February 28-Day 63

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!

This was one of the piles of photos on my desk that I have been wanting to scrap for along time, but wasn't sure what to do with them.

I haven't journaled yet because I'm not exactly sure what I want to write about losing my last grandparent....so I will let it sit and come back to do the journaling later.

February 27-Day 62

I have been spending the last two weeks cleaning, organizing, and de-cluttering all the junk on my scrap desk.

Now that things are somewhat in order, I am ready to start scrapping again and will be glad to know I can find what I'm looking for!

I love the quote on the wall...."Do something creative everyday."

February 26-Day 61

These are the beautiful roses that were responsible for the soggy cake the other night.

Wes always gets the kids flowers for their birthdays and it was fun to have my own after all the flowers we had in the house in January!

February 25-Day 60

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 a somewhat healthy cake....uses applesauce, sour cream, etc. instead of all the butter.

February 24-Day 59

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!

Ellie and I made cake today....but we lost it while taking pictures after supper. Somehow she managed to tip over the vase of roses that Wes brought home for me. We just weren't sure we wanted to eat soggy cake!

February 23-Day 58

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.

February 22-Day 57

Forgot to mention that I finally 'upgraded' my glasses when we were in Duluth yesterday!

I couldn't decide on a pair that I liked, so I actually got two new pairs of glasses!

They purse they are sitting on is one that I crocheted and felted last fall.

February 21-Day 56

Wes and I made a trip to Duluth today to go to the home and travel show at the DECC.

We also made a trip to the mall where he bought me a few new necklaces.

February 20-Day 55

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!

She has worn it all week in the kitchen whenever she is helping me with supper or making dessert....she is becoming such a little helper!

Today while she had this one, she enjoyed a huge marshmallow sucker. I think marshmallows rate right up there behind pink corn in her world!

Wow....day 55....hard to believe! But I think I am caught up again...somehow the last couple of weeks have gotten away from me. Maybe it's because everyone has been passing the flu around our house...I know I always remind the kids to share, but this wasn't quite what I had in mind!

February 19-Day 54

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.

I hope he'll continue to do this through all of his school years...crossing my fingers!

February 18-Day 53

The February page of my new calendar....and more words that I am trying to incorporate into my daily life.

Embrace imperfection. Embrace goodness. Embrace family. Embrace moving forward. Embrace solitude. Embrace chaos. Embrace laughter. Embrace that little voice inside of your head. Embrace a new challenge. This month, embrace the real you.

Some of these things I find easy to do and others I struggle with, but I am learning more about myself every day!

February 17-Day 52

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!

She interviewed Grandpa Harley about his time serving during World War II....and he brought out some of his captured miliary items to show us again. I could sit and listen to his stories for hours....and am kicking myself that we didn't do more of that when Grandpa Phil was still with us.

P.S. Emmy won a trophy and will be advancing to the state FCCLA meetings in the cities in April with her project! Congrats Em....we're so proud of you!

February 16-Day 51

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!

It still feels a little strange shopping for clothes as I am used to automatically trying on extra large or large clothes....but since I've lost 20 pounds since last summer, I was actually able to buy some mediums!!

February 15-Day 50

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!

Guess she likes her new pj's and hat that she picked out at the mall!

February 14-Day 49

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.

Em tied for 5th place for the 3P air rifle intermediate group and got a medal for 3rd place for standard air. And she even kept her socks on while she was shooting standard! (for those of you who haven't seen state shoot pictures of Emmy, she always shoots barefoot when she does standard!)

February 13-Day 48

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!

Ellie will be so excited to see pink 'corn'....she just loves candy corn!!

February 12-Day 47

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.

Another one of my favorite new mugs...with french vanilla cappuccino (of course, since I am not a coffee drinker!).

February 11-Day 46

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.

The girls and I are learning how to make these tiles and have a bunch of fun quotes that we want to do for their bedrooms.

February 10-Day 45

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.

February 9-Day 44

This was the view from porch windows this morning....lots of freezing rain!

I think I will be really glad when winter is finally over and spring arrives!

February 8-Day 43

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.

She had fun riding on Jeremy's sled and building a snow fort with Kacey!

February 7-Day 42

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?!?)

February 6-Day 41

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!

This is one of my favorites....bran flakes and strawberries....but the strawberries this time of year just don't compare to the ones we pick in the summer!

February 5-Day 40

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.

I am getting back into the habit of drinking water every day again to see if these stubborn last few pounds will come off. Make myself drink all my water for the day before I can touch a diet coke!

February 4-Day 39

This is what the window by the kitchen sink looks like with three out of five kids being sick this week.

I think that is one major disadvantage of our large family....we seem to share everything!

At least everyone made it to school today and the weather is above zero so hopefully we're over the crud soon!

February 3-Day 38

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.

Oh well, at least that part is done...now to just find the logging receipts, etc. so we can get our returns done!

February 2-Day 37

Not a very fun picture...but thought it would be neat to see what is in our refrigerator as a family of seven!

Somehow there is never enough milk or diet coke in the frig...something we have to buy on an almost daily basis!

February 1-Day 36

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.

Maybe this will help motivate me to get these last ten pounds off...I don't like to exercise but maybe this will seem like more fun until I get can get outside to go walking or bike riding again!