our weekend

Just a few fun things going on around here this weekend.  On Saturday, I did a little shopping {& a lot of looking} with Collin, Lydia & my sister Carol in the morning while Dan, Evan & Gpa Joe went looking at 4 wheelers.  Lydia is not a good shopper right now.... she doesn't want to stay sitting in that cart... it's much more fun to run wildly through the isles while mommy runs after you.  Her favorite thing was the dollar isle at Target, since they have lots of Sesame Street stuff right now.  Collin likes to go shopping to pick out his own clothes right now, so he got to pick out a new shirt & tie to wear for Easter & to his Invent Iowa event next week.  Evan had a good time, but his main goal was to go to cash in some cans & bottles to save up for various wants {he just realized you can get some pretty good money from those things & is prompting Dan to drink more Mountain Dew}.  

On Saturday afternoon, we went to our niece Ashlyn's baptism.  Dan was asked to be the godfather, which he readily said yes.  I'll have to try to post a picture later.  We were excited to get to see some of Dan's family, which we haven't seen since Thanksgiving.  Of course, Ashlyn has grown & changed like crazy.  She has been sick with RSV, so we were very happy she was well & was in such a good mood!  Lydia was very intrigued by her.  I think they'll have some good times with each other.  Of course we were able to see Dan's brother Luke & sis in law Barbara {Ashlyn's mommy & daddy} & Dan's twin sister Donna {who was the godmother}, her hubby Kevin & their cute boys John & Paul.  Their boys are close in age to Collin & Evan, so they always have a good time when they get to see each other.  We all gathered for a great supper afterwards thanks to Gpa Joe & Gma Bev.  

Sunday we did more cleaning around the house {still not done!}.  I'm trying my hardest to consolidate my scrapbooking & art stuff into one armoire.  I was happy to send lots of stuff my niece Payton's way.  Hopefully that will equal a few babysitting sessions!  Trying to add some hints of spring around the house.  Some things will double for decorations for Lydia's birthday party in March, so I think I'll have fun with it.  Planning on using some of the new Reminisce Easter & Valentine's papers for some of the decorations... the Easter has alot of great colors of dots, which I love.  Collin has been working on his shoebox for valentine's at school & using the valentine's papers & stickers as well.  I'm hoping to make up a few Valentine's for some special people with it also!

Congratulations Collin!

Yesterday Collin had his Invention Convention at school... when I got there it was a popular spot to be for the kids, because he was giving them cookies as he showed them how to dispense them.  He was getting slightly annoyed by the fact that he had gone through almost 2 packages & everyone was still asking for a sample!  When he got home yesterday afternoon he was excited to tell me that he had moved on the the next level, the judges had chosen only 9 people from his class to go on.  So, on the 17th, he'll show his cookie dispenser in Burlington at the next level.  We're very proud!  YAY Collin!  Oh, & how about that problem... pretty funny.

25 things about me...

I've seen many people doing this lately... thought I'd play along.

1.  I'll be married to Dan 15 years in July.... we got married when I was only 19 {ahhh, young love!}

2.  I always wanted a baby with Dan's dimples & Lydia's the first to show hints of them

3.  Green is my favorite color {Collin & Evan's too}

4.  I love antique furniture, especially pine that has old paint in cool colors

5.  Idea books & magazines are a weakness of mine... they get my creative juices going

6.  I've had my work published in a few magazines & would really like to have the time to submit more

7.  I am a horrible decision maker

8.  I could live on ice cream alone.... oh & mom's cinnamon pie crust

9.  One of my favorite things to do is to have heart to hearts with Collin {he's quite the sensitive guy}

10.  I really want to decorate our bedroom so we can relax & enjoy it

11.  I hate being late for anything

12.  I love the heated seats in my car

13.  I have a weakness for little girl clothes & shoes

14.  Over the last 9 months I've lost 20 pounds

15.  I wish I had enough money to pay someone to finish all of our home improvement projects

16.  I love our house {finished or not}

17.  I worry about everything {mostly about the kids}

18.  I've had 3 C-sections + my gall bladder out & don't want to have anymore surgeries {me+anesthesia=sick}

19.  I like a clean, organized house, but HATE cleaning

20.  I enjoy cooking & trying new recipes, but wish someone would do the dishes when I'm done

21.  I want to start doing more original artwork for our house & for people who are close to us... it clears my mind & gets ideas flowing

22.  The Office is my favorite show

23.  I love how my family makes a big deal out of every birthday & holiday.  Some of my favorite memories as a kid {& adult} are having these special times.  I want to create the same memories for my kids.

24.  Target is my weakness... if I don't get there at least once a week I get a little antsy

25.  Since graduating from college I've worked at a frame shop, sold crafts, sold scrapbook tags on ebay, been a stay-at-home mom & now a full time designer for Reminisce.

shhh.... don't tell

So, our little Lydie is soon to be 2 {boo hoo} in a little more than a month.  Of course she has lots of toys & books, etc., so I've been thinking of what Dan & I want to give her for her birthday.  I decided after much looking to try to put together a color, design scheme for her room.  I'm a horrible decision maker & I have seen so many cute ideas for little girls rooms.  Every time I go to Target I get a different idea!  Yesterday I quick ran into Bed, Bath & Beyond before I came home & found this super cute quilt on clearance & thought it would be perfect for her room.  Now, maybe I can really start pulling it all together with the colors.... or maybe I should get one of those cute quilts on Etsy.....

Spring cleaning {house & mind}

Dan & I put forth a good effort over the weekend towards getting the house cleaned & organized.  I think it will span over the next several weeks, but we moved around some furniture, moved out some furniture & are just trying to de-clutter in general.  We seem to have a hard time keeping up with all "stuff" that enters our house & it quickly buries us, making everyone frustrated.  Trying to figure out things that will work for us & streamlining what we keep to make life easier.  I've been feeling way to stressed about kids, kids school work, housekeeping, just everything for some reason, so Dan & I have decided to try to make things easier on ourselves & try to enjoy our home more & enjoy our kids more.  They are growing up way to fast & I'm finding myself really trying to relish in all those little moments....

Speaking of kids, they were more than happy to spend some time outside over the weekend.  With some nearly spring like weather on Saturday, Evan found himself in the mud, they all ran around on the porch & the boys broke out the scooters & Lydia loved running & riding her little trike around the porch.  It's supposed to be cold this week, but just those little spurts of nice weather are so awesome!  

Collin enjoyed some "Evan free time" on Friday night & Saturday, staying over w/ G&G Klesner & going shopping & to a RV show!  It was his reward for getting 100% on 3 tests!  Way to go Collin.  Lydia also got some time away on Sunday with G&G.  We needed to get some work done & they haven't got to spend much time with her lately, so they were entertained yesterday with Lydia chatter & I'm sure they used the word "no" more than once or twice!  Thanks G&G.