Getting Crafty...

Pinterest has inspired me again to make some FABULOUS cards similiar to the ones I pinned! I really love how each of the cards turned out. The flower stamp is a set that I borrowed from Dana and am falling in love with. I don't mind the tedious cutting out of it either; in fact it is rather therapeutic (relieves the stress). Call me crazy, but it does! You may get a little sick of seeing the banner "Happy" birthday cards. They are too easy to make and I got a little carried away.

I have more to come, but right now most of my time is being spent on sixth grade projects. When did homework become something for parents and no longer something just for students???

Thanks again to everyone who ordered Girl Scout cookies from Kimberly, she really appreciates it!!!

Banners are a great use of scrap paper!

If you can't tell by this and the next 2 cards, I love my circle background stamp set.

I haven't stamped any saying on these yet; could be used for anything!

Legos & Valentines

While I spent last Friday at Target waiting with my BFF Jenny to buy Breaking Dawn - Part 1, my kids were creating Lego masterpieces. Kimberly made the American flag and a luxury bath house. Austin made a little scene of Lego people, a horse and a safe full of money. Lexus made a cute house, unfortunately she forgot to take a pic of it.

 Happy Valentine's Day to all our friends and family!!! Austin had fun celebrating Valentine's Day with his classmates/teachers at school. Kimberly also had fun at her Valentine's Day party making lovebugs, playing games, and watching 2 Valentine's videos.



Kimberly and her friend McKenna

 Kimberly got to make art using Valentine conversation hearts!

 My wonderful husband brought me home these gorgeous flowers for Valentine's Day! Even better, he brought Lexus a new puzzle, Kimberly a new Ken outfit and Austin a new snowplow truck for Valentine's Day...he is so thoughtful!!!

Fun @ Library and Trip to Art Museum

The last 2 weeks our family has been fighting sinus infections from mild to severe. I kept Randy and I up for 4 nights with no sleep due to a cough I couldn't control. I was so happy to finally get some some codeine and get a good nights sleep (ironically Randy started coughing that same night).

A week or two ago the kids' participated in a "Minute To Win It" Night at the library. There were several stations around the room and each team was competing to win the most stations. The girls competed on a team with our neighbor Brendan.

Brendan, Lexus, & Kimberly

Lexus trying to put a playing card in bucket.

Kimberly shaking ping pong balls out of box tied to her waist.

Can you think of nothing better to do on a Friday night than to defrost your freezer and fridge??? Oh the fun Randy & I had ;-)

Austin is quickly becoming the little gamer at our house, wanting to play Kirby on the Wii 24 hours a day. While I admit he has gotten pretty good at playing the game; I had to tell him yesterday that he was being put on "Kirby Lockdown" - meaning he could only play it for a little bit in the morning and a little bit more at night if he played with one of his sisters.

Kimberly made her 1st Confession this past Monday night! She was a little nervous, but relieved when she came out realizing it wasn't bad at all. She was so proud of the lamb she made; it's the one with hot pink ballet shoes, pearl jewelry, and purple bows.

I was so excited to go with Kimberly's class on a field trip to the Cincy Art Museum. We had an excellent guide for the first half and the kids were genuinely interested in all the art work. The second half, we had to go on a scavenger hunt with a camera and find pieces of art that fit specific descriptions like "artwork that uses warm colors" or "artwork using geometric shapes". We had a fabulous group of 2 girls & 3 boys!

Kimberly and Natalie

Learning about the Underground Railroad.

Our group rocked!!!

Here are some examples of our scavenger hunt photos. I didn't notice until I downloaded them on the computer, that Kimberly is "posed" in every picture. I thought it was funny and cute how she always has a hand flipped out or something.

Artwork in cool colors

Artwork used in religious ceremony

 

Sculpture made from Clay

Kimberly was so excited about the Art Museum she asked if we could go back as a family and see the rest of it!

Boys' Birthday Party & Maylee!

There has been a lot to celebrate lately in our family! We celebrated our favorite boys...Austin & Colin on Sunday with a birthday party. Austin turned 4 back in December and Colin turned 7 in January. Below is the card I made for Colin:

 Austin requested a backhoe and Colin requested worms and dirt for the cake. I combined both ideas by having worms coming out of the hole the backhoe dug.

Birthday boys: Colin & Austin

Make A Wish!!!

 Yesterday, Bella finally tore apart her newest toy; luckily it was right on the seam and easy to repair.

 There is a new addition to the Grothaus Family!!! My cousin Christy and her husband Andy welcomed a beautiful little girl Monday night.

Card I made to go with her gift.

Maylee

Bengals Playoff Trip to Houston, Texas

Randy and Lexus went to Houston, Texas to watch the Bengals play the Texans in the Playoffs.

 This was Lexus' first plane ride, good practice for when we fly to Ormond Beach, Florida this summer!

 Randy and Lexus found a Children's Museum to pass some time before the big game.

 Finally...game time has arrived! Randy said most of the Texans fans were nice at first, but as the game progressed they became really rowdy. Definitely a different feeling being an outsider, than rooting for your team back home at Paul Brown. They did have great weather while they were in Houston; it was in the 70's.

Lexus at Reliant Stadium

Bengals in the huddle

 Unfortunately, the Bengals lost to the Texans. Hopefully they come back next year with some experience under their belts ready to play some great football!

Faces after the Bengals lost to the Texans ;-(

Overall, they both said it was fun trip!

Family Time at the Bob White

Over Christmas Break, we spent a fun day at the Bob White Club with the Grothaus Family. It was fun to show our kids a special place we spent many, many days at growing up. It was fun to share with them things from my own childhood and create new memories with them in the same place. Thanks to Uncle Eddie, Tristan, Myles, Mitchell and all the boy scouts for a delicious breakfast!

Great Grandpa, Austin & Randy chilling out by the fireplace.

Halle & Kimberly pointing to Great Grandpa & Grandpa Grothaus' badges

Lexus, Colin, Austin, Halle & Kimberly

As I look at the picture below, it reminds me of the many times we sat at the bar. I am glad my own children get to experience the outdoors and have an appreciation/excitement for all the things you can do in the outdoors. They will grow up knowing there is so much more than just TV, Wii, etc...

The first activity of the day was archery; all 5 kids got a chance to shoot a bow and arrow at the targets. They all did really well! Lexus has been asking for a bow, she really enjoys archery. (maybe for her b-day)

Randy showing Austin how to shoot.

Kimberly

Lexus

Halle and Colin

Second, we headed over to the Trap House. I love trap shooting, but guess I have gotten really rusty (only hit 1 out of 5). Somehow, I remember being better when I was a kid. Kimberly did a fabulous job hitting the button that released the clay birds.

Lexus, Grandpa and Martha shooting trap.

Last, we hit the shooting range to shoot 22's. The kids really loved this! For one, a 22 doesn't have a big kick like the other guns, and second it is pretty easy to load, line up your sites and shoot at a target and actually hit it a few times. Even Austin hit the target, with a little help from Mommy ;-) The night before we bought all 3 kids a starter gun to share. It can either be a 22 rifle or a 4-10 shotgun. The adults got to shoot a 38 pistol and a British gun my Dad owns (it sounded like a cannon going off).

Austin and Mommy shooting a 22 rifle.

Randy helping Kimberly get started.