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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April Adventures

Can you believe it's the last day of April today?  This year is going by so fast.  It doesn't help that it JUST started warming up outside (and by the way, rain/snow mix in the forecast for May 1st, 2nd and 3rd, what? yuck!).  Well anyway, I thought I'd post some pictures of some of the fun adventures we've had this past month. 

Holding Hands (This is Elijah's new 'thing'.  He wants to hold hands with us and walk everywhere together.  Sooo sweet!).



Wrestling



Playdates with friends




Dancing



Baking







Children's Museum




(Elijah was upset when someone wanted to share the bubbles, but he got over it quickly.  I just had to show you his pouty face though!)








Skyping with Daddy (we miss you lots!!)



Backyard fun!






Hope your April was filled with fun!

P.S. Matt, you've been gone now for 19 days, the longest we've been apart in over six years.  I miss you so much, and I can hardly contain my excitement about seeing you in a few days!  Safe travels love!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Friday Letters

Dear Matthew, you are so missed around here.  I am so excited to show you all the work I've gotten done around the house, and so excited to enjoy the backyard as a family when you get home!  I am so thankful for all that you do for this family.  You are awesome and I love you more than frozen hot chocolate on a warm summer day:)  Dear Debbie and Al, we miss you!  So excited to see you this coming week and hear all about your fun vacation.  Have I told you both lately how much I love you and appreciate all that you do for me? Thank you for being such a blessing in my life.  Love you more than HGTV:)  Dear Traci and Julie, thank you for agreeing to start our bookclub together.  These last six months have been so much fun and I love having an excuse to hang out with you both!  (And the reading is pretty fun too!)  Love you both more than coffee AND lemon bars:)  Dear Mom, you are a rockstar.  You are so busy and yet still have time to spend with me and the kids.  Your help and support has meant more to me than words can say.  You are so selfless and giving.  Thank you.  I love you more than chinese food and caramel frappes.  Dear Emily, thank you for being such a great friend.  I love our 'playdates' with the kids.  Your schedule is always packed, and you still make time for me.  Thank you for that.  You are a huge blessing in my life and I am so thankful for you.  Love you more than Spring pedicures and girl time!   Dear Babe, yes, you get two.  Because you are just that special to me.  I miss watching movies with you.  I miss noticing something funny and getting that look from you because you were thinking the EXACT same thing.  I miss your hugs.  I miss your laugh.  I MISS YOU.  Come home soon love.  I call dibs on the first hug. 
 I love you more than peanut butter loves chocolate. 

Monday, April 22, 2013

Fried Cheerios and Chocolate Shakes: It's a Family Thing

When my brother Shawn and I were growing up, we had a fun meal we would have with our mom when our dad was out of town.  Fried Cheerios and Chocolate shakes.  Fried Cheerios?!?  I know, it sounds crazy, right?  But don't knock it until you've tried it!  My mom had a friend growing up whose family would make fried cheerios.  So she made them for Shawn and me, and now...the tradition continues:) 

This past weekend my mom and brother and I decided that we would have a fried cheerios and chocolate shake night.  Shawn's girlfriend Heather came too.  Don't worry, we invited my dad too, and don't worry, I made dinner for everyone (not just cheerios!).  Anyway, Dad decided not to participate in the cheerios and shakes, but the rest of us enjoyed them very much!  So here's how to make them:


You'll need the original Cheerios, butter, and a frying pan.  Melt the butter over medium/low heat, add in the cheerios (about 2 tablespoons of butter per cup of cheerios), and toss continually as they brown.  Make sure they get evenly coated with butter.  Watch carefully, they burn easily.  Once they've become toasted, serve warm!  Best with homemade chocolate shakes:)



Chocolate shake time:)

Shawn, Heather, and Bella

Elijah was a big fan of the fried cheerios

My Dad, Tom

Bella, me and my mom, Jody

Gotta love that grin!!

What fun food traditions do you have in your family?

Friday, April 19, 2013

House Project: Sun Room Addition

My (amazing) husband recently helped my parents complete a sun room addition/remodel on their home.  I wanted to show you all of his hard work and what a great job he did!  (And by the way, I can't wait until he builds one onto our house!!)

My parents home was built 20 years ago in 1993. When it was built they had a solarium off the back of the kitchen (next to the deck).  I don't have any great pictures of it, but here's one.  It was basically walls up about two feet, then windows all the way up and windows for a ceiling. 

Fast forward 20 years.  Last summer they had their siding redone, and at that time found out that the solarium had severe problems coinciding with water damage.  They decided to redo the entire room, opting to make it a sun room with a roof instead of all windows.  This way it would be more usable all year long (not so hot in the summer and cold in the winter).  Matt volunteered to help them plan and complete the project. 

Here are some pictures of the process.















Here's the end result (so far).  Matt's part is done.  My mom and brother are planning on completing the rest themselves.  The siding will go up next, then the inside will be insulated, sheet rocked, floored, painted, and trimmed. Matt already ran the electrical, so they will just need to pick out a light fixture to install.  They are hoping to use the space as a game room/conversation area with a great view no matter where you sit! 

Doesn't my husband do amazing work??  If you'd like to hire him for a project you can let me know:) (Don't worry Debbie and Al, you are first on the list!).  He's a very busy man, but he loves to do this type of work.  We already have lots of plans for our house as well!

I hope you are having a wonderful week! 

(It is April 19th today.  It has snowed for the past two days straight, with snow totals around 14 inches so far.  I just thought I should have this on record so when my family protests when I want to move South, I have evidence of why!)

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Sidewalk Chalk

This past Thursday and Friday (April 11th and 12th), it snowed between 6 and 8 inches here.  Yes, that's right. It's April.  And it's snowing.  We are not happy about it.  A few days before the snow came, the kids and I went out and enjoyed an afternoon with sidewalk chalk.  It was still a pretty chilly day (high of 46), but after being cooped up all winter, we were willing to bear a little cold to get outside:)







(Here's the snow that was left before the latest snowstorm)

Elijah tried the chalk, but he was most interested in walking up and down this little lip in cement.  Very exciting:)

Bella decided to stomp in the snow for a while


And here's what it looked like just a few days later :(


I didn't want to leave you with a picture of winter-y snow, so here are some tulips I bought to bring a little Spring inside.  Here's hoping real Spring is on its way!