Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day Larry has a ball game, surprise, surprise. So we celebrated on Saturday. Saturday morning we hit Donut Den and The Parthenon. I voted for the Frist, but some how Larry got Reesi on his side and I was out voted. Reesi used her tooth fairy money to buy a small statue of Athena. She was trying to memorize all the facts about her so she could bring it in to talk about on her Marvelous Me day at school.

That night we had our traditional Valentine's celebration and headed to Build-a-Bear. This year we had two kiddos to buy for, but I came prepared with $15 in coupons! It was packed! As soon as we got there Elye latched on to a pink bear and was ready to stuff it right away. This year Reesi picked out a dog and had it stuffed hard as a rock so that it could roller skate. The whole rest of the night Elye carried her bear, K-K (Reesi named it), around. Of course, that didn't last. By Sunday she could care less about her bear and was trying to steal Reesi's dog.

When we got home that night Reesi got out all her Build-a-Bears from the past and gave them a snack and then put them to bed with her. On Sunday she took Kathleen, the dog, to church and to the park. She laid her down for a nap and read her a story. She even gave her a sponge bath. So far Kathleen has had a pretty good life! Reesi's getting so old it is good to see her still play like a kid! Hopefully, she still has several more years of Build-a-Bear Valentine's in her future.

5 O'Clock Shadow

Elye's 5 o'clock was her greatest masterpiece.

Reesi's favorite hobby is everything art, especially painting. So during one of these snow days we went to JoAnn's to get some art supplies and canvases. Of course, Elye had to paint to, but most of the paint ended up on her face. Reesi painted and painted. When she still wasn't ready to quit she went and got some paintings she had done in her room, took them off the wall, and painted over them. She loves to paint!

Just a Hanging

We tried to pull it the other night, but Reesi doesn't trust Larry and I just can't do it. Mrs. Cline had to come to our rescue again! She's pulled all of Reesi's teeth so far. Thank goodness for Mrs. Cline.

Every Kid Loves a Chin Up Bar

My new workout plan for the next three months involves a chin up bar. I never knew how much fun this would be for the kids. Especially Lyla! I think I'm going to buy one for her birthday! I also never knew how that I kid could kick my butt in chin-ups. Here are the stats:

Me: 0.5

Elye: loves to hang

Reesi: 2

Lyla:5

Larry: claims he does 20 a day at school, but I'm afraid he'll break my dinky chin up bar so he's not aloud to do that a home.

The kids also all do chin-ups the hard way: hands close together and facing forward. Larry says when I work up to eight we can get the house painted. I think that's a lofty goal. I'll try, but I say the house is getting painted this summer whether I make it or not. Every kid may love a chin-up bar, but personally I hate them!

Snow Day, but not for you Reesi

This is what she looks like when she does get a snow day!

We have had a crazy amount of snow this year. So far my school has had nine snow days and we only had four built in. Even though we may be going to school in June I can't help but love snow days. Poor Reesi, however, has not been so lucky. She's only had three!

Last night, it was predicted to snow. Larry was "guaranteeing" a snow day so Reesi went to bed expecting not to have to go to school the next. Only too bad for her because all she got was two hour delay. My school was canceled and her cousin's school was canceled, but not her school. I guess that's the downside of going to a private school, no buses!

When she found out she had to go to school we had a good 30 minutes of serious crying. Here are some of her ramblings during her darkest moments:

"Everybody else in the whole wide world doesn't have to go to school."

"I'm going to go put snow all over the road so we can't go."

"I'm not going to school."

"This is the worst day of my life."

"I'm not eating. If I don't eat then I will die and go to heaven instead of school. Then I'll be on the news."

There was 30 minutes of this. I finally cheered her up by promising a special Reesi afternoon. She cheered up, went to school smiling, and her hunger strike only lasted about 45 minutes. It's days like these that I wish I wasn't the responsible parent and could have just let her stay home. It makes me sad too when she has to go to school! Here's to hoping that dramatic snow days are over and spring is on it's way!

Much to Larry's Dismay . . .

Reesi wants to be a cheerleader! Her school had their basketball cheer session where they put on a show/cheer at half-time of the boy's game. This is her fourth time doing it and it was her favorite. She really got into it and had a big smile the whole time. She has decided that when she and Elye get big she will cheer while Elye plays basketball. Larry's not convinced yet, but I guess we'll wait and see what happens!

The Real Christmas

Elye was more concerned about having her "dilk" Christmas morning than opening presents.

Jenny and Eric showing off their "present" from Reesi.

Reesi wrapped up a little notebook for Papoo's present.

Nails done, house shoes on, robe, and purse- Reesi looked like this most of the week.

See Julie, Elye can be sweet when she's not trying to pull his hair out.

Oh, yeah, and we had a White Chirstmas!

Elye would get her milk and back up to Mimi saying, "a sit."

So Santa finally came! Elye was the first up with her whiney cries and by the time I made it upstairs to get her out of her bed, Reesi was up too. Lots of screams and giggles from Reesi and Elye loved just opening the presents. The best present by far was the trampoline. It has allowed me to cook dinner many nights without a baby on my hip and Reesi loves it just as much as Elye. After presents we packed up to head to Indiana for lunch and Christmas there.

Mom had a huge spread and we all crammed around the dinner table. Reesi passed out her "presents." Jason ended up with the best gift, hand warmers from the dollar bin at Target. Jenny and Eric ended up with a dried up play dough creation. Then we opened all the presents from Mimi and Papoo. Some of Reesi's favorites were her purse packed with goodies and a huge collection of art activities. Reesi, Elye, Grace, Lyla, Julie, Easton, and I stayed at home for the next week so the girls had plenty of time to play with all their things.

Elye remained by Mimi's side non-stop. She stopped calling her mama and started calling her ju-ju. I don't know if we'll ever get her to call her Mimi. She has a mind of her own.

A Poppy Christmas

Dabau and the girls

Poppy and Elye

The blue duck that Reesi wrapped up for Poppy and Cat.

The Squinkies

Sneaking in some Squinkie time before bed that night

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Reesi was nestled all snug in her bed, at least pretending to be.

The Wednesday before Christmas we had our annual Christmas dinner with Poppy and Cat at Logan's Roadhouse. They had a steak and lobster special so most of the adults got that. I think Reesi swiped lobster off everyone's plate. Who knew she loved it so much?

Friday we went to see Dabau and then opened presents with Poppy, Cat, Granny, Papa, and Steve. Reesi got her coveted 100 Squinkies and the Squinkie palace. Elye got a ride on four wheeler and a vacuum. She loves the vacuum and is finally starting to ride on the four wheeler. She was a little scared at first. Afterwards, we came home and did the Christmas Eve routine: make sugar cookies, put carrots on the roof, read Twas the Night Before Christmas, and watched a little Christmas Vacation. Of course, Elye was in bed for all of this so maybe next year. Reesi couldn't wait for the morning.