I know it's a little early to be laying around at the beach, but that didn't stop us from visiting it!
After preschool last week we stayed at our friends house for the day. We actually ALMOST bought a house one street over from them! Today we decided to take a short 5 minutes walk down to the beach at the end of their street. It was way fun and way cold!
We didn't last long because of the wind, but the kids had fun throwing rocks and sticks. It was nice to get out for a bit. 
She is evil, deceitful, and mean. Can you tell? I told you, she's deceitful!
Apparently, he is too wicked, or sly, or too much of a servant to have an actual name. In the movie, the henchman is Tyrone. So, we'll call him Traerone! But, I kid you not, they kept telling me he is the henchman. He must be good! Heck, I'd follow him into a dark alley anyday!
So, I'm expecting a phone call from Oprah anyday now. I'm pretty sure she wants me on her show. Not in the 'daughter of Wanda Barzee' sort of way. (I realize this woman is on the opposite side of crazy from my parents, but I think it's funny that the 'final straw' of eating your pet bunny happened at my house too!) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that Oprah isn't going to call because I am crazy, she is going to call because I am BRILLIANT! She is going to call because not many people would call a 3 hour trip to Costco with 4 children a 'success'. She will most likely call because of all of the phone pics that were sent to her yesterday after we were spotted looking like this...
It might not look genius to the naked eye. But, look closer...
You can hear the train whistle, can't you!?! The only thing that would make these pictures any better would be the boxes of size 4 and size 2 diapers we usually have to get. Along with a big 'ol case of wipes. This was a 'small' trip to Costco. If there had been much more, we wouldn't have been able to get it home in the car! Oh, and one other success happened at Costco...3 out of 4 children peed in the potty! Yep, that means Grady, too! woo hoo!!
I think I'm going to open an etsy shop now. All I'm going to make are cute little velcro bands that hook the carts together, for those people who don't have a willing 5 year old. It's hard work holding those carts together. I know...cause she kept telling me!! I paid her in ice cream.
it's what's for dinner!! :)
We, Maeli and I, are enjoying her bumbo seat so much! She loves to help me cook and she is great at adding a little toe jam to any meal! She feels like such a big girl and is soooo stinkin cute!
So, remember my food storage post yesterday?
Well, this is what happened to the other food items that I store...
FLOUR FIGHT ANYONE??
After the initial shock and mass discipline, I let them play in it. Because, seriously, childhood is about having fun, making a mess, getting in trouble, and then cleaning it up! They rode their bikes through it, threw it into my boxes of decorations, and will soon be down there licking up the mess.
Oh, and in case you were worried, my 'real food storage' (aka tim tams) is stored safely in my bedroom! :)
call me silly...
you could even call me my mother...
But, I believe in food storage!
Food Storage in every flavor, too!
And, as always, make sure you like/eat what you store!
As for these strawberry ones, 
they are alright, not my favorite, but I still slammed 2 of them without feeling guilty!
btw, tim tams are on sale RIGHT NOW at your local Target! And, they are even MORE on sale at your Pepperidge Farms Outlet location! whoot whoot!!
Well, it only took us almost a week, but FINALLY my kids got me to let them play in the snow. I say finally, because I decided we didn't have to be completely unpacked with the house back in order. We left the vacuum in the middle of the floor, put Maeli in her swing in front of the window, and went out for some fun!
We tried to make our own slide, but the snow is a little too frozen to be molded into the perfect sledding spot. But we still had fun! I, partially, taught my kids 'king of the mountain' but I left out the 'pushing everyone off' part. I figure they'll learn that on their own soon enough!
Oh, and as for this little guy...
he wanted NOTHING to do with the snow. He liked the melted puddles of water. He loves to jump in them and splash, although he doesn't enjoy the bathtub or swimming very much.
We followed our playing in the snow with a walk around the neighborhood. We finally dared go into one of the homes under construction. There wasn't much to see, but it was fun to see a different layout. Makes me start dreaming of my next home...get ready babe! My eyes just got bigger!! :)
