Us!

This past weekend we had our first official snowfall of the season.  It has been REALLY cold ever since.  We got snow Saturday and Sunday and now on Monday, it is all pretty much melted, except for some in the mountains.  Here comes Winter.  Here is what else we have been up to.

Annika competed in the Reflections competition at school recently.  This is an art competition.  She chose to do a painting project.  It is so hard as a parent to sit there and not help.  Even though I have a hard time believing that some of the winners did it with no help!  She was glad she got a Participant ribbon.  The theme this year was "WOW".  As you can tell Annika painted a person out playing on a slide.  Her comment that explained her drawing and to go along with the theme was, "Wow!  Recess is so pretty with the outside sky in it."

I gave Ashton a real haircut the other day all by myself.  I hate paying to get the kids' haircuts, though sometimes it is necessary.  By a real haircut, I mean one that is not just buzzed and one length all the way around-my typical for him.  This time I borrowed an attachment from a friend that layers by itself around the ears, so that helped a lot too.  I think it turned out cute, and I found Garnier putty and hairspray together will actually keep the top standing up.  Now I tell him in the morning it is time to get your hair pretty, he comes and we style it for the day.  He looks so handsome even though once again he is not smiling in his picture.  He is starting to talk a lot.  He loves INE-INE (Einsteins), Manna (Handy Manny) and Ni-Ni (Mickey Mouse).  We watch a lot of Playhouse Disney in the morning to keep him quiet while Annika gets ready for school, and me for the day.  He can say "I Love You" with some help.  He is also good at-car, ball, please, sorry (it is always high pitched), mom, dad, ka(short for Annika), grandma, grandpa and many more.  He is good at sounds too-like animal and truck sounds.  

So, this time of year, I always get the sewing bug.  I do not claim to be good, I just enjoy trying to follow instructions, and come out with something good at the end.  I have made ugly things in the past, a REALLY bad apron, and the pajama pants I am working on right now for myself are not that great either.  But, I have been working on homemade Christmas gifts, yes starting now.  Ask any of my family, Ryan and I always start early, and try to be done before the craziness begins.  I like to enjoy the holidays home wrapping gifts, sipping hot cocoa, and since we moved up north-not going out when you slip on the ice and the roads are covered in snow.  So, I have been looking at this machine a lot lately, cutting late at night, and pricking my fingers a ton.  I am not going to share what I am working on, because some blog readers might be getting those as gifts.  I never thought I would make homemade gifts, but now I enjoy it.  They are actually turning out pretty good this year too.  YEAH!