Snow Day!

When we moved out here to Washington, I thought we'd be leaving all the white stuff behind! We were pretty convinced because we left our snow-blower and even our snow shovels in Ohio. But apparently we were misinformed, because it started snowing yesterday and it hasn't stopped since.Naturally, school was closed for the day. All the kids in the neighborhood headed to the Neilsen's house to sled down their steep driveway.

Logan loves the snow!

The boys stayed out several hours, sledding, throwing snowballs, and building snowmen (and a snow dog, Logan tells me), sometimes without a coat. Yes, that's Logan in a short-sleeved shirt. He kept assuring me that he wasn't cold!

As much as I would rather be busting out my flip-flops and watching daffodils and tulips pop out of the ground, I have to admit that the snow is very beautiful on all the evergreen trees. I guess I can live with it...for a few days.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Hannah!

Name: Hannah Lee Anderson
Age: 3
Nursery Teachers: Sister Pedersen
Best Friends: her brothers, Logan and Andrew
Favorite Foods: yogurt, Cheerios, bananas, clementines, and cake
Favorite Sayings: "Are you happy, Mommy?" "I look beautiful!"
Favorite Activity: riding her "beautiful bike," building pillow forts with her brothers, twirling in fancy dresses, trying on Mommy's jewelry
Favorite Book: Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
Favorite Movie: Toy Story 3 and Frosty the Snowman
Favorite TV shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Dora the Explorer
Favorite Color: PINK!

Hannah, you are so much fun! Your beautiful smile, giggles and hugs make me so happy! You are a girly-girl who appreciates pink, sparkles, flowers, dresses, jewelry, and all beautiful things. I love having a little buddy to go shopping with! You bring so much vivacity and joy to our family and we are all completely in love with you! I can't even think about you without a huge smile on my face!
Hannah, dancing and twirling in her new Fancy Nancy tutu, leg warmers, and ballet slippers. THANKS Grandma and Grandpa Anderson!!!

Happy Birthday, Little Valentine!

Valentine Mantel

I love decorating for Valentine's Day! It's the one time per year you can get away with decorating ultra-girly - pink, hearts, glitter, and frills! It's also Hannah's birthday, so it's extra special for us!

I made this Valentine bunting this year with extra fabric from a table runner I've been working on for TWO YEARS! Yeah, it's still not done. I intended to add letters to the bunting to make it say, "BE MINE" but I didn't get around to that either. Maybe next year when I finish the table runner. Uh-huh.

For my Valentine Mantel, I left the white dishes and silver accessories from my Winter mantel and added a bit of red.

Glittery red hearts on the tree branches (Michaels)...

a little heart pillow tucked in the pinecones...

and the red English transferware dishes that I have been collecting for a few year. The pattern is Woods Seaforth. (eBay!)

More pillow hearts I made from leftover fabric. When I was sewing them, Hannah sat next to me and exlaimed, "You're making pillow hearts for me?!" I said, "Well, for Valentine's Day." Hannah replied, "YES! For my birthday!"

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Hannah's Beautiful Bike

Hannah received a Pinkalicious bike with training wheels for Christmas. I think it was probably her favorite present. She always calls it her "Beautiful Bike," as in, "Mommy, can I ride my BEAUTIFUL BIKE? Pleeeeeeeease?!" and "Thank you Mommy for my BEAUTIFUL BIKE!" She loves to ride it up and down our street and is doing pretty well. The other day, Andrew, Hannah, and I went out for a little ride around the street. I gave her a little push and she took off! Then she turned her head back to us and shouted in her sweet little voice, "See ya later, Suckers!" Where did she learn THAT?! I have no idea, but it was pretty hilarious!

M&M Kit Kat Cake

Andrew told me he was too old for a themed birthday cake this year, so I threw together this cake based on his love of M&Ms and Kit Kats. I layered two round 12" chocolate cakes with chocolate frosting, surrounded the cakes with Kit Kats, tied the curly ribbon around to hold them in place, and dumped a huge bag of M&M's on the top! Seriously the easiest cake I have ever made! I think the birthday boy liked it too!

New Beginnings

Tonight was New Beginnings for our ward Young Women. New Beginnings is a program held at the beginning of each year to welcome the incoming young ladies, introduce the Personal Progress program, and get everyone pumped about Personal Progress. With it being close to Valentine's Day, we decided to use the theme, "Fall in LOVE with Personal Progress".

For the refreshments, I made a 3-tiered cake decorated with little hearts in all the YW value colors. The girls introduced the YW values with giant conversation hearts.

Each table was decorated with paper hearts and heart-shaped bowls filled with conversation hearts. We had a great turnout!One of the leaders, Andrea, hand-painted this gorgeous banner on linen (!) to introduce the YW Motto, Logo, and class symbols. It was absolutely stunning!Stephanie made a cute Power Point presentation to teach everyone how to do their Personal Progress online!Some of the girls wrote a hilarious skit about falling in love with "Percy Progress" (a cardboard cutout of Taylor Lautner). They each took turns flirting with/drooling all over him. I laughed my head off! They are just so cute and funny! I love these girls!Our girls are so smart and strong and talented. They make me want to be better in every way! They are also so lighthearted and fun. They do goofy thing that make me think, "hey that's something I would have done as a young woman!" I feel so blessed to get to know them and spend time with them.We ended the night with cake and yummy raspberry punch.