Happy Birthday Todd

My Todd is 5 today, and what a little cutie he was as he opened his gifts from us this morning.

First, he opened this Tupperware boat (he loves boats right now!) He was happy. Maybe we could have stopped with the $7 we spent on it.


But we didn't stop. We let him open this next... a little collection of pirate Playmobil toys. He LOVED them! He was delighted.


Then we had breakfast. He thought he was done opening presents. He wasn't! When he started taking the paper off of the Pirate Ship he was ecstatic! It's so fun to watch them go crazy over something!


After we got it set up, he played with it for hours... I think there are many more hours that will be devoted to it today as well!


And now, (and for the next 2 weeks) I have two 5-year olds!! We get to go through this all over again in 2 weeks when Scott turns 6.

Music Classes

Earlier this month, my boys started music lessons. The classes are called, "Music for Little Mozarts" and they love the program! Scott is the know-it-all in the class, and always has the answer to the questions... the teacher has to say, " ____ do you know the answer?" So that Scott doesn't give all the answers to every single question ☺ That's my boy! He loves doing his homework, too. I wonder if that will last after a few years of music lessons? (probably, if he really does take after me!!) They get to play the piano, but so far it's been lots of other music exploration, as well. It is a group class, and there are 4 kids in the class... we make up half the class!!

In their last lesson they were learning about forte and piano (loud and soft). Scott got the LOUD tambourine, and Todd got the soft sounding bells! Todd really loves music class and he loves Mrs. Marilyn, the teacher... I think he wants to be the teacher's pet, but he is also the youngest in the class. It is so cute to watch him sit beside the bigger kids. Every once in awhile he zones out, but then on the way home he starts singing one of the songs, so he was obviously paying attention!

Last week, on the way home, Todd came out with this: "Planyo lessons are more funner than making paper boats!" Well, now, if that didn't just melt my heart. Makes me know that it's worth every cent! I love it that at this age, I get to be in the lessons with them as well.


Here are Mozart Mouse and Beethoven Bear... the 2 heroes of Music Lessons!

A New Blog to Follow!

Blogland is so fun... and I have just found out about a new blog called Blue Bird Notes. The author is Koralee, a former coworker of mine. What a delight her blog is, and I promise you, she is just as delightful as all the neat things she writes about! I love your blog, Koralee!!!

Read it here:

BLUE BIRD NOTES...

Crazy Kids...

I love my husband... I love my kids... and that's why I'm taking a break from them this weekend! (or should I say, "I'm giving them a break from ME this weekend!?!!!") I am so excited to go on a ladies retreat with my church. I can't WAIT! There will be crafts, hikes, friends, sharing, food, no cooking, no laundry, no cleaning... did I mention that I CAN'T WAIT?!!! There are 90 women going, and there are so many fun things planned. I will share pics sometime next week!

Here's a couple pics that I know my dad will especially chuckle over. Todd grabbed a chair the other day and said, "I'm papa, come and sit on my lap!" The other 2 gladly accepted his invitation and came and sat on his knee. What a goof! Funny thing is that from very early on, everyone has said that Todd looks most like Papa (my dad) and he has a bit of his personality, too... always quick witted and active - he can do a pretty good frown when he wants to, too!

2 peas in a pod.... so much alike that someone even said, "Elise is just Todd in a skirt!" They became friends last year when Scott started school. I was worried that Todd would be so lonely with Scott gone all day. I shouldn't have worried - Elise filled the void almost immediately!

Lipstick

Yesterday... Elise markered her face... She wanted "lipstick!" Very pretty.

Today... Elise marked her face again... unfortunately, this time it won't wash off... She face planted into the board at the bottom of our slide. I saw it happening, and I thought for sure she was going to lose her front teeth. But it was just her nose. She barely cried!

Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

This week at school, Scott exchanged Valentine's with his classmates... here are the treat boxes he made. I cut the papers to size, then he ran them through my Big Shot machine, and then I tied the ribbons on and he wrote the "from Scott" on the heart tag. I wanted to get him to write the name of each of his classmates on the back of the heart, but that would have been a 2-day job, so I decided to just get him to write his own name. Besides, the treats were all the same except for the colour of the paper.

Another thing... this is a great way to use up old Designer Paper. As a SU! Demo, I only demonstrate the current papers in my classes and clubs... but then I end up with a lot of pretty paper leftover, so this was a great way to use up some old stuff!!

** There is a little pack of Jelly Beans inside.

Zellers...

...aka "The Toy Store!" My kids call Zellers the Toy Store! I don't mind one bit that they don't consider "Toys R Us" as their store of choice because that store is too far away for me. And Zellers is a lot less busy! I do NOT like busy stores... I don't even really like any stores that much, but I think I have a slight shopping phobia, so it might just be me!

Here is a fabulous cart idea.... Yes, my oldest is almost 6 and he still rides in a shopping cart. He doesn't know there is another option. Please don't tell him that some kids are allowed to walk beside the cart! That is one thing that keeps me semi-sane while shopping - all kids must be contained! As you can see, Steve was with me this time, too... usually we have 2 carts on the go to contain all the kids, but we didn't need to this time because this cart seats 3!

My retired sets blowout!!

It is time to clear my baskets in order to make room for my "newer" retired sets. So the following stamp sets need to go... Please let me know if you would like any of the sets below. Thanks for looking! Please email me at stampinsars(AT)hotmail.com if you are interested.

** Buyer pays shipping... or you can pick up from my house if you are local.

Looks Like Spring $15.00
Spring Solitude $ 10.00
Block Party $12.00
Be Happy $10.00
All Natural $10.00
Autumn Fest $10.00
On Angel Wings (NUM) $15
Simple Shapes $15.00

Why do I scrapbook?

It's therapeutic, relaxing, fun, social, and it records a wealth of family fun and events... and if that is not a long enough list of reasons, here are 3 more!