Leaping Forward

Today only happens once every four years. It is Leap Day! Today would be a great day for a Random Act of Kindness. I have a few ideas up my sleeves. Shhh!

We have been busy this month. We had three birthdays in February, one snow day, and a visit from out of state family.

Since it is the last day of the month, it is time for a goals update:

• Health Goals- Drinking more water and eating more veggies. I am doing so-so on drinking more water. I always forget to hydrate on a regular basis, especially when at work. I have eaten a bit more veggies in the latter half of the month, but not as much as I had hoped.
• House Goal- Continuing cleaning and organizing the great room. Unfortunately, I have not made any more progress in the great room. But the good news is that I have managed to keep the areas that I cleaned in January clear of clutter. That is definitely a step in the right direction. Yay!
• Family Goal- Reminding the family to conserve electricity. I definitely slacked on this one, and ended up turning lights off and unplugged chargers as I passed by. I will have to try this one again soon.
• Self Goals- Cooking a few new recipes & writing a letter. SUCCESS!!!!!! I have cooked four new dishes this month. I also wrote a letter to one my of husband’s relations earlier this month, then enclosed hand written thank you notes from the kiddos for unexpected birthday treats.

 Enjoy your Leap Day!

Playing in the Rain

We had a nice rain shower earlier.  

The kiddos enjoyed playing in it. 

This is what summer is about!

Attack of the Sweet Gum Balls

Breaking News!

This spring is going to be an ankle breaker for sure!  

Our resident Sweet Gum tree is launching an attack by the thousands!  

The invasion has started with a sea of deadly sweet gum balls are far as the eye can see!

What is behind the attack?  A rebound year from the drought of 2012!

What will be the counter attack?  A rake, a shovel, and handy dandy children driven by the promise of quarters!

This story will be continued at a later date!

Snowy Days

Our kids LOVE the snow!  

They love to dig in the snow.  

They love to sled.  

They love to build snowmen.  

They love to make snowballs.  

They love to roll down a hill in the snow.  

They love to help shovel the snow.  

They love making snow angels.  

They love just playing in the snow.  

Basically, they LOVE snow!

With the drop in temperatures we brought the snow indoors.  A few years ago I came up with this idea and it works (at least with my monkeys).  Send an adult outside with a bucket or large storage tub.  Fill it up with snow and deposit it into your bathtub.  We ended up with three 5-gallon buckets full of snow in our bathtub today.  The kids had a blast burying toys in the snow and making snow balls once it had melted just right.  The best part is little clean-up as the water goes down the drain as the snow melts.  

Enjoy the snow & stay safe!

The Adventures of Chippy- Part 4

Sorry for the delay.  Next Christmas season Chippy might make a few appearances on the blog, but I will not be attempting a daily journal again.

Day 21-  Chippy was found chilling out next to the sunflower lamp on the newly cleaned and organized ledge in the sun room.  Princess drew him a picture to take back to the North Pole.

 

Day 22-  Chippy was hanging from a ceiling hook in the kitchen.  He had a great view of the making of yummy food.

Day 23-  The kids found Chippy climbing the cabinets in the sunroom with five days until Christmas remaining.

Day 24-  It took a while, but we discovered Chippy swimming in a pot of poinsettias.

Day 25-  Chippy snuck into Princess's room and was found on top of her messy dresser.

Day 26-  Chippy was found missing the cousins as he was in the highchair that we had out for our youngest niece.

Day 27-  We discovered that Chippy had hung a snowman in the kitchen and he was sitting on top on Christmas Eve.

Day 28-  Even though Chippy was suppose to return to the North Pole, he stayed one last day because Princess really wanted him to see their Christmas presents.  He even donned a pair of glasses to check out the festivities.  Then again maybe he was checking out the angel sitting next to him. ;-)

Alright, now I guess I should get back to preparing for the incoming weather.  Facebook is being blown up with the name SNOWMAGEDDON.  Oh joy!  I am not really worried about the snowfall (6-12 inches) as much as the extreme negative wind chills (-25 to -45 degrees Fahrenheit, yikes!).  As long as we have electricity we should be good though.  I am thinking chocolate chip banana bread and cheese soup this evening.  Yummy comfort foods!  Stay safe and warm!

The Adventures of Chippy- Part 3

Whew . . . . . it has been crazy around here.  We have been busy cleaning and getting ready for company, so time has flown.  Chippy is still making the rounds. . . . .

Day 12-  Chippy sure does enjoy the top of the play kitchen.  He rocked his marshmallow necklace.

Day 13-  Chippy hopped a ride on a yellow butterfly.

Day 14- We found Chippy hanging out on the ceiling fan

Day 15-  Chippy kicked back on one of the lamps.

Day 16-  Whoa!  Chippy built a snowman!

Day 17-  Chippy likes to watch Pumpkin do his homework.  He was hanging out on top of the mantle clock.

Day 18-  Chippy found a nice box to play in.

Day 19-  Nintendo anyone???  Chippy was thinking about playing Legend of Zelda and watching a movie.

Day 20-  He has the eagle eye.  Chippy was found way up high out of the hands of little visiting fingers.

Chippy only has one week left before he returns to the North Pole.  I wonder what else he will do?

The Adventures of Chippy- Part 2

Chippy has been busy!

Day 5-  Chippy started out with mommy's Garfield collection.  By the time the children awoke he had decided to zip-line to the light fixture to grab the candy cane that he had misplaced.  He ended up stuck in place until night came.   Good thing he harnessed himself to the zip-line.

Day 6-  The kids found Chippy chilling out on the mantle with his candy cane treat.  It was the perfect spot to watch Pumpkin do his homework that evening.

Day 7- Chippy was discovered surfing in the top of the Christmas Tree.  He had a great bird's eye view.

Day 8- Silly Chippy!  The kids caught him taking a dip in a bowl of marshmallows in the kitchen.  In celebration, they had marshmallows with their breakfast.

Day 9- Chippy must really like trees.  This time he was checking out the shiny balls on Princess's mini Christmas tree in the sunroom.

Day 10-  We searched high and low.  Finally we found Chippy sitting on the top shelf of mom's hutch in the great room.  He was sitting on top of a pile of the kids craft supplies.  Are you trying to tell us something Chippy?

Day 11- This morning we found Chippy in the kitchen again.  He must really like marshmallows, because he made himself and the kids marshmallow necklaces with thread.

The kids are really enjoying this new family tradition.  I am thinking that it is definitely a keeper!  Until next time!

The Adventures of Chippy- Part 1

We started a new family tradition this year.  The Elf on the Shelf joined us on Thanksgiving evening.  Pumpkin and Princess unwrapped the magically appearing package to discover their own elf with a story book inside.  Earlier in the day we had watched An Elf's Story and they were enthralled wishing that they had their own elf to watch over them.

The kids decided to name him Chippy like the elf in the movie.  We read about Chippy's secret mission for Santa.  We also read that if we touch him his special elf magic disappears and he cannot tell Santa if we have been good.

Since then Chippy has been busy. . . . . and the kids have been on the hunt every morning.

Day 1 (Thanksgiving):  He arrived in the evening and hung out in his box until the kids went to sleep.

Day 2:  He is found hanging out with the Willow Tree angel girls up high on top of a cabinet.  He has the perfect view of the annual decorating of the Christmas tree.  Princess leaves him a candy cane treat and a mini Twix bar.

Day 3:  He was found hanging on the prism in the sun room window.  Chippy even left his calling card.  He used Scooby Doo dominoes to spell his name.  Then he left a small "thank you" note with the wrappers of the candy cane and twix bar.

Day 4 (this morning): He was found partying on top of the play kitchen with a "nest" of animals and a picture of the family.  Princess is pretty sure that he made a nest and was not just hanging out.

What will be in store for the next week????  Who knows!!!!