Valentine's Day 2012

This is the Shutterfly card I mailed out and gave to teachers etc:

I absolutely love Shutterfly!  Sent these out to about 25 people for less than $10.  They have so many great designs it is always a struggle to choose just one!
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Finally got a double boiler to melt Ghirardelli chocolate chips for dipping strawberries for Jack's class party. Yum! I see a lot of melted chocolate in my future.

I got flowers, tickets to see The Fray at red rocks soon, and love notes from my boys. What more could a Mama ask for?!

We don't normally make a big fuss out of Valentine's Day, but the boys love getting all dressed up for their parties at school and they just beam when they bring home their handmade Valentine's for Mom, so that is pretty contagious!

We've been...

...playing with baby Luke via Mama's belly button.  Also trying to nurse a lot lately, but that's a whole 'nother topic.  Oh Nolan, such a boob man!  I predict some jealously when Luke gets here and starts nursing.

...eating LOTS of berries and whipped cream.

...attending more than our share of fun birthday parties at cool venues.

...blowing bubbles in the living room of course!

...dressing up as Captain America every morning.

...eating SO much fruit that we have to go to the store sometimes three times per week to keep stocked.

...READING!!  Jack is reading at around 1st grade level and loves to make a "project" after he reads a new book.  Love half day kindergarten :)

...Writing our last name (phonetically) on all school work now.

...loving Mo Willems books in the library while Mama stuffs the Friday folders at school each week.

...finding treasures at our thrift store.  Nolan loves his new piggy bank toy so much!

...attending so many activities like this Valentine's Day puppet show at our local library.  What a gem of a community library we have!  We have been to a SpaceTime thing, a wild safari thing where the kids got to see an chinchilla and pig and lots of other animals.  Next month is a Chemistry thing that we won't be missing!

...thinking we're way cooler than we are drinker root beer from a coozy like Daddy.

...so busy as usual.  Life is full and good!

Uh Oh!

I actually had “the thought” today...no mortal girl/woman could ever be good enough for him...my sweet, smart, handsome, tall drink of water wonder boy. Uh oh! And he’s only 7. Lord help me, I sense a bumpy ride letting these guys grow up.

Today Warren is going on his first non-mommy chaperoned school field trip. All dressed up to ride a bus, see a play, and probably ask for the car keys soon. Sniff, sniff. Image 4993 actually makes me weepy, what is wrong with me?! I swear I am going to be a super cool MIL that any DIL will be lucky to have...so long as she’s good enough.

In reality, I know when the time actually comes I'll just be relieved someone finds them each fit to take on, considering their personal hygiene, moodiness, and hyperactivity!

Sledding!

It's always a bit iffy when I hand my big camera off to a passer-by, but this nice lady did a pretty good job! Here we all are in one frame at our local rec center getting ready to go sledding. We have always loved our rec center but now we love it just a tiny bit more.

Nolan loved sledding and pretending it was "so scary, mom!" and then asking to go again and again.

The boys had happy determined looks on their faces as they trudged back up the hill. 

Even Mama went down a few times, encouraged by the fact that my coat still zips over my belly.

Couldn't resist a taste of freshly fallen snow!

I seriously love this picture!  I totally remember this feeling from childhood :)

The boys even had a neighbor friend meet up with us.  So fun!

I couldn't love my guys any more...

They make my heart swell and make me so proud.

Awww, feel the love! :)

Just Sharin'...

Flying pigtails...the essence of little girl.

Blue eyes and shy smiles.

Playful and cute.

Tricycle time!

His name is Luke too!  Oh how I love him!

Playing at our park out front.

Two babies in the swing :)

All three siblings!

And finally one of baby girl all by herself.

Love my Mama friends, and their super cute kids!

Downtown

As usual, Jack was the one most willing to model for me.

I did manage to get a few shots of them all together though to use for Valentine's cards.

This little guy is relating more and more to his big brothers and I am so excited to see him in the big brother role too!

They are such hams for the camera...and how cool is this gold door?!

Don't you just love this little downtown nook?!

Well, that's about it.  It was a quick trip around the block and then back in the car and back to the 'burbs.

We finally visited IKEA

While Bryan was on a business trip last week, the kids and I finally made the trek and visited the famed IKEA store.

It was fun, we played, snuggled broccoli pillows, ate meatballs, and even bought a few little things.

On a completely different topic, I hosted a little get together for some moms in my neighborhood who just had babies and Nolan got to hold one of them per his request. Look how proud he is! He is going to be an awesome big brother!

Took a little photography class downtown yesterday and got a bit motivated to use my "real" camera more and try harder to get those special, frame-worthy shots!  Will share a few from an impromptu session with the boys this morning soon.