Spring Is In The Air

We had very cold temperatures the last couple of weeks.  But for the last couple of days the sun has decided to come out and the temperatures have risen.  The snow is almost all gone.  Yesterday after church the boys played out on the street and rode their bikes and scooters and I enjoyed the sunshine.  It was a short lived enjoyment.  It wasn't that warm.  After all it is still February.  On our way inside I stopped off to look at my barren flower bed and dream about warmer temperatures, pretty spring and summer blooms, shorts and t-shirts with flip flops, sunglasses...when I spotted these!

Praise be!  My tulips are coming out of the ground.  What a miracle.  I did a little happy dance right there on the spot.  Now, I realize it could very well snow right over top of those beautiful green buds next week.  But I know they are there and that means spring is in the air!

On another note.  My dear and lovely boys are TV addicts.  It drives me crazy.  I know some of this is my own fault.  It is so much easier to make dinner or get a break if we just click on the TV.  The other day they were fighting about what to watch.  Ryan was yelling out his favorite channel while Adrian was refusing to cooperate.  Next thing I know there was hitting and screaming.  I marched over and turned it off, simple as that.  This, of course, created more protests about the stupid thing being off and whining about having it back on.  I told them they had plenty of toys to play with and that was their only option.  They played for about 5 minutes and then the questions started coming at me about turning the TV back on.  I got so sick of saying no, that I made this and covered it up.  Now when the cover is on they know it's play time and not to even ask.  

Before - with one of our favorite characters.

After

So far it has helped a little bit.  When ever the TV has the cover on the kids know it means playtime and not to ask.  Plus it keeps off the dust!  Two birds with one stone.  

Heart Garland

Valentine's day is coming up.  We really don't do anything on February 14th.  Some years I've forgotten all about it.  It's not as commercialized here as it is at home.  Sometimes I miss it, and other days I don't.  But I couldn't pass up trying to make this and hang it in our home for a little extra something.

It's a heart garland.  Pretty cool, right?  I thought Adrian would like to help me, turns out he wasn't interested.  Also, he's sick today and laying on the couch.  Poor guy.

Back to the topic at hand.  Below is a short tutorial so you can make your own.

Here's what you'll need.  

If you don't have a paper cutter, you could use a ruler and a pair of scissors.

Cut your paper into strips.  Mine were about 1 inch wide, but you can make them any size you want.  Next, cut your long strips in half.  I folded mine and then used the scissors to do this.

Now, the fun begins!  

Take two strips of paper and staple them together at one end.

Curve it down to form the heart shape.

Staple your next two strips into place at the bottom of your first heart.

 And then keep going...

 and going...

 until you have the length of garland you want.

Hang 'em up for all the house to enjoy!

 I couldn't resist making another with the left overs.

I hope you enjoy your heart garland as much as I do.

Winter

We had a piddly amount of snow fall last night.  But it was enough for the boys to pull on all the snow gear and head out.  I was perfectly happy to watch after them from behind the window.  Winter has finally arrived with temperatures dropping into the low 20's (-5C).  You'd think we'd have more snow with it being so cold.

We finally got them all bundled up and off they went.  

Let's make a snow angel!

That's as many pictures as I could stand from the door without a jacket.  I've had a cold and wasn't feeling all that grand.  I watched the boys from our living room, and made lunch while they played in the back yard.  They had a pretty great time.  I'll wash all the snow clothes and they'll be ready for another day - probably tomorrow.