Day 33 - 2/2/13 - Pool Progress Picture 1

Yes, folks, we have bought a pool, an 18' x 33' above ground pool to be exact.  We are all very excited about it.  Will's going to build a nice deck around it in sections and hopefully it will be all ready to relax and enjoy this summer.  I thought it would be fun to document the progress in pictures.

Picture 1 - Boxes Delivered!

Karen

Day 32 - 2/1/13 - Good Day, Sunshine

I'm not sure what it is about this picture, but it moves me.  It's funny how art and photography can be so subjective.  I showed this to my husband and he said, "It looks like a big ball of light."  After many eye rolls and sighs, I laughed.  To me it reminds me of the innocence of childhood.  When you sat down with a piece of white paper and your yellow crayon and drew a big yellow circle with lines coming out of it to represent the sun....

Deep thoughts by Karen  :)

Day 31 - 1/31/13 - Neon Day

Thursday was Neon Day!  Wow!  It was a sea of neon at morning prayers.  Here's Lindsay sporting her neon gear!  I bought some neon bracelets and hair clips.  Instead of wearing just one, she wanted them all!  Battle not worth fighting.  The end result was pretty cute!

Karen

Day 30 - 1/30/13 - Crazy Hat Day

Patrick keeps close tabs on his stuff but he graciously (with a little coaxing) let me borrow his monkey visor for Crazy Hat Day at my other school.  What are the odds of both my schools having Spirit Week on the same week?  So here's a little self portrait taken on my phone again of me "monkeying around"!

Karen

Day 29 - 1/29/13 - Twin Day

It was Catholic Schools Week at the Catholic School I provide Title I services for.  Lindsay attends their 3 year program on the days I work there.  Monday's spirit day was Twin Day.  So, Lindsay and I were twins. Normally, there is a lot of whining and complaining when we get up in the morning and get ready but this morning she got up and dress all by herself.  She was very excited to wear a Hello Kitty shirt with Mommy and to not have to wear her uniform!  I cheated a little with this picture because it was taken on my phone but I think it's pretty cute!

Karen

Day 28 - 1/28/13 - You Might Be A Redneck If...

You Might be a redneck if you wake up on a Saturday morning and you're super excited to go to the Annual Truck and Tractor Pull.  This was seriously a labor of love on my part.  Usually this is my husband's gig but his back was out so I became the responsible party for this event.  Not much I enjoyed about this, but seeing my kids faces as the tractors raced across the dirt and pulled big equipment was pretty priceless.  I also have to say that the people watching was highly entertaining.  I think my kids and I were in a minority there having all our teeth!  After 2 hours of watching a variety of tractors, I was done.  Next year, Daddy will definitely be running that show!  In all seriousness, a day out with the kids is always a good day!

Karen

Day 27 - 1/27/13 - Bubble Close Ups

Here are my close up shots of the kids covered in bubbles.

Patrick

A friend of mine noticed that the bubbles are in the shape of a heart on his forehead.  That made me love this picture even more!

Lindsay

I know her mouth is cut off but I loved this one!

Karen

Day 26 - 1/26/13 - "Snowball" Fight

So, what do you do when you live in Florida and you are sad that all your cousins in Delaware are playing in the snow?????  You make fake snow with bubbles and let the kids go crazy.  We all had so much fun.  I dumped half a bottle of bubbles in the jacuzzi tub with the kids and turned the jets on.  The bubbles erupted and so did the kids.  We were all giggling.  Then I told the kids to go ahead and have a "snow"(bubble) fight and don't worry about making a mess.  They looked at me like I was CrAzY!!!!  (Quite honestly, I kind of am.)  Then when their fight was over, I scooped all the bubbles out and put them on the shower floor.  We had about 3 inches in bubbles.  They made bubble angels and played with the bubbles with buckets.  (I can't share any of those pictures because there were too many peek-a-boo privates.)  Here are some shots from their snow fight though.

Karen

Day 25 - 1/25/13 - Fly Away

Giving a little shout out today to one of my favorite local designers.  Ursula's Handmade Treasures makes the most wonderfully unique and imaginative items.  We have clothing, handmade dolls, and beautiful wings from this fine lady!

Check her out on FB and tell her I sent you!


Karen

Day 24 - 1/24/13 - Dog Lady

I really wasn't a huge dog person in the past, but my husband and my in-laws were.  My allergies had prevented us from having/keeping a dog in the past.  When we found out about labradoodles, we thought that might be a good solution.  They are shed-free, allergy-free, and 100% lovable!!!  My Mommy instincts were kicking in for another baby, but since that isn't in the picture for us.  I found myself craving a puppy, and boy do I love my two little fuzzballs!  My two cuties have converted me!  I am a dog lover indeed (at least my two pups)!  What's not to love about those puppy dog eyes!!

Karen

Day 23 - 1/23/13 - What Are Little Girls Made Of?

Although Lindsay isn't always a frilly, prissy girlie girl, she has her moments.  She loves makeup!!!  In fact, she says she wants to be a face painter and a makeup artist when she is bigger.  I took these the other day when she was playing with some lip gloss.

Karen

Day 22 - 1/22/13 - Blue Skies

I was born and raised in Delaware, lived in Maryland for four years, and then moved to Florida after I got married.  Although Florida is my home and I love it here, I can't help to feel like my home will always be Delaware.  I miss my family, I miss my friends, but I do not miss the cold or the gray, dreary skies of winter.  I took this picture from my backyard on a warm, sunny January day.  I never realized how much I was affected by the seasons until I moved to Florida.  There is something to be said about having sunshine every day - good for the soul, good for the spirit.  I always say everything happens for a reason.  Although the heartache of missing my family is overwhelming at times, I couldn't think of a better place to be.  I have so many blessings here in Florida - a supportive husband that works so hard to provide for his family, two beautiful children, incredible in-laws, a job that I love, a great group of friends, and sunny blue skies!  Life is good!

Karen

Day 21 - 1/21/13 - Day Off?

I thought days off were supposed to be relaxing or a day to get things accomplished.  Ha!  Well, I guess I did get caught up on this.  Our day off today consisted of dentist appointments for both kids, a fun 2 hours at Chuck E. Cheese's, making cookies and crafting with the kids.  I have a million other things I need and want to get done, but I couldn't think of a better way to spend my day off.  These two cuties light up my life!!

Karen

Day 20 - 1/20/13 - Dishonest Mom of the Year Award

Do you want to know how I get my kids to pose and smile for the camera?  I bribe, I say potty words, and yes, I sometimes lie.  I got a new lens for my camera that I was excited to try out on the kids.  Neither wanted their picture taken.  So, what did I say?  I told them it was a special lens that makes really pretty faces look ugly.  They smiled really nice and I got some great shots!  Then when they asked to see the pictures and if it worked I said, "No but I did take some pretty pictures so I guess I'll keep it."  Yup, totally losing the Mother of the Year Award.  The things moms do for a good shot.

Karen

  

Day 19 - 1/19/13 - Sleepover Success

Patrick and Lindsay ALWAYS beg to have a sleepover in one of their rooms.  They want to stay up and play and then sleep in the same room.  We have tried several times but it usually ends up in tears and off to separate rooms.  Well we finally had sleepover success!!!  No arguing, no yelling, and they even slept in.  When I woke up in the the middle of the night to check on them this is what I found.

EXHIBIT A - The Aftermath of Staying Up and Playing:

EXHIBIT B - Two happy, sleeping, content, sweet children:

Karen