perfect timing

i already post this picture and a few more of these over on 365,
but what i really want to write about {so i can remember later}
are the moments of perfect timing...
first, the engine light came on the night before we left for wisconsin.we took the car in friday and learned about the transmission.can you imagine if it had happend while we were on the road?and with out luck, that would have been rush hour in chicago - ha ha!

saturday was a beautiful day at lake geneva.
we got in a great morning run.
we had the golf courses to ourselves.
the kids had a blast running around and tiring themselves out.
this was perfect timing because...
it rained ALL DAY LONG on sunday.
freezing.cold.rain.
which was also perfect excuse not to run the golf course again -
the hills killed me on saturday!!

we left freezing rain covered wisconsin on monday morning.
the day before michigan had gotten a lot of snow.
there was green grass when we left on friday :(

this cell phone picture does not do it justice -
but when we got home there were at least 8 inches in our driveway,
not to mention all the snow that the plow had put in front of our driveway!

just as we pulled up to the house -
my dad showed up with his snowblower.
does perfect timing get any better than that???

now if spring could arrive this weekend,
than that would truly be perfect timing!

minor delay

the morning we left for wisconsin
we experienced a bit of a minor delay.

the suburban decided it needed a new transmission.

so rented a car that would hold all of us
and headed out.

i can't complain too much -
the car was fine, chicago traffic was no problem and we got to our destination.

unfortunately we couldn't find a car with a dvd player
and josie NEEDS a movie to fall asleep in the car.
what a fun car ride that was!!!
threats of tying her to the roof may or may not have been made {ha ha}

and yes, we might need to buy some benadryl for the ride home!!

her turn

being little definitely has it's perks.
no one knows that better than josie!

but finally she's old enough to do something
she's watched her sister do...

*** DANCE CLINIC **

i have to admit, i wasn't sure how this was going to go.
josie has NEVER done anything without us before.
i even asked if i could pay for josie AFTER the first practice
because i pretty much expected her to not want to do it.

but i was SO wrong.

this was the perfect setup for josie.
while the parents fill out the paperwork,
the high school dancers take the kids to a different room
and get them started on get-to-know-you games.
so before i even realized it, josie was gone.
after i got the girls signed in,
i went back to their practice room and josie was glued to olivia's side but doing fine.
once everyone was checked in the girls had to split up into their age groups.
i was sure this was when josie would come running back to me.
nope!

how cute are these little dancers???

way to go, josie!

it's so fun to see you excited about doing something all on your own!!

you are getting so big :)

stay tuned for josie's big dance performance...

hopefully i haven't jinxed it!

dear little valentines...

we hope you had a fabulously fun day!

we love you lots!!!!

happy valentine's day

love, mom & dad

go get one!

i've already posted this picture over on 365
but i'm putting it here to tell you to go find this muffin top pan!

last weekend my sister and i found a huge stack of them at tj maxx -
only $10!!!!
i had been looking for one for a while after i saw them used here.
granted you can get them on amazon,
but who wants to pay shipping, not to mention full price?

so my point is -
go find one because they make big yummy cookies
that you {and your kids or really ANYONE} will love!

happy shopping AND baking :)

guns and backpacks

for the past month garrett has been saving every penny.

he was so determined.

finally he had enough for what he REALLY, REALLY wanted...

and he was SO SO happy -

until...

he realized he REALLY, REALLY wanted a new backpack
and i told him he had to save up for it.

welcome to the real world garrett :)

an answer and a future use

just in case you were wondering

if the kids still love body art...

here's your answer!

and yes, these will be AWESOME to show at their high school graduation!

pass the tic tacs

today was a snow day.

garrett was the first kid up, so we were just chatting in my bed.

before too long ryan came in - ryan LOVES to snuggle.

he got in between garrett & i and we both gave him a hug.

ryan: oh yuck!!! who forgot to brush their teeth????

celebrating the littlest

wow since i've been slacking at blogging,
it looks like all we have been doing is eating cake - ha ha.
well maybe that is slightly true :)

over the weekend we celebrated josie's birthday...

i got the idea for the cake here -
a cake with 2 ingredients - crazy!
crazy and yummy!!
unfortunately it was hard to get out of the pans
so the cake you see above was actually the 2nd one we made :)
but i definitely want to make the cake again but most likely in a 9x13 pan.
anyways...try the recipe - it's yummy!
now back to the birthday girl who is looking unusually glum...

now today was the BIG day!the kids wanted to surprise her with her present
before they went to school.
then josie had her favorite breakfast...oatmeal with pink sprinkles.

thankfully we celebrated early because by the end of the day
the birthday girl had a bad cold :(
she did manage to get off the couch for one last celebration
{yikes, don't burn your face josie! where are your parents??}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSIE!!!

we love you!

and as ryan said "yeah, now ALL the kids are BIG kids!!!!"

2 birthdays*family*minnie mouse*fun

over the weekend we celebrated josie & ellington's birthday.
it's perfect having a cousin with a close birthday!
and emily & josh did a fabulous job planning a girly party...

josie & ellington couldn't get enough of each other
or their presents :)

we had lots of fun family time...
snuggling babies,
eating yummy treats,
planning the spring fasbas draft {ha ha},
and playing with ipods {and magna doodles - ha}

some crazy people decided to brave the weather -
most of them had fun :)

it was the perfect party to celebrate
a new 2 year old and an almost 3 year old.
and best of all,
josie got the present she's always asking for...

time with hannah!

happy birthday girls!