Makes me happy!

I am a person who likes when everything has a place and everything is in its place.  When we moved into our house a little over two years ago, very few things had a place.  But Jack has moved along steadily and he continues to make our home more beautiful and functional.  People who regularly visit our home remark that there's always something new to see.  And that's true.  The latest new thing is this shelf in our mudroom.  Jack and I bought the baskets a few months ago and then he built the shelves to fit the baskets.  I cannot even say how happy this addition to our house makes me!  Everyone has their own basket for hats and gloves.  Even the kids are excited about this.  Even Aidan is excited about this!  He knows which basket is his so he can help get himself ready to go out in the winter and he puts his hats and gloves away in his basket when we return home.  Sometimes I just walk in the mudroom and smile because I love these shelves so much.  Thank you, Jack!

Four!

 My LuLuBelle turned four at the end of January.  I don't think I'm particularly good at coming up with birthday theme ideas, but I think this day turned out pretty well.  At four, Lauren is very interested in sitting with Annie and doing school whenever Annie does school.  Lauren wants to have her own books and has been most enthusiastic about cutting and about writing her letters.  I thought she would enjoy an ABC themed party.

Annie happily made Lauren an ABC banner to help decorate for the day.  It's still hanging in our kitchen.  It has actually helped Lauren learn the ABC song because she can look at the letters and figure out the song.

Once again, I'm having trouble organizing my pictures the way I want them.  This picture is our ABC fishing pool during Lauren's friend party.  Jack helped the kids making magnetic fishing poles.  For one of the party games, the kids fished for letters and, ideally, said what letter they caught when they caught one.  Those crazy home schoolers.  Below that is actually the first picture of the day.  Our family tradition is that Daddy takes the birthday kid out to breakfast on the morning of their big day.  Lauren was so excited to go to the restaurant "just me and Daddy".

 The birthday girl is having fun!

 I made HUGE cupcakes.  They were actually probably too big.

 The kids decorated their cupcakes, beginning with the first letter of their name.  Here Lauren digs into her monstrous cupcake.

 Aidan is trying to do justice to his cupcake

 Annie is pleased with her decorations

 I'm not sure if it's because she's a girl or because she's four or a combination of the two factors, but when Lauren opens up a clothing item, she wants to put it on. 

 Calico Critters from Mom and Dad

 She also likes to lay it all out and survey the merchanise. 

 Pretty girl.  I think she had a fun day.  I love her so!