Birthdays and Snow

I am back again.  It has been a little while since I have last blogged.  My birthday has come and gone uneventful as normal.  I did make a trip to Port Huron with Brian, my friend Carol, and my brother-in-law Doug & sister-in-law Crystal for dinner and a little shopping.  The weather was snowy and I was glad I didn't have to drive.
Next up for birthdays….my precious miracle babies.  It is hard to believe but they are turning 3 on February 9th.
So this weekend we went to Sears Portrait Studios for their birthday photos.  These photos show their uniqueness and love for each other.  Enjoy the pictures.

Tough Little Things

We do love each other …. sometimes

Are we almost done??...

Ava

Jaelyn

So after our photo session, we headed to Maple City Golf Course to help rid our fears of snow.  Ava hates snow.  However, she did enjoy her time tobogganing. Well maybe not when daddy sent her down the hill by herself and letting her fall off the sled.  Nice daddy!

Family Affair 

Ava all smiles

Jaelyn concentrating 

Ava loving the GT Racer  

Jaelyn loving the snow!

One last time

Jaelyn & Ava's Bedrooms

When I last blogged, Jaelyn and Ava had both been sick with the flu.  The last night I blogged I decided it was my turn too.  So I had an extra 2 days off before I went back to work.  It really does make the work week fly when you start the week on Wednesday. :)
I had already planned that this would be my next blog.
Last summer, Ava was getting brave enough to get out of her crib or in if she wanted too.  She would shimmy up the slats of the crib, get to the top, flip over the edge and drop into the bed or the floor. We decided that it was time to convert the crib into a daybed and add a bed rail to it.  She was really good with this and in less than a month the bedrail was gone!  Way to go Baby Girl!!
Jaelyn at this time did not really care to try to get in and out of her bed.  She is too afraid or rather lazy.  She would just called for us to get her.  We decided that it was time for her to also go to the daybed .  
This fall, we made the final bed conversion to double beds as the crib mattresses were not very good anymore.  The dilemma then became how to decorate their rooms.  All wall pieces were already in place and we needed to find something to match that and the colours of the rooms.  After much searching that included various shopping trips and a lot of time online, I found what I wanted online.  Their quilts both came from different online sites and Jaelyn's curtains came from Meijers.  I had them shipped to my Aunt Laurina's in Grand Rapids, Michigan and we picked them up when we went for our family Christmas party.
Outcome:
Ava's Room

The quilt and pillows purchased online from 

The Company Store under the Company Kids Section.

The wall pieces all came from Precious Cargo in Chatham.  As did their bedroom furniture.

Jaelyn's Room

 The quilt and pillows were purchased online at Bed & More Store.  


The Hugs & Kisses wall pieces were purchased at another favourite place of mine, The Glasshouse.  


The Groovy piece again came from Precious Cargo.

Well that is all for now!  Have a great weekend!!

Two Days in a Row

Well, the flu has hit our house.  Jaelyn was sick last week Wednesday night.  Then nothing.  Last night Ava decided it was her turn again.  Poor thing was very, very sick.  I wasn't feeling anything too hot all night either.  I prepped schoolwork at midnight and emailed it in.  When the alarm when off this morning at 6:30, I made the necessary phone calls.  I got an extended vacation and used my time wisely.
I slept most of the morning as did Ava.  Jaelyn played very nice in the toyroom.  This afternoon, while Ava slept and Jaelyn did everything but sleep (jump on bed, look out window, sing her version of Jingle bells, giggle), I coloured.  I used my Copic markers and Prisma Coloured Pencils and Gamsol.  Have a look:

This is one of my favourite stamps.  I figured I could start next years cards now.  Love how it turned out!

 These 2 pictures are the only stamps that are not Bella.  They will eventually will become thinking of you cards.

 My first attempt at blonde hair.

 Hate the grass….love the hair

 Love this stamp.  Reminds me of J & A when they don't get their way.

This stamp so makes me visualize Jaelyn dragging our cat Gizmo or any other animal around.  She is so much an animal lover.
 

Welcome to a New Year

Well it has been a long while since I have last posted.  It is a new year and new goals have been set.  One of these goals is to actually blog more and learn more about the features of blogging.  However, another of  these goals is to spend less time online hap-hazardously surfing, online shopping, and facebooking.  It has truly become an addiction.  Instead I would like to return to my true loves of reading, scrapbooking & card making, and photography.  I would like to be a better mom to my toddlers and spend more quality time with them.  I can not forget the need for better verbal communication, patience, and self-control (a weakness of mine).  I need to come out of my shell more and not be afraid to speak to others.  Lastly, I must continue to strive to become more physically fit.  As a phys. ed teacher I need to practice what I preach.  These goals are a good start to improving 2011.