V-day

Happy Valentine's Day! This year we have made a bajillion valentines. Carter loves it! I'm pretty sure we've made some every day for a good week now, which is ironic because he is currently entering into the "girls are gross" stage. Luckily he hasn't realized I'm a girl yet and still likes me but seriously, I'm in Target the other day in the purse and accessory section and he and Nolan won't stop going, "EEEWWW!! GIRL stuff!"



This year we made a heart yarn garland thing. (got the idea from Family Fun) I took pictures as we were making and i was going to post a tutorial and everything but they ended up being pretty messy and not-so-cute so I'm ditching that bc I can't say this thing wasn't worth the time making it. Plus the kids ditched out 1/2 way through and I was stuck finishing it.
But I really don't have any hard feelings.

While everyone else seems to be getting very excited about the coming of Spring, I'm....not.

I feel like somewhat of a minority in this matter. "Why wouldn't she want Spring to come?" you may be asking yourself. Because after Spring comes Summer. And Summer is my dreaded season.

I LOVE Fall.

I LOVE Winter.

Spring and I are cool with each other.

But I know that looming closely around the corner is 110+days, never-ceasing A/C bills and constant sweat-stains. Ugh. I think that's the part I hate the most.

However, Spring does mean that my garden and I are getting friendly again and that does excite me.

I really am a fair-weather friend to my garden. It gets COMPLETELY abandoned during the winter. But I think we keep the relationship fresh this way.

As I was weeding this week I was noticing the beautiful signs of Spring. (Isn't it early? It's only February!)

I also found this! (I smelled it before I even noticed it was there! Volunteer cilantro! Its so yummy. I wish I had some fresh tomatoes to go with it)





Here's my bare naked garden. I guess it's not totally naked. It has a lot of weeds and a few chives. But in a couple months it will be flourishing and beautiful!


Also this week I made home-made bread! What is it about making bread that makes me feel totally awesome? When that hot, delicious bread is coming out of the oven all perfect and smelling sooooo good, I swear there is no better feeling. Until you get to eat it and then you feel ESPECIALLY awesome. And then if your kids eat it and like it that's like cloud 9.
In my case, the kids scarfed down 2 pieces each within 5 minutes with nothing but good ol' butter on it.








Today's been a totally awesome Sunday starting with me getting to wear my new red shoes to church and topped off with dinner with friends. And i know it's supposed to be a day of rest but I couldn't stand my toilet smelling like urine for ONE MORE MINUTE and ended up doing a full-on scrub-down with hot water followed by disinfecting wipes. And it still has a bit of a stink. Eew.
Okay, one more thing...have you read "The Hunger Games" yet? I know I'm prety much the last person on the planet to be reading this book but I like it!
Seeing as I'll be done with the series in 6 months (I'm super-slow), I need your best book recommendations. Leave me a comment!

Lately...

My kids are buddies (most of the time). When Carter's at school Nolan is constantly asking if we could go pick up Carter at school. Lately they have had the best time looking at books together. Carter pretends he can read all the books to Nolan and Nolan just LOVES to be read to. It's too cute!





And you know what? I don't care what people say about California (and sometimes what I think about California). It has been a beautiful winter and I never want it to end. It's been warm and sunny and we've been enjoying oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruit to our little heart's content. Mmmm....





The kids spend at least an hour on their bikes pretty much every day. I've been trying to teach Carter to ride without training wheels a bit at a time, but it's been.....a bit of a challenge, to say the very least. (and yes, Nolan's suckin on a "postical" here. Gotta get rid of them before summer!)

Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, but I'm pretty sure it's my favorite. I love breakfast. Oatmeal, steel-cut oats, veggie omlet, french toast, bacon, cream of wheat, oranges...seriously, there's such a variety that I could eat breakfast 3 times a day. My kids love bagels, bacon, eggs, grits, and oranges. (not all at once, however. I'm not that crazy)

And finally, Carter's tooth is hanging on by a thread. It kinda grosses me out. And he won't let me pull it out. Really, it like leans out toward me and i can almost see it flapping in the wind. Eew. Why am i more excited about him losing a tooth than him?? (btw, I couldn't get him to make a better face than this, his large-mouthed-bass face. Trust me, I tried.)

p.s. I bought those red shoes I wanted. I love them.