Two of the neighbor kids, Logan and Ava, showed up at our house yesterday asking if Max and Rory wanted to go sledding with them. How cute is that?! 

Max needed a little convincing as Daddy was going to call him later in the day to let him walk over to the neighbors. (Daddy was there helping him and Max really wanted to be able to help too.) Shortly after he saw Rory and I putting our stuff on he decided that staying inside by himself didn't sound all that fun. And fun was definitely delivered!

Logan and Ava had a lot of fun trying out Max and Rory's snowboards.

Max, was pretty much a blur the whole time.He would go down the hill, run back and up and jump right back on his sled.

Rory was just plain cute and we had a lot of fun sledding together, that is, when she didn't sit on the sled before I was ready and take off without me.

My kids have neighbor friends that they go outside and play with. When did this happen?!

I was mean today. I made the kids stay outside for an hour even though the snow was more like ice pellets and the wind was strong enough to make sure it stung when it hit your face. Now, before you think me a real bully, we had both garages open and most of the time they were found inside one of them playing with their toys. And I was able to get the van vacuumed out, so we no longer have a gravel pit inside the van.

Their reward? Hot chocolate and homemade rock candy.

I think they are going to be just fine. Sugar highs and all.

We finally made it outdoors. Somebody's prayers must have worked (Could you please pray that I win the lottery next?) and we made it almost 45 minutes outside yesterday afternoon!

Max and Rory had to get those snowboards out right away. Max did pretty good. Rory didn't do so well when I wasn't running next to her. They both learned that falling in the snow really isn't a big deal.

Max made a snow angel.

Rory and I went sledding together.

Shortly after that the kids lost interest and started doing their own things. Which is exactly what we all needed, a little alone time to do whatever we wanted to do without another person getting in our way. 

Rory headed for the bushes to sing, then made her way over to the swing set where she remained for the rest of our time outside. Max got his big truck out to plow the snow around, then when that got to be too exhausting he got the shovel and cleared off the patio. 

It was perfect.

This cold weather has me getting a bit stir crazy. Right now? I've got Max plopped down in front of the TV watching Cars 2 while Rory takes her nap. I hate that I feel guilty putting on a long movie and taking a break from my kids but reality is we're all getting on each other's nerves. The fights have been more often, the screaming a lot louder, and the patience levels are pretty much non-existent. So I'm going to try really hard not to feel guilty taking this little break. And you know, attempt to actually breathe.

Can someone please make it less windy on an otherwise beautiful winter day? I'd like to go outside for more then 15 minutes before someone is whining that they are too cold. Thanks in advance!

Max gets distracted and his aim eventually shoots off target, leaving me to clean the bathrooms at least every other day if not numerous times in one day. I used to love cleaning the bathrooms, it was such a relief having it shiny and clean. Since having kids? Cleaning the bathrooms has become my absolute least favorite chore.

They get toothpaste and soap all over the sink within minutes of it being cleaned, and the toilet, bathtub and walls are constantly covered in water spots that I can only assume is urine. (Although I'm sure there is just some splashed water too, but I'm not taking any chances.) Oh and the smell! It isn't like my bathroom reeks but if I can smell urine (which happens WAY too much) I know I have to scrub down the toilet, walls, tub and anywhere else that may have gotten sprayed in order to get rid off the smell.

I know, you never want to come over and use my bathrooms now... 

To be fair? Dusty can't smell the urine smells, it may just be in my brain, either way, it just proves how crazy the bathrooms are making me. Also? My bathrooms are probably some of the cleanest bathrooms around, I mean, they get a scrub down at least every other day thanks to Max. So, be disgusted with me but know you are safe to use my bathrooms!

Now, I know I have told you about Max and his love of stealing foods to eat in his bedroom*. This too is a big annoyance to me as there are constantly crumbs on his bed, under his bed, and anywhere else he chooses to eat in there.

This weekend Max and I had a little chat. And now? If he eats food in his bedroom, he has to clean the toilet. This isn't as horrible as a punishment as it sounds, he actually doesn't mind wiping up the pee spots (as he calls them) and I'm slowly gaining my cool back. Oh, and my bathrooms have currently been cleaned twice a day since we started this rule. (Three times today already.) 

I think I'm getting this parenting thing figured out - Don't get mad, get even!

*My children are well fed. They aren't starving and sneaking off to eat for nourishment. They are being kids and finding all the treats that they are allowed to have at snack times or once and a while and are trying to eat them all the time. My frozen cookie stash just got significantly smaller today, I need to find a stronger lid!

Cousin Lyla joined us on Friday for a day of arts and crafts. We colored, we painted, we cut, we created with Play-doh, and then we did it all over again and again and again.

Dusty had some old blue prints that were big enough to trace the kid's bodies. That was one of their most favorite activities. (And the most time consuming for me.)

Oh, and we put up the ball pit. Because I needed to make sure they had a way to make an even bigger mess. You know, because I embrace messes with open arms. *Sarcasm is dripping all over this.

Needless to say, that after our evening movie and popcorn everyone went to bed without a fight and slept soundly. So I succeeded.

Last night, Tara and I were able to go to an open mic night event to watch our cousin Nikii perform. It was really a relaxing evening, and had I not driven an hour and a half to get there, I'd consider doing it more often.

It's tough to get to see my cousins, so whenever we get a chance to I'm always excited. I didn't take any video but believe me, she did an amazing job, and even one guy stopped to let her know just how wonderful she is, so I know I'm not being overly biased.

And yes, Tara did make a sign, because she's good like that.