Spring Break

This year my kids had an extra long

Spring Break, a week & a half.

 

The first day of break Annie & I typed out

a list of things we were going to, or really wanted to, do. 

 

 Tomorrow is the very last day before

heading back to school on Monday

& we got everything on this list checked off:

 

 

They did a lot of fun "stuff"

but that's not what made it special.

 

It was the smiles.

The excitement of trying things for the first time.

But, as exciting as learning to ski AND going down your first "black diamond" all on the same night is,

(That is my husband for you)

 

 

lots of the "specialness" was in our own kitchen.

 

In the quiet moments of concentration & togetherness.

 

 

 

 In my amazement as I watched her work,

she designed & filmed her own cooking show episodes

& started a new cooking blog.

 

 

 

In the wonderment of a new fish.

 

Everyday was special.

 

Because I had my 5,

 

 

and they love each other.

 

 

Do you get a Spring Break?

 

Trisha from American Honey Home You won the

bracelet!

 

Email Shana@highintencity.com & she will get that to you!

 

 

Life Changing...

I married a hockey player.
 

When I sat next to him in class I thought he was very cute

but I knew he was a hockey player...

& I knew hockey players were wild.

 

Until one day when my car didn't start. 

He tried to help me out & ended up giving me a ride.

It was on that little ride I found out he didn't drink, didn't party.

That was important to me.

And that moment changed my life.

 

It was on.

 

I chased him & we dated for four months before he proposed.
 

That hockey player changed my life.

We live happily ever after...

 

But this year Annie became

a hockey player.

 

And another hockey player changed my life.

 

I watched her suit up for the first time.

 

 

I watched her take her dad's number as her own.

 



 

I watched my little angel...

 

...get her first penalty, and second, & third.

 

 

My phone & Instagram account

filled up with pictures like these:

 

 

 

 

My boys became rink rats,

 

 

 

 

Family became fans.

 

 

 

The biggest fan of all award might go to Kit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And no matter how many times Kelly got hit in the face with pompoms he never seemed to mind :)

 

Strangers became dear friends,

 

 

 

 

And I started clipping newspapers.

 

 

Amazingly orange, my least favorite color, became my favorite.

I found myself buying orange ribbon for hair bows,

 

 

& orange nail polish for Tiger manicures before big games.

 

 

But the biggest change of all,

 was that I fell in love with watching my girl...

...play hockey.

 

 

Go Tigers!

Love you # 7

 

 

P.S.  turns out I was right...hockey players are wild ;) 

 

Snow Magic

Our 6' 4" soldier came home from

boot camp right before Thanksgiving.

(My nephew)

 

It was a celebration!

We had missed him so much!

He is such an important part of my family & Bo's best friend.

 

The other day he came over just to play.

 

He took the boys outside to make a Boman.

But, apparently Bo was too tall & the snow was not sticky,

 so they settled for a Roccoman...

...not quite the same ring to it but cute nevertheless :)

 

I walked by my window & saw the business outside

& grabbed my camera.

 

 

 

This is FOR A FACT the longest Rocco has ever stood still.  Ever.

 

 

And he LOVED it!

 

 

I was the crazy woman running out to take some pictures,

 

 

and back in to check on Kit.

 

 

Out,

 

 

and in.

 

 

Kit and I thought we were the smart ones staying warm inside.

 

We also thought we were the best looking

& that we could crush them in a singing competition any day. 

Guess that makes us a triple threat. 

BUT the boys outside were pretty cute too.

 

And before we knew it branches were jammed in for arms

and Roo was sticking on the buttons.

 

 

They had turned my boy into a snowman.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found.

 

 

Or maybe it was a cousin investing in the lives of my boys.

 

 

Either way...

It was magical!

Tea Party Manners

Being the only girl in the family doesn't stop Annie

from doing all the "girly things."

 

Instead she ropes in her brothers.

 

Last night she was teaching them how to be proper tea party guests.

 

 

 

Lesson 1

How to Pour Very Carefully

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 2

Add Sugar & Stir

(although the sugar was just water too:)

 

 

Teach,

 

Practice,

 

Make sure they did it right.

 

 

Lesson 3

Pinkies Up

 

 

Rocco tried & tried but he just couldn't get his pinky up.

 

 

 

 

Thumbs up had to do :)

 

 

And just when things were going so well

 & we thought she had pulled off a miracle.

 

 

 

Bo came out of the house with a big jug of water

& said, "I'll show you how it is done!"

 

 

At least he didn't burp!