let's force spring

{via my mom shops}

Maybe if we sprinkle our lawns with lemonade stands, spring will come early?

celebrating the holidays

Because we were out of town, I was late on the whole valentine thing this year. Actually, I'm going to give myself a bit of kudos action ... because I've actually had the girls valentine's gifts since early January {I know, right?}.

I got the cute little dolls from Chasing Fireflies {can't find the product anymore, but my-oh-my there is some serious eye candy going on at that website!}, and the baskets I use every year {thank you Pottery Barn Kids}. I also found some cute little trinkets at PBK that I added to their baskets.

Anyhow.

After we got home from Aspen and I got their baskets together, they looked so cute all lined up that I needed to take a photo and felt the urge to share. :)

And since I was sharing ... I was reminded that I had taken a photo of their St. Nick's gifts and forgot to share!

I decided to start a tradition, and although they may be too young to appreciate it now ... I really like the idea! They each got a 'date' with mom & dad. We gave them gift cards to their favorite restaurant and toy store. Miss teenager got a gift card to the mall.

I'd like to try to start more traditions and things that the girls can 'count' on and look forward to. We haven't taken them on their dates yet ... but with spring right around the corner {dream with me, will ya?} ... I'm thinking we're going to get those on the schedule soon!

I think one-on-one time with children is so important. Don't you?

soap?

I just saw this soap from LoveLeeSoaps on Etsy!  Yes folks ... it's really soap!  Fun, no?

I'm thinking my MIL would like this one ...

And shhhh ... I got this for Curt's birthday {it's not 'til May, but I gotta stock up when I find something!}.  Oh, and sorry folks, I bought the last one.  :)

your life story in one place

{via design crush}

I've tried to be a journaler ... it's just never worked out for me.  You know, good intentions and all ...

When I put pen to paper, my mind goes crazy and my hand never seems to be able to keep up.  That's why I started this blog.  I love keeping my life's story this way ... it works for me.

But ... if I journaled in the traditional sense of the word ... this would be the journal for me!

fun paper craft

{via no biggie}

Oooooo, I totally want to make this. I'm putting it on my list for 'when the store sells ...'

while visions of ...

Things yet to be done, danced in my head.

Quite literally last night's dreams were all about the projects I have yet to complete before Christmas.  Is anyone else freaking out?  I'm trying my best to remain calm, while my apparent stresses are playing themselves out in my dreams.

I was awakened by the sound of a screeching coyote at 2:30 am.  When I woke, I realized I had just been dreaming about the following project, along with a few other images of what I need to get done rolling around in there.

So sad, but I quite literally thought of this post's title at 2:30 in the morning ... I thought it was clever and glad I remembered it.

Okay, before I get to the photos at hand ... I must tell you about these annoying coyotes!  Really?  At 2:30 in the morning?  I woke with a start because I thought it was the baby {and Curt's out of town, so I couldn't feign ignorance}.

One coyote starts screeching {is that what they do?}, then I hear another ... and slowly I realize I've got a couple of coyotes out there gettin' it on!  Yikes!  I can not be responsible for the procreation of coyotes ... not to mention that they're not exactly modest about their happenings and I didn't want them to wake the kids.

So I get up and try opening my sliding door to ... what?  I'm not quite sure ... ask them to keep it down?

Anyway, it's frozen shut {basically, so are my eyes!}.  I didn't give up ... I couldn't.  They seemed to be getting louder.

Ever the spoil-sport, I finally get it open ... {realize people, it's 2:30 in the morning here} ... but once it's open, I'm not quite sure what my intent was.  How do you ask coyotes to keep it down?  I settle for a quiet shout out the door {for some reason, I thought if I was too loud I'd wake the kids} ... and they stopped!

Back to dreamland for me ...

Okay, so I was working on teacher gifts last night.  For Christmas, I usually give a Barnes & Noble gift card, along with a photo of the girls and some kind of little quote.  This year's quote was:

The best teachers teach

from the heart,

not from the book.

As I'm 'designing' {term used very loosely here}, the card and type in the quote and leave some space for the gift card ... I suddenly realize the irony of my quote and gift!  But it's late, I'm tired and need to get the project done, so I just go for it ...

So here's Wynter's ...

Here's Piper's ...

And here are the hundreds of photos I printed and mounted that I didn't need.  I needed two each {they each have a teacher and an assistant}, so four total.  But in my messed up head, I thought they needed 4 photos each, 8 total.  Like I said ... it was late and I was tired ...

Here's the finished product ...

And here's what I did with two of the extra photos {sorry, I cut off Piper's photo}.  And have I mentioned how much I love my new office and especially this wallpaper?  Perfect for a photo freak!

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a good-night!  {even though it's morning ... roll me with, won't cha?}