Phone Gems

The children are back in school, and I'm already missing our lazy days! 

It's still snowing, but now I have to actually drive, shop, and carry children around in it.

Not to mention, get everyone out of bed bright and early in a cold, dark house!

But, I'm doing my best to keep a smile on my face.

Children have a way of seeing the happiness in everything. 

They don't mind the snow one bit.  

In fact, they love it!

And school is something they look forward to...aside from the homework.

I need to be more like them!

While going through my phone this morning, I came across several pictures that put a smile on my face :)

The children love to take pictures with my phone, and sometimes they turn out pretty darn cute...and hilarious!

Here are a few of my faves:

Profile shot!  Our handsome boy when he still had all his teeth...

Princess showing us her muscles...

Dress up and hair!

They do it all on their own...

 

Eyeball!

Hawaii style!

She's a ninja!

 

I needed these today...and every day,

Lowes Xtreme Sports

My friend Aubrey found this AWESOME sports gym for the kids! 

It's so much fun, clean(er), and affordable.

We were desperate to get the children out of the house...since they've been cooped up inside for DAYS (thanks to Christmas break and mounds of snow)!

The children bounced, ran, swung, climbed, slid, and screamed for almost two hours.  None Stop!

It still didn't drain all their bottled up energy, but it definitely helped.

They've been begging to go back for more ever since!

{The girls playing in the foam pit with little T.}

Baby T. would have played on this airplane teeter totter the WHOLE time if my leg didn't give out from bouncing him!

The trapeze was definitely the favorite.

Aubrey ended up spending most of the time holding the trapeze for the girls!

She's just awesome like that.

We even talked Minnie into giving it a try!

It didn't take long for Sport to get brave enough to try a few tricks...

C.'s one of those kids that loves to be a super hero and help whenever he's needed!

Minnie has a little crush on him :)

I don't blame her!  He's a sweetie.

Princess struggled to get out of the foam pit!

Baby T. tried to help...

Taking turns on the trampolines...

Bouncing little T.

He laughed so hard!

CHEESE!

Our little monkeys climbing the rock wall...

The boys trying to outdo each other...

Bouncing down the slide into the pit...

So fun!

Phew...I'm ready for a nap!

Lazy, Winter Days

{Playing in the Christmas snow with neighborhood friends}

The children are out of school for three weeks! 

The snow is coming down and it's absolutely beautiful. 

We are counting down to Christmas and enjoying lazy days with the family :)

Tea parties with dad by the fire are pretty special!

I caught little Minnie making up tunes to the "magical snow falling down outside", while looking out the window this morning.

She makes me smile.

"Look, mom! All those push ups I do at night before bed are really paying off!!" said Sport while flexing his his bulging muscles!

Warming little feet by the fire.

They take after their mommy!

Mickey Mouse sings of his birth! 

Gave me a good chuckle tonight after tucking the children in bed.

I love finding gems like this around the house...

Sleeping by the fire in the family room is such a treat!

Sport tried to keep his eyes open until the very last fire burned out in the fireplace...He almost made it.

 

I'm loving these days with no homework or schedules to keep! 

Happy Birthday To Me!

I don't think I've had such a fun Birthday since I was a youngin'!!

Mr. JP woke up around 5AM to blow up balloons and string them up around the house, hang a Birthday banner and write me a love note.

It was pretty romantic and made me giddy all day!

{Sport had way too much fun pulling the balloons down after the party}

 THEN he arrived home from work with dinner, so I wouldn't have to cook on my Birthday.

He even remembered the cake...and my sister (It just wouldn't be complete without her and her lil' family).

All of my babies sang to me....

And showered me with sweet gifts...

A mushy card from my sister and a gift card just for ME,

A paper airplane from my little Sport with "I LOVE MOM" written on the inside,

A pretty blue necklace from my Princess,

Some awesome leaf earrings from my baby girl Minnie,

AND an iphone with this happy picture to greet me on it's screen :)

Which explains why my phone wouldn't work ALL day, and the husband's e-mails informing me that our phone company was having some technical issues, and to just e-mail him if I needed anything.

Yes...he loves me.
(And I think he was a little tired of dropped calls and lost text messages from my poor, beat up, old phone) 

I'm pretty excited!!! 

Although, I have this very real fear that one of my children will shatter the screen by throwing it against a wall/pavement, or drowning it in the toilet! 

I will do my best to keep it out of reach.

But, they are sneaky little boogers!

I'm already having way too much fun with it.

Thank you, love!

I'm feeling older...

But, look what I have to show for my life so far!

They bring me so much joy.

 

I love you, mom.

Thank you for giving me a Birthday!

Drawing Is Her Thing

Princess found an art and music show on Netflix that has lessons for children about colors, shapes, painting, drawing, etc...

Whenever she gets the chance, I find her with a book, paper, and crayons intent on copying the artists every move. 

Her little tongue comes out, and she gets lost in her own world.

I love finding her drawings all over the house!

They always make me stop and smile at her bright, animated personality.