Last week, the kids and I made birthday chains (or "chain rings") as they like to call them. We did one for each day leading up to their birthdays, and each morning they removed one until there were none left!

It was a rainy day, and a last minute idea of mine to make them, but it kept them busy for awhile! They picked their 2 colors, cut their own strips and did the glue with just a little help from me!

Over the weekend we had to go to Lowe's to get a few things.

I had no idea they had these pull-along baskets but they were a huge hit with the kids!

And what's a trip to Lowe's without trying out some lawn mowers? In your sunglasses, of course!

These sunglasses later fell into the toilet at Subway (pre used, thank goodness) but needless to say they got a good wash in the dishwasher. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

The kids didn't have school today, so they took their valentines to school yesterday. Addison came home with a lot of cute valentines, and Fischer will bring his home tomorrow.  I am so proud of my kids because they wrote their own names on each of their valentines! It took awhile because they'd only do a couple at a time, but it was worth the extra work!

Here they are yesterday morning before going to school. Addison wore her hair up to school both Monday and Wednesday - and she chose to do that! This is not normal for her so we will see if it continues!

This morning, I gave the kids their Valentine's Day baskets.

They each got a book, some play doh, some new underwear and Fischer got a harmonica and Addison got a "hand fan." She is obsessed with this "hand fan" now so we'll see how long it lasts. :)

While I was getting lunch ready, the doorbell rang. I got flowers from Scott! This is not a normal Valentine's Day thing for him (flowers, I mean) so it was a nice surprise. He has been gone and will be home late tonight, so at least I will get to see him for a minute tonight! I have a cupcake and a card waiting for him! Addison took the picture of me with the flowers so I could send Scott a picture of them!

Sometimes when you feel yucky, dressing up like a princess and watching TV makes it all better. :)

It's been a germy few weeks around here, but I think we might be on the mend.. it's funny because I was just looking back on our blog from this time last year and we were all sick on the same exact day! I guess it's just the time of year.

Addison and I finished our antibiotics today, while Scott and Fischer still have a few days to go on theirs. We have a variety of illnesses, but there has been a lot of coughing, sneezing, nose blowing, etc... we took the kids to the doctor last Monday (A was 34ish pounds, and F was 35ish!) and they were both prescribed medicine.  While they weren't feeling great, they were still quite active and feeling okay enough to play. And through all of this, they haven't had fevers at all.

They went to school Wednesday morning and seemed to feel good. When I got there to pick them up Fischer's teacher stopped me in the hall so that I could go get him first (normally I get Addison first). He was borderline hysterical in his classroom, saying his ear hurt and that he couldn't hear out of it. His teacher said that it started suddenly and they couldn't calm him down.

I called the doctor before we even left the parking lot. I admit that I thought it was possible he stuck some sort of object in his ear! :) While I was on the phone waiting for a nurse, Fischer was crying and asking if I was calling the "doctor truck" (meaning the ambulance). He was so scared! I reassured him I was just waiting for a nurse. :) She worked us in that afternoon, so we headed home for a quick lunch, and some Tylenol for Fischer before heading to see the doctor. The doctor looked in his ears and said he had a "miserable" ear infection. I was confused about how his ears were so clear on Monday and one was so infected by Wednesday.

So he had us switch the medicine he was on, and by the next day he seemed to be feeling much better!

In between those appointments, Addison had a follow up at the ENT on Tuesday just to make sure her tubes are doing ok. They are still in there, although he said the left one looks like it could come out at any time. We go back in 3 months for another check. He said they mainly need to make sure the hole heals like it should after the tubes fall out.

Even with all of the germs, we have been squeezing in some fun. The kids got to help Scott paint his new bbq pit that he built. Addison lasted longer with the painting, and Scott said she kept saying things about working together, getting the job done, etc.

And we also went "hiking" with our friends Irish and Rylan last weekend, followed by lunch and a yummy cupcake for the kids. During our hike, the kids liked stopping every few minutes to have some "cowboy jerky" and water. We ended up walking for over an hour though and they all did a great job... not much complaining at all!

One day last week, I decided the kids and I should go out to lunch. We went to eat Mexican, where they always enjoy the chicken fingers and french fries. Go figure. :) Fischer took the picture of his lunch so he could show Scott when we got home.

Eating Mexican is easy with them because it's always so quick, and tasty. :)

Fischer has come up with a signature drawing... "the alien." He draws it a lot, and put it on our chalk board the other day. It's funny because he's not really into coloring, writing or drawing, but lately he has been quick to draw this little guy. :)