Snowfort building.
I could not think of anything better to do on a Sunday than build a snowfort. And, that is exactly what they did. It kept them busy ALL day.

After about three changes of clothes and tons of pairs of gloves later.....it was as good as it was going to get.Of course, it does help a little when your Daddy is a mason and he can show you some pretty good tips on packing the snow and laying it out. Totally amazing that they could build all of that from a little, red plastic box.

Than the snowballs started flying and that was my cue to dodge back to the house.

Saturday morning.
So, I won't lie. I most definetely live for the weekends. Especially when you rush five days a week to get out the door and get everyone where they need to be by 7 am. So, yeah, I admit Saturday mornings are made for sleeping in, getting up to the smell of coffee brewing and bed head kids who have no problem lounging in PJs all day long!!

Hope you all enjoyed your Saturday morning. Now I must go find a brush.

Wordless Wednesday.

Winterberries.

Okay, I will admit it, when I take pictures, I have an issue of just not taking one or two shots, I take about 20 or 30....or more (that's the sweet thing about digital) Especially, when you see something as beautiful as red winterberries all encapsulated an ice. I mean its not too very often that mother nature lets you see this. So...needless to say, I have quite a collection of winter berry images. And, I am thinking a few of them are going to be adorning my walls very soon.

I've titled this one "Three's Company".

And, this one "Curly Cue".

Now, I am embracing myself for the 4-6 inches we are to receive tonight (which there is about 4 inches out there already, ouch!). Oh, winter....please be over soon!

Winter skies.

It was such a beautiful day. Sixty degrees and melting snow! And, tonight's evening sky was even better!!! Hope you all have a great start to the weekend.

Another.
Another winter image. Another quote.

The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is that an optimist thinks this is the best possible world. A pessimist fears that this is true.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Sending you lots of hugs and kisses your way. Hope you have a sweet, sweet day!

Think about it, there must be higher love. Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above. Without it, life is a wasted time. Look inside your heart,

I'll look inside mine. ~Stephen Laurence

xo,xo,xo

Another gray Sunday.
We are awaiting spring's arrival {patiently}.

If you are facing in the right direction, all you have to do is keep

on walking in order to reach your dreams.

Parental homework.

So he tells me the night before it is due that he needs to make a Valentine Card box for school. Great! Nothing like waiting to the last minute. And, at 7:30 PM at night.

So, I scramble:

*one shoe box

*scrapbook paper for cut out hearts

*red tissue paper

*black magic marker

*Elmer's glue

*Sweetheart candies

Hey, what can I say? It's all I got to work with here.

You wanna know the real kicker? He decided he has better things to do like play pool and watch hockey. So, his sister and I are left to do "his" project.

Parental homework ~ gotta LOVE it.

Fourteen.
He and I share the same birthday month. And, even though he is younger than me, he really is much, much older in doggie years. He is really showing his age these days - Graying muzzle, crunchy ears, foggy eyes and hardly any hearing, a smell that no matter how many breath mints you feed him, he is still way too stinky and, much to my disliking, tends to want to use the indoor facilities this winter much more than the outdoors...but, provides companionship and unconditional love like no other.



And, by looking at this sweet doggie face....I will take that any day over his bad habits that he will never outgrow at any old ripe age. Happy Birthday Maxwell!

Addicted.
I am addicted to quotes these days. They have proven to be so meaningful to me these past few weeks. I like how they truly make me think. And, I have quite a few favorites including this one.

I've learned that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. So start enjoying those little things in life - it does make a difference.

My heart.

She's loves to make me happy. She always loves to pose for me. Therefore, that makes me happy.

She is also my Drama Queen. Which is so ironic, because it so happens to be what the heart had written on it that she was holding.

"Are you a princess"? I said & she said "I'm much more than a princess, but you don't have a name for it yet here on earth". ~ Story People

So, yeah, I heart her. Drama and all.

Superbowl Sunday.
Here we go Steelers, here we go! Lizzie is supporting her team and sporting her Polamalu hair. She totally cracked me up when she came down the stairs showing me what she made at school. It is just too funny.

Sid is sporting his colors too!

So, the sauerkraut and hot dogs are a cooking in the crock pot and there's a whole lot of praying going on here. Keeping our fingers and toes crossed that they pull it off and win!!! Enjoy the bowl. Oh yeah, and the commercials!

All of us might wish..
.. at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don't. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging...

These past few weeks have not been easy. It's been a challenge dealing with this so called everyday life. I find it so difficult somedays to put it all in perspective and keep a straight head about it all.

Thankfully, I have my camera to lean on. Photography is my vice. I know my family finds it frustrating at times that I have my camera in hand and always clicking the shutter...but, some days, I truly think is is the only thing that does keep me sane.

So, strangers driving by may think I am totally insane for pulling along side the road, climbing a frozen snow bank to catch the weeds surrounding this fence, and that's okay....because its the one thing actually keeping me from going insane.

Another.
Another day of snow expected.

These are little packets of light & you need to plant them early in the year & remember to mark where they were because lots of times they look like weeds in the beginning & it's not until later that you see how beautiful they really are. ~ Story People

Another day of hanging at home and wishing for warmer weather.

Trying.
One of my new year' s resolutions was to try and slow down and take life at a slower pace. I'm trying, really I am. And, when I came across this quote, I immediately thought of these pictures I took of her the other day.

“Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.”

When I look at them, I am reminded at how fast she is growing up. Her baby face is gone and she's definetely not a baby anymore. Even though she always will be my baby.


I'm trying. Taking life slower that is.

02.02.11
Also known as Groundhog day. That varmit is sooooo very lucky that he did not see his shadow and spring is right around the corner. Which is so very good because this is the scene when we opened the front door this morning and looked out. The temperature actually warmed up and started to melt all the ice that accumulated over night. It even rumbled some thunder for a while....weird.

It does produce some pretty pictures...but I could go out without pretty pictures when it means digging ourselves out of this mess.

So, along with a nasty stomach virus...we are all hanging out in our PJ's and waiting this icestorm out.

Hopefully, we will all be back in commission for this upcoming Superbowl weekend.

Snow day.
What else do you do on a winter snow day and you have the day off of school?? Have a battle with icicles, of course. I'm not enjoying this weather very much but we are trying to make the best of it. And, it's freezing cold out there and I hear the worst is yet to come....yikes.

Let's just hope that groundhog makes a good prediction tomorrow, or I might just have to hunt him down and hurt him.
Until then...stay warm.