Girls and Spring

I had to take a picture of Emma and Ashley's cute hair this morning, but I couldn't find my camera, and the camera on my phone did quite do it, darn! They are just going to school every day, they have had a couple of snow days, which we love, its nice to have them around.

Ryan is staying here for a couple of days snowmobiling,til his heart is content! (I hope anyway). All the kids keep wondering when he will be home, Justin says he really, really, misses Dad!

We are getting ready for our Spokane trip next week, we are starting to get packed. Mom said it was 53 degrees there yesterday and she sent this picture of spring flowers already coming up!

We are still planning, needing more snow here, I think it will be a while before we see any daffodils! Think SPRING!

DR. Visits and Christmas Shopping

Kind of a different day! Justin was up all night with an ear ache, we are no stranger to those so this morning we went first thing to the doctor. How did we guess it? Poor kids ear was bright red inside, so we were sent to get an antibiotic. I cant just go to town and not shop right?! I was happy to get Christmas PJs for next year at 80% off! Woo hoo! and a couple of other fun deals too. We are going swimming tonight for family night, we shouldn't be going because of colds and ear infections, but we have all just been DIEING to go and Ryan finally committed to go too! Should be fun!

Another Before and After

My latest thrift store find, I have a stark white un-decorated basement that needs some major help! I just cant decide what I want to do with it, I like EVERY color too much, decisions, decisions. This sofa table will have to be a small start.

I had lots of great help too! After we painted it white I put a glaze on it, Ashley came up and said "what is all the dirt on it?" Then Emma two minutes later, "what happened to it mom?" Yeah.....we all aren't sure if we love it or not, It looks pretty cool, I'm just not quite sure......nothing a little more paint cant fix right! I also placed the little black table in the living room, I posted a picture back there.

Thursday is Story Time!

Today was story time. We had a fun time as usual, lots of songs, stories, activities,cookies, and friends! What a fun morning!

A Little Project

Trying to keep busy around here, January just seems to drag......also sick kids......I cursed myself with yesterdays post about good health, figures.

I bought this little table a couple months ago at a second hand store for 35 bucks,

Now where to put it.......

Where it has landed, for now anyway!

Wintery Days

We just got back from our annual Telford family snow trip. It was great, I cant find my camera though so I will post it later. We are glad to be home!
We have been good, nothing exciting, everyone seems healthy for a little while, which is nice! We haven't been having any snow, which is scary, we need the water!
Ashley and Emma had parent teacher conferences and both had great reports. Ashley tested the top of her class in reading and comprehension. She is a book worm! Her teacher had nothing but good to report about her. We are quite proud of our Ash! She is enjoying primary activity days, she sewed a pillow for her bed. I love that she is interested in all things domestic! She will be a good little mamma some day!
Emma's reports were great too. She told me she was not number one in her class, she is number 3, which she is perfectly happy with! Her teacher said she was a model student and she could have 17 Emma's, Ryan and I about DIED! One Emma is enough for this world! Emma apparently is very well behaved and always does what is asked.....what are we doing so wrong at home?? She really is getting better, she just likes to be heard I guess!
Justin is good too, he is still struggling in primary, he was on great behavior in Arco when I wasn't in primary...imagine that! He is trying hard to not be so naughty!
This morning I heard Claire in her bed lights still out, say "my mom said I can go swimming" maybe a dream about swimming? She loves to swim and wants to go really bad, we need to go I guess! She is doing just great on her potty training. She is a happy little girl!
Ryan somehow through a interesting chain of events has been dairying the last couple of days. IT STINKS! Literally, I couldn't believe how bad his clothes, boots, and gloves just reak! There was not enough febreeze in the bottle! How did we live with that stench for 7 YEARS??? interesting.....He is still enjoying his church calling, and I love having his help in primary.
We don't have any plans for the next two weeks so it should be pretty good/boring around here for a while. We go to Spokane the first of February, should be fun, it always is, the kids will stay with Grandma Nielson and get to see some cousins. We are praying for snow.........such mixed emotions!

A Big Help

Yesterday Ashley came home early from school (she was supposedly sick) but I LOVED having her home, she is such a hard worker. I don't know where she came from, but I love it! She kept track of Claire for me, our living room never got messy because she kept it picked up all day! I think I could get used to this! This morning she was up at 6 am and got herself in the shower and was all ready for school before I even got out of bed! I wonder what she needs a mom for??? I love my big girl helper!

My New Favorite Things

I have been enjoying my most favorite Christmas present, this really cool Cricuit! I have used it like 10 times this week already, what did I do with out it! It cuts out letters and shapes, (and more) I have been using it to make our bulletin boards in Primary. I LOVE IT! My other most favorite thing are some yummy peanut butter brownies, (I would post a picture, but they are all gone!)I have made them 3 times this week! (I did give 1 and 1/2 pans away though) Thanks for sharing that super fattening recipe with us Trish! They are just DELICIOUS!

First Week of January

We have been rather un eventful at our house this week. I did a little after Christmas shopping and got my tree for next year at a great price and lots of other Christmas decor I am excited about. I bought this cute little 3 dollar dress for Claire, I thought Emma could enjoy the little doll dress for her new doll but she insisted on wearing Claire's dress as a shirt.

I can tell we are going to have some really fun teenage years in the clothing department! I want to get going on some projects around this house. I have a table I bought months ago that needs a new coat of paint. I just have to brave the walk out to the shed to work on it. It is windy so it feels really cold here. Ryan is busy keeping cows in and cellars running. Mike, Aaron, and Mark are all down in Florida for Potato meetings. Again we chose to stay home instead of going to sunny Orlando, We are CRAZY! Ash came home from school this morning with a tummy ache, she seems fine to me, we are all having a hard time getting back into life. Hopefully something exciting will happen around here so I can record it! The January blahs are setting in!

Were BACK

From our fun Christmas/New Years trip. We went to a cabin in Cascade with all of our Nielson Family. We had a great time sledding, eating, snowmobiling, visiting, hot tubbing, ping ponging, wii, and lots of other fun! We are glad, I think to be home. Christmas always passes to quickly. I have gobs of pictures that wont post, imagine that! Time to get back to real life.....