Happy Valentine's Day! (my sweetie done good:)

Fairy Girl's daddy surprised her with this today--I just caught the irony, and I'm not sure he did, notice, Snoopy is holding a pair of scissors; and just two days ago, Fairy Girl handled her older sister a pair of child safe scissors, and asked for and received a haircut! (ughhhh)

Let's just say, he hasn't given me a small box since we were engaged:)

Sweet Fairy Girl enjoying a Tinkerbelle card her daddy picked out.

Buddy's truly our heart breaker--we love our boy!
(note to Izzy, quit your blubbering:)

Little Angel reading her Little Mermaid card.

And as for me, my sweetie done good...

Yep, real real good!

The especially neat thing about his choice is, just a few weeks ago I was actually hoping to receive some jewelry piece in citrine from him, because that's the birthstone for November, which is the month of Buddy's birthday (oh ya, and my dad's and my sis in law's and Deanna Cornelie's (my cabbage patch kid that my grandparents gave to me back in the mid 80's, I still have her:)--

Happy Valentine's Day Daddy!

Angel created this piece to give to her daddy for Valentine's Day--it's a portrait of Daddy and his Little Angel! (note, she's now added teeth to her people drawings:)

Valentine's Art

And Little Fairy Girl said...

Mommy, I tubbed my toe, you HAVE to take me to the dentist--right now!

This Blanket's Alive!!

So I walked into my bedroom this morning, and right in front of my closet I found this blanket that is normally in our family room. I was thinking, hmmmmm, I know this blanket wasn't there last night! And then the blanket fake sneezed, and then the blanket fake coughed--AND THEN THE BLANKET GIGGLED!

A Walk in the Woods

We decided to go for a hike yesterday, it was in the low 40's, and felt so warm to us again, after the January freeze! Laphham Peak State Park is in Delafield, not too far from us. It is a gorgeous state park. I remember taking the family there when fairy girl was just a five weeks old--(probably too soon to be hiking after a c-section:)--but the fall colors were irresisitible! We then went again on Angel's second birthday! (we like it because one path is actually paved, so it's easier to manage, strollers, etc (and not muddy when when the snow is melting:). Next weekend we found out there will be a candlelight ski, and a bluegrass band and bon fire--so we'll pack a dinner and the family and head out there for Valentine's Day!
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/lapham/

Forever in Fashion

Lake Geneva Winter Fest

We took advantage of the 50 degree temperatures today, and ironically took a trip to Lake Geneva to attend the Winter Festival:) The amazing thing is it is 53 degrees warmer today than it was yesterday morning (and of course it'll be 20 degrees colder tomorrow:(


Many artisans partook in the United States National Snowsculpting competetion---the poor sculptures didn't fair too well today in the warmer temps:)--I liked this dragonfly sculpture.


It's not too often that we can enjoy icecream, outside, on February 7th in Wisconsin!



I've always wanted my very active little girls to have those cute horses to ride around the house. As we were walking back to our car, a little girl who wanted to pet Buddy had one, and I asked the mother where she got this. So I ran to the store and surprised the girls with these adorable horses (who make sounds by the way:). These are very nice, the Melissa and Doug brand. My Angel named hers Fren, and my Little Fairy named hers Kadeeeee-horsey!

These beautiful horse drawn carriage rides are offered in Lake Geneva year-round.

Orange Cranberry Bread

I made this recipe yesterday to go with some broccoli-zucchini soup I made yesterday----dinner was a hit:) I have loads of cranberries to use up that my parents gave to us before they left to Florida (they live in Cranberry land when they're in northern WI for the summers). This recipe makes two loaf pans of bread. I opted to do the second batch in mini muffins in anticipation of my great nephew's visit!! (his batch was done without nuts, as he's a little guy:). I like this as there is an apple in here too. So they are in the freezer waiting for you:) I can't wait for his visit (oh, and his parents too:) so we can convert him from Buckeye to Badger, tee hee:)

Here's the recipe:

• 2-3/4 cups flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 3-1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 3 Tbsp. oil
• 2-3 tsp grated orange peel
• 2 cups coarsely chopped cranberries
• 1 large apple, peeled and chopped
• optional, add in one cup of chopped walnuts or pecans
  

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Whisk the egg, milk, orange juice, oil and orange peel; stir into dry ingredients just until blended. Fold in the cranberries and apple.

Pour into two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-55 minutes.

hundred ways to humiliate a hound!

It's been really cold around here---but I'm trying to be a trooper and take Buddy for an evening walk around the block (our block is about 1 mile around). Well, we're not walking super fast, because areas of the roads are slick, so I need to keep him warm--thus his winter coat--and of course the poor boy's helmet---the only thing I haven't done yet was make him wear his boots--I'm guessing he has limits to how much humiliation he'll put up with!

More fifth birthday pictures

My Little princess had a great fifth birthday, receiving new games (including a neat jr. edition of monopoly--it's fun!), an inflatable globe, an interactive globe, a pretty new quilt, etc---a true day fit for a little princess!