Happy Birthday to me!

So, my birthday was last saturday - I had a great day. My coworkers had some birthday treats at work on friday. After work some of the girls and I went out for breakfast. Mom came up and surprised me w/a birthday cake. Boston cream pie! Yummy! My Dad and brother Andrew were out of town but everyone else came up to celebrate my birthday w/me. It was awesome way to celebrate my birthday. The boys surprised me w/a spa day! Yeah me!

With all of the snow and sick kiddos, the boys hadn't gotten to see their new cousin Colin. Unfortunately for Colin, he has a lot of cousins to compete with and he doesn't really do anything! But I am sure that he will fit right in when he gets a little bigger!

I spent my birthday in the best possible way with family and friends! Hope you have a good week!

Blizzard 2011

So last week we had a blizzard and were housebound for a few days. The boys had 3 snow days and now they are going to have to make up those days before the end of the year. :( We were able to stay safe and warm at home during the worst of the blizzard. But I really can't wait for spring!
The boys did a great job helping w/the shoveling but after awhile it seemed pointless because by the time they finished you couldn't tell that where they had shoveled. So here are some pics of how we spent the rest of the day warm inside!

And here are pics of the morning after the blizzard. Another snow day for the boys!

Again the boys did a great job of helping clear the snow and dig us out! But it was beautiful and they were able to mix some fun in w/their work!

The boys loved the deep drifts!

I think the boys have a new understanding of all the work snow can create. Noah and Eli helped a elderly lady across the street by shoveling her drive. And Eli and Lucas helped me clear the sidewalk of our neighbor behind us so that all the kids who walk to school by our house have a clear path! The boys definately deserved a break after all their hard work!

I treated the boys to some time at Power Play. They had a great time and truely earned their reward.

The boys and I had a great time last week but I sure hope that we don't get anymore snow! I keep telling the boys at this rate they will be going to school till July.

Volcanos and their parts!

Eli had a volcano project for school and he decided to do it on the parts of a volcano. Here are some pics of his project!

He did a very good job on his project and Nana was able to lend him some volcanic rocks from the Hawaiian volcano that she visited this summer.

For my crochet buddies!

I have been busy this winter w/lots of crochet projects. Lots of babies and friends need to be warm this winter! I wish I would have taken pics of all the stuff I have done over the years but here are pics of some of the scarfs I have done.
The pic doesn't do the scarf justice, but it is a mix of brown, green, blue. It turned out really great, and my friend Kayla LOVED it!

Here is a closer look at the pattern, Jen if you want the pattern let me know!

Here is a close up of one of the other scarf I did. I just double stiched these scarfs and allowed the multi colored yarn to make the pattern. They turned out great!

Here are the 3 scarfs for the BFFs! I have more scarfs to make so I better get busy!

Band Festival

The boys had their annual band festival. Well, actually Eli had been in strings last year - so this was his debut but it was Noah's 2nd festival. I chaperoned the boy's trip to the highschool to practice so here are the pic from their morning practice.

Eli during their performance that night.

Noah during the performance. I am so proud of all the hard work the boys put into practicing. They have a lot of fun practicing w/each other at night and make up their own music sometimes. We have been pretty busy lately so I will have more updates soon, come back and check it out. And those in this midwest blizzard with us - stay warm and safe!

Midnight sledding!

So, the boys and I went sledding late last night. It wasn't really midnight but it was pretty close. The boys were a little shocked that I suggested it. Gotta keep 'em guessing right!
It was still snowing when we left, but as you can see they were bundled up pretty good! And they were super excited to tell all their friends!

Shhhh be quiet- don't want to wake the neighbors!

Lucas is a little light to sled on the fresh snow - so his brothers paved the way for him!

Eli liked going over the ramps of packed snow.

Noah going down super fast!

All the snow made some pics hard to get. But this is Eli and Lucas taking turns sledding. Noah had hijacked a sled to go down all the slides.

All the boys thought walking up the hill was quite a work- out.

This would be such an awesome pic of Eli if it wasn't for the flash. But I had to post it anyway cause I love his wonderful smile! I had to put the camera down and join in the sledding fun! Eli started to go down backwards laying on his back and he needed me to push him using "all your womanly strength"! After we were worn out and cold - we headed home for some hot chocolate! Today after digging out our driveway - Noah and Lucas went to one of their friends house and Eli had a friend come over. I think this will be of the boys' best snow days!

What have we been up too, after our snow days . . .

Here are some pics of some from this week after our snow days.
Noah has been reading a book about Houdini. Usually he has to just do a book report when he is done. But for this biography he had to make a pop bottle person, write a poem and find out 10 facts about his person. Here is a pic of his pop bottle person, and in case it's hard to see - Houdini is trying to get out of handcuffs.

I have been doing a bit more crocheting than usually. Lots of pregnant people in my life - so Lucas really wanted to learn. Here is his first project. He made a bookmark. He did a really good job and has had a few requests for more. So he has made 2 more. He picked it up really easily - so Brooke maybe there is hope for you too! LOL!

Tovi seems to be more cold this winter. And anyone who spends any time in my house in the winter knows that it is a bit cooler than most. No comments from the BFFs please! LOL! I have gas and just can't afford the $300 bills - so we layer at our house. And now Tovi can layer too with his new coat! He seems happy w/it. But I still find him buried under the blankets!

Noah performed w/the Pep band at the Friday night game. He was really excited. Since I have had so much trouble uploading video - I decided to avoid the headache and just take pics. So you will have to imagine the music!

Noah had a good time. He wants to go to all the games now! Although, the Pep band grooves when they are playing and Noah wasn't into really grooving. West won the game so it was a great night! Although, I hadn't expected the highschool students to stand the ENTIRE game. And unfortunately the seat I had picked out was in the section that all the highschool kids stand! Oh, well after moving - it was harder to see Noah but at least I was able to see the game!

How did you spend your snow day?

So they boys didn't have school yesterday and today and they were excited to have a pajama day two days in a row! Eli had been under the weather over the weekend but today he and Lucas wanted to go sledding. So, this afternoon we went up to the school and they boys had a great time.
On our way to the school.

Eli makes the best faces!

Lucas was up next. His hood kept coming off, so I had him wear my hat. And boy my ears got cold fast. Luckily my scarf help them stay warm.

The boys trying to figure which part of the hill is the fastest to go down.

Eli came down off the ramp a little too hard. He is laughing.

The boys had to go down together just once! Even though it wasn't has fast as tubing at Snow Creek, I think they had a good time.

And how did Noah spend his snow day? He did stop occasionally for food/drink and to finish his book. Seriously homework on snow days! How rude! The boys are hoping for a third snow day but I don't think that is gonna happen.