It's a {Love}ly Day!

I love the colors for this sweet day and all the cute little hearts and birds in pink and red! 

And it's so much fun for the kids...Alex really wanted to have a Valentine's party and I asked him why...

...he shrugged his shoulders. 

I said, "What do you do at a Valentine's party...dance with girls?" 

He said, "Ewww!  No!"
"I want to eat lots of candy!"  {I wish I had the mentality of a kid sometimes! ha!  He loves his candy...just like his momma!}

And it's so fun to get those cute little Valentine's from your friends...and to make your own to hand out at school...

Emily had made her cards about two weeks ago...she loves all things crafty and was excited to get started!  We used the Cricut to cut out heart shapes and she put stickers on them and attached heart erasers to the backs!  She used puppies and kittens of course to put on the front!

Alex took a lot longer to decide what he wanted to do...until I saw this perfect idea here...  so I turned this picture...

...into this really fun card...

How clever!  {Whiskers not included!}

Then I found out that he was in charge of making his own Valentine bag or box for his party at school...and of course he wanted a box...which sent me scrambling the night before to find one and then get it decorated!

But we pulled it off...

I had great ideas in my head how we could make it look so cute and Valentine-y...but Alex picked out the paper he wanted and where on the box he wanted it to go...and all I was in charge of was helping him to apply it to the box {using lots of Mod Podge!}...no hearts allowed!  But he was so proud of it and he said he hoped it lasts forever!  awww!  I hope it does too!

I also love putting together little sweet treats for my special little Valentines...and any reason to use the Cricut!

My bloggy friend Kelli gave me this idea here...but I couldn't find those cute plastic buckets...but found these fun metal pails instead at Hobby Lobby...

I cut out puzzle-piece shapes with their initials and attached Valentine tags with fun ribbon...

On the back it reads...{You have a piece of our hearts!}

And I stuffed them with Webkinz and a book {for Emily} movies {we try and have movie night every weekend in the basement} a cd and SpyGear {for Alex} and some candy of course!

And I love that they can use the buckets again to hold other fun goodies like pencils or hair bows or whatever other little treasures they keep!

And I especially love these three sweethearts...

{sisterly love}

...and not to mention...

...I absolutely loved the warm weather we had this weekend...warm meaning above freezing!

We went to our favorite little town to walk around and enjoy the sunshine...

...and of course stop at the candy store...

...and to pick out a stuffed animal...

I hope you have a lovely day!

{Happy V♥lentine's Day!}

What's Up? Wednesday

I can't get over quickly these days keep getting by!  Yet...somehow...for as fast as the time seems to be going...Winter just keeps lingering and lingering...

...this poor little robin looks lost...

...she knows that Spring should be just around the corner...

...but this cold, white stuff keeps falling from the sky and won't seem to go away!  ...sigh...

...but the groundhog did say an early Spring right?  Let's hope so...stick around Robin...it won't be long now!

It's been a pretty uneventful week...which is not a bad thing... so since there's nothing to do outside...that only means that Elizabeth and I have to hang around inside, so we decided to clean the kitchen floor!  

So exciting...

...that Elizabeth fell asleep on the job!

{sorry for the bad ipod pics...but it sure does take quick, nifty pictures!}

Ha!  I was using the Hoover FloorMate, which works great for a quick clean, but it is so loud!  Elizabeth seems to love loud noises like that...the vacuum usually soothes her too...it's like a lullaby!  You'd think I'd have cleaner floors...wish that were the case!

Once we took such great care in cleaning the floors...she and Alex decided to throw up on it!  Ewwww!  Elizabeth just spits up every now and then in a projectile manner over my shoulder...and Alex has been home the last few days with the flu.  We were just on our way out the door to see the doctor Monday morning and he said he needed to go to the bathroom...and he didn't look good, so I knew something was up...then I heard it hit the floor!  He didn't even lift the toilet seat...but at least he made it to the bathroom and it didn't happen in the car!  Poor Alex.  At the doctor I had to hold his arms down so the nurse could swab his nose and throat...he is not a good patient!  He's doing better though...his fever has gone down...and he lost his voice, but it's coming back.  I hate when the kids are sick...but I don't mind having them home in their jammies snuggling on the couch. 

This is usually how our evenings look just before, during and sometimes after dinner...

...ugh...homework!  We had just came home from the library and Elizabeth is still sleeping in her car seat!  And Alex had lots of homework since he missed school.  {Even though he's sick doesn't mean he gets out of doing his school work!}  This picture cracks me up because I think they are both doing math and counting on their fingers!  We are trying to stop that...but they still do it!

Last night we went to watch Emily at her gymnastics practice...and we're so proud that she moved up two levels!  I'm anxious to see how she does learning new skills...the next level prepares her for competition so I hope she will really enjoy it and push herself to do even better!

Alex was entertained by taking pictures with my ipod...

ha!...she makes the funniest faces...she is the happiest baby of the three of them by far...and she just enjoys being wherever we have to go!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of the week...the next one will be here before I know it!  Emily was invited to a good friend's sleepover next Friday...and she packed her bag the same day she got the invitation!  It's all ready to go!  I haven't been brave enough to host a sleepover for Emily yet...but I know she's going to want one soon!

The only things on our agenda coming up are planning a date for Emily and Elizabeth's baptism.  I'm so happy they will get to share this event together!  When we moved here before Emily was born we didn't have a home church for a long time and then we just kept putting off her baptism, but I'm happy now that she can celebrate this day with her sister!  We're also planning a trip to the American Girl Doll store in Chicago during Spring Break as a part of Emily's birthday.  {I'll admit I'm just as excited!}  Let's hope the snow melts before then...so we can get these two little dolls to the doll store!

So what's up with you?

Back to School...Back to Life! {*and a winner*}

Really...enough cold, snow and ice already! 

Alex and Emily did get to enjoy a little bit of snow this week...on top of the ice...on Wednesday...

It was so cold and blustery...I wasn't bbbbrrrrr...ave enough to leave the garage and go outside with them...so I only took a few pictures while still in my pjs and socks!  Besides...it was still very slippery...and you certainly don't want to see me wipe out!

{Alex's hat always cracks me up!  I help him put it on straight and to cover his ears...but every time it ends up all lopsided and covered in snow!}

So finally...after two more days home from school this week {seven total this school year!}...Alex and Emily went back to the books yesterday...which means Elizabeth and I went back to the dollar bins and some socializing at our local Target!  I'm sure they've missed us!

I love having the kids home from school...but enough is enough!  We are already into June for the last day of school right now...and when they are home for too long...my life tends to get a little out of whack!  Even if I'm just going to the grocery store or Target...it's nice to get dressed, put on some make-up...and get out of my slouchy pjs!  So yesterday...the sun was shining and all the ice sparkled like diamonds...so pretty...

...So it felt great to get out and take this little lady to get her own seat at the table...

She looks so tiny in her high chair!  But she laughed and smiled...and I'm sure she'll be throwing her food all over it before long...becoming Skipper's new best friend!

{and I just had to show Alex the first day he got his new high chair and how much Elizabeth favors him too!  He was about 5 months old...seems just like yesterday!}

* And thank you all so much for leaving some fun comments for my two-year Blogoversary!  I used random.org to pick a winning number and I'm happy to announce that comment #20 - Terri is the winner of the $10 Target giftcard!  And since I appreciate you all taking the time to stop by the Manor from time to time over the past two years...I've decided to pick two winners!  So comment #6 - Jane Anne also gets a giftcard!

I hope you both enjoy it and get something that you didn't really need!  Ha! 

That's Not N{ice}!

Do I even need to explain how cold, dreary and cabin-feverish it has been around here?  Because I have a feeling it's about the same where you are too...except if you're reading this from Hawaii maybe...sigh...wouldn't that be wonderful!

Sure...it looks really beautiful...but an ice storm is not so nice!  Two more snow days for Alex and Emily...minus the snow...just means two more days to make up at the end of the year! 

I may be feeling a little bit of cabin fever...but I'm so thankful that we don't have to go out in this mess...and that we are able to stay home in our jammies...warm and cozy and safe...with food and water.

Thankfully we had gone to the store over the weekend...but of course there are always a few more things I always need!  So on Monday we went to get hamburger, potatoes and tomato juice to have for chili and potato soup...and boy it was like the world was coming to an end!  Everyone was buying groceries and the shelves were nearly empty!  I grabbed the last two pounds of hamburger!  Craziness! 

Alex came outside with me to take a few pictures on Tuesday morning and wiped out on the ice!  {He's okay!}  I bet Emily could even practice her ice-skating on the driveway!

After all...she is super excited about her new{used} ice skates!

Now that's pretty n{ice}!

When I told her to show me what she's been learning...she said she didn't know what to do...

But then she came up with something that she just made up all by herself!  Ha!   She looks forward to the annual Ice Show all year...and she's made huge strides since she started two years ago!  Oh goodness...she was so little then and she could barely skate...so cute...I miss that!

How are you getting through the Winter?  And how many days again until Spring?  ...sigh...

{makes me feel so fortunate that we do have our Summer vacation reserved!  Yippee!}

So...until then...the kids have been playing in the basement, hoola-hooping, working on puzzles, playing the drums, ipod, Wii, crafting...while I try and catch up on laundry {always...snow day or not!} and just hang out with the kids...instead of loitering around Target's dollar bins! 

Or buying this outfit for Emily...which we didn't go there to buy in the first place!  Our Target has the girls' clothes right on the aisle when you walk in...so of course I almost always buy something for Emily!

She wanted me to take her picture since she painted her nails {with little hearts on them}

Speaking of...don't forget...something that might make you feel pretty n{ice}... to win a $10 Target giftcard...maybe to buy that new bikini that's already out on display when you walk in the door!  Yikes!  Just click here to leave a comment for your chance to win!

Wordless Wednesday {Be My Valentine}

{hugs & kisses...xoxo}

{if you haven't already...be sure to enter the giveaway for a $10 Target gift card by clicking here and leaving a comment...for you or your Valentine!}