Good old family time

Fruit loop rainbow we made while waiting for jelly

Perfect cookie

Bella and Daddy cutting dough

I love that jelly!

Tasting jelly

We rarely get time to just hang out on the weekend. This weekend, no birthday parties, family or friend commitments, just a day to spend in our PJ's. So we decided to spend the weekend doing things we put off. First was making jelly. We picked the strawberries in September. It is a long, messy process but so good at the end. We now have 40 jars of jelly. It was great for our next project, making hamantaschen. For those who do not know what that is, it is a cookie made for the Jewish holiday Purim. They are triangle in shape with jelly in the middle. They are awesome. Bella also loved the jelly on pancakes for dinner. Check out the pictures.

Our Valentine Day Fun

Chicag Blizzard 2011

Bella playing in the snow

Bella sledding down the middle of the street

They had been talking cabout it for days. There was part of me hoping they would be wrong(at least with the totals) but they weren't. Tuesday, I sent Bella to school. Her teachers said to feel free to pick up early if the snow started. About two o'clock, I decide to go out, stop and get movies and crafts to prepare. When I went into Hobby Lobby for about 15 minutes, when I went to check out it was white out. So off I went to get Bella from school. I knew it was going to be bad when it took us 20 mins. to get home when it usually takes 5. We watched and watched the news, hundreds of cars stopped on Lake Shore Drive for 10 hours. I was glad we were all save at home.

The morning brought shock when we saw the amount of snow. Our back door was stuck the snow was half way up it. We measure the front yard and there was 23 inches (some was over 4 ft with drifts). Bill did a great job getting us plowed. About noon, Bella and I geared up to go out. We got our sled and Bella rode it 5 blocks to our friends The Douglass, down the middle of the street ( the only way we could go). Just a side note this brought us no school for the day.

Thursday, Daddy was able to get out to go to work but streets were still bad. Besides that the temp was sub zero, so we were not able to go out. This day brought us lots of crafts. Since again not school.

Chicago is use to snow but this really stopped the city for days.

My Heart is like a Zoo

Bear

Bunny

I found this great book Called My Heart Is Like a ZOO By Michael Hall. After Bella read it, we decide we should try to make some of the animals from it. It was great because Bella learned how to fold a paper and cut a heart. All the animals are made of hearts. We are now getting into the Valentines theme around here. Stay tuned for more Valentines crafts

Is it spring/summer yet?

Ok I know I live in Chicago but this weather such. I can deal with the snow but the cold sucks. So Bella and I talked about spring and summer and started a list of things we want to do. Here they are. We are looking for other fun ideas.

1.Pool,pool pool
2. Park
3. zoo
4. Indiana State Beach Park
5. kite flying
6. feed the ducks at Lake Park
7. Mystic Waters
8. learn to ride bike
9. Ride to park for ice cream
10. Picnic
11. lots of art projects
12. Pirates Cove
13. Summer reading program
14. roller skate
15.beach
16. Navy Pier
17.milwaukee boardwalk
18. farm
19. swim lessons
20 family vacation
21. Camp in backyard

Helps to think

Bella and Stephanie

Bella and Stephanie

Izabella has always made friends very easy. This year when she started school, their was a group of girls who had been friends for a long time and were not very willing to let others in. This has changed and they are friends now. However, Bella's friend Stephanie was an outside too. They began friends on the first day and have been buddies since then. It is very interesting Stephanie is quiet and reserved not like Bella at all. They bring out the best in each other.

Bella's friends have been the same since she was little. We love them and they have been the best kids to grow up with. We think of them and their family as our family. We are starting to be that way with Stephanies. Stephanie's older sister even invited Bella to her school music program. This has been so nice because this is really her first friendship made on her own and not with mommies help.

Chore Chart

Tickets for Bella's chore chart

Bella's New Chore Chart

With Kindergarten coming up in the Fall. I decided it was chore time. Bella has been pretty good about helping when asked. However, we decide to do a ticket system. She has three choices in the morning and three in the afternoon. Every time she completes one she earns at ticket. At the end of the week she can cash them in for special family activities.

5 tickets- extra story at night

10 tickets- Family Game

15 tickets- Family Wii night

20 tickets- Movie night

25 tickets- Playdate at our house

30 tickets- Lunch with Daddy

35 ticket- Girly thing with mommy- mani, pedi, Claries