twin beds came about.  Steve and I went to pick them up and wouldn't you know it was little old sweet Grandma.  These had been her and her sisters beds when they were 3 and 5 also!  I was so amazed and how that all lined up and knew that were meant to be!  What a treasure and a great story!

So, we have been painting beds and walls, baseboards...doors, you name it!  I am still waiting on bedding, and a few more things that I have ordered to finally finish it all up.  I can't wait to bring it all together.

We had our first real cold front this season and dressed up and did a fire and roasted marshmallows.

In January we studied penguins.

And then bears and hibernation!  We had a teddy bear picnic and a hibernation day at the end of our unit study.

Jolie also got super interested in having her own school.  She has alwaaaays participated with us, she just has to be doing what her big sister is doing at all times.  She's been doing all the crafts and listening to all the stories and in on all the hands on activities for about two years or so now.  But now, she has been asking for her own worksheets.  I picked her up a few workbooks from the dollar store and she flew through them so I ordered her a big fat preschool workbook and she is so proud of it.  It's so cute.