I knew the weather last weekend was too good to last this early in the year....as today we are getting tons of snow!
With five kids in our house, I am so thankful that they are not picky eaters (for the most part!)....this was part of supper tonight....veggie pizza. We usually eat this once a week in the summer...and hadn't had it for awhile. I think the fruit pizza in the summer beats this hands down...but fruit is too expensive this time of year!
The kids had their 4H club bowling party this afternoon in Deer River...I think they had fun! 
My little Jer-bear made this for me at one of his 4H project days last summer....and I love seeing it hang by the front door!
The weather in northern Minnesota is finally starting to feel like spring...snow is melting and there are huge puddles on the driveway. But I'm sure we are just getting spoiled for a few days.......have to admit though, it felt good not to wear a heavy jacket when we were outside!
Just a winter shot of part of Ashley's garden in the backyard. She has an incredible green thumb (she sure doesn't get that from her mother!)...and every spring she expands her garden and adds new sections.
Wes and I made a trip to UMD today to watch Emily's honor band concert...she made it into the maroon band! I can't believe how well the kids all played together knowing that they just got their music that morning when they arrived at UMD.
Somehow life seems to slow down just a little bit when you sit down with your two year old and play Candy Land! Ellie is having fun learning her colors...but insists that she has to be the one to win every time we play!
Of course, I just couldn't stop with the bathroom....so I repainted my family wall hanging to match one of the walls in the living room and finally dug out some pics from summer of 2007 that I love of the kids! 
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Picked up a few new goodies for the bathroom and finally moved out the microwave cart and put up a shelf! lol Not a big difference but it makes the bathroom look a little newer!
Ok...so I'm a few hours early on this one but wanted to get my photos uploaded and ordered so I can get February's pictures in my album!
I have been spending the last two weeks cleaning, organizing, and de-cluttering all the junk on my scrap desk.
These are the beautiful roses that were responsible for the soggy cake the other night.
The 'second' birthday cake that Ellie and I made this morning! We were able to have cake tonight after supper...but we skipped the candles!
This is me....at 38 years old. I hate having my picture taken but figured that I better have some sort of photo of me on my birthday!
I forgot to take a photo today, so I'll cheat and use one from my birthday on the 24th....this was a note that was on my bed when I woke up on my birthday from my peanut, Kacey.
Forgot to mention that I finally 'upgraded' my glasses when we were in Duluth yesterday!
Wes and I made a trip to Duluth today to go to the home and travel show at the DECC. 
My little "chef" Ellie Bellie! Her and dad spent the day together last Sunday while the big girls and I were in Duluth....and this is what the two of them picked out at Target as a treat for her!
One of the things I love about Jerbear is how responsible he has become with his homework for only being in the second grade! As soon as he gets home, he works on his math or spelling words.
The February page of my new calendar....and more words that I am trying to incorporate into my daily life.
Emily finished up her star event project for the regional FCCLA meeting on Wednesday the night before...nothing like waiting until the last minute, right Emily?! Maybe she works better under pressure...or the Phillipich procrastination gene has hit another generation!
My pile of goodies from our girls' day in Duluth yesterday. Usually I don't end up coming home with much, but Grandma gave me some birthday money and told me that I had to buy a few things for myself before we could head home!
Not the clearest photo in the world, but wanted to get a picture before we went to bed. This is how Kacey looked after a long girls' day shopping in Duluth!
Wow, it felt weird to only watch one of our girls shoot at President's Day 4-H Invitational Shoot instead of three of them! Ashley had a speech meet in Hibbing and Kacey is taking a 'break' from shooting, so it was just Emily shooting on Saturday..jpg)
Just a few Valentine's day treats that I picked up for the kids. Somehow between all the grandparents, they will end up with more chocolate than they need!
I am actually finding time to work on my project 365 album! Now if only I could find some spare time to do the journaling....I'll just have to look back here on the blog to remember what I journaled.
This is another favorite quote of mine....and it is really what I am trying to do in my life. Some days it is tough to find "joy" but I am realizing that I have so much to be grateful each and every day.
Just a photo of my desk...and one of my favorite websites to look for scrapbook inspiration. These are some layouts I posted there last year.
This was the view from porch windows this morning....lots of freezing rain!
Ellie got a new snowsuit and couldn't wait to go outside and play! We are finally having some warmer weather so the kids are able to get outside.
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I love color....and this is just some of my stash of material to make quilts. Of course, I think I bought this material when Ellie was born in hopes of making a few rag quilts for the kids....maybe this year for the holidays! (I would have almost a whole year to work on them if I started soon.....now where is my sewing machine?!?)
Along with drinking my water, I am also trying to actually have breakfast before lunch time....sometimes I get so busy that I forget to eat until I am making Ellie's lunch!
Trying to play with settings on my camera today and with one of my lenses....and working with depth of field. I am crossing my fingers that I get into the online photography class I am on the waiting list for in a few weeks.
This is what the window by the kitchen sink looks like with three out of five kids being sick this week.
Spent most of today working on tax stuff so I could get my Minnesota sales tax paid on time. I had to upgrade my Quickbooks program last summer...and for the last six months, I just threw all my receipts, invoices, bank statements, etc. into a folder...hoping to find spare time to get it entered.
Not a very fun picture...but thought it would be neat to see what is in our refrigerator as a family of seven!
Look what we found in town yesterday! lol We have been looking for the Wii Fit for about six months now...seems like every time they get them in somewhere in town we are always too late.
Ok, so I'm a few hours early for tomorrow's photo....but had to take a picture of the dishtowels I bought in Colorado!
This is the stack of books I am either reading or waiting to find time to start reading.
Ok, I really should get to bed....but wanted to catch up from the last week or so while the house is quiet!
This is Ellie at nap time this afternoon....guess she likes her new shirt from the AF Academy that I picked up for her! She wore it right away on Sunday...it made it through the laundry on Tuesday, and she has it back on again today!.jpg)
Got home from my trip just in time for Kacey's first basketball game! Love the first picture (even though it is blurry) as you can see her making a basket...and considering that she didn't make any last year, she was pretty excited! lol 
Happy 8th Birthday, Jerbear! Can my 'little' guy really be eight years old already?!? Felt really good to sleep in my own bed last night....and today was a busy day of unpacking, re-grouping, and baking chocolate birthday cake with brown sugar frosting. I think Jeremy has requested this same cake for his birthday for the last five years!
Picture from the floor waiting at my gate for my flight back to the cities. Dad and Annie dropped me off at the airport in Denver this morning...was a tearful and quick goodbye at the front of the airport. I hate saying goodbye!
Big Mike, me, and little Mike....three Phillipich's! lol 
Friday was a fun afternoon catching up with my "Kivi" relatives at the hotel. Uncle Ray even thought enough to pick up some reading material for my flight back to Minnesota and gave me a current issue of the 'dreaded yellow book'! lol Don't worry...paybacks will be fun with this one!