Sometimes you just need to take a little time off.

And that's just what Ryan did. For several months. As the shed sat untouched.

But today he was back on the job and continued working on the roof. Yeah, through all the rain and snow and ice, it wasn't even finished yet. It survived. Therefore, so did he. ;)

It turned out to be a beautiful day today, the perfect day to be working on a project like that. It's cool, sure, but when you're working, that's a good thing. The girls were out "helping" in the yard while he worked, too.

In case you're wondering, no it's still not done. But almost! lol I don't think he'll be taking as long of a break as last time before working on it again. Hopefully next weekend the weather will cooperate again. *keeps fingers crossed*

Aurora's Big Girl Bed and Princess Room

Big changes are happening here.  Big changes.

I don't know if there is any way to express how mixed my feelings are right now.  On the one hand, I'm so excited that Aurora is growing up!  She is getting bigger and can do things that "babies" can't do.  She isn't a baby anymore, she's a little girl.  She climbs, jumps, dances, sings, plays, pretends, "reads", hugs, plays catch, and all the other things little girls do.  On the other hand, she's MY baby!  She's the baby I didn't think we'd get to have.  She's the baby that may be the last baby I ever have.  She's the baby that I didn't take for granted.

Poor Acadia was taken for granted a lot at this age.  I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I'm enjoying it with Rori.  I adored Acadia and still do!  But I looked forward to her older years when she could express herself more clearly and clean up after herself.  I took for granted that her baby/toddler years could have been the only baby/toddler years I would get.  I didn't realize until it was far too late, that she was a miracle. 

From the moment we heard Aurora's heartbeat, I knew she was a miracle, too.  And I knew that no matter how frustrating it would get when she made messes or ran me ragged, I would never forget how lucky I was to have her. 

People ask us all the time, "Are you going to have more?"  I simply do not know.  I did not know it would be so hard for us to have kids.  I did not know it would take 7 years between having Cadi and being able to have another.  So, I do not know if or when we will have another baby.  I trust the Lord, and we're totally working on faith here, because He has not told me anything.

So, as I show you the "before pictures", realize that as excited as I was to get Rori into her new big girl bed and deck her bedroom out with all the cutest Princess stuff, I cried in bed last night, realizing that I might not get another crib or nursery to decorate.  I cried, picturing Rori's before pictures knowing I might not get to see that again.

She is my baby, but she's not a baby anymore.

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Before:








During:





After:

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So, you might be wondering how she is adjusting to this?  SHE LOVES IT!  Last night we had Cadi sleep on Rori's bedroom floor again, so about 15 minutes after they went to bed we heard, "Sister!  Sister!  SISTER!!!"  And when I went in to tell Rori to go back to bed, I found her on her hands and knees at the edge of her bed looking down to Acadia.  But after that, it was quiet and she slept through the night!

This afternoon for naptime, she got up a few times, but I put the safety gate in her doorway.  She could open the door, but was stuck in there, so eventually she laid down and went to sleep.  Of course, she didn't lay down in her bed this time, she laid down on the blankets that are on the floor from when Cadi slept there last night! lol  But at least she is sleeping. ;)

Another interesting thing.  I didn't know what to do about her "fish".  She has ALWAYS had to fall asleep with her Fisher Price fish singing to her.  ALWAYS.  But there wasn't any place to put them with her new bed.  We were curious if she would forget about them, what with all the excitement about the big girl bed and all the new Princesses.  And guess what?  She did!  She never even asked about them!

So, it seems the transition is going really well.  Yay!!! 

Birthday Boy

Sometimes I think I have three kids instead of two; two girls and a boy.  Ryan is a big kid at heart.  In fact, sometimes if you tickle him enough, he'll squeal, "I'm just a little boy!"  hehehe... He might hate that I just told everyone that. lol



Today is Ryan's birthday (The big 3-5!) and as everyone knows, having a birthday makes you feel like a kid again, even if just for a day.  One of the last things he said last night before going to sleep was, "Tomorrow I get to open my presents! *giggle*" lol  Yep, a kid at heart. :)  He's taking the day off because his allergies were really bugging him last night and are still lingering this morning, and besides - it's his birthday, and he can! ;)

We girls are lucky to have this boy.  He's such a good husband and daddy!  The girls absolutely adore him.  He plays with them, reads to them, dances with them, tucks them in at night, and totally spoils them because they've both got him wrapped around their little fingers. 



And I absolutely love him.  He does all those things for me too; plays with me, reads with me, dances with me, snuggles me at night, and totally spoils me because I think sometimes he might be wrapped around my little finger, too.  In a good way. lol  He also listens, helps, provides, protects, and loves... all of us.

Happy Birthday, Roe!  We love you!!!

Fashion Show

Acadia has been dying for her new clothes to get here.  Seriously, she has asked me everyday from the day we ordered them! lol 

She really, really wanted to wear the new dress and/or coat to her piano recital last Saturday.  I kept telling her there was no way they would get here that quickly - we had just ordered them!  She kept her hopes up though, hoping that they would get delivered Saturday morning in time for her to wear them.  Of course they weren't.  But they came while we were at the recital!  lol  Just don't tell her that, she would be so disappointed.  Since we weren't home, the box was taken back to the post office; I finally got over there today while she was in school. 

As soon as she got home and saw the clothes, she wanted to try them on.  She was mostly looking forward to the coat and the dress, so here are those pics.  Also, notice her new hair cut!  We stopped by our friend and designated hair girl, Sidnee's house to get Cadi's hair trimmed up and I think it looks great!

Another "non" snow day.

We've got snow!  Again!  And since most of it has accumulated after kids went to school and the forecast says it will be turned to rain by the time they leave school, the schools are not taking a snow day!  Fine by me, though it would have been fun to have Cadi here to play with us.  But since we've already had snow days that are going to push into our summer vacation, I'm not hoping for anymore.

I had many errands to run this morning so Rori and I had fun driving around in the snow.  Then we got back and went out to play in the snow!

Here are some pics:


And after that, we came in for some hot cocoa!  Yum! :) 

I think the snow has finally stopped falling, and within a couple of hours it will probably start raining.  It was fun while it lasted! :)

Okay...

Living with a preteen is interesting.  She's developing her own sense of "style".  Often, this is really cute and she looks adorable.  I love that she likes to wear cute jackets with her outfits.  But sometimes, I just don't get it.  For instance, lately she has taken to wearing two different socks, on purpose.  Today's socks:



Last week I saw her wearing one green, one purple sock.  Weird.  But whatever.  I asked her why she does it, she says it makes her feel free.  Well, if that's what you've gotta do, then that's okay I guess.  I'd rather her wear two different socks than some other things kids will do in order to "feel free". 

I still think it's a little weird, but I suppose it is also kind of endearing. ;)

No, I refuse to accept this.

There is no way my baby's hair is long enough to french braid.  No way!  And I don't care how old she is getting and how adorable her red trussles are, I refuse to even think that they could be styled in such a way.  That would imply that she is actually growing up!  You can't french braid a baby's hair, you can only french braid a little girl's hair and my Rori, she's still my baby.  So, nope, it just can't be done.  Not yet, anyhow.

So, just don't show me these pics...