Time to Play...

Our playroom has been a real labor of love...I actually worked on the already finished (but very dated) basement most of last Summer!  I wanted it to be a place where Campbell could do schoolwork while Charlotte and Christian played...in my "perfect world", right?!, beacuse that rarely happens down here...all 3 in harmony!  But it is a great space and we are so lucky to have it...an art area, lots of room to play, lots of storage, a table to play games on, a really comfy sofa with personalized floor pillows and fleece blankies to curl-up with lots of books (or a good movie!)...My favorite part of the whole room is the canvases that they each painted...just precious! It took a lot of paint and alot of organization but I think it turned out great and the kids have their own place and I have a place for all the toys!  And just for the record - it NEVER looks this clean!

Why are my pictures so weird?  And I still cannot find out how to spell check?!

Better Health

I don't really make "resolutions"  in January more of a list of internal promises to myself that I can keep track of...things I want to do, change, see, improve upon, goals,etc...one of those goals was to be better about what Bryan and I ate and what my kids ate...more organic, more homeade, no more Diet Coke  for me (that has been hard) little to no sugar and NO HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), that stuff grosses me out and it is in almost everything we eat!  It has been banned in other countries but not here in the USA, lucky us! Don't get me wrong, I love to bake, I love to have a great cupcake or warm cookies for the kids when they get home for school, and I really don't want to deprive my kids of Easter candy but I can be more intentional about what I buy and how often they eat "treats" and making sure that the occassional "treat" is as whole as can be.  I have managed to cut sugar out of our diets for the most part (still a work in progress) and have given up my Diet Cokes too...I would like to think that we eat pretty well overall, I rarely have "junk" (chips,store bought cookies, etc...) here and when my kids want cookies or something sweet, I try and make it myself and use sugar-free/low-sugar recipes.  I went through all my food and threw anything with HFCS out as well as candy, crackers and even condiments that had sugar in them...it did not leave too much, sad but true.  I have added two great websites that I have been using when grocery shopping, they provide lists of food without HFCS.  I also follow a great blog who is posting recipes that are sugar free (and meat free, if interested) reguarly.  I could go on and on here  - and I still believe in the everything in moderation theory too!  Let me know what you think...do you buy organic, allow sugar, drink diet coke?  Do you think HFCS is as groass as I do?  Share!

http://www.stophfcs.com/
http://www.highfructosehigh.com/
http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/

American Girl Trip

Arriving at the hotel after dinner...the girls were giddy with excitement to find friend-friend/doll-doll matching Valentine pjs...super cute, found on Etsy, I really want to learn to sew!  While jen pre-occupied the girls, I went up to the room and set out their treat buckets and wrapped jammies...I left my camera in the car for the big reveal, I wish I had pictures - they were so cute!  jen and I are kindered spirits she loves to froof and fluff as much as me!

Jen thought the Mommies should have matching pjs too...

Good morning Chicago...we are off to American Girl!

Capture your "Inner Star" girls!

Brunch...

A Birthday for Bitty Baby's Bear...make your own tiara, pink and purple cupcakes and a giant card to sign!

And...new outfits, ear piercing for Holyn's doll and lots of shopping fun...it was a great Valentine treat to share this special fun with my sweet Charlotte,  Miss Holyn and her Mommy Jen-Jen !  

So much fun making memories with you girls! 

Charlotte's Room

Having fun playing with Charlotte's room...it was time for a "spruce-up"/ Spring cleaning!  I hope to a) be feeling better b) have her room all redone and touched-up by the end of the weekend!

Learningsphere

Campbell, we are so proud of you and your Learningsphere project - good effort!  You should be very proud of both your teacher's and the judges comments!  We love you, Mom and Dad

Sick

We have been down and out with the stomach flu here...first the big kids (Charlotte missed her Royal Ball -see post below) and now little Christian, and my right hand is travelling today/tonight....yuck!  And is it not the most pathetic thing to watch a little one throw-up?~  We are soooo ready for Spring here (as it snows right now), for fresh air...bye-bye germs, for flowers, birds chirpping, and SUNSHINE!  This too shall pass...in the meantime I'll leave you with a picture of my favorite fruit right now.  These "cuties" are sooo good and we are going through them like crazy,  kept hoping all the extra Vitamin C would fend off the illness, no such luck!

Royal Ball

Daddy-Daughter Dance tonight...Charlotte is so excited to go to the "ball" with her prince!  She and Daddy are double-dating and the little princesses will get small nose-gays of pink roses...wrapped with ribbon to match their dresses!  It will be a very special night!