Love these moments..

Ashley and I were swinging “spider style” last night, and I had to get this giggle!

I love that I get to play with my girls like this..

Love these days.

Bring it on Spring!

We are ready..

Today was a capri and flip-flop kind of day..

Ashley has even mastered pumping her legs and swinging herself (YAY!).

A different kind of fun..

It has been snowing like it should be here, and we went to have some fun in it today.
Grandma called and started a snowman making contest.  Each of us would build a snowman at our own houses, and we would receive prizes for them later.
The girls played while I shoveled (because we work, then play around here..) and I enjoyed some ibuprofen with my lunch later.
Their play wasn't exactly how I remembered having "fun" in the snow..
Lynn was attempting to get out every ride on in the garage, and take it out the un-shoveled part of the driveway.
Have you ever tired to ride a trike in 8 inches of snow?
Turns out, she really wasn't having all that much fun.
So I threw her in a snowbank.
She still wasn't having fun.
Ashley was busy burying and then rescuing the ornaments I forgot to bring inside after our Christmas card photo shoot.
It was complete with sound effects and a rather convincing script.
Peyton was trying to copy the snow angels she saw Ashley do as soon as she set foot in the snow earlier.
The only difference:  Peyton was making angels in the dirt and oil of the garage floor where Merrill parks the truck.
I finally got the shoveling done, and we started our attempt at building a snowman.
Needless to say, the snow was too powdery to pack, and there were no snowpeople rolled in my yard today.
We drew one instead.

I think we might just win the award for "flattest snowman".
But I did get some "traditional snow fun" pics...  without the snow clothes, because those got "boring".

Pitcher's Salon..

Ashley LOVES to fix hair, and pretend she's cutting (I think she learned her lesson about real cutting). The hair straightening helper tool (what else do I call it?) are her "scissors". She puts on a very stylish cape (her Care Bear doll blanket) washes your hair (with invisible water and "shampoo" that resides in her doll's bottle..), she'll "cut" your hair, blow it dry (with another toy..) and style you.. and converse the whole time, just like a real stylist! All for a very reasonable price (invisible money is exchanged)!!
She has many happy customers in our home :)

Playing...

While it was nice...
Outside was THE place to be.
My little ham Ashley..

Peyton loves the playhouse!
And her first time jumping on the trampoline..

Word for the year..

Yup.. play.
We do a lot of this, as it is already, but I wanted to make a more concerted effort, to play this year.
To play in many ways..
Play in the kitchen, try new things.
Play in the craft room, try new techniques, learn some new skills.
Play with the kids, put work down and just play.
Play with Merrill, relax, let go and play when we are together.
Play as a family.
In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states:
"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
See, play..
We have been doing a lot more playing so far this year. I find it very relaxing to play house with the girls, although I end up being "the babysitter", while they go out on "dates". The plot lines they implement while we play Barbies together, help me to forget about my current worries or stresses. We have also begun playing before bedtime, still reading, but added playing. It has been so much fun to play with Peyton, especially. To see the understanding of new concepts in her eyes is very fulfilling.
I also plan to continue to play with my friends..
On that note, I would love to have a "scrappernoon".. leave me a comment for when works best.. after Peyton's birthday and Valentine's is over of course! :)

Monkey Bars...

So, as if Peyton growing wasn't enough, Lynn has decided to sprout up and master some "big kid" stuff...
She mastered the monkey bars today at the park!
Emilee and I were sitting, having a much needed, too long put-off, visit, and there goes Lynn.. made my eyes sting a bit.
I can't believe that she'll be in Kindergarten in just a couple of short weeks! Where's my chubby little sumo baby? She is far too smart for us now, Merrill keeps asking her to assure him that someday she'll take care of him. Nothing gets past her.
Her prayers are said so sincerely, she prays for EVERYTHING...
One night, she and I were having prayers (Ash was being a nutzo in their room, Mer was gone with the boys..) and Lynn's turn was first. She seriously prays over everything. You know that scripture, I think it's in Alma... that says to "cry over everything" (yes Kathy Jayne, you do that well;)..) well, Lynn does it. She prays for everyone she knows, she prays that she'll get baptized, she prays to get married in the temple, she prays to feel the spirit, she prays for who is sick, and if she knows of anybody, she prays for them by name... she prays for Grandma, that she'll be resurrected, she prays for the missionaries, she prays that everyone will be nice and listen to the missionaries... she prays for our house, the hotel, the butterflies... see where I am going with the "EVERYTHING" factor? Well, that night, after praying for EVERYTHING... she stopped, took a little pause, and then said, "Heavenly Father, just bless everything else that I am thinkin' about right now." So then I taught her how He understands our intent, He knows what is important to us, it makes Him feel good when we voice it. She's so darn cute!
She wasn't the only one to master a skill at the park today... Ash managed to make her voice carry for who knows how far, when she was protesting every one's help but mine... and Peyton was trying to consume all green vegetation, single-handedly. She really got going on a blade of grass, and those suckers are hard to get out of her little mouth!
And darn it all to heck... I forgot my camera!

I love that I did nothing today. Well I really didn't do "nothing". I made waffles for breakfast, got a couple loads of laundry done, did some dishes, played with the girls... but I really did nothing. I didn't have to leave the house, I didn't even get in the car today! I am so thankful for days like these when I can do nothing. I think the girls love them too. We just all play, we are relaxed. There is none of the stress and rush of going here or there or behaving (heaven forbid). I love Sunday for the same reason, but today, was just different form a Sunday. There is a certain stress that comes with Sunday. Usually there is an argument or temper-tantrum involving going to church or what we wear to church. Then comes the rush of trying to be there at least a little early, so I can attend to my own responsibilities. Just getting everything accomplished there so people don't look at me and think I am a nut, or wonder why on earth someone called ME to be primary president, when I can't seem to keep my own kids under control... I love Sundays, but I am thankful for today, and for doing nothing. I hope the girls remember that we had days like today, even if they didn't seem to come that often.