I know, I know.
I said I wouldn't be back until the end of the month.
Consider this a little commercial break in the silence.
Just had to post this picture from this morning.
It makes me happy.
Hope your February is full of love!

~a quiet month~

For those of you that follow my blog, I wanted to let you know that it's going to be quiet here for the month of February. I will still post my crafts on CraftedbyKatieB. 

I don't post here as often as I used to, but I still think about it every day and feel bad that I haven't updated my blog.  I'm taking a month off from that worry (and many others), and

I'm making this month's focus spending more quality time with:

See you on March 1st!

You know it's time to do an update when you get tired of seeing the
photo pop up from your last post!  So, for your viewing pleasure (and hopefully for not more than a few days....or a week), here's a new photo.  Last week, it felt like we had half of our annual rainfall average of 12" in three days!  I think that Emma light have been taking it a bit too far, though!

Do you have any friends who you might not see very often, but when you do you just immediately
start off where you left it last time?  We are blessed to have quite a fiew of those, but we were able
to see a couple of our favorites last weekend.  Sadly, part of their family was missing.....and they were missed!  But, we did get to have breakfast with Adam and Clara.  Clara is four years old, and the kids think of her as a sister.  She's such a sweety!  And she brought along her daddy, who is one of the
kindest people I know.  It was an awesome morning!

Oh, and this red~headed fellow was there, too.

Random Thoughts
~~~~
I love that sweet little face and her big brother's, too!

The kitchen is my favorite room in the house.  Just last night, between four and bedtime, it was a school while the kids practiced spelling words together on the chalk board, a math lab as they worked on math, a workshop as we sanded down pine wood derby cars and another set of owls, a skating rink as Emma practiced her roller skating, a time for bonding as Ryan and Bob made dinner together, a bakery as I made a double batch of banana cookies ~ love it!

I must have rubbed up against an older person yesterday.  I found this long, curly white
hair on my black coat.  Can't figure out any other way for it to have gotten there.

Winter decided to hit us.  Just got in from shoveling the driveway and sidewalks for an hour...and it's time to do it again.  I actually enjoy it though ~ there's nothing quite like the quietness during a snowstorm.

Today is the perfect day to try out my new espresso machine!

I love days when the house is empty and I can't go anywhere (the roads are terribly slick). 
I'm always amazed by how much I get accomplished.

I think today is going to be a clean and the sew day!  Finally!

Owl Invasion!

{For those of you that also follow my craft blog, you might have already seen this. 
For those of you that don't, I had to share my latest project with you.  It's a new favorite and one you're going to see more of!}

Meet the three newest additions to our home.
My mom and I found the wooden forms for this set of owls on our
quilting trip last fall.  I worked on them this past weekend, and I love how they turned out.
My dear husband has been busy making more for me...can't wait to try
different color combinations!

Dear Snowmen,
I normally keep you around until the end of January.
However, with our 50 degree weather and
very noticeable lack of snow, I'm putting you away early!
Out with the snow...in with pink and red, hearts, and LOVE!

The kids and I spent last weekend at Mom and Dad's.
We enjoyed our time on the farm, special time time
with special people and listened to some
much needed help and encouragement for the upcoming year.

Soup Recipe

Here is the soup recipe from the last post.

I made it up...so feel free to blame me if you don't like it! 

Add to your Crockpot in the following order: 

Four Johnsonville Chicken Sausages with Herbs and Cheese

(I cooked them on the stovetop first in a bit of water and

then cut them into small pieces.)

Carrots - cut into small pieces

(I didn't measure...my kids like them so I add a lot)

Red Potatoes - cut into small pieces

(same as above)

Onions - diced and cooked until clear

One can of white beans - drained and rinsed

One can of petite diced tomatoes

(I used low sodium)

One large can of reduced sodium chicken broth

About two-three handfuls of fresh spinach - washed

Four bay leaves

(be sure to remove these afterwards)

Cook on High

It took about six hours for me.

Could take four if you cut your vegies really small

~~~

Enjoy!

Just a few of today's thoughts:

I love my Crock-Pot (and Johnsonville Chicken Sausages make a great addition

to the soup pictured above).

It's amazing how better choices are made throughout the day when you

start the day out right.

The next person to ask me to do something might just hear the word "no."

But a nice "no."

I love having Bob and the kids home, but it is SO nice when everyone goes back

to their regular routine so I can really clean the house.

I know that there are those that miss the snow, but you can't beat these

gorgeous days!

I can't leg press as much as I could in high school...yet!

I've got some very creative, talented friends!

I'm thinking "Lake Cottage (dusty blue)" for our bathrooms and "Foaming Waters (lightly tinted dusty blue) for our hallway.  Should go awesome with the existing "Bundled Rye."  I've almost accomplished my mission to have not a single white wall in the house.

Magic Erasers have got to be my favorite cleaning invention (just don't use them

on counters or tables with a shiny finish!".

Can't wait to watch Ryan play basketball.

I want need! to craft...soon!

The view out my kitchen window tonight...gorgeous!