Corners - 27

This is what one corner of my kitchen looked like yesterday while I was baking cookies. I like to pull all my ingredients out before I start to make sure nothing is missing. It is 60 degrees outside, but windy and rainy so we're staying put today. Our library books are due and I need to return them, but I think I'll wait until this evening.

The kids are playing with our neighbor and they are playing some game where a "bus" is involved. and someone is the driver. They keep running up to the kitchen and then running downstairs.

Corners - 26

I am spending a good part of the day making cookies for the baby shower this weekend. I just finished chocolate chip cookies and then I'm going to make some gingersnaps. I'm taking a break to check my email and to do some other household chores. The weather is lovely today, high 50's and sunny! I am about to open some windows to take advantage of it!

Corners - 24 & 25

There are always little shoes around the house, sitting on the steps, on the shelf in the kitchen, thrown around the floor, etc.

And we have our first sign of spring in the yard, daffodils are just starting to peek out of the mulch..woo hoo! Peyton and Liam helped me plant bulbs in the fall and I was a little worried about whether or not we planted them deep enough, but they are growing! I'm so excited to know we'll have daffodils (and hopefully a few hyacinths)!

I Heart Faces - Black & White

This week's challenge at I Heart Faces is black and white. I LOVE the look of black and white photography. I remember buying special film for my camera, but it is so much easier to shoot in color and to convert later in Photoshop. Go visit I Heart Faces and see all of the great submissions.

Corners - 23

Our weekend with our two nieces was a blast! We kept the kids so busy. One of the things we did was make homemade personal pizzas. We made dough in the breadmaker and Mark separated it into 5 pieces, one for each kid and one for us to share. They rolled out their dough, spread it with olive oil and sauce, and topped it with cheese. The kids had fun making their own pizza and the little pizzas turned out so cute.

Corners - 21 & 22

Things have been a bit hectic with four kids in the house this weekend. We asked my older niece if she wanted to go home yesterday or today after church and she chose today. They're sitting at our breakfast bar coloring just before breakfast, then we'll load them up and take them to church. We had a HUGE day yesterday, Children's Museum, lunch at home, a Renaissance Festival at a local private school, a quick trip to the playground, and a trip to the grocery store for dinner supplies. Then they watched a movie while we made dinner. The first night they all slept down in the basement, they didn't crash until after 10pm. Last night we put them down at 8pm and they were all fast asleep before 9pm. They have all been well behaved and haven't had any major arguments or fights. It has been a lot of fun.

The corners are our nature table, a place for the kids to pick up things they find on walks, hikes, etc. and homemade macaroni and cheese, a favorite in our house.

Corners - 20

Liam is a Lego boy. This morning he woke up and as he was walking down the hall, he told me he didn't want to eat breakfast, he wanted to play. Then he asked Mark if he would play Legos with him. The Legos are almost always strewn across the floor or in some elaborate configuration that the kids call a castle or a car or a house, etc. We have the big quatro Legos, but I think we'll be graduating to the Duplos soon, they're a little smaller. I'm not quite ready for the real tiny ones yet. I'm not ready to step on them or to have Peyton put them in her mouth or to be searching for lost ones.

I'm taking the kids to Charlottesville today to pick up my two nieces. We're keeping them this weekend while their parents move. I'm so excited to have them here. Peyton and Liam have been excited all week. We're going to have a giant slumber party in the playroom and eat lots of junk food!

My 200th Post - Corners 19

This is my 200th post! I started posting in February 2008 and wanted to journal about life in our house, things we were doing, my own learning (photography, crochet, cooking, baking), and things that were fun to share with our family, some who have never met my children in person. I enjoy this and will continue to do it as long as it doesn't become a chore.

Corner 19 - not so long ago I was so tired of being indoors and was looking for something fun to do. I set up our tent for the kids and we spent a few evenings reading bedtime stories by flashlight and singing "Twinkle Twinkle" in it. I don't think they were as excited by it as I was, but it was something different to do.

Corners - 17 & 18

Hot tea and a snow covered car. Scenes from the winter. We woke up this morning to the slightest dusting of snow which then turned into rain. It's windy now and the sky is very dark. I think we'll probably have a storm at some point this afternoon. Peyton has dance today and she's already in her leotard, 3 hours before class! She tells me that she wants to take gymnastics next session, but she really likes dance. So we'll revisit when the parks and rec. summer schedule comes out and decide then.

Corners - 15 & 16

A big bowl of apples doesn't last long in our house. Both of the kids LOVE to eat them. The boots were by the door during our last snowfall. We got teased a little bit this morning with some snowflakes, but the sun is bright and they didn't last long.

My camera has been idle this month. Most of the pictures I've had in these corners pictures were taken last month. I've been so busy with crochet projects and with other projects around the house that I just haven't picked it up.

Our youth at church yesterday cooked a pancake breakfast to raise money for a mission trip. Liam's 2 and 3 year old Sunday school class came as a group. It was so cute to see a table full of toddlers digging in to pancakes. They were all quite sticky when it was done. Miss Gina told me that Liam ate 3 pancakes! That's my boy!

Corners - 14

For those who celebrate, Happy Valentine's Day. We don't really do anything for v-day around here. The kids got loads of candy from preschool and cards and goodies from their grandparents, but Mark and I have never really celebrated. Mark is hanging lights for a local play so he's been gone all day. The kids and I went to the farmer's market for fresh homemade hummus and soup and locally grown potatoes. We had a snack at Shank's Bakery, where both kids spilled milk all over the floor, and then we spent some time at the library. We had a busy morning and now they're both resting. Mark's schedule today is really hard to pin down, so I'll probably cook dinner for the kids and we'll eat later tonight. I have a vegetarian stir-fry I want to try and I'm not sure the kids would like it, so we'll probably eat that after they go to bed.

Corners - 13

Randy loves sunbeams. She finds them in the house so she can sleep in the warmth. I get it. I also love to sleep with the sun pouring in on me. Mark used to sleep on the quad at JMU just so he could sleep in the sun.

Corners - 12

The kids decorated hearts for Valentine's Day and we taped them all over the doors in our kitchen.

It is CRAZY windy here today with gusts up to 60mph. I keep checking our yard for debris and so far haven't seen anything. I've been praying for safety because it is wild to hear the wind whipping so hard around the house and it creeps me out! We had a chunk of paint on the outside of our house that had started to peel and the wind has ripped it right off. Looks like we'll be calling some house painters soon.

Speaking of painting, I'm in the process of painting our bedroom today. Not long after we moved in I painted both kid's rooms, their bathroom, and our bathroom, but then I stalled out and didn't touch any of the paint stuff for a long while. I got inspired this week and have finished all the trim, the ceiling, and the first coat on the wall. I'm letting it dry a bit before I tackle the second coat. I can't wait to see it done! Then I'll hopefully get inspired to do the dining room. I cannot stand the magenta color in that room. Mark and I chose a dark red and I'm looking forward to getting that done and the other two rooms on the main level. Then I can call it done for a while. I'll tackle the basement some other year!

Corners - 11

My mom bought this table for Peyton and in our old house, it was in the family room and got a ton of use. When we moved, it went down to the playroom. I envisioned the kids doing art projects and having snacks at the table, but it wasn't getting used. So a few weeks ago I moved it into the living room. Now the kids are using it and it's become the home to all of the Color Wonder coloring books and markers.

We are expecting temperatures in the high 60's today! I can't wait to get the kids outside. We are soaking up the nice weather because in just a few days the temps are supposed to drop back into the 40's! The heat is off and the windows are cracked open to let some fresh air into our house.....ahhhhh thinking of spring!

Corners - 9 & 10

I have been working on some painting today, not at all my favorite thing to do! I hope to get our bedroom painted by the end of next week. It was supposed to get done last year, but oh well! I painted the doors and door and window trim today. Now all I have to do is paint the ceiling, paint the walls, the baseboard trim, and do the entire closet! I'm heading to Sherwin-Williams today to get the paint. I HATE painting, but since Mark stinks at it, I don't have a choice. I got a little crazy with the spackle last week and now our dining room has "snow" on the walls (according to Peyt0n). That will be the next room, maybe done in time for Easter? I guess there is always some project to do, it's never done. I think part of my problem in getting all of the painting done is that I have trouble choosing colors. The kids rooms were easy, but our room and dining room had me stumped.

I Heart Faces - Silly

Check out the great entries for this week's theme, silly, at I Heart Faces. It wasn't hard to find a silly picture of my kids. They are silly a lot! They were having fun with Mr. Potato Head pieces in this picture.

Corners - 8

The crayon box is a favorite with the kids. They LOVE to color just about anything. I still have to watch them to make sure they're not coloring the cabinets or the walls, but they are definitely getting better.

Corners - 7

A now familiar sight in our house as I learned how to crochet and have various projects in the works. I'm trying to tackle one thing at a time and not get too excited. The yarn in the picture above turned into a blanket for my nephew, Ben (picture below). I had so much fun learning how to make granny squares and I love the way this giant granny square quilt turned out. I might have to make one for my own bed at some point. I have one project going now and 3 others planned and I keep finding things that look like they would be fun to do.

Mark and I are heading to Charlottesville today to see a show at the Paramount. We are both excited about spending some time together. We'll probably leave after lunch and spend some time roaming the downtown mall before dinner and the show. I thank God everyday for my mom's willingness to be here for my kids. I'm so glad to know that they'll be having fun while we're away.

Corners - 5 & 6

Woops, I missed yesterday completely. Here are two "corners" of my house. Peyton is mildly obsessed with princesses, especially the Disney princesses. She bought the Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) doll with some of her Christmas money. The doll has a button on her back and she sings a line from the movie. Thank God it has an on/ off switch!

The other picture is what my hallway looked like recently. Liam took all of the toys from his shelving unit and lined them up in the hall.

Soup and Hats

The other night we had delicious black bean soup for dinner and we all ended up wearing hats while we were eating! It was fun and the soup was yummy! It is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and Mark's and the kids seem to enjoy it too!

Corners - 4

Things just taste better in nice china. I really enjoy drinking coffee or tea from china. This is my parent's wedding china. Mark and I didn't register for any when we got married and we only pull this pretty china out about twice a year, if that, but it looks pretty in our china cabinet!

Corners - 3

I love how winter in the Vally can take us, and our weathercasters, by surprise. The local forecasters called for about an inch of snow, a 60% chance of snow. By the time the snow stopped, we had about 3 inches of gorgeous white powder. Unfortunately it's not snowman snow, but the kids had a blast making snow angels and tracks this morning. Their mittens and coats are in the dryer now in preparation for going outside later today. I pitched our tent in the living room so they could play in it and they decided to go back down and play in the basement. I think we'll have a picnic in the tent later. Anything to break up the normal routine!

Corners - 2

I taught myself how to crochet over the holidays and now there is almost always some project or another sitting around. This was a hat I made for Liam.

I Heart Faces - The Eyes Have It

This is my entry for this week's contest, the eyes have it. I love Peyton's blue blue eyes! Go visit I Heart Faces to see other great pictures and for some photo inspiration!

Corners of my home

Last year in February I began this blog with a picture a day challenge. I took at least one picture each day for the entire month and I learned a TON about my camera and my photography style. I decided to just shoot corners of my home for the month of February. Not all of these pictures will have been taken in February, but they show what's going on in my home.

Liam's windowsill

We plan to watch the Superbowl with the kids tonight. We'll eat a bunch of junk food and decide which team to cheer for and we'll enjoy the commercials!