Made It: Twists

Today I attempted Beza's first ever hair twists. :)

 (Becca has been doing Alle's hair in twists and it is SO scrumptiously cute--I had to try it.)

I washed her hair.  Added some Curl and Style Milk and then used Kinky-Curly Curling Custard to "set" each twist.  She played in her bath while I twisted--for maybe 20ish minutes. 

Then for good measure I sprayed it with Moisture Mist and Spray Gel. (All of these products are from Target.)

I seriously feel like I'm doing a science experiment every time I do her hair.  I'm always hoping to hap upon just the right concoction.

I gave her that flower clip to keep her hands busy while I was trying to document this "hair milestone."  And, of course, her idea of a good time is balancing it on her head. :)  She is soooo funny!

Happy Monday!

(As always, I would LOVE to hear your hair hints and tips!)

Sunday Funnies: Excuse Me...

I mustache you a question.

Hahaha. :)  Oh man...that just doesn't get old. 

As a matter of fact, this week I may have texted that picture to everyone I know in my texting circle.  (All three of them. :) 

Now I would love to write more, but I really...

mustache!

;)

Favorites: Surprise Snow!

(Or is it? ;)

We were "happily" awakened this morning at 5:30am to let us know there was a 2hr. delay because of...SNOW!  That meant an actual snow day for our resident kindergartener!

We got a whole whopping 2-3" of the white stuff.  We tried to squeeze as much winter fun as possible into the morning before it started to rain.

 When I saw the snowman a few minutes ago, his mouth and eyes had all popped out.  Poor guy.

A very serious snow explorer.  With socks as gloves (they don't fall off).

All about tracking down the footprints in the snow.

Slippers for cold, wet feet.  And to prevent slipping on the wet tile floor--after an unfortunate encounter between T's head and a stool. :(

A snowy morning topped off with a "steaming" cup of lukewarm cocoa.  :)

Thankful for just a little snow this winter. :)

Celebrating 4 (just a few times)

T-man has had a fun week of celebrating his 4th birthday. :)

In fact he got to celebrate it 5 times.

Toddler and Tots class.

With GrammyKathy and Grandpa.

On their birthdays, they get the special privilege of choosing breakfast and dinner.  His choices?

Lucky Charms for breakfast.  And for dinner--Cocoa Pebbles with Chinese Chicken (Sweet & Sour) and Green Beans.  Awesome combination, huh?

 

Using the Lucky Charms box as an "office privacy" wall. 

Construction guys, C-3PO, R2D2 Spider-Man, Wolverine, Pirates, Ninjas, Bumblebee and Regular Guy unite!

T was thrilled to welcome some new superhero characters to his growing fold of guy figures.  And they have all been loving SuperFriends circa 1973. :)

Love you, T!  Wishing you a very special year as a 4-year-old!

Made-It: Spring Fever (Crafting-Style)

It was time for the winter mantle TO GO!

The small crew (and maybe even me--well, just a little bit) is very sad that we haven't had any snow to speak of since Halloween.  Lately the weather has been sweatshirt-warm and I've been hearing the spring birds singing.  

Goodbye snowflakes,

hello flowers.

Repurposed Jesse tree branch.

Saw these on Pinterest (tutorial).

Love the way they turned out. 

And to go with them, a few felt flowers for the twisted vine trees.

And this afternoon?  I'm planning to put away all of the snowpants and heavy winter coats.  Do you think that will make it snow? ;)

Sunday Funnies: Brought To You By The Birthday Boy

Today is T's 4th Birthday.  He was adamant that he wasn't 4 until we had cake and sang to him.  I seriously considered not baking one--you know, so he could stay 3 for just a little longer. :)

Super Cake Digestion

The Scene:  We celebrated T's birthday last weekend at Nana and Pop's with a Spider-Man cake.  T had peeled off the Spider-Man "photo layer" and was eating it.

T: (With a serious and slightly concerned voice.) "I hope I don't pooh out Spider-Man!"

A pause for consideration.

T: (Enlightened.)  "Well, if I do it will be 'super pooh!'"

Yes. Yes, I suppose that could be true.  Oh, he is our resident funny man for sure... :)

Happy 4th Birthday, Buddy!  We LOVE you! :)

Put Down the Fertilizer and Step Away

These children are growing like weeds!

M recently got re-outfitted in clothes in the size that finally match her age (6).

New favorite outfit. 

T's wrists and tummy have been sticking out of his shirts.  Dude (who turns 4 on Sunday) just got bumped up to tops size 5.

We need to pause for a moment to note T's latest obsession--the white t-shirt.  When he started wearing the Christmas fireworks shirt for a week straight I took pity on the poor guy and got him his very own white shirts--which quite wonderfully come in packs of 5.  Why the white shirts?  Because they look just like Daddy.  What's not to love about that? :)

And Beza (20 months old) is growing so quickly that she just completely by-passed size 2's and jumped right up to M's old 3T's!

 Look at little Beza's sleeves!

Seriously, could they stop growing quite so fast?

Breaking it down just like I taught them.  Ha-ha-ha. ;)

February 8

Just a little over a year ago we met little Beza for the very first time...

We got to spend 4 days with little 8-month-old Beza before we had to kiss her good-bye for one more month...

So thankful for the little girl who is snuggled down for her nap in her bed in our room this February.

NeXt

J and I spent the whole weekend with Penn State Cru Students.

At a retreat.

In the middle of nowhere.
The middle of nowhere with no children.
With only one bar of reception if you sat just so on the edge of one couch cushion.



It was an awesome weekend of catching up with old friends, hearing inspiring speakers who moved us when we were students, and sharing just a little bit of our lives with students who are in the middle of making major life choices.

Phenomenal weekend.

Thank you, Nana and Pop, for taking such good care of our little people while we were away. :)



We even book-ended the weekend by dining out twice without sippy cups. :)

Drat--Looks Like I Need to Go To The Post Office ;)

If I'm horrible about going to my own mailbox--I'm even worse about going to the post office. :)

But tis the season to spread love--tomorrow is Valentine's Day, after all. 

We spent the afternoon finishing valentines for school parties this week.  In other words, I heard myself say, surely at least a million times, "Write your name here.  'T.'  Line down.  Line across the top...."

Completely taking this idea from Pinterest--this year we made these...

How hilarious are their faces?   

And if you are a grandparent or sister maybe, perhaps, you will find one of these in your mailbox, let's say, sometime this month--along with one of these...

Our better-late-than-never Christmas thank-you's. :)

Also of Pinterest fame. :)  M's handprint on the left, T's on the right, and Beza's fingerprints make the falling snow.

Happy Valentine's Day! :)

He Was Supposed To Be Sleeping

I had just finished reading this and this when T peeked his head out of his door at nap-time. 

So I put down my to-do list and snuggled up in his bed with him.

Just as I was about to call M over to join us--she was tiptoeing down the hall with this note for me.

(She didn't know I was in T's room.)

I like my mom becus (because) I like it wen (when) my mom sngls (snuggles) with me.

Perfect timing.

Collecting snuggles while I can. :)

(Reality Check: This was a high point of the day--there were plenty of "grounding" moments--like the screaming fight in the car over a drink, or when finding crayons buried in T's bed didn't leave me smiling. :)

How We Get To Sit At The Table A Little Longer

Without fail almost every time we sit down to eat a meal someone needs a refill.  And then five minutes later another one.

And then after all of those refills there's a little leftover that could be kept in the refrigerator, but someone forgets to put it away.  

Too much up and down.  Too much wasted.  Ahhhh!

Solution: These little thermoses that hold at least enough milk for one day AND keep it cold in case it gets left on the table a little longer.  Little metal sanity savers. :)

Speaking of milk, I tried this smoothie recipe today with Almond Milk--SO GOOD!

And so purple.

Sunday Funnies: Why Do Guys Do This?

T: Why do guys do this sometimes?

 

J: To hold up the wall.

Friday Favorites: The Balancing Act

When I went upstairs to get Beza up from her nap this is how I found her.

Proudly balancing Gordy on her head.  She said "Woah!" and gave herself a round of applause.  I may have joined in the clapping.

Dear child spends a significant portion of her day balancing things on her head.  Cups.  Toy Tools.  Blankets.  And hats.  

And not only does she balance them--but she walks all around with them on her head.  When she's feeling particularly confident, or gutsy, she literally does deep knee bends just for show.

I promise that I have never walked around with bowls on head--this is ALL her! :)

Happy Weekend!