Snowy Days

Snowy Snowy Snowy!!  Who knew we'd have a week of no school because of the snow, but it's looking like that's exactly what we'll get!  The kiddos have been having a fun time playing in the snow the last few days and today we spent three hours outside sledding and building snow caves and shoveling and shoveling.  Hot chocolate has never tasted so good!  It has been fun, but I think I'm getting more and more ready for spring.  And school to be back on. . . 

Two Great Dates

I had a wonderful date with Cooper this week.  I love one-on-one time with my kiddos.  He read me books while we waited for our food and we enjoyed sharing a cinnamon roll and a brownie for our treat after dinner.

 Todd and I got to go to a Brian Regan show yesterday.  Of course it was hilarious!  I LOVED it so much.  It was nice to have a couple hours to just laugh and feel happy and not think about anything else.  I laughed so hard I cried...multiple times.  It was the best!  Thanks for the tickets babe!

Happy Birthday Todd

Cherry Chip Cake makes it smell like Todd's birthday.  Once that smell hits the air, his day seems official!  And I realized yesterday, that this is the 16th time I've baked this cake for Todd.  Crazy!

 I am so very blessed to have this man in my life.  To have this man be my man.  He's so good to me.  He's so good.  Happy Birthday to my favorite man!

38!

 I love you!

I hope you felt that yesterday and every day!

Stuff

Madeline's beautiful fairy garden she made with moss, sticks, bark, etc from our yard.  

 Oliver wanted to take my picture

 and then I took his.  We were having a picnic in the sun.  :)

 I love my one on one time with Cooper.  Jumping on the trampoline with him is an absolute delight.  And a total body workout too!  I kind of have to fight for time with this kid.  He seems to be the most independent kid I have and sometimes we both forget how much we really need each other!

 This one, on the other hand, never forgets how much he needs me.  Lol.  Sometimes I wish he'd need someone else a little more.  But I DO love his snuggles.  And I do love him.

 More trampoline time with Cooper!

 The polar vortex finally hit Washington.  And with the nasty windchill the low has been -2!!!

 I prefer to stay inside and bake.  This time I made mini tarts.  Blueberry lemon curd and Swiss meringue.

 Madeline waited until it was a balmy 6 degrees to go outside and make a snow goat.  Teehee,  everything she makes is CUTE!!!

Mimi and Bapa

My parents were here for ten days!  Ten days of awesome and this is the only picture I took with them in it.  It's at 6 AM at the airport as we were saying goodbye.  I'm not sure how they were here for ten days and I didn't take a picture.  It was so wonderful.  SO fun.  WENT SO FAST.  I guess I just enjoyed living it instead of documenting it.  I don't know.  But we sure had a wonderful visit.  And I hope they come again soon.  Here are a few things that could have been great pictures:

The looks on my kids faces when they saw Mimi and Bapa come walking out of the airport.  They had NO IDEA.  Just thought I was lost after we went to Menchies.  Ha!  Best surprise ever!

Our dinner fun at Coconut Kenny's

Or at Bob's Burgers

Our ice cream cone party

Our catapult contraptions we built in teams

The chunky blankets Mimi helped Cooper and Madeline make

The game nights

Mimi and Cooper jumping on the trampoline

Bapa drawing with the kids

Grandparent hugs on Madeline's birthday

Rolling on the floor playing and laughing with Oliver

...etc...etc...etc...

You'll just have to imagine it all.  And next time, I'll take some pictures!

Madeline's Birthday

We had a fun and busy morning celebrating before school.  She opened a little pony from Oliver and saved the rest of the gifts for later.

 Blueberry Pie for breakfast!

 Yep, she liked the cake I made her while she was at school!

 She got a few how to make fairies and fairy furniture books and it didn't take her long to put them to use!

 Happy Birthday dear Madeline!

 Yum!

 It was so fun to watch my darling girl open pink thing after pink.  One girly delight after another.  She was happy and it was such a wonderful evening.  I think her favorite part was having all her grandparents with her.  A picture I'll always wish I took...

 Even the sky turned pink for Madeline.  Heaven wanted to wish her Happy Birthday too.

May this year be as awesome as you are.

Madeline's Cake

Madeline wanted a mint chocolate cake for her birthday this year.  I made a devils food cake, mint frosting with chocolate cookie pieces in the filling, and topped it with ganache and mint meringues.  It was such a delight to make and turned out looking beautiful.