cutest valentines ever ...

Ok, really ...

aren't these awesome?!?

This was Sam's last year

for a

school Valentine Party

{since he's a fifth grader and all}

I'm so happy to have found this idea

here

and recreated it

They were a big hit

with

everyone!

Happy Birthday Brad

Today is Brad's Birthday!

to celebrate

we are eating dinner

at

Olive Garden

{with his family}

but first, Sam has to give daddy his

{artwork}

gift!

It was a great night for everyone.

Happy Birthday Brad {39}

moving right along

There has been more progress on

the basement.

so, I thought I'd post a few pictures ...

check out that hidden door!

{how cool is that}

it is definately a work in progress,

but we are moving right along ...

and loving the progress!

Super Bowl

Greenbay {21} vs. Steelers {10}

I kinda hate to admit it, but I'm not really here for football

I'm here to hang out with my family

and

watch for the fun commercials

and of course

the half time show

{black eyed peas}

love 'em

I love how we are all gathered around the tv

eating lots of really good fried football foods

and

enjoying each others company

Just another reason to get together!

.....

by the way,

my favorite commercial was ...

The Darth Vader / Volkswagon one

how cute was this

CREATIVE OUTLET ~

We went to Pottery Time to make Brad a birthday present.

Sam looked over every shelf of things to pick out,

for the perfect gift

for his dad ...

we finally settled on these ...
so much creative fun

together.

and after the kiln ...

Coco Key Water Resort ...

When nature dumps the snow, what better to do than ...

go swimming!

We took Dawson and Billy to Coco Key today.

5 hours of indoor water fun

to fight the cabin fever that we have been feeling.

I settled myself in at a table with a good book

Winter Garden

by Kristin Hannah

and let the boys just play all day

...

they even ate lunch at a seperate table

without me

so independant

and so much fun watching them

entertain themselves, all day.

it was a really great day

to top it off

they all appreciated it so much

they were full of thank you's the whole way home!

~ more snow days ~

We are getting cabin fever from all these snow days

no video games today,

a few activities instead

since Brad's birthday is coming up,

we decided to make birthday cards ...

Sam also made a diarama

of a

war scene

complete with toy soldiers, bunkers, painted blood, weapons

such a little creative mind

he is so into everything war

lately.

{i hope it helps in social studies in school}

some blood and gore

i know,

but I still love his creativeness!