So many details....so much to do! Not much time to update now....maybe later. :)

Fabric.

Soon and very soon!

Days go by!

One more post before the big day?

Spring has sprung, and that makes us very happy! Not only that, but our dear friends in California had a frost the same day that we had a high of 73! Haha...sorry, y'all, but I can't help it....

Warmer weather means that we can be outdoors and actually enjoy it! No more running to the car, hoping that it's warm inside, no more wearing layers and layers of clothing. The coats have been packed, and white is being worn again. The days are getting longer, and the crickets are chirping! I never thought I'd grow to love the song of a bug. :)

Now, for those who don't know us very well, we sometimes do silly things...wearing flip-flops when the weather man says we're going to have high of 62 for example....especially when it's warmer up here on the bluff. Prairie weather is a totally different matter. Maybe one of these days, we'll learn.... :) And no, I don't want to hear the weather report for tomorrow...I've heard some nasty rumors of cold and rain....

Here's a peek of what we've been up to:

A creation by Abigail and Grace. Guess who!

Mrs. Ryken is happily testing out her new toy.
As seen by Mel.

I think it did a fantastic job!

The gathering for the very first community dinner in our neck of the woods.
As seen by Caleb.

Teaching some new songs.
As seen by Caleb.

Hurrah!!! The grill is going again! Scallops Alfredo is the first grilled dinner this year.

The King of the Grill...a.k.a. The King of the Castle....a.k.a. my amazing dad.

My dashing Little Man...who lost his hair today. We won't be going back to that salon.

Happy colors. Green grass.

A great friend, an amazing sister.

A wonderful friend....and a girl who should have been my sister! :)

Three girls in the soft green grass.
Mel was on a walk...which is why she's missing.

Deep thoughts...I'm sure. :)
As seen by Jess.

So long...farewell!

And remember...flip flops are your friends!

A feature that came with my new computer (which I absolutely love, if you haven't figured that out yet, the computer, that is... :)), is the web cam, which I like too. Now, with a web cam, one can video chat and Skype. I thought that was just about it...then we discovered something else! It also takes pictures! You know, like one of those silly photo booths in the mall! When one is surrounded by their amazing family and very fun friends, it doesn't take much to get carried away with a web cam. These selected pictures are up for your viewing....just don't laugh too hard, okay? :)

This was just the beginning....

Hey, even my wonderful Dad came down to join in the fun! :)
Love you, Dad!

Very good friends...I'm gonna miss y'all so much!

*cough* Does this fall under the category of making a joyful noise?

No? Well, moving on...

Yeah, so we even got into the silly cartoon fists.

The little man wanted to be photographed too.

A somewhat normal looking group of girls.

We didn't do it...honestly! It was Sarah...

Do you have the Force?

WOW!

Caleb meets his twin.

132 pictures later, and we're ready to hit the sack!
Until next time!

William and I made cookies today.

We felt like chocolate.

Chocolate cookies + Raw milk + Kisses from the helper = Very good time.

Enjoy the pictures.

Mixing the ingredients is always a good place to start.

Step two: Look as cute as possible while putting dough onto the cookie sheets.

Eat the leftover dough and get chocolate on your face.

Watch the cookies bake...we want them to come out just right, don't we?

Patiently wait for cookies to cool and give chocolate kisses.

Carefully remove cookies from pan.

It's very important to burn the hand, because that means an ice pack, more kisses and....

...A COOKIE! :)

Other random news...

There is nothing quite like feeling the urge to blog, and yet trying to come up with something to blog about! While we've been busy, we haven't been busy with one major thing, like our Twelfth Night Party....it's just been random little things that have occupied our time.

But, it's the little random activities in life that make up the big picture. No matter how big, or how small something may be, there will always be little things in life to keep up going. Over the last few years, the little things are what I've come to appreciate as truly big things. A birthday, a snow ball fight, hot cocoa time with the little ones, celebrating Valentine's Day with friends and sisters one last time, and working on projects with some of my dearest friends. These moments are when the greatest memories are made...when we all enjoy life and treasure the day we find ourselves in. So, the pictures below are not from one event, but many special ones...

Me and my gang at the Life Rally.
Y'all were amazing! Thanks for making this event so memorable!
Love y'all!

Working.

Game time!! Guess how many families are in this photo!

We endured a week (or was it longer?) of fog.

Providence take over the ice skating rink!
The short guys in the back wanted to be seen, so they jumped. :)

Two days were spent building hunting.

After weeks of putting this huge task off, the 20 yards of blue taffeta were cut and divided.

Somebody special had a birthday! It's funny...when somebody in our house is given a gift (birthdays, Christmas, or just because!), all of the little people have to be involved in opening it! Getting a photo is almost impossible... :)

Scaffolding was put up at church to install a projector.

I think the guys were having fun.

Dancing with the stars...

Awwww....Josiah and Aaron are twins!! :)

Somebody walking in front of the camera...but in the background you can see Mrs. Sanford practicing.

Moving forward...or I guess it was later in the day! It just seems like it happened ages ago...
Jess and I moments before we began celebrating Valentine's Day...

Yes, you see all of that good food....mmmmm, we ate it. :)

Okay...here's an official advertisement for Trefzger's Bakery!
These delicate, soft Thumbprint cookies are completed with a swirl of butter cream frosting...and just happen to be some of my favorite cookies. Located in Peoria Heights, this store has been serving Peoria for...a long time. Since the 1860's, I think....

Don't we look wrapped up in the story?

Yup, that's what I thought!

Hearts.

More hearts...so we like paper decorations, especially in the winter! Makes things cheery around the house!

Sneak peek!!!!

Scrumptious pleats....

Caleb and Dad have been working on this snow fort for a few days. We've had some heat waves come through (highs of 31...yay!! :P), so I figured I should snap a few pictures before it melted along with Frosty.

Yesterday's sunset. We haven't seen one like that in a while, and it was more stunning in person.

These were delivered yesterday, too. Beautiful, aren't they?

Okay, and one more sunset picture. I honestly couldn't decide which one I liked better (those who know me, know how very indecisive I am! :)), so you get to see two of the four that were taken!

Until next time!