family night

Occasionally on Friday nights we declare a 'family movie night' and do special things we would not ordinarily do.  We let them set up a picnic blanket and eat in the living room, which is otherwise a definite no-no.  Last week Cassidy and Andy made a dump cake to enjoy after our pizza and cheese sticks.  Doing fun things like this with Dad are a highlight to our family nights as well.  During a prayer earlier in the day Cassidy added a 'thank you' that she would get to bake with daddy ♥  Andy and I have been on a mission to find family friendly movies that have a good message and while finding ourselves a bit discouraged with the more current selections, have turned to some movies we enjoyed as kids.  The last few movies we have watched include Annie, The Swiss Family Robinson, The Journey of Natty Gann, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. We have all come to look forward to these special evenings we get to spend together.

walking a mile in mama's shoes

Isaac has always been a fan of shoes.  He must have inherited that from his mother (which was inherited from her father...).  He gets excited when it is time to put shoes on for the day and just this morning before nap time he brought over his boots and wanted help putting them on.  The other day he was playing in my closet and found another pair of shoes that tickled his fancy.  Just don't tell daddy.

to grandmother's house...

 This post has been a long time in the making... I took these photos of Lucy a month ago and it seemed that whenever I would go sit down to edit, something would come up.  Or I would be too tired, or Andy would re-injure his neck and I would be so worried it was hard to concentrate on anything else (don't worry we are on the up and up now...) or I just couldn't ignore the mounds of laundry that seemed to multiply before my eyes or I would have to chase Isaac around to keep him from standing on tables or playing in the toilet...  I guess to say it simply, life has just been busy.

I have seen some themed shoots on pinterest and thought it might be fun to try one.  There was a photographer in Montana who did a little red riding hood shoot in the mountains that I just fell in love with.  While we obviously don't have mountains here, I thought the stark contrast the of the snow would be beautiful with the bright red cloak (that I made!).  Cassidy fell in love with it, and picked out some lovely deep purple fabric for one of her own, so don't be surprised if you see another post... perhaps this spring... of a young maiden in her cloak admiring some tulips or daffodils. ♥

ditty

Music has always moved me.  It seems that there is always a perfect song to go with any occasion.  I hear songs that were popular during different times in my life and I am instantly transported to that time and place.  Some songs remind me of basketball warm ups; others of first dances in middle school;  I remember road trips in college, dancing in front of my mirror to Leslie Gore's 'It's my party' (that I would play on my record player! as a young girl);  oh and Thriller and CCR songs remind me of cleaning the living room (specifically vacuuming with my dad) as a kid (and um... those were records too... I.AM.OLD.) Music is part of what sets me free in zumba too.  Well, going along with that theme, is the fact that when each of my kids were tiny little littles, I made up songs for them.... and pretty much sang them to them all the time.  They were the perfect way for me to express that intense love that I felt for them.  I remember dancing around the living room, cuddling my baby Jack singing 'snuggle puppy' (although not a Katie original) and just being in utter and complete love with him.

Nicknames also seem to evolve and stick in this family too... each of the kids have had more nicknames than I can even remember. 

Evolution example: Jack to Jack-a-lope to Lopie Jack to Jack-a-doo to Jack-a-doodle doo; Doodle doo to Doodle to Brewdle to Brew to Brewdle Brew... and on and on....um yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

And Jack's nick name kinda set the precedent for some of the others:

Jack-a-doo

Lucy Lu

Cass-a-ma-doo

Zeekie Zoo.

For some reason they all needed to rhyme.  I think it was so I could sing their names together in a song and they would sound good. (because these songs ROCK.)  And while it is pretty much all dorky, I thought someday when the kids are showing their kids or grand kids the family journal (that this blog becomes) they might get a kick out of remembering their songs. 

So here we go!  Hopefully they will be able to remember how the tune goes with the words!

Jack: (see list above)

Jack a doo, Jack a doo, Jack a do do doooo

(not as creative or dynamic as the others but I still sing it...)

Lucy: (La Lou, LuBelle, Lu Lu)

Baby Belooou-ga,     (get it? Looou= Lucy)

Baby Belooou-ga 

Baby belooou-ga in the deep blue sea

She swims so wild and she swims so free

Heavens above us and the earth below, she's a little white whale on the go!

(so I pretty much stole this from Raffi...)

Cassidy: (D or D-C ot little)

She my D, She my D

She my little D-C, my sassy little D-C 

She's the one for meeeeee

(to the tune of Destiny's Child's Say my Name)

Isaac: (Zeekie Zoo)

Heeee's Zeekie my man, my man

He'e Zeekie he can, he can

He's Zeekie my man, Zeekie my man

Zeekie-my Zeekie-my Zeekie-my maaaaaan.

(to which Isaac repeats 'man man man' with a huge grin)

(sung in a high pitch voice while clapping or foot stomping)

I fully acknowledge that these are dorky.  But you know what? The older I get the more dorky I realize and admit that I am.  And I am quite secure in that. ♥

Valentine's road trip

On Valentine's I packed up the car, said so-long to my overjoyed sobbing husband, stole the kiddos from school a bit early, and headed out just me and the 4 littles, Milwaukee bound.  We were crashing at Auntie Jenny's house and to say we were a bit excited was the understatement of the year.  The kids have been counting down for the last month. At least.  

On the way, we stopped to see Great Grandpa and Grandma as we usually do.  It is so nice to have a break from the looooong ride in the car, to fill our bellies and catch up with them.  I am always a little nervous to bring my 4 rambunctious hooligans into their home after they have been strapped down for 3 hours, but they surprised the pants off me.  I gave them one reminder that Grandma and Grandpa aren't used to wild banshees running around and IT CLICKED.  Those children were the best behaved kids I have ever seen.  I mean I thought I was going to burst with happiness.  No question was answered without a 'please' or 'thank you'; compliments were given on foods they typically stick their noses up at; and politeness to the level that almost makes you gag.  I mean it was the BEST valentine's gift I could have received.

Great Grandpa always has the time and energy for a little rough play; Jack always indulges

Great Grandma has always had a soft spot for babies. (She had 8 of her own!)  I just love watching her with mine. A favorite memory is of when she held Lucy as a newborn and told her she was so beautiful she should have been twins :)

Cass is always the first to hop up onto Great Grandpa's lap; Lucy is not far behind.

Great Grandma experiencing the reality of my 4 kids.

So after a nice visit with them, we packed ourselves back into the van and headed further south.  Thank GOODNESS for dvd players is all I have to say.  If I got asked 'How many more George's?' one more time I think I might have freaked! (In case you were wondering, when Jack would ask 'how much longer?' when he was small... when he watched Curious George religiously... in order to help him have some idea of how much time we had left, we'd equate it to 'how many George's'.) We arrived rather late, so the kids slipped into bed only to awake a few hours later to fully reunite with their cousins.  It was rather sweet.

They each got to open up a Valentine that Grandma and Grandpa sent from Florida.  It is early... can you tell?  I think Cass and Elaina were already planning how they were going to spend their dollars. Thanks G+G!

We took all 7 kids to the mall because when you only get to the mall every couple months, it doesn't matter that you have to watch your kids while basking in all of the wonderfulness that is the mall.  And that I did.  Jack made sure to get a ride on an escalator and hit the Lego store; Lucy and Cass and the smaller kids enjoyed the TVs inside of some of the stores, Isaac and Brady snacked on pretzels and veggie straws while Jen and I shopped.  We made sure to get some Cousin's subs, and eat some Mexican from La Fuente too.  We tried to do a photo shoot outside with some cute hats, but it was so cold outside it lasted about 10 minutes.  That will have to wait until it warms up some.

This looks all sweet and innocent... but check Brady's hand... then check the picture below.  Brady = the master of deception!

 The kids played and watched movies and slept and ate and even bathed together.  (minus Jack for the bathing part :) ) It was pretty much a circus.

still amazed that they are all looking!

Brady and his belly button... if there is ever a chance, his finger is there.  I even saw him put his hand down the front of the neck on his onesie jammies to get at it!

These guys are going to be great buds.  I was amazed at how much more they interacted now that Isaac is walking:)

We had a great time, but as with all great times, it had to end.  There were tears, (mostly mine because I had a 4 hour trip home by myself with kids who were no longer excited to be going anywhere) and hugs and good byes and 'how long until we return?s'.  It went too fast.  But I saw this quote today which really made my day as I missed my sis:

"Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened."

 - Dr. Seuss

And I will leave you with that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from our Family to yours!

taste of chocolate

Last weekend I got to go on a girls night!  Each year the downtown association sponsors an event at many of the businesses called 'A Taste of Chocolate'.  There are special sales and best of all chocolate treats at each business! We spent the evening walking from place to place until we could hardly stuff another goody in our mouths.  From hot chocolate to kisses to truffles and fudge... the chocolate goodness filled our bellies all night ... until it was time for dinner and we were so full that we could hardly eat it!  Anyway it was a bunch of fun shopping, giggling, and being a little care free with just the girls.

Becky and I enjoying our peanut caramel fudge at the Fun Factory (my favorite candy store in Rhinelander-- they won the prize for best chocolate of the night by a landslide!)

Shopping and goofing off at my favorite clothing boutique, Latitudes!  I snatched up some off-season dresses for a steal!! You know I am always one for a deal:)

Tiffanie and Macie looking festive and getting photo bombed by that lady!

Bre cozying up to the #2 love of her life.

Dinner at Bucketheads

snitcher

valentines

I started thinking Valentines early this year.  I think it was just harder taking down all the Christmas Holiday decorations.  I made a few heart garlands out of twine and burlap and hung them around the house.  Then I went on to Pinterest and started pinning homemade valentines like crazy. There were so many adorable ideas, I was having a hard time deciding which to make.  Then I decided upon these:

Yep.  The $2 boxed valentines from Walmart.  It is so dang easy to feel inadequate if we don't live up to the many awesome ideas on pinterest.  But who am I kidding?  I do not have a quarter of the time I would need to make enough homemade valentines for all of my kids.  And really?  They look at them for 10 seconds before they move on to the candy anyway.  And the kids loved these just as much as they would any ones I would make.  Probably even more.  (I must keep telling myself that all those brilliant ideas were posted by different women who didn't do the hundreds of other pins I pinned.... so why feel like I have to do them all?)

I am so proud of Cassidy lately.  I have been sneaky about how we work letter and number practice into our days. This activity was so motivating for her.  She needed occasional help remembering how a few letters were formed, but was quite independent overall and her writing is getting so much neater.  Her Valentines are the Lala loopsy ones.  Lucy picked the Barbie ones.  (Thank goodness none of the barbies are wearing skimpy bikini's or we'd have been making another trip to Walmart... I was pleasantly surprised with the rather modest clothing they are wearing.) Jack already took his to school, but he choose some angry bird valentines.

Even though I bypassed the homemade valentines, I couldn't pass up this next idea I saw.  We made heart stampers out of toilet paper rolls and used them to make decorations this morning.  I am not sure if Cassidy had more fun or if I did!

kinda got this thing for burlap lately...

the final product! to finish it off, she added a heart at the bottom made from twisted pipe cleaners

light

grapety-purple girl.  lately all she wants to wear is purple

I have this new love affair... with light.  Actually it has been going on for awhile now, but it seems that since the 'good' light- that which is necessary for beautiful pictures is so limited this time of year I am continually trying to find and use that light whenever and where ever I can find it. And when that happens I get all tingly inside.  I can imagine this sounds weird to those who are not photographers. Just believe me yummy light can make or break a shot.  Too much or too intense of light= loss of detail; not enough light= loss of sharpness.  Just right light= pure happiness... in my book.  I look at my pictures and the the yummy light from last summer and pine for those days.  I know we are getting there- it is February already and spring is just around the corner.  And actually the light 'challenges' this time of year are forcing me out of my comfort zone and requiring that I use my creativity. As a result I feel my confidence increasing and my work is gradually getting better.  Each day I grab my camera at least a few times and snap away at really whatever catches my fancy (usually my kids).

Just some random yumminess at one of my new favorite spots- in this kitchen on the floor under the window. These pictures are SOOC- no editing.  Isn't that light just fabulous?!