Day dreaming

Dear Summer,

You are very much missed by just about anyone stuck here in Winter. Please come back to us. Soon. I don't think we can wait much longer. 

Yours Truly,

Jessica

Okay that was cheesy. But really. Who isn't ready for summer? I have to admit, I actually made it through January this year with out hating winter too much. But February has been cruel. First the crazy storm and tons of snow... and now 50 degree wonderfulness that we all know won't last long enough (okay I shouldn't complain... we were lucky to get the nice weather this week). Anyway, my point to this post... I am done with crazy weather and all I really want to do is pull out my shorts and flip-flops :) Who's with me? 

To go along with my summer dreamin' we made homemade ice cream tonight. We made it with the last of our frozen peaches. We might as well have a funeral, because this marks the end of all our fruit that we picked last summer. Every last strawberry, blueberry and peach is gone :( May cannot come soon enough!

I will try to get through this spring fever... I might just have to take advantage of my time indoors, curled up with a nice book... before these relaxed winter days are gone and we are crazy-busy again... though I don't mind crazy-busy as long as I can wear shorts and flip-flops!

The Weekend.

For Valentine's Day this year Dallas and I decided to take a temple trip up to Chicago. Things didn't go quite as planned and we didn't make it into the city... but we had a lot of fun! We went to the Kohl Children's Museum that wasn't too far from the temple. We really LOVED this museum! The kids had so much fun pretending in each room. They had fun being shoppers, checkers, mommy's, daddy's, veterinarian's, librarians, painters, builders, chefs, waiters, musicians, and scientists. Basically, this museum had it all :) 

We could have spent the whole day in this grocery store... 

Ummm.... this is so, so cute...

Pickles anyone? I really just love her bright blue eyes and cute smile in this one...

We had a great time going to the temple this weekend. The kids did great in the car and at the hotel. Kiah usually has a hard time sleeping in hotels. After the museum on Saturday we headed to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. YUM. I only wish there was one closer to us... and if only it wasn't so spendy... but we love cheesecake no matter how much it costs :)

Because...

 ...I am too lazy to send cards, but I still love you all! 

Love,
Us.

Something's fishy...

Almost two weeks ago we were on our way to the "Big Store" (Walmart) and Evan said:

Evan: I want to buy a fish.

Me: What would you do with a fish?

Evan: Put it on my side table.

Me: But what would you put it in?

Evan: A bowl with water.

I told him he could look at the fish but he had to earn one if he wanted to buy one. From then on out he was determined to get his fish.

This was the first time he has ever asked us for a pet of his own.... and since then he told me that we needed to move. To a house with a fence. So we could buy a dog. Yes a dog. Sorry Dallas, he is pretty determined.

Though Dallas isn't to fond of the idea of a dog, he was excited about the fish idea. I told him that I wouldn't mind having a fish, but I had two requests: 1. Dallas gets to clean the bowl. 2. We needed to buy a "cute" bowl for the fish.... so I can take some fun pictures of course!

We made a chart for Evan and Kiah and told them that if they could go to bed quietly for 10 days straight, then they could get a pet fish. It worked wonders. Evan went straight to bed each night and couldn't wait to put a sticker on the chart the next morning. Kiah played along, but had two nights where she didn't go to sleep right away. On the first night after they fell asleep Dallas said, "why didn't we do this a long time ago?" 

10 Days later we ended up with two new little friends...

And I have to admit they are pretty cute.

Evan and Kiah love to feed them (I already had to clean out the bowl... they put in a little too much food this morning, go figure), talk to them and read them stories. 

We are in the works of finding them names. Kiah's is the white and gold one and she likes the name Kiki (from the show The Fresh Beat Band... don't ask.) Evan want's to name his Carly... but Kiah wants him to name it Shout (from The Fresh Beat Band...) We'll see what he decides. 

Brotherly Love.

Giggles.

Make me happy.

The Storm.

My husband probably thinks I am the most lazy stay at home mom ever. This is what happens when you get snowed  iced in and the only thing left to do is read, eat, nap and blog :) Okay... there are other things I can be doing, but really I love a day where I don't feel obligated to do everything and anything. 

The storm that is sweeping the country has past us (at least I hope it is past...) Last night the wind was insane and just the thoughts of being out in it made me shiver. On Monday I stocked up on groceries... and ice cream, doughnuts, chocolate chips... um yeah. I knew I'd be wanting something to yummy to eat while stuck at home for who knows how long. Walmart was insane. Worse than Christmas time by far. Apparently when there is a snow storm people like to have plenty of bread... the shelves were near empty when I was there. Every checkout line was open and the parking lot was full. It took me 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot and across the street to pick up Dallas from work. By the time we were headed home the snowflakes were HUGE and I was perfectly happy to just stay inside for the next few days.

Dallas woke up early today to go to work. He spent a ridiculous amount of time shoveling our driveway (with the help of our very nice neighbors). Then, as he was leaving I said: "I don't think you should leave until the road gets plowed. You WILL get stuck out there." He assured me he would be fine and left. Minute later he texted me and said: "You were right." He didn't even make it all the way out of the driveway. Surprise, surprise :) I love being right (except when it means I have to go shovel out the car...) Luckily it didn't take long to dig the car out, and Dallas ended up staying home today (this is how he now knows that I am the most lazy stay at home mom... at least for the day that is). Most of his coworkers were also unable to get away from home. 

We can handle snow. We lived in Cache Valley and we've had our share of snow. But this isn't snow, it's ice. We had to break it down with a shovel and then move it with the snow shovel. We helped neighbors as well. Dallas has spent the majority of his day outside digging out cars and shoveling, he is such a nice boy. We have not been the only ones to get stuck on the road that's for sure. I understand how busy the snow plows are today... but we always seem to be the last ones to get our road plowed :( Oh well... at least Dallas got a snow day out of it. 

(See Kiah walking on top of the snow? It doesn't even budge when you step on it... it's ice.)

Random:

Here is my wall arrangement for the kids bedroom... I am wanting to print some of the pictures from my last post and have them mounted them on styrene (and of course, place them where the brown paper is). The only problem is the cost (of course!) One day I will be able to afford all of my photography desires :) Haha... maybe not. Until then we will have the brown paper up, ever reminding me of the pictures I'd like to put up instead.  

(For those of you wondering what styrene is, it is a plastic mounting board 2 mm thick. Here are some examples... here and here (I love the idea with the letters!) I love the idea of styrene because it can be framed, placed on an easel, set on a shelf or just hung as it is without a frame... which I plan to do.)

Anyway... I hope you all are safe and warm at home! Hopefully spring will come sooner than later...