Trying to get creative with indoor pictures and bad lighting, Project 365....

It's been a long week, ya'll.  

On Thursday, 2-13, the sun was coming up when I caught (or attempted to catch the gorgeous light on my wall).

Still 2-13, and this is how we roll to school.  One of her teachers asked me if Mia dresses herself.  I laughed and said, "Do you really think that this is how I would dress her?" Please note the bedhead, leopard print leggings and purple shirt under the black velvet jumper.  Complete with a blue patterned sock.

Because it's Valentine's Day, and we did so much romantic crap on Valentine's (insert eye rolling sarcasm here), you get a picture of the mileage on my car.  111,000 miles on the family truckster.  She's almost 5 years old now.

Saturday, 2-15, and we headed to the Olive Garden.  We have started eating out one night a week, and take turns of who in the family picks the restaurant.  Olive Garden was Tony's choice.  

It was about an hour wait.... 

For the Olive Garden..... 

And we waited.... 

I'm still shaking my head.

Sunday, 2-16, was a bright day.  Still chilly, but not as cold as it had been.  These were my Valentine's Day flowers.  Daisies are my favorite.

Still 2-16, Olivia and Tony sculpted an igloo out of one of the larger pyramids of snow at the end of the driveway.  Olivia was enjoying her new bedroom.

Later that night, Mia caught some snuggle time while Daddy read her a book.

Monday, 2-17, and we have a big fast snow storm deposit another 6-8 inches, in a matter of about 4-5 hours.  

Ugh. 

 I picked up the girls early so we could hunker down and wait out the storm.

Tuesday, 2-18, I tried to capture a good close up of Mia, but this is the best I got.  This kid doesn't really stop moving.  I can't get her to slow down enough to sit down and eat dinner.

Wednesday, 2-19, the weather was warming up.  I mean, like 50's yo.  Taking advantage, Olivia went outside to read her book while Mia was in dance class.

Better late than never, Project 365 Week 6

Yes, this post is about 4 days late.  I'm really sorry.  It's been a very busy week this week, emotional ups, anxiety, routine, normal-ness, etc.  You know - a typical week.  :)

I've also been really worn down this week.  I haven't run since Tuesday.  I've been super tired, and fighting a runny nose.  Since I had no motivation to run, mostly just to sleep, I've been sleeping.  You know it's bad when you are thinking of your answer to "What was your favorite part of today?", and your answer is "Going back to sleep." 

Yeah.  That's not normally me.  Deciding to listen to my body, I've been sleeping, resting when I can.  Trying not to overdo anything.  I don't know if it's seasonal depression, cabin fever, fighting germs, or what, but hopefully I can get back to having a little energy this week.

And, I even took pictures every day!!!  Whoo hoo!!

2/6/14 Mia has found that dressing up in ballet costumes is fun.  Olivia mastered the art of the photo bomb.

2/7/14 Found us at PetSmart getting a shaggy Cocker Spaniel groomed to look like a pointer.  While we were there, we HAD TO SEE THE FISH.

2/8/14 brought another round of snow.  We have so much snow that the swings touch the top.  Plus, I'm not the only one that was feeling tired.  Exhaustion, cold and snow leads to cuddles with this guy.

2/9/14 Brought Olivia into Mia's room to help Mia make her Valentine's Day box.  This is how Mia helped.  She's pointing to her sister (who did 99.9% of the work on the box).  Thank God someone in this house likes crafts.

2/10/14 and I noticed that my car was past due for an oil change.  Doesn't everyone track their oil change mileage on green masking tape on the inside of the visor?

2/11/14 Caught the girls playing together while waiting for dinner.  This happens less and less often as they are getting older.

2/12/14 This is the bracelet Olivia made for me.  I posted a pic of this on Instagram and FB.  I am so proud of this because Olivia was able to determine what I would really like for a bracelet when I didn't know.  I have been pointing out the beauty in the sunsets to the girls and Olivia thought she'd make me a bracelet in the colors of the sunset.  I just adore this bracelet and the thought that went into it.

My plan is to catch you back here by Thursday for week 7.  Have a great week!

The drudgery of winter, Project 365....

We are in the drudgery of winter.  Christmas is past, the groundhog (and common sense/the calendar) say that we have 6 more weeks of winter.  

Every time I see another snow flake, I think of spring flowers. 

Every time the newscasters go crazy, and hype all commuters up and into their cars to sit in traffic for hours, I just keep thinking about sunburns and sunscreen.

Every time I pull on my boots, scarf, hat, layers of socks, pants and shirts, I think about pulling on my running shoes, a tank top and my running hat, and heading outside to run in the sun.

I am looking forward to ending this winter.  Every inch of snow that gets us closer to record breaking snow falls makes me want to move south.  Seriously!  If I wanted this crap, I'd live in Minnesota, or Canada.

As the winter drudges on, we are documenting all of our indoor activities, and the mountains of snow that we hope don't thaw too quickly and flood us.

Thursday, 1-30 dawned bright and beautiful.  The sunrise was exceptional.  I did my best to capture it, but it's a sunrise, and it hadn't risen enough to give my phone a good angle.

 Friday, 1-31 and Mia has decided that wearing knit hats is something she should do indoors and outdoors.

 Saturday, 2-1 was a snowy mess.  We got another multi-inch snowfall, and this is what I walked out to in the morning.  It's hard to capture, but that is my driveway (which had been shoveled the day before) and the street, which had been plowed too.  It really was gorgeous and quiet to go outside, the snow dampening sound as it fell, the morning barely started.

Superbowl Sunday, 2-2 was a bright beautiful day.  Again, the temperatures were low, but at least the sun was shining.  I took the chance to go out and document the snow.

It's like a driveway fortress.

At the end of the driveway, this pile is about as tall as me, around 5 ft high.

Even our birdhouses were over snowed.

Mia's best pose.

Catching her looming, I actually got a smile.

Olivia and Daddy were playing cards as we waited for the game to start.

Monday, 2-3 and someone needs to tell this kid it's rude to come to dinner with your hat on.

Tuesday, 2-4 on a rare night that Daddy is home for dinner, everyone helps put dinner together.

Wednesday, 2-5, sometimes I'm jealous of this dog and his sleeping all day habit.  He just looks so comfy on an old crib comforter, in the sunshine.