We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.

I don't know which one our family likes better, Legos or Star Wars, but when both of those are combined you can't go wrong!  It was Star Wars weekend at Legoland here in Chicago last weekend. Unfortunately, Scott had to work, but the rest of us had nothing planned so we drove over to play. We had our picture taken with the infamous Darth Vader and some storm troopers,  Madelyn did not want to have anything to do with those guys.  She said that if Yoda were there she would have!  Excuse the geeky-ness coming out of me, I grew up on Star Wars and shared that with Rylan who now loves it.  In fact when Scott and I were dating and I heard that he had never scene it I told him that we couldn't date any longer unless he had seen all the movies and liked them. Don't worry he fell in love too! They were displaying a brand new exhibit with scenes from Star Wars Episode 1:  The Phantom Menace, all made out of Legos!  It was AMAZING! ...

As a Bear, Rylan participated in his Blue & Gold Banquet this year, the theme was Knights of the Round Table and so he wanted to make a shield.    The only thing I did was cut the shape and he decorated the whole thing by himself with his neighborhood friend Megan. They were knighted by the King, did sword fights, and jousting.  We ate chicken drumsticks, grapes and vegetables, and each family made a crest to represent their name.  I am on the scout committee so I was able to help plan this activity and it was so fun!  I think the boys liked it too

When we moved to Chicago we heard that the winters here are horrid, full of snow and wind.  Well the first winter we were here we had about two snow storms and this winter I think we maybe had three, all in February!  Our kids love the snow I don't know how they can stay out there so long.  With the snow comes shoveling. . .  At least Rylan is old enough now he can help!  Maddy likes to just lay in the snow and eat it,  M'Lynn was so sweet one afternoon to help Madelyn make a snow-woman  Scott took the kids sledding twice, this was Ian's first time. Scott said that he did pretty well, and by the end was going down by himself face first!  Rylan the pro I love this picture, Ian must have been giggling  My winter snow kids! Well that was fun, please bring on spring!

 Scott and I don't normally do anything for Valentine's day, but a couple weeks prior I saw a deal online on mens rings that I couldn't pass up.  Scott's wedding ring is white gold and is all scratched up, these rings were Tungsten and Titanium, practically indestructible! I purchased one and planned a little scavenger hunt for him when he got home from work.  But first we made cake balls for his office and took him out to lunch.  Madelyn with her dad!  When he got home the kids were so excited to help him find the paper heart clues, they were in places like on the egg carton in the fridge, on Ian's toy train, the lamp, on our wedding photo, . . .after he would read a clue he would put it on his army jacket.  Ian had just woken up from a nap, pant less and that made Maddy want to be pant less as well.  The last clue lead him to his new ring, I got down on one knee and asked him to stay married to me for forever.....how...

 Madelyn has learned that Ian can be a great playmate!  Especially when he lets her dress him up.  Here he was her prince:  they are too wiggly for my camera, they always turn out blurry!  Couldn't quite get the best picture of them posing. On Sunday morning when the kids wake up they play in their room together so Scott and I can sleep in to at least 8:00 a.m. ( I know that is super late!)  Their favorite game is "throw all the stuffed animals and blankets you can into Ian's crib and jump inside like it is a pool" game. Ian loves to snuggle, I think I hear him say "nuggle me" about 5 times a day.  Maddy likes to be a little mommy to him so it is perfect when I am busy that they can snuggle and be happy!  Ian has also been interested in the computer, or "pooter" as he calls it, Madelyn has been showing him the ropes.  I caught him putting his...

He was singing this for days! Our little Ian turned two on January 11th!  Due to some unexpected car maintenance bills we didn't have much of a party budget, good thing Ian is only two and could careless! Even though his birthday was on a Friday we celebrated it on Saturday because Scott was out of town for work.  During his nap the kids and I set up his favorite toys in stations.  We set up the Thomas the Train set, the marble racing set, a  kid kitchen, and blew up some balloons.  Then when he woke up we followed him around and played whatever he wanted to play.  He was in heaven! The kids also helped me make his cake, not the fanciest cake I have ever attempted but hey he was happy!  So happy that during all the play he somehow found the cake on the counter, scooted a stool across the kitchen, and took some bites!  He also thought that his Little People should play on top of it too!    ...