Play Pass the Newborn

Have you ever played Pass the Newborn? It's so much fun!!! :D My Man and Niko

Below, TheArtist & Niko

Here I am cuddling Niko...

Papaw & Niko...

Niko smiling...

Mama Tracy & Niko...

Awwwwww... NIKO! Too cute!!

Friends of mine, I'm so happy that so many of you are having babies right now!

Keep up the good work!

Why I'm Too Tired To Paint Tonight

When the snow starts to melt away, life resumes, with a vengeance!
Recap?
Friday night we attended a special dinner, and it was simply The Most Amazing Meal Ever:

appetizer- homemade ravioli filled with wild mushrooms in a brown butter sauce with fried sage leaves
salad- salad wedge with apple and pecans with thyme and buttermilk drizzle
main- crepes stuffed with shrimp and crab and covered in a white wine cheese sauce, topped with baby greens and pickled red onions, a roasted carrot, and served with fresh bread
"digestive"- (to cut the richness of the last meal and ready you for dessert) citrus granita
dessert- an incredibly delicious rich brownie with cherry sauce and...the most heavenly ice-creamy-but-more-delectable thing on the left side of the picture (almost blends in with the white plate.) What is that? It was ....oh man...so good.
(And now I'm hungry, great!)

On Saturday morning I went out for coffee and pastries with one of my dearest friends. Such a special treat!

And then to an indoor pool party for a little friend of ours. Very neat to see snow out the windows, while we swam around in a heated pool. :)

My Man taking Little Lad down the slide...

We got home in time to do some painting, and work on our Valentines for the upcoming homeschool party. I love the way LittleLad cocks his head, to assess his painting progress! Sunday: Church ~ which was wonderful, moving... I've had the songs "God of Justice" and "In Christ Alone" ringing through my head since....

An aside: Do you ever ask yourself why we go to church? Because it's what we're "supposed to do"? no.

We go to learn, worship, get filled up, then go pour out what we've been given.

Fill us up and send us out into the world.
I never want to merely exist.

As I was saying, on Sunday we went to church, and then to Papaw's for a yummy Italian lunch. You can tell which two tend to be the goofiest, right? ;)

After church, more work on Valentine's boxes... and lots of family time... snowball fights outside, with short-sleeved shirts on, and reading new books from Paperback swap.
Today: Bowling/ Pizza Valentine's Day Party with the homeschool group.
Oli (3) scored 75! not too shabby for a little guy.

Papaw even came and bowled with us (and won, I might add!) Then home for school... then out of town for errands... and to Papaw's to pick up a little lasagna (thank you, Papaw!) and on to our homey home.

Phew.

I'm tired.

Feels like we've been coming home only to dump things, and run back out the door. I seriously have playdates every single afternoon this week, and then I think life will slow down, when we all get over the Excitement of being able to leave our homes again.

These poor oversocialized homeschoolers!! ;)

Must go to bed.

I need a hug Painting

Brrrrrr...it's been a-cold out 'dar!

Before Snowpocalypse, when the roads were still passable, we had sister J and the fam over, and she gave Papaw a haircut. Poor sleepy Pops couldn't manage to stay awake. ;) Gotta love him! If he took baths, I'd worry about him drowning...After the snow hit, we've been doing a lot more of this...

Perhaps I should tidy the Station Area in the playroom?

Or is that too much like shoveling a walk in the middle of a blizzard?

And more of this...

My 3-year old Little Lad whipped me.

and this...

~listening to Daddy read stories~
My two littlest monkeys, in the process of a hug. Yes, it's a process.

This was before they fell over.

And I've been doing more of this...

The Downcast King ~everyone needs hugs~

progress...

face done... crown done...

And he needs some hanging, lovin', lookin' action. Buy him a new home. :)

What I wore and what I painted

This is what I call layering! And, yes, I'm wearing black wool leg warmers. So sue me.
getting started...an accidental swipe of black paint across the page, thanks to the cat!

Good thing I love her.

I forgot to take more progress pictures {sigh}

Not much hair grows between the thighs, right? Trying to be true to life here... ;)

Who needs a hug?

And...I'm done. He's color-coordinated, although his better half had better start buying some longer shorts for this dude.

-I need a new home. Buy me on etsy. :)

Record Snow Falls!

We played outside for awhile, building forts and gathering icicles. It was like wading through a white sea! I know Northerners are accustomed to this kind of thing, but I had never seen so much snow in my life!

Two feet of snow on the trampoline... and check out those spikes on the jungle gym!

We look a little "puffy" in layers upon layers of clothes, and coats, gloves... ;)

Some of our snow pictures! This is more like couch-jumping music, than the "Let It Snow" song I wanted to use-- but, hey-- gotta go with what you can find on the computer when the Man is napping, right? And we did indeed have a good night together!

•A new record for the most snow in 24 hour period statewide was set in our Small Town, at 24.5″ !

bracing for the next one

Just this morning our street was plowed.

And today we brace for the next round.

For reference, my husband is 6'2".These icicles came off of our garage. The firepit, looking all unnatural, and quite alone.

My LittleLad, braving the peaks of shoveled snow in our front yard

Driving conditions last Friday.... where's the street, you ask...

I don't have anything witty to say. Or any art to show. Or any craft ideas to share. I'm tired.

Spent the last few evenings working on 40 homemade baby shower invitations for a friend. And trying to plan out & catch up with the kids' schoolwork. And catch up on errands between snowfalls.

I just need some sunshine, exercise, and warmth.

{sigh} More upbeat post to follow soon, hopefully, when the sun comes out again...

House Rules

New PAinTing/CollaGe, simple and fun!

16" x 20"

Rules:

Obey your parents

Treat others how you want to be treated
Clean up after yourself

Speak with kindness
Tell the Truth Love

We're under another Winter Advisory-- more snow coming this morning, again on Sunday, and yet again next Wednesday. I don't drive on this stuff, which simply means that I'll have plenty of evening art time, while hibernating at home. It's a good thing, seeing as how I have roughly 50 baby shower invites to make, plus artwork for the pregnancy center, and crafts to prepare for a VDay party with friends.

What are YOU up to, all holed up in this winter's craziness?