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With My Family

A couple of weeks ago, the kids and I went to Arkansas for a week. On Monday, we left Winnie with my mom for a little day of fun with Googie. Rush, Dad, Tracy, and I drove to Crane to visit Grandpa and Winnie. Rush was a sweet boy the whole time and we had fun at all of our stops. After we left the nursing home, we drove over to my Dad's farm so he could collect some "cow dirt." While he and Tracy did this,...

 Rush and I walked around, and Rush invented the riveting game "Jump Over the Cow Pile."

 He was obsessed with the cows and was convinced if he could get close enough and prove himself friendly, he would be able to ride a cow. Didn't happen.


 Another reason for our trip was Remi's 5th birthday party. She had a Minnie Mouse and Friends party, and the kids were in heaven. I LOVE cousins. I try really hard to foster those relationships and give the kids plenty of quality time with their sweet cousins.



Sorry these photos are so small! I can't figure out the new blogger, and can't figure out how to change the picture size.
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Valentine's Day

I just uploaded (downloaded? I have no idea.) a billion photos from our camera to the computer thinking I would catch up and swallow my pride and post about Advent, Christmas, and the last couple months of our life. I could even fudge the dates so that my lack of blogging might even be forgotten years from now. Too overwhelming! We'll let this break just remain clouded with mystery. For all you know, Andy surprised me with a huge ribbon covered car for Christmas and we spent holiday in Aspen with our fancy friends. None of whom have time to read blogs, so the story could check out. 

I'm starting with this photo of Winnie's questionable Valentine's Day box "we" made for school. I was going to take the reigns...I had visions of a vertical box with a ribbon handle and miniature pastel-colored tissue paper flowers covering it. I let go of that and let this happen, which was actually wonderful because she thought it was wonderful. Go figure. The important part was that we made it together. With friends. And she was really proud of it.

I did make an attempt to make actual Valentine's Day feel special. Like every stay-home mom on this special holiday, I crafted heart-shaped food for my little hungry valentines. We started the day with scrambled eggs (I resisted the urge to color them pink. I am "on" with eggs right now, and didn't want to be risky with my gag reflux.) I took the plunge and made Pioneer Woman's cinnamon toast and used a pizza cutter to make hearts. It was decadently delicious, like most of her food, but was way too sugary to jump into our regular breakfast rotation.

For lunch, I borrowed Aaron's big heart cookie cutter and made zucchini quesadillas with greek yogurt and the official fruits of Valentine's Day- raspberries and strawberries. For dinner, nothing was too themed, but I did make Andy's favorite meal, white lasagna. 

And you know, I didn't need to any of this, because this outfit that Winifred picked out for herself on the holiday was festive enough for all of us! Happy Valentine's Day!