Come on Spring!

We had a taste of spring weather around these parts, last week.  Friday was beautiful and made me that much more excited about warmer weather!  Like true Illinois weather, we are back to cold and dreary, but I'm sure it's coming!
Ethan and I were itching for some projects to do, so we headed to the Hob-Lob Friday morning to get a few things.  I had a spring wreath for our front door in mind and Ethan wanted a craft to do.  I found this on pinterest and had all the supplies for it.  He is quite the rule follower, so his eggs had to be the same color and in the same order...

He did a great job and did most of this all by himself.  I only helped to dye the noodles green and with  gluing them on the paper (but not much, because I was told he didn't need my help)

I worked on re-vamping a wreath I made last year...It was a good idea and turned out nice, but we don't have a storm door and the birds thought this was an excellent spot to make a home.

2012 Pinterest Spring Wreath

This year, I took all the burlap squares off.  The wreath form was also wrapped in burlap, which saved some time this year!  I used several inspiration pictures, but basically used what I had for my new wreath.  Here it is (and the process)...

I have been seeing monogram wreaths everywhere and the moss covered ones are big too, so here's my version.   Only time will tell if the birds like this one too.

After nap on Friday, we played in the backyard for a while.  Swinging, riding the tractor, sliding, picking up sticks and playing in the tree house.

A little blurry, but so sweet!

Such a good sharer.

He has learned how to pump his legs!!!

Playing with the rocks in the tree house.  Not sure what Ethan is doing here :)

His white rock collection

Happy Swinging!

Climbing the slide all by herself...

And going down on her belly :)

Photo Friday...Week 26

I missed another week...oops.  I was on vacation, so that's my excuse :).
Anyway, this week's photo is from my parent's house.  I took years of piano lessons (usually willingly).  I may not have the talent someone with years of lessons should have, but I still enjoy sitting down at the piano on occasion.
The kids enjoy joining me too...
Teaching your child something new.

Bath Night

I'm trying to get better about taking pictures of 'normal' stuff.  So, last night during bath time I grabbed the camera.  Both kids still love their baths!

Such a cheesy kid

She's getting too big!

During most of the bath, Ethan was dumping water on his face/head.  

And Nora just splashes.  I couldn't get her to look at me, so this is the best I've got.

Nashville Getaway

This past weekend, we had a wonderful getaway to Nashville.  It was rather last minute, but when the babysitters say they are available, you make yourself available!  We were planning to do something this month, but didn't know what.  Jared had 5 or 6 vacation days to use up before April 1...we will plan better this year :)!  Anyway, Nashville was a great choice.  So, Thursday afternoon we headed to Salem, to drop the kids off and head south.  We stayed at The Inn at Opryland, which is owned by the same company and right across the street from Opryland (with free shuttle service).

Thursday night we headed across the street to check out Opryland and get some dinner.  This place is like a Vegas hotel without the casinos...it's huge, with a lot going on!

There are 9 acres of gardens and water inside.  It is beautiful, you could get lost walking around in there.

Self portrait

Indoor Waterfalls

Friday morning we were told we had to eat breakfast at The Pancake Pantry (check out the menu).  When I was there a few years ago for a girls weekend, we drove past and the line was out the door and down the block.  It is suggested you get there before 9am to avoid the crazy lines.  We got there at about 8:45 and there was a short line out the door.  Nothing that scared us away! It most definitely lived up to the hype.  If you visit Nashville...go!

The people on the left are in line.  I enjoyed their famous sweet potato pancakes and Jared wasn't disappointed with his  Sante Fe cornmeal pancakes.

After breakfast, we walked around the area for a while and they decided to find the Nashville Antique Archaeology store.  It was in an area that used to be a Marathon Automobile car factory (from the early 1900's), so it was fun to explore.  There were also several other shops around.

A bike from Mike's personal collection.

I remember seeing the pig head episode!

The store was almost like a museum too.  There were several items that were just on display and not for sale. 

The outside of the building.

 After we finished at Antique Archaeology, we decided to just meander through the old buildings.  There were a lot of small businesses; salons, photographers, insurance agencies.  But there were also a lot of pictures and old pieces of equipment around to look at.

An Antique Drill Press

  After we finished meandering, we decided to visit The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson's home.  It was very interesting and involved a lot of walking!  It is set on 1200 acres.  For those of you who don't know...Andrew Jackson was the 7th President and was for slavery, I think he had 150+ slaves on his plantation.  We toured the grounds as well as a guided tour of his mansion.  Most of the furnishings are original.  We weren't able to take pictures inside the house, but here are some of our walk around the grounds.

View from the front

Jackson's wife, Rachel's 1 acre "Pleasure Garden"

Andrew and Rachel Jackson's tomb in the garden

I found it interesting that one slave of the Jackson's lived at The Hermitage his entire life.  He was born there and was the 1st tour guide when the plantation became a museum (in 1889)!  Alfred, was his name, and he is also buried in the garden.  Another interesting tidbit about the Jacksons...they had no biological children.  They had 1 'adopted' son who was born as a twin to Rachel Jackson's brother and they gave them one of the boys to raise as their own!  Crazy!

This shows how big this place is.

We would highly recommend this tour as well, on your visit to Nashville :).

Friday night we got dressed up and went out to a nice dinner (no pictures though).  Saturday morning we checked out of our hotel, decided to stroll through Opryland again, in the daylight and found a fun little lunch spot in East Nashville.  There are still lots of things we would have liked to fit in, so I guess we'll just have to go back!  

I can't thank my parents enough for keeping the kids!  They had a great time and we all slept in past 8 today!

Oh, and check out the instagram link, there are other Nashville pics on there!

Snow Day

We got a little more snow yesterday.  Maybe a couple inches, nothing too big.  Instead of playing outside in the snow, I decided to bring some inside for the kids to play with.  Both had a good time.  Ethan kept saying "I LOVE THIS!"

Filling his cup with snow

Filling her cup too!

Not too sure about touching it though

He made a snowman!

Photo Friday...Week 25

Half way through Photo Friday!
I'm going back a few years again for this one.  We have been to Michigan City, IN on family vacation twice and have a great time!  Ethan was barely 1 year old on our first trip and we went down to the lake for some family pictures (taken by Abby).

Holding your child's hand

Fun With Grandpa

Last Sunday, Grandma Karen and Grandpa came up to visit.  I didn't take very many pictures, but I do have a few of Grandpa with the kids.

Tickle session with Grandpa!

Nora is very into books right now...but it's difficult to read fast enough for her  :)

Grandma Karen was here too, I promise.  I just didn't have my camera handy most of the day!  We had a great visit and the kids enjoyed their time too!

And here's one of sweet Nora! 

Photo Friday...Week 24

This week, I'm going back a few years!  There were never any rules that said these photos have to be current, right?!?

Your feet, side by side

This was when Ethan was 1 month old.  I was still on maternity leave from work, my brother and his family still lived in Florida and my parents and Abby were heading down for a visit.  Ethan and I decided it would be great to tag along!  And it was.  This was also his first plane ride and first trip to the beach :).  Such a good little traveler he was and is!

Just soaking up the sun!

PlayTime

A few days ago, I made a 'fortress' for the kids to play in.  (Side note: Fortress is Ethan's word of choice for a tent/fort.)  They thought it was awesome.  It stayed up for 2 days, I think, but I eventually needed the blankets.

Giving his fortress a thumbs up!

They crammed a lot into that little space.

Today, we had a little play day with some friends.  Actually, I was watching a friend's 2 kids for the morning, and we all had a great time!  Ethan and Jackson are in preschool and church together.  Nora and Emree are 6 months apart and had fun playing too.

The girls, cutting up some cookies

A couple of cute superheros!

Lego time

The girls wanted in on the superhero action!  See Emree in the background as Supergirl :)

As I have blogged about before, Ethan loves to play in the snow.  We got about 4 inches yesterday and last night.  He and Jared went out yesterday to shovel and sled a bit (it was dark before they came in).  It warmed up a little today, so I decided to take both kids out for a little while.  Nora was happy just walking circles on the driveway and didn't really care about the snow.  And I basically had to drag Ethan inside.  I'll leave the snow play to daddy :).

Taking them for a sled ride...Nora's not too sure.

Checking out the snow, briefly. 

Moving some snow