Valentines. . . a month late

Several years ago we started a little card club in our neighborhood. You know, you bring 12 homemade cards and head home with 12 new and different cards. Super great idea, super fun to have lovely homemade cards. But then we all added a few more kids to our families. Our older kids started growing up and getting busier. Life got crazy. And slowly, our little card club turned into a dinner club. We meet once a month and either go to dinner or go to a movie.

So much better than cards!



Last month one of the girls in our card group organized the most fun Valentines day couples party. She knows the most fabulous lady who comes dressed as a Southern Belle and acts the part the whole night. She led us in the (not so) newlywed game . . . it was so funny to see a different side of people. We ended with prizes, banana splits and a photo booth.



Nights like these make me so grateful that Nate and I chose Providence as our home. We might be quickly growing out of our house but can't imagine ever living anywhere else.

A Few Things

Here are a few of the happenings around these parts. . .



We had a leap year celebration. . . inspired by Elise who made me realize that Leap Year is no small thing. It only happens once every four years, therefore making it pretty dang exciting. We did a leap year word search, learned leap year facts, did a leap year maze, had a leaping contest and played pin the crown on the frog. It was a good chance to do something a little out of the ordinary on a random Wednesday!



This little lady just keeps growing up. She loves nothing more than to play in Lola's room with Lola's off limits toys. Lola is the best sport, and never gets mad when Stella destroys something she's worked hard to set up. Stella is quite the poser and has been since she was really little. It's pretty funny the way she poses when the camera comes out.



Lola is not too shabby at posing either. She was happy to help me show off my project. I stenciled the back wall of my hallway. I love the way it turned out. . . especially from a distance. Up close it's not as perfect as I'd like it to be, but so far I'm loving my view as I walk down the hall.








Jacks and Miles held a dunk contest in our front yard after they watched the NBA All Star Dunk Contest. It was so cute watching them work together to come up with their dunks. Miles isn't very into basketball, but add an element of craziness - like jumping over random objects to get to the hoop - and he's all for it. I just found this paper in Jackson's room and I love it. It makes me smile every time I read it.

Toddler

Finally getting around to posting a video of Stella walking. It took her almost 15 months, but she's quite the pro now. It has definitely elevated her destructicon abilities.

While I was looking through some videos, I found this one of cute Lola about the same age just learning to walk. Funny that they are wearing the same dress. . . it makes them look so much alike to me!

Crafting with the Stars

This lady would craft her whole life away if I let her. I love sitting down and chatting with her
while we work on something together.



Today was a blast from the past for me when we pulled out some potatoes and did potato stamps. Lola thought is was awesome and I thought back to my childhood and all the fun times doing things like this with my own mom and sisters.

We've waited all winter for this!

Now that we've had our fun, warm weather please come back!

Stella Girl

A few things about Stella:



She is finally converting to full time walking. She has been taking steps for a couple months, but really couldn't be bothered switching over because of her turbo crawl. I'm not sure I've ever seen a baby crawl faster than her - I will miss hearing those speedy crawling noises all over my house! We are loving her cute little wobbly walk but it's making me a little sad to think she is no longer a baby.

She loves her dad. Every time he walks in the door she shouts out, "DAD!" and heads over for a big hug. She loves talking to him on the phone during the day.



She loves to look through her books in her room. I love peeking in on her as she sits, surrounded by toys and books, lost in her little world!

She is the most social little thing. She looks forward to the days I go to the school to volunteer because she gets to go play at neighbor's houses. On Sunday, she watched her friend Ayden be carried in to sunday school clear across the room. She quickly wriggled down from my lap and booked it straight over to say hello (and check out his treats). She has no fear of strangers and will pretty much smile, talk and be held by anyone. Whenever I leave her, she just smiles and waves. . . never cries. I love that she is so secure and friendly!



She got her first haircut on Sunday when Tierra was here. She had a pretty awesome mullet going. I am loving her new, sweet little look.

She loves hanging out in the pantry. She is constantly bringing me anything she can find on the lower shelves. She loves to dump out and sample everything within her reach. She's the pickiest eater in the world, but when it's her idea, she'll try anything!



She loves TV. Every time we walk in the house she finds the remote and brings it to me. When I buckle her in her carseat, she starts pointing to the DVD player hoping I'll turn it on for her. Anytime she catches sight of the iPad, she begs for Netflix. Her favorites are Elmo, Dora, Barney (ugh) and her Baby Einstein videos.

This is such a fun age - she amazes me every day at what she has learned. She makes us all laugh with her crazy antics. She gives the best, sloppy, open mouthed kisses, but only when she's in the mood. . . we all beg for them. She is a busy little lady, but such a little sweetheart that I usually just laugh at the tornado that she leaves behind.