Happy Monday!

 When Amya saw me wiping off the counter tops this morning, she decided she wanted to help.  I never turn down such offers!  I gave her a rag and she got to work!  Soon Nelson needed to help, too.

(between these two products and vinegar, I can clean almost every surface in the house)

 Then Nelson needed to to clean his toy de jour (a plastic lion that roars)...and then his sister's hair, which didn't go over well with sister (camera was not in hand for that one).

 After this, Amya wanted to straiten up her bedroom and organize the books in the playroom!!!  YES PLEASE! (it almost made up for the outrageous fit she threw Friday, which involved door slamming and screaming at a decibel that probably did damage to her ears)

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 I was in such a good mood after that.  I decided to make carmel corn!

...not bad for a Monday morning!!!

Dan and his Children...

...love to fly remote controlled objects...

 ...around the house!!

When they bored of just flying them, they attach objects to the bottom and fly them around the house!

Ballet Baby!

We had parent day at Amya's ballet class this week!  We are only allowed to observe one class per semester.  This time I brought a camera!

This is her teacher, Nancy, the miracle worker!!  She has dialed in how to get 10 little girls to WANT to do whatever she tells them!  Amazing, I tell you.

 (oh, to have her legs!!!)

 They are preparing for the Spring Recital!  Costumes have been ordered...dance steps are being rehearsed!

 Amya LOVES ballet...we have a countdown every week...how many more days 'till ballet.

 One of Amya's besties is in the class with her...they are hardly ever more than a few feet away from each other...

...and support each other when fatigue sets in :)

 When the class is over Teacher Nancy gives the girls a stamp on their hands...amazing how special this part of the lesson is for the kids!!

 What was Nelson doing for 45 minutes while a bunch of girls were dancing around and twirling???

He played with his car! (and he danced around and twirled...but with a shy embarrassed look on his face)

Monster Cookies with Friends

 Amya had a friend over today and we decided to make monster cookies!

 I let the kids do almost all of it (it was very hard for me not to take over...there was sugar everywhere!)

 We opted out of the mixer and just used old fashion wooden spoons....they mixed and mixed and mixed...

We used the recipe on the back of the a chocolate chip bag, but used exactly half the sugar, subbed M&M's for the chips, and sprinkled coconut flakes on top.

 Nelson put his spoon in his mouth right out of the gate, so we just gave him a bunch of the ingredients and let him pretend he was helping!

 The kids thought the bottoms of the cookies were prettier than the tops...I think I agree!

Happy March!

 Today we are....

 ...making sure our oatmeal has just enough honey on it.

...enjoying the dusting of snow that fell last night (but enjoying the sunshine that is melting it even more!).

 ...taking Francesco for rides on the dishwasher rack.

...getting super frustrated with Mommy for not getting a close-up of Francesco (at least that is what I interpreted the whining, bouncing, crying to mean).

 ...using the sunshine filtering through the window to show me where the dust bunnies are hiding.

 ...still trying to figure out how to keep this cat from eating the kids' leftovers!

...grateful to still have 6 chickens left (that raccoon only got an appetizer instead of a full course meal).

...giving Francesco a bath outside...because it is so much easier than inside!