The Time is Near...

The date has been set.  

The doctor told me to check into the hospital 
on Monday to meet this baby.

I'm having lots of contractions today so 
I'm hoping to make it through the weekend.

It's the first time I've not been anxious to just be done.

Maybe since it's the last one?

So, today was preparation day.

I washed and folded little pink & blue onsies for the hospital.

We dug the infant seat out of garage and

Annie helped me prepare the bassinet.

She seems to be thinking a lot 

about whether she's getting another brother or how things 

will change if she's no longer the only girl in the family.

The day seemed a little emotional for us both, so

after the work was done, we decided to have one last girls' day

 before the babe would be joining us.

First, we hit the outlets to buy some blues for our guys. 

(And of course, matching shirts for the boys to wear to the hospital.)

Frozen yogurt for lunch.

Then we saw

All the while the contractions were getting stronger 

& I was just hoping my water wouldn't break before 

our fun was done. 

We still had to hit the local Mall 

'cause she had a little money burning a hole in her wallet.

You can't go wrong when the girl you are hanging with has pandas on her nails and pulls money from her 

wiener dog wallet to pay for her lip-gloss.

And then guess what happened?

I saw a boy checking her out...

CHECKING HER OUT!

I sure didn't tell her, and sorry folks, but I I know you will find this hard to believe, but I didn't even snap his picture for you all. 

 I just wanted to say...She's 10 buddy.

I didn't.

What I did do was smile, as I watched her pay at Gap Kids for a little cupcake charm to add to her charm bracelet.  

Because yes, she is only 10 but she's so grown up too.

And who knows how things are going to change around here.

We had fun wondering if girl days would be 

forever changed come Monday.

Only God knows.

And we know His plan will be perfect.

Monday will be here before we know it...

...and now we finally are ready.

Living Like Royalty...

My boys LOVE cooking.

A little too much.

 

 

If I even walk into the kitchen Rocco & Roo pop up magically, out of nowhere,

"What are we making?" & "What can I do?"

 

I can't lie...drives me a tad bonkers.

& then I hand them kitchen tools

because there is NO WAY to get them away.

None.

 

If I turn on a cooking show they jump on my lap to watch it too.

 

So when Bo got this little book from his school library,

 

 

and found this recipe...Castle Pies,

 

 

I knew it meant we were making Castle Pies.

All of us.

 

Luckily, there were jobs for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocco said, "Bo, I can tell you are a

great cook cause you made a huge mess," he was serious,

and by round 3 the shirt came off.

 

 

We were not crazy of the idea of

figs, cloves, pepper & honey filling,

so we filled those babies up with

cherry & raspberry pie filling.

 

 

And let me tell you those mini Castle Pies were way too good.

I had 3. 

2 for me & 1 for the baby,

and I was too full to eat my dinner.

 

Annie grabbed my camera, as any blogging daughter would,

and caught Kelly taste testing, "What do you think Dad?"

Our only problem was:

 

 

This guy.

 

 

He couldn't keep his hands off them while they were cooling.

I think he ate more than me,

and he still ate his dinner!

 

We might not live in a castle but we ate like kings.

The only things missing were our crowns.

(But you can bet we all would have been in crowns if I would have thought of it at the time.)

 

 

The Last Day

We don't even call winter WINTER. 

At our house...we call it HOCKEY SEASON.

 

Annie, Bo, & Rocco all play

And it gets crazy! 

 

Annie

 

 

Bo

 

 

Rocco

 

The weekends get sooooo crazy!

Besides Annie's many weeknight practices,

our weekends can be anywhere from 4-7 games.

 

 But just look at my boys...

 

 

8 is my number this year...since soon we will be a family of 8.

 

Today was Rocco's last day of the season.

 

 

It was my shift as Kel was with Bo at his game.

 

 

Do you have any idea how cute 5 year olds are

zooming around when they can barely see over the boards?

 

 

And at his game, he scored twice.

 

Sure maybe, both times, he plowed down

his own teammates right in front of the net,

stole the puck from them, and shot it in net.

I was proud anyway.

 

But that wasn't my favorite part.

My favorite part was that every time he fell down, scored a goal, or thought he was doing a cool move...

 

...he looked for me.

 

Even in the midst of all the chaos,

He would look up to the stands,

look me in the eyes & smile.

 

 

And of course my heart would swell & I'd smile right back.

 

 

 

 

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

 

 

 

Annie's Valentine Box

Right now in Minnesota we have been frozen for a few months.

 

 

I'm talking we are popsicles!!!

 

 

Which is one reason why I LOVE Valentine's Day so much!

It gives us sweet things to think about
& fills our home with love.

 

I mean, do you even know how sweet it is to watch little boys

SITTING STILL cutting out little hearts for his classmates?

 

 

And then there are the Valentine boxes,

Oh, do I love Valentine Boxes!

 

  

 And this year I think it is my favorite!

 

I love the time we spend together,

everyone usually pitches in.

 

 

When we are deciding what to make I just tell the kids,

"Make what you love!"

 

And Annie...well that girl loves Pandas.

 

 

So we made a Panda.

& I had one happy girl.

 

 

Then, today that little roly poly panda got stuffed

with candy and Valentines, and that Panda was pretty happy too.

 

I'll put the directions down below

but for those of you who aren't really into Pandas...

 

Happy Valentine's day!

 

Hope it's filled with lots of love!

Panda Directions

 

Tape down the "stem" of  a mylar balloon. 

(dollar store)

 

 

Paper Mache the balloon.

(Paste is just flour & water)

 

 

 At least 3 layers.

Allow time to dry between layers.

(fans work great)

 

To get it to stand make a little playdough nest.

 

 

Sit the balloon on it & paper mache around the nest.

 

 



 

 

 

When dry remove the playdough.

 

 

Cut a hole for valentines.

 

 

Here comes the tricky part...

Cover the head with a think fleece.

(Hot glue gun & lots of tugging.)

 

 

I got 1 yard of white & 1 foot of black.

It was more than enough.

 

The back is not the prettiest I'll admit.

 

 

 

Next, the ears.

 

Black fleece & sturdy plastic.

 I cut ears out of strawberry containers.

Cut the fleece as shown below, 2 different sized pieces for each ear.

Front small, back longer.



 

Glue plastic onto the back piece.

 

 

Hot glue the front piece on.

 

 

The longer piece is the tab to apply hot glue to attach to the head.

 

 

Play around with eye shapes,

 

 

and you have your Panda Box!

 

 

 

I'd allow 3 days for the paper mache part.

It really was fun to make together so I hope you give it a try!