Carrying over our colds from last week into this week. Lots of coughing, sneezing, and using mommy's clothes as a handkerchief. Too much fighting and crying and too little sleep and quiet. There can't be too many days left to this cold...can there??

Noticing the spring flowers beginning to make an appearance outdoors and enjoying these spring flowers indoors.

I don't have the cold, so I can enjoy the scent of these--flowery with a hint of damp soil, love it!

Adding to our "wish spring was here" collection are these caterpillars, flowers, and butterflies decorating the playroom.

They remind me of the delightful Minuscule bugs (which we first learned about from her blog.) The girls and I have been watching way too many of the videos over at YouTube. This one...

...is very appropriate for how things currently are here. Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.

A few days ago, a Valentine's package from my aunt arrived for the girls. In among all the goodies were some cupcake liners and heart sprinkles, which meant we had noooo choice but to make some cupcakes.
So yesterday we mixed up the batter...
...using my favorite one bowl chocolate cupcake recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart.

And today we whipped up buttercream frosting with some pureed raspberries mixed in because 1. it makes the icing pink and 2. raspberries are so yummy! The icing is a bit too sweet for my taste, but the girls are loving it--they're licking all the cupcakes clean!

Now that the food is taken care of, it's time to finish the decorating. We have some hearts to hang up and then we should be all set to celebrate the patron saint of love and happy marriages--two things I am very thanksful for!

At long last, a vintage, blueish, flowery, and incredibly cute bedspread for Fig found at Sandi's etsy shop. (Fig's would be the bed on the right there.)

Other cuteness in the girls room...

...these pillow cases from a great aunt. What little girl wouldn't want to sleep on those?

Now that the linens are complete, it's time to get some art on those walls...

Couch jumping--one way to get the pent up winter time energy out...

...and a chance for me to try out the "action shot" feature on my camera. Fun for all.

Managed to squeeze in just a little bit of smocking time this morning. Wish I had realized before cutting the pattern and doing the iron transfer that little blue smocking dots would not show up well on a fabric with blue flowers. Lesson learned. I attempted to re-mark as many dots as possible, but soon gave up and just hoped I could wing it.
And the smocking part, I absolutely love! I'm loving the rhythm of the floss over needle, floss under needle and the sudden appearance of lots of very tiny little pleats. It's so relaxing and so sweet looking.
Of course, it's most certainly not perfect. I spent some time ripping out stitches I didn't think were "quite right" but then decided that it was okay--it is my first, if I can just finish it I should be happy.
Hopefully it will be done in time for Easter (why shouldn't it be...right??) and hopefully it will fit Little Peach. If not...well I guess I'll just have to have another baby girl, because somebody is going to wear this dress!

Generally one does "spring cleaning" but there is something about being stuck indoors for days at a time that brings on a need to do some winter cleaning as well. I've spent the last few days vacuuming, scrubbing, dusting, and washing--getting the house as clean as is possible (with two toddlers some mess is expected.) I've also spent the last few days sorting, tossing, storing and donating. We're moving this summer, the news of which has suddenly made me much more aware of how much...stuff we have around the house. Stuff I didn't remember we had (and obviously wasn't missing), stuff we didn't need (but I felt guilty parting with), stuff I've never used (but might, someday, maybe...probably not), lots and lots and lots of stuff. So, I'm letting go, I'm getting rid of it all and, most importantly, I'm being extra vigilant about what we do purchase from here on out!

The girls spent most of the week coloring, molding, cutting, pasting, and painting. And with the arrival of slightly sunnier days, the girls have discovered that the "turtle bugs" (some kind of small, black, beetle) have returned to the sun room. That also keeps them occupied--hunting down the bugs, capturing them, and finding their magnifying glasses to examine them. Pookie drew the bugs and informed me that we need a bug book so we can learn more about them. Guess that's one purchase I will have to make...

And now it's a new week. I've...taken a break from the cleaning for now. I think I've run out of energy and need about a week to recoup before I tackle the upstairs. That and I've really been wanting to try out the smocking on Little Peach's dress. I've never tried smocking before and I'm really, really, anxious to get started. The dress is all sewn up and ready for me to start so hopefully, should all people under the age of four go to sleep early tonight, I can get started this evening and have something to show you all tomorrow!

Yes, a rest week....exactly what I need!