Holiday WEEK

I had a brilliant idea the other day. I think that holidays should last a whole week- not just one day. We are going to enforce that this year and see how it goes. So here is to celebrating Valentines Week!!!
This is how Kels chose to use all of her valentines stickers. Very creative, right!?!
Here are simple ways to make your child feel special. You can find the whole article here.

• Create little morning moments
• Snuggle and cuddle
• Make up special stories
• Ask for your child's help
• Break the rules
• Have fun at bedtime
• Get silly together
• Pay attention to the little things

I also love this video: Home. I fell in love with the song and was reading more about it. Apparently the dad sings to his girls every night. I think creating special rituals is so beneficial. Lately at bedtime I put Kels in bed upside down. I lay her down with her feet on her pillow. Then I pull the covers over her head. I kiss her feet goodnight and then we both start laughing and say "something is not right". Then I lift up the covers and she turns around so her head is on the pillow and I give her a better kiss goodnight. I love ending each night with a laugh. :)

Spring Fever

I love living in Utah. I love how mother nature is bipolar. I love all the seasons. I even love the snow. I used to love it a lot more when I was that crazy snow boarder. Now I really just love looking at it from my warm indoor window but I still think its beautiful. What I love the most is when the seasons change. It gives me a sense of excitement and energy. Last Saturday morning Kels and I both slept in. I got out of bed around 10 and went in to check on Kels. She was still laying in bed reading books but she had her sunglasses on. Silly girl! I had nothing but housework planned for the day. I made Kels breakfast and we both watched jungle book while eating. I opened the blinds and the sun was shining so bright. I opened the front door and sure enough, it was warm. Usually I don't really think that 60 degrees is warm but being the middle of February, it was heaven sent. I hurried Kels though her breakfast, threw on clothes and hats and booked it to the zoo. Who cares that I didn't wear any makeup? It was sporadic and fun and just the two of us. :)

I'm so glad that our baby elephant, Zuri is still so small. She is so much fun to watch!

Look closely at the giraffe. Ok, I don't think you can tell but he was peeing. I swear it went on for like 5 minutes too. It was kind of gross but the thing that amazed me was that he walked over to the floor drain and peed there. I didn't know giraffes were smart. Maybe we should get one for a pet. :)
Kelsie had to share our water bottle with the tiger statues. At first I started to tell her no because it was gross. Then I changed my mind and decided I should be proud that she is so good at sharing and wanted to take care of them.
This is one of my favorite pictures from that day. We go to the zoo quite a bit but have never seen the white wolf before. Usually he is hiding at the top of his area. This time he was just laying there watching us. Kels named him Balto.

We saw the mommy turtle and the baby turtle...

Kelsie is sure the gorilla at our zoo is Kerchek (from Tarzan). We watched him for a while and then went outside. Kels inspected the gorilla chart. At first she stood by the baby one and realized that she was was too tall. Then she moved over to the juvenile one and figured it was a perfect match.

After visiting all the animals we stopped by the cafe for lunch. I could tell Kels was getting really tired. It was only 3 hours past her normal nap time. I gathered her fries and dip and we headed to the car. I got her all strapped in her car seat and she was still munching while I loaded the stroller. As I drove out of the zoo paring lot, I glanced back at Kels. She was toast. :) We had such a fun day though!

Board

Everyone has a least favorite chore. Mine is ironing. I think its the stupidest thing in the whole world. All I need is a water squirter and a dryer and I'm good. In fact I even gave away my iron a couple years ago. Well, my mom, she an ironer. I think she spends multiple hours a week ironing and doesn't mind it. She visits quite a bit and every time needs an iron but always forgets to pack one. So last time she was at my house she bought this one. I've had this tiny ironing board for forever. I don't even know where I got it from. Well my mom got it out and was getting ready to iron her shirt. Kels came in the room, looked at the setup, got really excited and said: "Gram, can I play with your skateboard?" And that my friends was my proudest mommy moment!

Valentines Day

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!
Kels was especially spoiled this year (imagine that). She spent the first half of the day with her daddy and he took her to Gay's so she could pass out her valentines to all her friends. I picked her up after work and we went home to open presents and cook together.
These are the earrings she's been wearing all week. They are my new favorites. I'm thinking I should have got a pair for me too. haha
I bought The I Love You Book by Todd Parr a while ago and was so excited to finally give it to her.

Kels also got a teddy bear. On his hoodie are pictures of us.
I was in making our lovely valentines dinner of mac & cheese and Kels was being really quiet. I went in to check on her and found her laying on the chair watching cartoons. Silly girl, that can't be comfortable!
After dinner we made heart shaped rice crispy treats (except with corn flakes instead of rice crispys). Kels helped me put the marshmallows in and then stir until they were melted. Then she watched me try to shape them into hearts and cracked up when the shape wasn't quite right.
This was her other valentines present. I opened her up her first savings account at the bank and they gave her a complimentary piggy bank. She loves to put her monies in it! Maybe she can teach me how to do that. :)