Lately - Cabin Fever

Alright Winter.  I like yah - really I do.  But seriously - the snow? the ice??  the insanely arctic temperatures!?!

We have a high dose of cabin fever in this house and I am running out of sensory play activities to keep our very active toddler busy.  Today, we even opted to paint some hideous side tables with our very own chalkboard paint!

Ok, Winter - I take it back.  A little bit - you have forced us to get more creative.  But I do miss the woods and the warm sun.  Here is what we've been up to! (and yes - we did go out today.  The 20's are high-ish temps and Soren couldn't take it anymore.  But it didn't take long until his 'hands were cold!  gotta warm 'em up!')

Soren was separating the 'clean' ice from the 'slushy' ice.  I love how he dictates everything he is doing!

Even August is getting sick of being cooped up.  I catch her gazing, longingly out the window.

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Soren decided it was cold outside and he needed a warmer, comfier bed in his tent - but August was to join him.  'we will be warmer, too-gever! momma!'

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Soren and I painted these roughed up side tables we had.  I think it is much approved - I will try to snag a before and after pic.  We made our own chalkboard paint.  It's super easy - follow this link here.  We had some extra grout from another DIY project (the cold forces me into DIY mode... and searching for tasty recipes.  Ok, Winter - you win again!).

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Just wrapped this one up.  Thanks Elaine for the recommendation!  It was really quite good.  Can't wait to see the movie this year!

There you have it folks.  We are surviving the Winter and truthfully having a blast.  Pappa and I have been pretty swamped with work - but Soren has been such a trooper!  He really knows how to make the best of it!

insta-lately...

I probably sound like a broken record - but it is so crazy busy around here!  Not so much running around but fitting in time to mix, edit and master during nap times and early mornings.  We are having more success with schedules AND I finally got my calendar system down for the year.  

It seems archaic, but I went with the simple binder route, printed my iCalendar and found a super simple 'weekly' insert.  Its huge - but it also fits in ALL the cards, letters, addresses, pre-k paperwork and other nonsense in the folders and between pages.  It works for me.  Much better than trying to keep it all digital or in a conservative, cute little planner.  Function over form this time around.

So, I feel a need for a catch up with instagram.  This is what we've been up to:

the epic cold temps means we have been staying inside... A LOT.  but that doesn't keep us from playing with the snow!

we got hit pretty hard with the colds this year, hanging around for about three weeks or so.  we are knocking out whatever is left and preventing more with super foods and humidifiers. 

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Soren's seahorse.  yesterday he handed this to me and said 'look momma, i drew you a seahorse!'  my response was, in shock 'wow, buddy!  that is an impressively accurate seahorse - I am so impressed.' negative points montessori mom.  but seriously - incredible right?  this is getting framed and going up at work - healthy reminders of what is important and credible.  motherhood is by far the greatest and coolest thing i have EVER done!

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'A portrait a week of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014'   

Soren with his drill set adorning both a safety vest and citrus juice mustache.  He's become quite the chatter box these days and it's hard to snap a shot without his mouth in motion *wink.  Love it!  

Here is another just for fun.  Pappa bought Soren his first RC car.  It took a little practice to get the hang of the steering - but he did!  He's instructing me on how it works in this photo.