Snowmobiling

For Valentine's day Ryan gave me a card with a special certificate inside. It was for an evening of snowmobiling and dinner at Paulina Lake lodge. So last weekend we got a babysitter and headed out to 10 mile snow park. The guide met us there and put us on a brand new 2009 snowmobile. It was a fun trip up to the lodge. I have never been on a snowmobile. The scenery was spectacular and the dinner was great, we both got prime rib. It was a fun night and I can't wait to go snowmobiling again.

School Rummage Sale

This weekend was the school Rummage sale. We spent Thursday and Friday going through all our stuff looking for things to donate. At first I felt bad because we wouldn't have much to donate especially after the kids "toy" sale in January. But when I went through their clothes and our junk closet I came up with over 100 items. It feels so good to get rid of stuff. I volunteered Friday evening when they were accepting donations. I spent the time unpacking boxes full of stuff and setting them out on tables. There was so much stuff! I set aside some books and a couple of toys for the kids. Then I went back this afternoon and was impressed by how much was sold in the morning. I mostly folded clothes and packed the things that didn't sale back into boxes to be dontated to St. Vincents. It was actually pretty fun volunteering and I met a couple other moms that have kindergarteners and are involved in the school.

I also found out that I am in charge of the carnival part of the school Bingo Carnival night in April. I was actually working on the flyer and sent it to the PTA president with a note about helping with the carnival. She responded that the person in charge could no longer do it and asked if I could be in charge. I said yes then wondered what I got myself into. I was fortunate to meet the woman that coordinated it for the past couple years and it sounds like she was pretty organized and will pass the folder on to me. I guess that gives me a project for March.

Lucky to Pay It Forward

I took a challenge to Pay It Forward. Here's how it works: The first five people to leave a comment on this blog post will receive something made by me. However, there are some limitations:
1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done this year, 2009.
4. You have no clue what it is going to be...I may bake something and mail it to you . Who knows? Not you that's for sure! LOL!
5. I reserve the right to do something weird or funny.

Here is the catch, if you choose to do this...You must post this on your blog and be ready to make something for five people too. Ha! Ha! You will be Lucky to pay it forward! This will be fun! When you receive the fabulous item I make you, you must post a picture of it on your blog. Not because I am so awesome, but because that is part of the rules. (Although, sometimes I can be sooo awesome! LOL!) If I do not know you and do not have your address, be prepared to give it up if you want the goods. If you do not wish to give a total stranger your personal address, I will move on to the next post. Do you wanna be LUCKY and play Pay It Forward?

100 Days of School

This week was Ellie's 100 day of school. Her class celebrated with a party and each kid brought in a collection of 100 things. Ellie chose to make 100 paper cranes (thanks Marty for the idea). She actually only made one and assisted on a couple others. It was quite a task but it was fun and the end result spectacular. Ellie did thread them on a string and they are hanging in her teachers classroom for a while.

Ellie also recieved her 2nd Accelerated Reader diploma. It is a reading program her school does. They read books, take tests and earn points. As they accumulate points they move their "guy" to different colleges around the school. Once they have gone to all the colleges they earn a diploma. The principal came into Ellie's class and presented her with her 2nd diploma and a college pen. Her class also gave her 2 rounds of applause. Ellie was so excited. Now she is wondering what they do for the 3rd diploma! Keep up all the great reading Ellie!!!

Presidents Day

Ellie had the day off from school so I took them to the Childrens Museum. We haven't been there in about a year and the kids have been asking to go. It was great. Ellie and Caden pretty much went off on their own and I just followed Max around. It is a great set up and small enough to see into all the exhibits from the center of the museum. Max really enjoyed the painting (well dipping the paintbush into the water) and the gears. We are FINALLY starting to be able to do things that everyone can enjoy w/o bringing along a stroller, diaperbag, and everything else. The kids did so well that Ryan met us for lunch at Flatbread Pizza. It is a fun new restaraunt in the Old Mill. The kids can make their own pizza and watch them put it in the big brick oven. Very yummy and fun. It was a geat day and it got me excited to get out and do things this summer as a family.

Max was so tired from all the excitement he fell asleep in his high chair while I was making dinner. He only had a little snack and the next thing I knew he was asleep. A first for this little guy.

Valentines Day

As everyone knows we love to celebrate holidays. We started Valentines Day off with heart shaped pancakes and strawberries. We had the table decorated with V-day balloons, flowers, chocolates and we all got new webkinz. I got the love monkey and Ellie got the love frog. Caden got a dog and Ryan a silverback gorilla. Max just got a couple of books. We had fun just spending the day together as a family. For dinner we ordered a heart shaped pizza. Then Ryan and I went to a party for chocolate fondue and the Trulywed game. It was a lot of fun. Happy Valentines Day everyone! Love to all my family and friends.

Grandma's visit

My mom came out to visit Saturday the 6th. We picked her up from the airport and the kids were so excited to see her. Sunday morning Ellie came down with a high fever and a really bad cough, she was so miserable. Ellie was sick for my mom's entire visit and pretty much just layed on the couch and watched t.v. for the week. I felt so bad for her. She wanted to be better and do fun things with Grandma. So, we basically just hung out at home with my mom. Her and I went to a couple movies in the evening. We made Valentine cookies and helped the kids with all their school valentine cards. Of course when my mom left Friday morning Ellie was finally feeling well enough to go to school. Grandma was able to come visit Ellie's classroom before I took her to the airport. Everyone was sad to see her go and wish she could of stayed longer.

Maxwell's 2nd Birthday

Max turned 2 on Jan. 30th! He has been growing and learning at an amazing speed since right around his birthday. He learns new words every day and is actually able to communicate what he wants. It has been so awesome! He is a much happier boy and I am a much happier mom. And since he has been a lot less frustrated he has been a lot more cute. He loves to color and read books. He loves his doggy and loves to give it kisses. He likes to copy what you say. His new favorite word is snack. He and Caden are starting to have a lot of fun together (especially at bedtime). He even went up to Ryan today and said love you and gave him a kiss on his leg.

For his birthday I took the kids to Kiddoz. It is an indoor play center. http://www.kiddozplaycenter.com/

Ryan left work early and met us there. Then we came home and had is favorite dinner, waffles and strawberries. Yummy. It was a nice low key birthday, just the way he likes things.