Frozen Day One

With the dusting of snow on the ground and the wind chill in the negative numbers, we are on inside lock down her at the Z household!  I refuse to go outside till it is above freezing or Wednesday when Emma goes back to school:)  So today we had pj/warm clothing day and played inside.  

We played with our snowy train table

We did some painting

 We played dolls in sissy's room!

 Mommy may have let us have a pretend snowball fight with the cotton balls from the snowy train table

 We made snowmen pictures

 Taylor played with letters on the fridge

 And the kids made their own fox puppets to play with while they sing "What the Fox says"

It is really cold and I am still in my own PJs at almost 10 at night, but it was a fun day inside with my kiddos!  We all took a nap, which means I got to snuggle with Emma and hold her hand while she falls asleep.  Loved making memories today and looking forward to Frozen day two tomorrow!  Okay maybe I would rather it reach above freezing but I am looking forward to having some more fun with the kids.

Brr it is getting cold outside

Temperatures are dropping very very fast here, and this mommy is planning on not leaving her pjs till they get above freezing again.  School restart has been moved till Wednesday, so we get a few more days to play at home.  Tonight we made some pizza's and watched a movie.  I love simple moments like these.  Taylor and Emma just love rolling out their pizza dough and playing with it.  I loved it tonight, Taylor made a cheese mountain on his before spreading it all around.  Simple and easy fun that taste yummy when all said and done.

Party Like It is My Birthday!

Today I turned 33, and according to my cute daughter that is old!  However, I feel like it is young and that this will be a great year.  I have had a great last 24 hours.  My hubby got his mom to keep the kids over night, and we had a yummy date night at a local Japanese steakhouse.  They took my pic with a yummy piece of cheesecake and then I got to glue it to the wall:)  Then, today he went to work and I got to sleep till I woke on my own, which let me tell you was way later then the 7:30 I normally have to wake up!  It was heaven!!  I then got to watch grown up TV and lounge around a little.  I made a coffee date with a good friend and enjoyed talking to her for an hour over a peppermint mocha.  I had gotten a few gift cards for my birthday and Christmas, so I went and did a little shopping on my own after coffee.  I normally buy for the kids so it was nice to shop for myself a little bit.  I got a few cute new pieces and cant wait to wear them.

We headed to my in laws to meet up with the kids after my relaxing day off, and I was surprised with a party given to me by my kiddos.  They decorated and made me brownies!  It was so sweet, and they proudly presented me with four homemade cards a piece.  Taylor was really proud of all the work he did on his, and Emma was proud of her writing to me as well.  I love them all and have them hanging off my mantel to enjoy for a week or so.  We had a yummy dinner and yummy dessert before braving the cold to come home!

All in all today was an amazing day from start to finish.  I got so many texts and FB messages from family and friends all day that I felt loved and blessed from start to finish!

Welcome 2014

Happy New Year to all of you!  I am looking forward to seeing what blessings 2014 will bring!  We had a great night last night, celebrating with friends and as a family.  The kids wore out about 10:30 last night, and then Hubby and me watched a movie to finish out the year together cuddled on the couch.  Today Emma declared it PJ day and I was happy to allow it.  We played outside a little, (yes in their pjs) and played games and hung out all day.  I will say it was a nice way to start the year.  Tomorrow I head back to work and the kids will get some Meme and Papa time.  Emma has a few more days out of school, and we are looking forward to having fun and make new memories!  

Here are a few highlights of last nights fun!  

 Movie, popcorn and glow sticks were in the bags for some late night fun!

Our little movie picnic!

Happy 2014!!  Here is to a great year and many blessings to all!

It was a very very Merry Christmas....

All that is left is, the bare tree and figuring out where all the new presents will go.  But boy oh boy was it a great past few days.  We had so much fun!  It was really neat watching Taylor start to understand Christmas, and Emma has always loved the holiday.  I especially enjoyed the elf on the shelf part, because Emma really thinks they are real and it makes it so much fun.  She has such a great imagination, and I love that.  I loved waking everyday hearing "where are Red and Snowflake?" our two elves.  Taylor also enjoyed them, but not sure he fully got the point this year.  He did however learn how to quickly unwrap gifts and see where his next one was:)

Here is just a quick rundown of the days leading up to Santa day! We made cookies with their cousin Hudson, built gingerbread houses, went to an early Christmas Eve service at church, went and saw some really cool houses with lights and saw Santa's at two of them, celebrated at Nana's house Christmas eve, sang to Baby Jesus and ate some birthday cake for him, woke up to Emma squealing "Santa really came and I got boots", celebrated Santa, went to Aunt Nay's for the Clark Christmas, and passed out early after all that fun!  Emma walked around all day saying "this is the best Christmas" and I have to agree.  The kids loved all their gifts and we got some great time with the families.  I may never figure out where it will all go, but oh well.

Here are some of the highlights in pics for you to enjoy!!

 Saying good bye to the elves

 reindeer food sprinkled

 Nana's house

 Christmas eve pjs before heading home

 Chocolate Santa for breakfast sure why not!

 Trying out her singing machine

 At my sister's house 

Becoming a Women at Peace

Thank you Tyndale House Publishing for supplying me with a copy of The One Year Devotions for Women Becoming a Woman at Peace  by Ann Spangler, I was so excited to get my copy and study it for this review.

I do not know about you ladies but I am always so stressed, hurried, and on the verge of coming unglued.  So, when I saw this book on the possible review options on Tyndale Blog community, I jumped on the chance.  I need help at being more peaceful and centered on God.

This book is beautiful inside and out.  The devotions are short and well written.  They are perfect for an easy devotion before work or on your lunch break.  They start with a verse, then there is a short reflection, and followed up with a prayer.  It will reach those new to the faith or those deeper in the faith as well.  The author is open and real with you and makes you feel like you are reading words from a close friend!

I recommend starting this book in January and seeking out the peace we all are so desperately seeking! We can do this ladies we can live with less fear, it is not of God to be afraid!

Check out my review on Amazon here!  Order your copy today and enjoy a well written devotion by Ann Spangler.

Ballerina Day

Today was a fun day for my sweet tiny dancer.  It was observation day at Ballet class, so all the parents go to watch in the classroom.  Then, it was Girl Day 2013 with Meme (papa got to be our driver today due to the cold)!  

Emma looks forward to both of these things, and I thought I would share a few photos of my favorite ballerina.

Check out her new purple ear molds in some of the shots, they are sparkly and so girly!

 Listening is no fun!

 all the grace of a beautiful ballerina!

 time to stretch

Then, it was time to go home and get all pretty for our lunch out and to see the Mini Nutcracker!  This is our third year attending the production by Metro Parks and Recreation.  It is well done, and geared for younger kids so it is shorter.  

We get all pretty and go to lunch at Red Robin, Emma's choice!

 The three of us!

 Selfie of us two!

Putting her new ornament on the tree from Meme!

 Time for the show!  She brought her nutcracker and her Christmas Barbie!

Just in case you missed Taylor, he is him in his new Christmas Pj's, he asked for a photo today by the tree.  Love his spirit!