Love, Soil, Sweat and Beers

 Saturday. February 14. Valentine's Day.
The day represented by four little letters: L-O-V-E.
Make that, Y-A-R-D.
Or, W-O-R-K.
We made ruining the day of love a family affair, asking Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty to come down and help us with the next stage of the project.

Stace and Bill used his handy pickup truck to bring over three loads of topsoil and another of bark.

Stace finished grading the areas that need grass seed, and we spread the bark over the newly planted areas.

When the day's work was finished, we celebrated together with a grilled steak dinner, cake, wine and beer. It was a fitting meal for Valentine's Day, after all.

 The trees have settled in very nicely, with both growing and producing new leaves and blossoms.

We'll get another few bags of mulch for the area on the right side, near the living room window.

It's fantastic seeing the progress. Next step, grass seed!

Regifting: Start 'em Young

One last photo from Cora's birthday - last one, I really promise...

Violet drew great enjoyment from Cora's birthday, as well. She spent a lot of time before hand working on her card, and wrapping presents for her big sissy.
Cora's reaction when she opened this one was classic: "Oh! It's the bracelet I made you. Um, thanks!"

Week In Review, Birthday Style

 One of the best parts of having a birthday has to be the next week or so filled with playing with new toys.

Cora, Violet, and yes, even the cats, had fun with Cora's new Friends Lego sets.

Along with the Lego, Cora has used some of her birthday money to purchase some new Calico Critters buildings. She is excited to add the Lakeside Lodge and the bakery to her collection.

 Auntie Mel had to work during Cora's birthday party, so she came over to make her niece Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast. Now there was a gift we all enjoyed!

 After the birthday madness died down, we had a normal few days: Mom2Mom, school and preschool, Pioneer Club, volunteering.

On Thursday evening, our friends Emily and Alli came over for dinner and playtime. The big girls led the younger ones in playing school.

Also this week, Violet returned to the doctor for a listen to her lungs. The week before, we'd gone in for an ear infection after nearly two weeks of coughing, and the doctor had found that infection, and also walking pneumonia.

This time, Violet sounded fine, and we were urged to get out of the office before we picked up something else.

Cora's birthday

The last year or so, Cora hasn't wanted us to read her a bedtime story anymore. She loves reading, but would rather spend 10-20 minutes quietly absorbed in her book, alone, before we come in to say goodnight.

But on the eve of her eighth birthday, Stacey's insisted upon reading to both his girls. Cora-the-seven-year-old (for another few hours) obliged.

On Monday morning, she was suddenly eight. Eight! Closer to 10 than five. A big kid in every way.

She enjoyed Lucky Charms for her birthday breakfast, along with the necessary banners, a birthday balloon, cards and gifts.

Violet was very excited for her beloved big sister to open her own card, which she picked out herself. Not a "sister" card. Nope. It had to say "8" on it.

Stace went into work late, so he could be home for the birthday breakfast and our walk to school.

In the afternoon, after getting her homework finished and reading some of her new Imagination Station books, we went out to dinner at Stone Fire. Cora's really growing up now - she chose a place based on the quality of its food, rather than whether it had a children's play area.

Although, obviously, she's not a grownup yet - you can see which furry friends accompanied us to dinner!

Then, we went to the mall for Menchie's, for a birthday dessert. Yep, no cake this year! Brownie bites at the Ice Station, and frozen yogurt on her actual birthday. Cora's not a cake-lover, anyway.

Happy Birthday, Rosie. We're so glad you're ours.

Cora's Ice Skating Fun

 We celebrated Cora's 8th birthday at the Ice Station on Saturday, with several of her friends, lunch, and, of course, ice skating.

 The girls shared a lot of laughter over their pizza lunch.

 Cora had some lovely gifts, including some welcome additions to her Beanie Boo collection. The kitty above, renamed Mango by Cora, is her current favorite.

We opted for birthday brownie bites. We might have taken home a plate full of sandwiches and nearly whole pizza, but those brownies were cleared away fast!

Beware of strange men, bombing photos wherever they go!

 Violet's skating improved a LOT over the course of more than two hours on the ice. She started by holding the bar and staying in the practice area, and advanced to skating in the main section without a bar.

 Stacey's skating also got a lot better on Saturday; no more entertaining those watching from the sidelines with his pratfalls, like Cora's ice skating party when she turned 6.

...as did Liana's skating. She and Violet spurred each other on; they are quite the competitive set of friends.

We all had a fantastic day together, skating and enjoying Cora's fun with her and her friends.

Week In Review

 Super Bowl? What Super Bowl? While the parents watch the game, the littles scream in the shower!

We went over to Colleen and Rigo's house on Sunday to watch the big game, and the big commercials, of course. Rigo was far away on a church mission trip, so we kept Colleen and the kids company and enjoyed our Sunday afternoon together.



Lucas and Cora played with their stuffed animals. We all know this precious time of them playing with toys together will have an end date, so we parents are appreciating it while it lasts.

Cora and Violet had built a Beanie Boo world in the playground, with every cardboard box they could find. We had to limit Cora to taking ONE box (and as many animals as she could fit inside) to Lucas's house.

 On Monday evening, we went to Maya's 8th birthday party. Hard to believe our big girls are turning eight; I can still picture them as toddlers, playing together at the tot lot when we first met.

 This week, we registered Violet for kindergarten! Another big milestone. We have an appointment for her assessment in June; sad to think that at that point, she'll be finished with her time at Growing Hearts Preschool.

We played at the park for a bit on Thursday after school. Who said an almost-8-year-old shouldn't go in the baby swing? Silly girls.

And, our friends Christina, Cami and Melanie came over for an after school playdate. Christina led the girls in making these sweet felt holders for Valentine's Day cards.

Bedroom Makeover

 Since we've just shown off Violet's new bedroom, it's probably as good a time as any to share the results of our own bedroom makeover.

After living in our home six years, we've finally finished off decorating our own room. It took a while to figure out what we wanted to do, but I love the direction we went in.

The main canvases are from the friend who shot my maternity pictures when I was pregnant with Violet. We've had them for a couple of years, and they were a major factor in choosing colors and going with a headboard shelf to rest them upon.

We knew we wanted corner shelves, and, through Pinterest, saw the idea of extending one over the bed. Stace, of course, made them, and stained patterned molding for the fronts.

 Stace installed crown molding, including over the tricky bit past the sliding closet doors. He nailed wood onto the ceiling, through to the joists on the other side, in the loft space. Then, he nailed the molding into the wood pieces.

We also worked hard to paint the trim of the closet doors, from gold to silver.

 We put up the blue-framed mirror, and new curtains. The mirror had hung in our condo, and has lived these last six years in the garage.

 Here's the old room, with a splodge of paint on the wall when we were trying out the color we ended up choosing.

Another "before."















Lastly, in our bathroom we now have hung this cute heart decoration, a birthday gift from my sister; it reads "The Howards - Our Love Can Cross the Pond." She made it for us; she also made the "Blessed Beyond Measure" canvas above our bed. Love them both!

Big Move Up

On Saturday, we said goodbye to Violet's first "big girl bed," the toddler bed she's used for over a year.

Nan and Pop sent a beautiful Hello Kitty comforter for Christmas, and it needs a bigger, big-girl bed.






Violet was ready for the move up, and very excited to help out. Stace moved the old bed out, and moved the dresser over to make room for the twin bed.

While he was at it, he strengthened the drawers of the dresser. This dresser has been part of his life for well over a decade, making the big trip from England in 2003!

After wiping down the bed after its years in the garage, Violet helped screw it all together. Many thanks, again, to Auntie Linda and Uncle John for giving us the set of beds (which can be bunks) back when Cora was four, and ready to move into a twin.

 Cora was excited to help, too, and screwed in the mattress slats.

 The girls had a sleepover in Violet's room to celebrate. In the morning, the big bed held the two girls, and the two cats.

 We moved Violet's bookshelves into the corner, where they are a perfect fit.

Violet wants to keep the glider rocking chair, and I'm happy to see this bit of babyhood stay around.

Congratulations, Violet, on your big-girl room! It looks beautiful.