Childhood Forts

The kids are so creative when it comes to building forts ---

--- Brings back memories of my childhood in 5 acres of countryside at Gpa & Gma Wessel's.

And couch cushions, and kitchen tables and chairs, and lotsa blankets.

(Thanks Mom!)

"I'm Poopin'"

'Hey, Porter, whatcha doin'?' says Mom.

"I'm... Poopin'!!" grunts Porter.

Okay, so yeah. How rude of me to take a picture while the kid's doing his thang.

But can't you just hear it... uh... smell it... hmmm...

Okay, potty-training is just around the corner (literally!)

Latest Projects:

So, I've been looking up a TON of cute crochet patterns...

The HARDEST part is deciding which ones NOT to do!

This one was improvised by me from bear ears to frog eyes!

So fun!

Myanna & Debany love to pretend.

They were playing 'Pet Shop' one day. Myanna was distraught because her collar wouldn't work (made out of paper). So I told her I'd make her a special collar:

And the mask was a pattern trial to see how hard it was.

Myanna wants a 'Super Hero' birthday party this year!

(Debany's is going to be a 'Ballet' party, Porter's will be a 'Train Engineer' party).

Anyways, I'll be busy making those masks for Myanna's b-day party. Or else Super Snap, Backwards Girl, and Super Bubble will be sorely disappointed with 'Edna'.

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(Next year, Myanna - Butterfly or Gymnastics party - potentially.)

(too fun actually - I'm planning on making a butterfly/princess theme in the girls' room - I can hang a butterfly farm up on a hook in the ceiling so they can watch it --- mmmm... ideas just keep flowing in!)

A 'Mane' Event

New Year called for some new goals:

Like getting back into doing the girls' hair again in the mornings.

(and don't forget Porter, too!)

Here's Debany's fun do:

Myanna's hair is growing, but just too short to get the under side up

-- still looks way cute!

And of course...

Porter, our little 'Spike'!

Jingle Bell Rocking Horse

So, we got out our rocking horse from a long time ago and Porter was TAKEN with it!

He loves his rocking chair and we have our own little song for rocking in it...

So Porter loves to sing 'Jingle Bell Rock' while riding his rocking horse!

Best part is that this is great for getting him to use two hands and develop balance for both sides... while playing!! Can't get any better, can it?!

(don't answer that - please let me live in my own little world of perfection *wink wink*)

This Old House...

We live in an 'old' house...

Where wiring and surprises keep popping up around the corner!

Our latest adventure in old-housery ---

running extension cords from upstairs in our hallway across the house and out to the garage so that we can wash clothes, keep pipes from freezing, and keeping the food in our deep freeze from going bad....

not to mention, uh hem...

More extension cords spread from the kitchen to the living room to plug in the internet so that at least Dane will have internet access on his laptop, since there wasn't enough extension cord plugs to get to my computer.

Yeah! $$$ later...

we now have had a certified electrician verify that we live in an 'old' house

(no surprise here... har har har.)

and that my computer is finally up and running!

p.s. --- I'm so glad this isn't our house!

It's not our bill. We just hope it doesn't funnel to our rent. :/

Especially since we figured out that the previous owner was inventive on where they put and 'extra' power box.

What are chores?!

A discussion with our kids about chores.

We have given the kids chores - for a while now. And the list grows periodically. Recently, the girls have learned how to cook a few things - and are now learning the rules about being able to cook things. Like, you can't eat all day or there won't be any food left!

(That's a good rule to know!)

Afterwards, we discussed why we have chores. And what are chores?

Why does mommy say, "Have you done your chores yet?"

And what does that really mean.

"Chores are a way for people in a family to help eachother."

Immediately, they talk about Cinderella. She had chores. She helped the family. But did her sisters??? (answer: Nope.)

Belle (Beauty & the Beast) - she had chores. She fed chickens.

Snow White had a couple.

(Why so many examples with princesses?! I don't mind really. For some reason lately, in their playing, being a princess means you don't do anything and get to be really bossy. --hmmm.)

Luckily, the kids understand that they have chores so that they know how to help the family. And Mom & Dad & Myanna (and somewhat Porter) have chores too.

Otherwise we'd have to rename all our children to...

Cinder-Bany, Cinder-Anna, and Something-or-Other-'Ter'.

(Phew, the less I have to deal with Birth Certificates and those organizations, the better.)

-- the ramblings of a parent late at night --