20 Simple Things That Make Me Smile...

1. My kids playing school and teaching each other all they know

2.  A brand new haircut

3. Starbucks

4. Ally's excitement over putting together her outfit for the day

5.  The smell of liquid fabric softener

6. Cuddling up under a blanket to read a good book

7.  The way my kids say "Mommy," when I pick them up from the babysitter

8.  Logan taking toy trains to bed because he loves them

9.  Eskimo kisses

10.  Listening to my kids singing along with the radio

11.  When Jacob shows me what new things he has learned

12.  Kittens

13. Cold Diet Pepsi

14. A beautifully decorated cake

15.  Watching my kids do a puzzle (especially Logan)

16.  My warm slippers

17.  The park on a sunny day

18.  When someone tells me my kids are well behaved

19.  Freshly vacuumed carpets

20.  Movie "camp out" nights with my kids

OMSI Trip

Last weekend we got to go spend a fun day with Aunt Dana, Gadi and Gadi's family.  We went to OMSI, then out to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory, and finally back to Dana and Gadi's house to play video games.  Here's some pictures from OMSI.

Waiting to go in...

A cute picture that Jacob took...

Launching bottle rockets and Logan watching...

Logan in the Ball Room (His Favorite Place)

Gadi's Hair + Static Electricity = FUN

Party!

Logan's birthday follows my mom's birthday by 4 days, so yesterday we had a bowling celebration for the two of them!

The Almost 3 Year Old!  (He was very confused he kept telling people he is 2 and a half.)

Grandma and Ally celebrating.

Back at GG's house for cake and presents...sitting at Logan's new table.

Grandma's Chocolate Cake

Make a Wish!

Present Time!

All Partied Out!

Logan kept his hat on until we were home and changing into pajamas.  As I took it off of him, he said, my birthday is over.

Lazy Sunday

It isn't too often that my kids and I decide to just stay home. But after church today we decided to just go home and hang out.

We did do some cleaning and picking up. I, unfortunately, must admit that I still hadn't found places for all our new Christmas presents. So now I think everything is pretty much put away. I wish I could say that now my house is clean, but I definitely don't have the right to say that. But we are more organized now.

Jacob and I played some Super Mario Brothers. It is so hard to stop playing. I always think that if I try just 1 more time, I will make it through the level. We also watched a movie and the kids did some puzzles. We moved Ally's new easel into the living room. So Ally and Jacob are now able to be teachers for each other and Logan.

Then GG came over with her new movie, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The movie promptly put Logan to sleep, but the rest of us really liked it. I love watching a movie and hearing my kids giggling. I love my kids' giggles.

Bowling, Bowling, Bowling...

Last month we went to my work Christmas party, which was a family bowling party. We had lots of fun and I discovered that Logan loves bowling. Even after Jacob, Ally and I were done, Logan was still bowling. So I have been considering a bowling party for Logan's birthday in a couple of weeks.
Today we decided to go check out the bowling alley near GG's house and make sure Logan really does love bowling. That was a really great way to spend our Sunday afternoon! And I think Logan may be a true bowler.

Back to work for me tomorrow. And back to school for the kids this week. The holidays are done for now. I plan to start keeping a log of my food and exercise tomorrow. I also intend to continue blogging regularly. I just want to make sure I write those things down so anyone reading this can hold me accountable.

Our New Year

We did it...my kids and I made it until midnight and rang in 2010 together! We went outside and the kids banged pots and pans. And then some neighbors started setting off fireworks. It was a fun way to begin our year.

Logan had so much fun staying up for the New Year. But at 11:30 he looked at me and asked if it was time for bed. If he would have asked earlier, I would have just let him go to bed. But it was so close to midnight so I told him he needed to stay up. I think he was glad he didn't go to bed.

On New Years Day it took us a long time to get up and going. But we finally got going and headed over to Grandma's house for tacos. Tacos are my mom's specialty. We watched the Rose Bowl. It was bittersweet since our Beavers were 1 win away from being there (for the second year in a row). But it was fun to eat tacos, watch football and spend time with family.

After football my kids headed to their dad's house and I got to go have a girl's night with my grandma. We watched movies and stayed up late. It's always fun to have grown up time! We watched Julie and Julia. This was such a cute movie!

Today I had to get some work done. I finally got the Christmas tree down and decorations put away. It is so hard to keep all of the things that 3 kids receive as gifts organized. But it feels good; my living room is mine again! I even hung up new pictures and calendars that I had from Christmas. And I was able to rearrange the top of my entertainment center. I am really happy to have it all done.

Here is the rearranged top of my entertainment center. I did have some ugly speakers on it. I realized that I never used them, so here is what I did. (Please ignore the tape...I was using that...its not part of the decor.)

I tried to take a picture of our new family portrait. Unfortunately my house was dark, so I needed to use the flash. This caused a huge glare. Logan is under the glare; just try to imagine it!

Here is my Christmas present from Jacob. I love this calendar. I feel bad putting up the picture of January because Jacob told me he was sick the day they did this page, so his wasn't as good. I will have to post a picture every month.

And here is my other calendar. GG made this for us and I love it. Look at all those birthdays we have coming up this month!

I hope everyone else's new year has been as wonderful as mine!

Bubbles

Here is Logan on the Fourth of July, along with a little insight from me on what was going on in that head of his.

Wow, Grandma convinced Mom to let me use the bubbles all by myself!

Finally, I can try to taste them...they look so good.
Pretty good, I'll have a little more.


Okay Mom, calm down...there's some bubbles.

Crazy Hair Day

This week was Vacation Bible School. Jacob and Ally had a blast! It was good for Jacob to spend time with kids his own age (he is the oldest at daycare and gets a little bored). And Ally loves anything that is "school." Thursday was crazy hair day...so here are some pictures of the crazy hair dos.

Ally's never had much hair, so it is fun for me and her now that it is long enough for ponytails.

It is hard to do crazy hair for Jacob...

If you're ever taking pictures of Jacob, do not tell him to smile...it causes him to make some very strange faces.

And we can't forget Logan. He may not have gone to VBS but he is still super cute!

1st Grade Zoo Trip

There couldn't be a better way to celebrate the end of the school year, than a fun filled field trip to the zoo! Jacob only has 3 and a half days until he is done with 1st grade.

Jacob on the bus

Serious Jacob reading his map


Jacob and me on the train

Jacob and Cerri on the train

Jacob liked the tiger better than this elephant. However my tiger pictures did not turn out, so enjoy my elephant picture.

Running around in a field after Jacob decided we had seen the whole zoo.

Class picture and yes that is my son who may be crab walking rather than sitting like everyone else.