LOVE

 My girls and I got the best Valentines gift...they got their Daddy and I got my Sweetie! We missed him badly, he had been gone for 2 weeks for Spring Training in Sunny Arizona. Ella had a list of things she wanted him to do, well just two things, a piggy back ride and a shoulder ride. Lola had the biggest smile and was so happy!

There was a list of things that I had for Kevi to do too, but I held back...hey it was Valentines. But I did realize all the things I missed about him and needed him for I won't tell you everything, don't want it to be a pity party for me....BUT here are a few....

The freedom to go to the gym every morning...drives me CRAZY when I can't!

Having my own omelet station every morning.

Someone to take out the trash and bring in the garbage, I HATE that oh and getting the mail, I missed two Baby showers...guess I should get the mail after a week.

Somehow I don't feel a desire or don't want to be made fun so I avoid wandering around the house at 11:00 at night with a Topiary in my hand re-accessorizing EVERYTHING when he is here, I do at a more reasonable time and a little less often (just a little). But it doesn't stop me from getting a new TV console and new TV while he is gone...SURPRISE!

Oh and I just love the guy, so I miss everything about him. It makes it worth it knowing that he loves his job and that he worked so hard to be able to get to do what he loves everyday. 

Here goes another two weeks! 

Happy Birthday Ella Grace!

 We had a SPA party for Miss Ella's 4th Birthday!

 We had her favorite Crepes filled with fruit and yummy syrups. 

Only girls were invited (She let her Dad and Tyson come...

Dustin and my Dad were pretty upset about being excluded from the party). 

We painted finger nails and Brittany and Tiff put feathers in the girls hair. It was bit crazy with 25 people and Ella was a little over whelmed with all the excitement but in the end we had a fun party! 

Wish I had more pictures but as you can tell from the pictures we had a  lot going on...hence Ella in 4 different outfits! That's Ella for you!

4 of my Favorite things about Ella:  

*She tells me she loves me at least once every hour

*She loves to meet new people. I picked her up from school the other day and she said Mom I met a new friend his name is Jackson, I said tell me the details...she said he was playing by himself in the sand box so I went up to him and told him my name and started to play with him! She has an amazing memory, she will remember his name and  facts about him :)

*Her favorite person is Lola and she is a wonderful, loving big sister

*I love when she prays and blesses Daddy to be safe or blesses someone to have a good Birthday

Lola's Birthday!

Lola just turned 1! She is such a JOY! She walking everywhere, she says "hat" and wants one on right when she wakes up, she says "Momma" and recently "Dadda", she has to sleep with her pink blanket that she shoves in her mouth, she yells "Ella" it doesn't sound perfect but we know that she wants Ella, she is a very good eater, loves all veggies and now cupcakes. She loves to sit and look through books and pull them all off the shelf.

So we had a Book Party for this little sweetie!

 Ella made Lola a card, it was so sweet I walked up and Ella was showing it to her. Lola sure does love Ella, and she sure will bite her if Ella takes something from her...Agh the fighting has already started!

She held her cupcake in her hand so cute.

And loved every last bite, but who doesn't love Brittany's cupcakes!

Ginger Bread House Contest 2011...take 2!!

Hate to admit this but it took us two tries to get our Ginger Bread Houses standing! I don't even want to add up the money we wasted and the hours spent...it is the Memories RIGHT??

 They are Priceless...

 Kevin trying use self control...when he could tell they were not holding up he asked if he could just smash it in! We really could see everyone true colors, when Gingerbread housed go bad!

Ella was in heaven...she visited every station and sampled the sweets.

.

Last attempt...trying to work together

Here they are...worthy of a photo shoot...

 Pam and Mandi were our big winners, they took the trophy! And also the Award for Taking the Longest!

 Tiff and Bobby won the Award for "Most Bucks spent!" She had a cute Necco roof and sucker lampposts.

 Greyson and Chris took home the "Hunky Award" they really tried hard!

 Mom and Dad took home the "Looks the Best Award" because "Fake always looks good" they went with a Bird House...they should have been disqualified since only a Beaver could actually eat it!

 Kuehne family took home the Award for "Most Christmasy" it was festive!

 No ours is not a church, it was a Princess castle!

The Winner of 2011 Ginger Bread Contest! "Beach House"!

We all have a Play Room!

 I was running one morning and looking in this room that was my sewing room/workout room and couldn't keep my wheels from turning on making it a play room for my girls and a sewing room for me. 

That way we can all play at the same time and be in the same room (yes, my play is sewing). 

We started painting the next day (by we I mean Kev).

 I was searching for the "Dwell Studios" pillow from Target with the yellow flowers and it is always out of stock. So I thought I have yellow fabric, I can just make myself one (should have done that in the first place, rather than waste my gas to Target...who am I kidding I am there at least once a week)

 These cute pictures and music book pages are from a Primary Songbook that we had when I was little. Love all the pictures, it was hard to choose what to frame.

 Ella and I picked: Oh what do you do in the Summer Time, Where Love is and Do as I'm doing.

Collection of Cards friends have given me that are my favorite in this Vintage Shutter. 

Kind of wanting to move that gray settee up to my dining table for a change...

and putting this one in the Play Room. 

Crazy??

  I need to find the right time to spring that on Kev!

Where is my Focus?

40 Bottles of Tomatoes on the WALL! No really they are messy and get everywhere! Noway around canning without dirtying every dish towel you have! I have canned, pears, peaches, tomatoes and beans. I am throwing in the towel...and maybe I should have a while ago because this happens...

Cutie Pie Lola banging on the glass doors. I thought "Oh little Lola having so much fun" then I thought she might have shut herself in Ella's room and she did...no tears just all smiles!

LOVE her!

And Ella being a good Big sister feeding Lola while CAN...what else?

Tis the season for the Crock Pot and a good way to use those tomatoes

My Favorite Chili Recipe

2 cans 14 oz each Tomatoes

2 cans 14 oz each Kidney Beans (rinsed)

1 lb cooked Lean turkey

1 can 14 oz Black Beans

1 can 12 oz Tomato Sauce

1 C chopped Yellow Onion

1 C chopped celery

1 C chopped carrot

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

4 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons ground red pepper

1 tsp salt

Slow Cook on High for 7 hours