10 on Tuesday

1. For Valentine's Day, we did our taxes. How romantic! They are in the mail which is actually really nice. They are also already filed away in our folder. That's a pretty big deal for us since 2007 taxes are missing in the mess somewhere. We have the electronic copy but the signed one is hiding out.
2. And the weeds came.... some big rains, some nice weather and the weeds are out to play. I hate that, especially in the front yard among the gravel.
3. And the trees grew.... if you have followed this blog and/or seen our backyard, you will understand how happy I am that our tree still missing its leaves has finally started to grow. Its brother tree has been sprouting leaves like mad for many weeks now and is way ahead. I feel that it is always a waiting game every spring as to whether we killed a tree or not!
4. I love the winter Olympics. I've decided that they top the summer ones for me. I enjoyed the swimming but I live for speed skating and figure skating and ski jumping and all the other sports that go along with it.
5. Watching Sarah's face as she enjoyed pairs skating yesterday was priceless. The look of shock and awe and joy when the men threw the women or caught them after many spins was fantastic. She did get bored after 4 skaters but she still claims that the pairs are her favorites. We'll see if that holds up after the ice dancing competition.
6. Will has a full GeoTrax city set up on our rug for the week. He is still looking at the pictures of the other trains he wants. At least he's easy to shop for, right? It would have been bigger but Andy ran out of tracks. I think he's had more fun setting it up than Will has playing with it.
7. Since the weather has been so nice, we've been eating outside a lot already. It's so nice. I think this year, we'll keep doing that more. The only thing odd about it is that pancakes and spaghetti (not together!) are not really outdoor foods.
8. The kids have a new favorite past time outside - the pirate treasure hunt, in which Sarah or Mommy or Daddy hides 25 gold coins in the yard and the kids have to find them. They LOVE it.
9. Sarah has started listening to a book on CD as she falls asleep. She's listened OVER and OVER and OVER to Zombies Don't Play Soccer. It's time to get some more books on CD, I guess.
10. I don't usually give up anything for Lent but this year I'm debating it. I'll let you know what I decide. I feel like I'm up for a challenge!!

Happy 3rd Will!

Happy Birthday to my little man who is 3 today. Where have these 3 years gone?? You are still that roly poly boy I had to tote around on my hip FOREVER and who still manages to catch a ride often because Mommy likes the cuddles. I don't know what we would do without your bright smile, endless energy and enthusiasm, and general ability to make us and everyone around you smile. Have a wonderful day today!

10 on Tuesday

1. My 5 year old doesn't think people can be Valentines so every card she reads cracks her up. It's kind of silly.
2. I am thinking of having a St. Patrick's Day party in our backyard. With the foot high clover, we could have a 4 leaf clover hunt. It's such a mess back there.
3. I keep receiving samples and mail from Similac. I finally got online to figure out how to stop it. They gave me an 800 number. I am totally a child of the digital/internet age. I was very annoyed that I had to jump through hoops and wait on the phone to get myself off a mailing list. The customer relations person is lucky that she was very nice but really?? It would be one thing if I had a young baby and was deciding on formula but Will is almost 3 and I haven't purchased formula in 2 years. I am a waste of your time Similac and I never used you to begin with!
4. After a notice from the HOA, we finally took the white icicle lights down. They blended in with the stucco so we didn't really care but apparently neighbors do. Next house we live in will not have an HOA, unless I really, really love the house.
5. I forgot how it is to plan a playdate with someone you don't know very well. Add to it that Sarah is at the age where it could be with or without Mommy and Will. She's at a new friends house right now. I have a feeling she's having a blast! Hopefully we can have her friend over to our house soon.
6. Andy pulled out the boxes of legos over the weekend. I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids or us. Both kids have been playing with their police space ships this week.
7. My dad + my niece alone for a whole day - I'm praying for him. I would be saying the same thing if it were my dad plus my 2 or even just one of them. I think he will be going to bed early and sleeping well tonight! On the other hand, I think my niece will be in heaven today and staying up late from the excitement of having Grandpa to herself all day.
8. 9. and 10. I am cheating and not doing anything for the last 3 because of a busy afternoon! I figured better to get this out than sit around thinking of more. :)

10 on Tuesday

1. I know, I know, I've been bad about blogging this year. I'll work on that. Does that count as #1... yup I think it does.
2. My little one is turning 3 next week. I need to get going on his presents. I don't want to admit he'll be 3 so I think I'm avoiding the gift giving too.
3. The kids downed 7 circus belgian waffles last night for dinner. I was in a state of shock at how fast they disappeared.
4. Is it bad that it doesn't bother me much to take away bedtime stories from Sarah as a punishment but I hate to do it to Will? I'm so biased. Right now, I enjoy storytime more with him. It's terrible. It's probably a bigger punishment for Sarah too.
5. Sarah and I played beauty parlor this afternoon. She looked lovely in red lipstick with blush on. I looked lovely in my pretty hair clips.
6. Lost is back, Survivor is starting again and the Bachelor is in full swing craziness. Good times!
7. I started singing again to the kids at bedtime. I used to sing to Sarah up until she was about 3ish and Will too as a baby. I'm not sure why I stopped. I think Sarah just started to not care. I'm so glad I started again. It's amazing how much it calms them after stories. Sarah especially. The first night I did it. I sang 2 songs and she fell asleep SO fast after that. It's just a nice, special time to cuddle in bed and sing to them.
8. Is it possible for my book list to get any longer??!! I rearranged our Ikea bookshelves or rather reorganized them. I put one square aside for books I need to get around to reading. The sad thing is that this makes it sound like I'm not a reader. I am very much a reader and a fast reader but I just get so tired at night that I only get through so many pages at a time.
9. I love rediscovering music. There are many groups that I forget about and then a song happens to come up on iTunes that I haven't heard in ages and so I go and listen to all the songs by that group. I love that!! So enjoyable. So fun to relive memories associated with them too. Current favorites: Reel Big Fish, Carbon Leaf and the Cat's in the Kettle song (think Cat's in the Cradle only umm... different).
10. I am truly enjoying our Wii. The Wii Fit is very fun. Andy is a bit too competitive about things but it just makes me laugh. I made him do a yoga pose last week and just laughed at him when he realized it was harder than it looks. Even the kids get into it. They LOVE the ski jump and Sarah is actually very good at the ping pong and sword fighting.
11.