Cabin Fever + Jungle Java = Jungle Fava

I am going crazy here! This has seemed like the coldest/longest Michigan winter since we've lived here (7 winters now) and it's not even over yet. Maybe it's because I have two restless kids that ask "Where are we going to go today?" and more preschool/playgroup committments and Dr. appointments than previous years so we have had to brave the roads and weather more often. Also, this is one of the first years I haven't had a little baby to keep me preoccupied during this time so it's just dragging on. We've still got probably two months of winter to go and I'm dying here! To combat this a little I've been trying to take the kids to some of the indoor play areas more often to let them burn off some energy and break up our week. Here we are at Jungle Java http://www.junglejavaplay.com/annarbor/annarbor.php, which the kids love and call Jungle Fava. I don't know why...

Leah kept getting in trouble at this place because she kept taking her socks off (which is against the rules) so she could climb up the slide. I put her socks back on about 100 times in the 3 hours we were there and she eventually threw one of them behind the black netting and I had to get an employee to help me get it out, the same one that called me out for having a kid with no socks on. I'm embarrassed to go back there anytime soon...

So, does anyone have any other fun ideas for combating the winter blues with young kids besides destroying my house with paint/cookie dough/mini-lego blocks?

Random stuff

Just a little peek at what we've been up to lately...

Leah started playing hide-and-go-seek out of the blue the other day; she goes into the corner, covers her eyes, and starts counting and then when she gets to seven, jumps up, and "finds" us (I'm usually in plain sight cooking or cleaning or something) and then does it all over again. I don't know where she learned it, maybe Abbie or church or TV?

She also loves doing puzzles and is pretty good at them. Even though I don't think I've ever sat down with her and shown her how to do this one, she can do most if it by herself!

Abbie has been getting pretty good at writing her name and has been practicing a lot by writing on Valentines. She loves showing me her name when she finds it written on things and I guess it's time to start teaching her more about letters and sounds and how to read.
Abbie is also so silly and funny. She loves playing games and pretending. She has a stuffed animal elephant that she loves and is always pretending that he is tired so she sings him a song at bedtime or that he's hungry and needs a snack or needs a toy (so she can have extra, etc). She loves to play freeze tag and just tonight we taught her how to play "Fruit Basket" and she wanted to play over and over. She's a typical 4 year old and it's crazy how fast she is growing up!

We were watching a friend's baby (no, I didn't suddenly have another without you knowing!), and Abbie and Leah were both so excited to feed him a bottle. They thought it was awesome that he actually drank it unlike their dolls who don't do anything fun like that.

Jared loves sushi and has always wanted to learn how to make it so we bought a kit and some basic ingredients and made some great California Rolls. They were pretty fun and easy to make and really yummy!

Here's my latest decorating project: I finally ordered my pictures from Leah's 2 year old photo shoot and decided to do this black and white photo collage on the wall. I found this great sign at Target and these black 8x10 frames and printed off some snapshots for the 3 openings one and voila! I just love the pictures of the girls close-up, it really shows their individuality and fun personalities.

There's also one other thing I've been busy with. I competed in a Biggest Loser competition with some friends at my church and amazingly, I won! I couldn't believe it, I was behind another girl for most of the 3 months we did it so I thought for sure she would win but at the end, I somehow pulled it off and won the jackpot (and went down a clothing size, it feels great!) Now I'm working hard to maintain what I lost but it's hard what with Valentine's chocolates and cookies and ice cream and brownies calling my name...

We kept Leah up from her nap the other day so she would go to bed earlier than usual (since we were going out on a date) and here's what happened during dinner. She was happy and eating really good and then the next thing we know, she conks out mid-bite. This NEVER happens! She wouldn't wake up so I carefully cleaned her up, changed her into her pj's, and was about to put her to bed when she woke up with a start and and said "I want to go play for one minute!" Guess she is like me and with a little catnap, gets a second wind and is good to go! (Don't worry, we put her to bed about 10 minutes later after a tantrum and a meltdown.)

Well, my second wind is about over so I'd better get to bed. Good night!

Here's another one...50 Things

Here's another one of those surveys going around so I thought I'd join in on the fun...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of, my parents just liked the name.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Just a few days ago
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yeah, it’s okay
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes, 2 girls
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? I try to sometimes but it never seems to come across right
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Maybe, if I knew it was 100% safe!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I love Honey Nut Cheerios and Wheaties.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope and I just slip them back on with the laces tied up
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Chocolate with peanut butter cup and brownie
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their eyes
15. RED OR PINK? Pink and since I have two girls, there’s a lot of it in the house
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
That I’m shy and it takes me a while to open up to people
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? All of my sisters and family out west
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Yes, it’s fun to learn random stuff about people I thought I knew well
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Purple pajama bottoms and no shoes, just white socks
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Grey’s Anatomy on Tivo in the background
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Blue? I try to blend in and be calm, stable, and comfortable to be around
23. FAVORITE SMELL? A newborn baby or one of my kids right after a bath!
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister Liesl
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Uhh, she’s okay…just kidding!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Gymnastics and ice skating, sometimes football if it’s a UM or major bowl game
27. HAIR COLOR? Light brown
28. EYE COLOR? Green
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican or anything chocolate
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Usually happy, unless it’s a suspenseful, clean, scary movie, nothing gruesome or slasher/bloody/gross
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? “He’s just not that into you”, it was great!
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Neither, I love spring and fall the best here in Michigan, it's perfect!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs usually
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? see #13 or freshly baked homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Afton, Taryn, Cynthia, Millie
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Annette
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Promises to Keep by Dean Hughes
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? no mouse pad
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Top Chef
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? Silence during naptime
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Probably Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Israel and Egypt
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I think all my talents are special :)
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Afton, WY
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Everyone
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE? Our job at the campus cafeteria at Ricks
49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? First reaction is usually half empty, but I’m trying to see the full side more
50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Five of my sisters, the other one is going to have to fight for her spot!

Pay it forward...

My sister-in-law Millie has this on her blog and I thought it sounded like so much fun. So this is how it works..... The first 3 people to leave a comment on this will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. There's a small catch...You knew there would be didn't you? Post this on your blog then come back and leave a comment, telling me you're in. Fun, huh? Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift. Good luck!

Leah's photo shoot

I recently had some photos of Leah taken by my friend Taryn, who is starting her own photography business (http://www.portraitmemories.webs.com/), and here are some of my favorites. Leah was actually being quite a stinker for most of the shoot and wouldn't cooperate much but Taryn was still able to get some good pictures. If you're looking for an affordable photographer in MI who will come to your home and is really good with kids, check out the link above. But first check out these pictures of my cutie!

25 Random Things About Me

I've been tagged with this about a million times on facebook so I decided I'd finally do it and post it here for my blog audience also. Enjoy learning some weird things about me!

1. I’m a night owl, I rarely go to bed before midnight
2. I grew up in a really small town, so small that the closest McDonald’s and Walmart was two hours away
3. I am the 7th of 10 children, all from the same parents, and no sets of twins
4. My first real job was working at a Subway shop and I still love their sandwiches today
5. I used to live in a church. All our bedrooms had chalkboards, we had a trampoline in the gym indoors, and we had a drinking fountain in the hallway (now that I’m a mom I can see the value of that!)
6. I don’t like attention and hate being in the spotlight
7. I’m a perfectionist and borderline obsessive compulsive, I love having everything organized and clean
8. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a wedding dress designer or a librarian
9. My mom is a music teacher and I took piano and violin growing up but I still can’t read music
10. I love checking things off on my to-do list, sometimes if I’ve done something, I’ll write it down after the fact just so I can cross it off!
11. I’m terrified of spiders, so much so that if I see one or think too much about one during the day, I’ll dream about them and usually end up screaming or hitting/kicking Jared in my sleep!
12. I like to sing and dance when I’m at home with my kids but never in public or in front of people
13. I’m known as the most stubborn one in my family but will adamantly deny it if asked
14. I hate almost all nuts, especially in brownies or cookies. Why ruin a perfectly good treat?
15. My favorite ice cream flavor, however, is chocolate ice cream with peanut butter cup and brownie. I love smooth peanut butter (never crunchy) in sandwiches, cookies, and ice cream
16. My 10 year wedding anniversary is coming up in May
17. I had some interesting jobs during my college years: Telemarketer, cafeteria lunch lady, ice cream soda fountain jerk, picture framer, and a nanny
18. I recently won a weight loss contest with some friends by losing almost 15 lbs in 3 months. It feels great to be back to my pre-baby size and I’m amazed that I actually made it to my goal weight!
19. My passport expires this year, I got it 10 years ago to do a semester of study abroad in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan
20. When I was young, I spent almost every summer living in a cabin in the forest, picking huckleberries, playing in a muddy pond, watching moose and beavers from our front porch, singing songs around a campfire, eating hot dogs and marshmallows almost every night, and making tree forts.
21. I have a deaf nephew and am trying to teach my kids Sign Language so we can communicate with him
22. I still have a teddy bear from when I was 4 years old
23. I am never bored, I always have some craft or sewing project I’m working on, some book to read, some scrapbook page to complete, or some recipe to try out.
24. I was born 7 weeks early and could fit in a shoe box when I was born
25. I love cats, chocolate, and Celine Dion, not necessarily in that order but if I’m listening to Celine while petting a cat and eating chocolate, that’s a pretty good moment!

It's so freakin' cold...

So we decided to visit the local botanical gardens and pretend that we live in a rainforest for a while. It was warm and green and beautiful in there and Abbie and Leah had a blast running around and smelling the flowers. There were also big palm trees, little walkways everywhere, and ponds with fish in them. Abbie thought the fish were cool and kept asking me why they were eating the water. We weren't able to spend as much time there as we would have liked so we'll have to go back soon since there's free admission one afternoon a week. I couldn't get the girls to hold still and smile for even one picture so this is the best you get!