A Short Month and A Long Post!

In the past, I've often felt like February is a rough month. The holidays are a month gone, we're still in the thick of winter and we're starting to get a bit stir crazy with cabin fever. I've noticed that the girls have been bickering and fighting more lately, I know we're all just ready for more outdoor time. This on top of the fact that we've been sick, off and on, since our bout with Swine Flu in October and not getting the greatest sleep because of that fact. I had a great chat with some girlfriends last night about the sibling stuff, it's so encouraging to share our struggles and insights with other moms, I don't know what I'd do without my sisters in Christ. I have some new hope and ideas to try, a chore chart being one of them, which I've been meaning to do for awhile, and more structure to our time. I'm also taking a break from Facebook for the month of February, it's so easy to get sucked in and before I know it, time has been wasted and I'm not making the most of my time with the kids or with house work. Taking a deep breath, I refuse to be negative this month! It's a short month after all, the shortest month in fact, so bring it on February! This is the month the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! And spring really is just around the corner, we'll make it! Here are some recent pictures for your viewing pleasure. These first ones are very belated pictures from our Christmas baking day back in December. We made traditional shortbread cookies with homemade red and green icing, and then tried a new recipe that is now Travis's favorite! They are called Death By Carmel Bars. They have Snickers in them, need I say more? A lot of shortbread dough was eaten, but cookie baking wouldn't be right without lots of dough eating, right?

eating the yummy dough, guilty as charged!

The little pastry chef making her icing.

Did I mention the icing-eating?

This is the tin we assembled for Emma's teacher, she insisted on having the recipes after sharing them with her family:).

These next pictures are of Sawyer from a really warm day when there was still snow on the ground. Only in Colorado can you be in boots, hats, and gloves with no coat on!

Gotta love that baby gut hanging over his pants!

This last bunch are from Emma's half-birthday celebration at school. I love this idea! It makes sure the summer birthday kids still get to have a special day at school. We brought ice cream sandwiches to share, Emma was beaming, especially to have me there seeing her be the special birthday girl:).I'm hoping to get back to my once-a-week blogging this month...if we can stay well that is. Happy February!