a taste of summer...

I know, this is the kind of post that you would normally see in August, but I ran into a lot of tomatoes this week, which I could not consume, and I decided to be a good steward and not let them go to waste.  So I canned them.  For those of you who don't know, I don't can.  But I did. And I am feeling very proud of my domestic prowess, so I had to share.  
I am like a proud mother with my six quarts of tomatoes!  I know, it's not much.  It definitely won't ward off famine.  But, I did it.  And, I will most certainly do it again.

the plunge...

big boy!

yay for bedtime!

so tired!

she 's got everything she needs!

so, we did it!  We took the long-awaited plunge and put our sweet little twins into big kid beds. We might hold the record for kid-caging, maybe I should check into that...it would feel good to win something.  Aren't they adorable, all snug in their beds???  Well, this was them at 8:00 on Saturday night.  At 10:45 on Saturday night, they looked exactly the same....hmmmm.   We thought they would never fall asleep!  But, lo and behold, around 11, all was quiet...until 1:30 when Max decided to back out of the deal all together.  "I don't want a big boy bed," was his cry, and so daddy, to convince him how great his bed was, spent the night in it with him.  Sunday morning Max was still not sure, but after a restless night, he was ready for an early nap.  Since we didn't make it to church (all four kids and mom were under the weather) I mentioned taking a rest around noon.  He didn't pass go.  He grabbed two books and we headed to his room.  I laid by him, read his selections, and then rubbed his back for a few minutes before leaving him in his room.  He fell right asleep and didn't wake until almost four o'clock.  When I went up to get him out of bed, he said, "Mom, I yuv my big boy bed, wanna see it?"  And, for the rest of the day, any time we passed his room he said, "I yuv my bed." So SWEET!  That boy is such a tender heart, I was really holding my breath.  Any transition rocks his world, so we were so happy to hear that the big boy bed won him over.  Sunday night, we put them to bed at 9 o'clock, and they were out by 9:15.  Again, they awoke this morning so happy to have big beds.  Yay!  And, today, they took stellar three hour naps in their beds without any problems or playing.  Now, I'm not assuming that will be the norm, but I am counting each time as a little blessing!

By the way, Molly, in true Molly fashion, had no adjustment period whatsoever.  She LOVES her bed, and she just can't wait to crawl into it each time.  I am so grateful that she is a true BIG sister to Max and comforts him whenever he is unsure.  It is her special role in our family, and I love her for it! 

my valentine...

Our sixteenth valentine's day together, and I still can't get enough of this guy!  We went out to the yummiest dinner at a great spot all alone! We had such fun reminiscing about Valentine's days past and laughing about some of the antics we have both staged to win the other's affections!  Lately, every time I hear this song, I smile and think of my valentine...

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend

lucky to have been where I have been

lucky to be coming home again

they don't know how long it takes

waiting for a love like this

everytime we say goodbye I wish we had one more kiss

I'll wait for you I promise you, I will.

Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait

love, love, love...

after a lovely breakfast of swedish pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, the kids opened little valentine surprises from mom and dad...

Olivia got "Noodles" and made this zebra...

Max got a fun lightening mcqueen that you can change the parts around, complete with funny faces, headlights, and big wheels....he loves it!

and Molly got a princess mirror to decorate, which she glittered and glammed up the way only a princess would!

little valentines...

cheesy valentines...

Olivia's yearly Valentine's Day party....

Olivia has a Valentine's party each year (how did she rope me into that tradition?) and yesterday was the big event.  They decorated cookies, did a fun heart craft, had snacks and played games, all while listening to the awesome HSM 3 soundtrack!  Now that I have it behind me, it was fun!  Second grade girls are a bit silly, but Olivia was smiling all night, so it was definitely worth it!

cute friends!

more cute friends!

cute sister who didn't want to be left out!

some of the finished product...

oh, how I LOVE this holiday!

three months

Brotherly love...

Helping with homework.

so, I am a week behind on this post, but the pictures are accurate!  Can I tell you how much I love this little man?  He is such a lover, cuddler, and smiler!  It makes me totally forgive him each morning when he has kept me up late and then wakes up to eat every three hours all night!  He is growing "like bamboo" as his pediatrician said, "you can almost see it."  He has made our family complete, we are all totally and madly in love with this guy!

things they are a changing...

so, we are getting ready to take the plunge, put the twins into "big beds" (I know, they are the worlds oldest kids still sleeping in cribs, but they don't climb out, and my sanity has been kept by their containment!) and put Ian in a crib.  I have had such fun picking out bedding for their big kid beds.  I can't figure out how to get a picture here, but here's the link to Max's new bedding, it's called, "Things that go," which fits him just perfectly!  I found Ian a darling bumper, for a steal, and he will use Max's sheets and bed skirt, which coordinate quite well!  I am such a bedding nut, I just LOVE getting new bedding and making beds.  It is my favorite.  I will post pictures soon of the new big kids beds and let you all know how our transition goes!  

friendship...

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What?!  You too?  I thought I was the only one!'"  C.S. Lewis

Since it is the month of love, I thought I would send out some love to all of my friends.  You see, I have been blessed with many friends who have given more, done more, and loved me more than I deserve.  They are scattered all around, but each of them teaches me and inspires me, and I am grateful for each and every one of you!  Where would I be without my girls?