Day 63 - 3/5/13 - Snap Happy

Since I love taking pictures so much, my kids have developed a similar passion.  They carry their cameras all over the place and take some of the funniest and surprisingly good pictures.  I love looking at the world through their perspective.

Karen

Day 61 - 3/2/13 - 3D Hand Art

Today we did a craft project that I found on Pinterest and wanted to try.  First, I traced everyone's hands.  Then I made the lines using a curved line inside the hand to make it appear 3D.  Then I left the kids color and decorate as they wanted.  Although, I did most of the work on this project.  The kids were mesmerized and sat very still watching me as I did.  Patrick said, "It was like magic."  Good times!

Patrick- left, Me-middle, Lindsay-right (she got all bored with coloring and then helped me with my pattern)

Karen

Day 59 - 2/28/13 - Really?

Lindsay is transforming before my eyes and developing quite the personality.  She only likes to wear dresses for special occasions, she has VERY strong opinions about clothes, she prefers "hip hop" clothes, she hates wearing her uniform, she loves putting on make-up, loves irritating her brother, loves being the center of attention, singing, dancing, and swinging!  Another new development is she says "Really?"  all the time.  For example:

Me:  Lindsay it's time to go to school.

Lindsay:  Really?

Me:  Yes, it's a Pope John Paul Day.

Lindsay:  Really?  I have to wear my uniform.  Really?  

Me:  Yes, let's get moving.  What would you like for breakfast?

Lindsay:  Really, Mom.  You know I want a chicken biscuit.

Me:  Really?  Okay.

  

Sigh.  Please pray for me.  I think we may REALLY lose our minds when she is a teenager.  Love this little sassafras though!

Karen

Day 56 - 2/26/13 - Helping Hands

When Daddy was working on the desk he was building, of course, the kids wanted to "help".  Patrick started off by roping off the "construction zone".  Then both kids worked on sweeping up saw dust and hauling it over to the huge hole that they have been digging in the backyard.  (That is a post for another day.)  They were good little helpers and most importantly had fun!

Karen

Day 55 - 2/24/13 - Shaving Cream Fun

Each week for homework Patrick has to write his sight words 3 times each and each in a sentence.  In addition, he gets to pick from a menu of activities.  This week he picked to write his words in shaving cream.  Both kids LOVED this activity, and I LOVED it too because I got the groceries unpacked quickly without "helping" hands and didn't hear any arguing or complaining for a good 20 minutes!

Karen

Day 53 - 2/22/13 - Swinging Beauty

Blogger is messing me up today.  Sorry for the out of order posts.

Lindsay was swinging and she never turns her nose up to a "photo shoot".  I had a hard time focusing with pushing her and trying to take pictures but we had fun!  I actually like the not so in focus look of these.  I also played a little with editing too.  Remember, I'm a novice here.  I'm also chronically indecisive so here are my four favorites!

Karen

Day 54 - 2/23/13 - Back to the Swing Thing

What is it with little kids and loving to twist themselves up on swings, let it untwist, and then twist up again?  I get dizzy just watching it.  Honestly, I'm kind of dizzy just looking at this picture.  Lindsay did this over and over again and giggled away.  I had to laugh.  Ahhhhhhhh to be young and carefree again.  If I didn't think I would throw up my lunch I might try it again, but the last time I was just swinging normal I felt a little sick.

Karen

Day 50 - 2/19/13 - Poor Peanut

The stomach bug hit Patrick.  He had a fever, slept a ton, and wouldn't eat a bite.  Although it was so hard to see him sick, both Will and I enjoyed the extra snuggles we got from him.

Karen

Day 51 - 2/20/13 - Fun Dip, Anyone???

JUST SAY NO to the Fun Dip!  Seriously, this is like speed to my children.  Thankfully they each only got one for Valentine's Day so we only had one evening of crazies!  I do have to admit though those sugar sticks are the best!!  Shhhhhh, Patrick actually got two but I ate the stick out of the other one and threw the sugar away.  Our little secret...

Karen

Day 49 - 2/18/13 - What a Good Daddy!

Lindsay has been on a nail polish kick here recently!  She wants her nails to be painted every weekend and she also enjoys painting other people's nail.  She asked to paint mine and did a beautiful job painting them alternating pink, orange and lime green.  I was actually impressed with how well she did.  Well, she asked her Daddy if she could paint his and being the good Daddy that he is he let her.  She was so excited.  She took her job very seriously but had to giggle every once in awhile at her Daddy's painted fingernails.  I loved every moment of it for several reasons.

Karen

Day 48 - 2/17/13 - Doggie Dress Up

When we play dress up, we go all out in our house.  Not only do we dress up, but we create a skit to go along with our costumes AND we include the dogs.  This time Lindsay dressed Jazzy up in a tiara and pearls and Lindsay wore a red sweatshirt and carried a basket.  Of course, Lindsay was Little Red Riding Hood and Jazzy was the Big Bad Wolf dressed up like Grandma.  I didn't get a picture of that one though because Jazzy was running around too much trying to get her tiara off.  Sparky, on the other hand, was very cooperative.  He was an alien who had come to Earth looking (hence the binoculars) for trouble.  Patrick was the helpful ninja sent to take out the alien.  I don't think I have laughed so hard in a long time.  I love the creativity of my kids!!

Karen

Day 47 - 2/16/13 - Crafting Time Take 567

Have I mentioned my children like to do crafts?  Lindsay woke up saying she wanted to paint.  She had the canvas all set up and ready to go before 8 am.  Sigh.  She and Patrick agreed calmly (amazing) that they would paint a sunset.  We had a good 30 minutes of quiet time of them working together to create their masterpiece and I love it!!!

Karen

Day 46 - 2/15/13 - My Children

My children are my greatest accomplishment, my pride and joy, my life, my everything.  For that reason I love taking pictures of them.  They are my favorite subjects and I never tire of looking at them, smiling at them, and laughing with them.  So, I apologize if you are sick of seeing my little ones but be prepared for more.  (Since I think my mother and bff are the only ones that look at this anyway I guess it doesn't really matter.) 

Karen

Day 44 - 2/13/13 - Patrick Presents

I am so proud of Patrick!!!  Patrick stood up and proudly read his PowerPoint presentation (with some help from his teacher) and showed off his junk project, mobile, board game, and legend.  He did a great job!!

Karen

Day 43 - 2/12/13 - Can you see me now?

I can't even remember what prompted this silliness, but the kids had a blast looking at my camera through their binoculars and telescope and I had fun snapping pictures of it.  We all laughed.  Good times!

Karen

Day 42 - 2/11/13 - More Daddy Daughter Dance Pictures

One of the Mom's at Lindsay's school is the resident photographer.  She attends most of the events, takes a ton of pictures, and shares them with the parents.  She is awesome!  Here are some adorable pictures she took of Lindsay and her Daddy.  Melts my heart!!

Karen

Day 40 - 2/9/13 - Bayport Fun

Daddy had some work to do at a friend's house.  Since this is one of our favorite places to be, we all went along.  We enjoyed a chaotic lunch with 2 tired kids and 2 crazy dogs, and then went back to play/work.  Patrick's favorite place is by the water's edge!  The dogs love just roaming, swimming, and chasing the chickens.  Always an adventure, always a good time.

Karen

Day 39 - 2/8/13 - Date Night

The Keene family had a different kind of date night last night.  Lindsay and Daddy went on a date to the Daddy Daughter Dance at her school.  They cut a rug, had some pizza, and Lindsay got her face painted.  She was beaming when we came home.  She was snuggled in bed with Daddy watching Good Luck Charlie.

Patrick and I went to his school for movie night.  Patrick was Mr. Popular.  I was shocked at how many kids of all ages knew him.  We ate some popcorn and pizza, snuggled up, and enjoyed Brave.  I loved getting to spend one on one time with my Peanut.  When we left, I asked him if there was anything else he wanted on our date night.  He replied, "How about icecream???"  My kind of date!!!

Day 38 - 2/7/13 - Working Hard

Patrick always wants to work at G and Grandpa's.  After Patrick asked for some rope from Grandpa, I had to go check out what he was doing.  Well, he had tied the rope to a tree and was using the rope to help him climb up the tree.  All boy!!!

Then I saw him run into the shed.  When he came out, his pockets were a little bulky.  He climbed up and this is what he did.  I guess the tress needed a little trimming.

Karen

Day 36 - 2/5/13 - Ladybug Boy

I love my Patrick more than anything.  He is so creative, so imaginative, and so unique.  He often tends to get somewhat obsessive about things.  His most recent obsession has been ladybugs.  He hunts for ladybugs outside almost everyday.  For some reason, we have had a TON around our house recently.  We even found one in the car the other day.  (I've always associated ladybugs with my Gramma and Grandpa (not sure why), so I welcome the ladybugs presence.)  Patrick has been creating "ladybug habitats", feeding them, watering them, and occasionally loving them to death (literally).  He checked out a book from the library all about ladybugs and now we all know many interesting factoids on ladybugs.  Did you know a ladybug can retract its head into its body?

I love this picture of him sweetly looking down at his precious ladybug with his shoulders shrugged.

Karen