Monday

Well my spring break is officially over... The girls now have a week home with Jim! I'm sure he will provide me with pictures of their daily adventures, outings and crafts..... Hmmmm....

To kick off their week with daddy the girls actually for to spend the day with Grandma while daddy went to white sox home opener! 

When I got home we kicked off the evening with some cleaning. Apparently vacuuming is a cool task that they both want to do.... At the same time!!

We headed over to the library after dinner, but first made a pit stop for cake pops and iced coffee! My Starbucks gift cards go by quick when these girls are around!!

Mckenna offered me a piece of her cake pop... Then gave me this and said "you get what you get and don't get upset." Ummm glad you're listening but what the heck!

Norah's favorite!

This girl was getting crazy and trying to photo bomb Norah. Yes, her words. Good grief!

We made it to Mckenna's library class. Norah got to enjoy computer time while sister had class!

So studious!

Yep she only completely powered down the whole computer twice!

She kept singing let it go while working and playing. 

I got a little video that I will try to upload tomorrow! 

Spring Break: Day 1

Today was our first "official" day of spring break! We took it easy.... to ease into the busyness of the rest of our week!

We started our day with snuggling all together in my bed. They were up early, but we were were able to snuggle together until about 6:30! Yes, 6:30 was the "late" end of staying in bed!!

We did some things around the house... like continuing to sort kid clothes and pack up closets!

After a couple of quick errands, we headed to Music and Movement class at the library. The girls usually go to this class with Rachel on Monday's, so we headed over!

Mckenna and Norah rowing their boat together!

After music we headed home for lunch, naps and more closet clean-out! 

Today was my closet clean-out!

After cleaning up my closet, along with Norah and Mckenna's we have 9 bins to move to the basement and 3 bags for Goodwill! Not too bad!!

The girls both took good naps, so I got most of my closet cleaned, some laundry done and a few other random household tasks accomplished. We hung out and played until Daddy got home... and then I got to go to the Gym (yea for it not being an 8pm workout!!).

After my workout and making dinner, Mckenna and I headed back to the library for her Storytime class. Norah got to stay home with Daddy and get her bath!

Mckenna's class entails 30 minutes of story time without the parents and then a 15 minute craft time where the parents come in and help!

So pretty!! 

After story time we grabbed some yummy treats (Dairy Queen is open for the season!!)!

I am working on making some freezer meals this week... we've got some meal prep going on in the kitchen! I have about half of them made so far.... hoping to finish tonight (or tomorrow!)

Wow! That was exhausting! And today was the "calm" day!!!

The Big Reveal!

Every year over winter break I seem to have one BIG project that I like to accomplish. Organizing closets, painting bathrooms... something in that area. This year was no different.

On our main floor we have a 5th bedroom, or what we have made in to a den. The original owners of the house transformed this area a bit from its original layout. Basically the closet area that I worked on used to be the laundry room. Laundry was moved to the basement and a closet was added to this area. Although I would LOVE main floor laundry, for now I have decided to keep as is.

So... this room had no closet doors and was just a big vast space that was becoming a dumping ground. We had gotten rid of our armoire/desk 2 years ago when we did Mckenna's nursery at the townhouse, so I had been using a folding table as a desk and we had all of our books and DVD's still packed.

Here is what we accomplished in the room!
View from the back of the room. New closet doors!

Office/Craft Closet

The lower level has a bar for hanging these hanging organizer bins! They contain our gift bags, tissue paper, boxes and ribbon. All the good stuff for wrapping gifts. On the left, some some files which still have to be cleaned out!

The desk top has a basket of scissors, tape, pens, etc. Along with these great drawers I found which contain some things to be filed, as well as envelopes, new checks, coupons, etc! My new picture frame that says, "My Little Cupcake" as well as my label maker!! Sure came in handy with this project!!

Top view.. Bulletin board for the quickie stuff... left side wrapping paper storage and files for receipts and coupons on the wall. On the right, our printer (which we rarely use) along with magazine holders for filing/storage of things that come in frequently, ie. bank statements, BBB coupons, paystubs, etc.
Top shelf - Orange bins from IKEA! Holding back up CD's of pictures, home movie DVD's, Wii supplies, etc. Bins for batteries, 3M hooks (my fav!) and extention cords!!

The rest of the room... View from in the hallway by the door to the garage. We created a little "mudroom" when you just walk in the den. Perfect place for shoes, coats and diaper bags!

Just walking into the den, the closet is on the left. We put the new bookshelves together last week and were finally able to unpack books & DVD's

Another view of the entry

View of the back corner, which is my sewing nook... for all the sewing projects I have done! We still need some type of desk or a better table for this area.

View from standing in front of the new bookshelves. Big closet on immediate right. The open closet is my other craft closet! Storage for so many other goodies!! The door closed in the middle is the door from the hallway.

Yep, more bins, labels and craft supplies!

At the moment we are working on adding a workout area in this room. As I speak Jim is setting up the TV, DVD player and bringing down all of our weights and such. It will be in the corner to the right of the sewing area. It will begin getting use at 5am tomorrow morning... well, maybe 6am!

Cleaning & Cruising

One busy girl on a Monday night!
Yes she was cleaning before swimming in her tutu suit!

Cruising on a Tuesday night... yes, steering with her feet!

Taking baby for a ride!

Ride over baby

Clapping with our feet!

We have very busy and silly days and nights!

Animal Crackers

Last night Mckenna was hungry.... she kept wanting to eat something and everything! One of the things she chose from the pantry was animal crackers. Of course she couldn't have just a few in her hand; she wanted the whole tub of them.

I cued her to "go show Daddy"... which usually means, "Jim, you take this away from her".... she walked to Jim... a couple of minutes later he started laughing....

Yep... all over!

She picked them up...

One.at.a.time....

Clapping after each one...

She's a keeper!

So Mckenna loves to cook, as witnessed the other day.... but she also likes to CLEAN!!!

This little chicky is a keeper!!

Tonight after dinner I was wiping up the rice off the floor and she wanted to help. I had to peel the paper towels out of her hand!

That's her new happy face!

Apparently her armpits were dirty too!

These are a few pictures from before swim last night... her tutu swimsuit hanging out!

Cheese!

Sooo cute!