Februarying

February is a tricky month.  It's still winter, not quite Spring, but it gets your hopes up.  Luckily, it is short!  March is officially a Spring month!  February can bring a lot of snow and ice and mud, but you also notice a change in the light!  It is brighter, and it lasts longer into the evenings.  Hope, I say!

Legolas and Sam sharing a favorite snack: apples and peanut butter.  So cute to see Sam grow to the point that he can sit and have a snack like a big boy.

 He is 19 months now.

Almost all of his teeth are in.  His favorite past-time is shooting hoops.   He actually "flops" after his shots, rolling onto his back and groaning.  Learning from the big boys.

 Reina patiently gives up her kennel so the little boys can make it a play space.

 They love it in there!

Since we're indoors anyway, it's a good time to tackle indoor tasks.  We've been needing to paint for well over a year now.   This is a bad picture (dark) but the mantle is navy blue.

 The navy matches the accent in the foyer (pictures still dark, sorry!):

And the back mantle and bookshelves are now white:

I'll have to get new pictures, everything looks dingy to me in these.  I do need to work on cleaning the brick above the back fireplace.  I am tempted to milk paint all of the back brick...but my husband is hesitant.

I was getting some work done and Sam was quiet in his highchair after his lunch.  I knew it was nap time, but I wasn't hearing from him, so I kept working...

The kids were all playing with a new play-doe set (and yes, this is what my kitchen table looks like in real life, judge if you will).  You can also get a sneak peek at the "accent" dark-grey wall color in the kitchen.  I'm giving that about three months and it's going to be bright yellow!  I got talked into the grey by the painter.  I'm SO not a dark girl.  Give me my cheerful yellow!

In addition to the painting, we've been finishing out the basketball season.  Arwen had the game-winning 3-pointer buzzer beater last weekend, which was the thrill of a lifetime.  This weekend she is on a retreat for Confirmation.

I am looking forward to the first signs of Spring, but in the meantime, I want to make use of every day of this short month.  Easter comes super early this year, and with it, I have a new niece or nephew  due.  New life is around the corner, but first, Lent!

With every refreshing, every renewal, comes hard work, or even the Cross.  It's learning to love that daily cross that is the key to happiness, I am sure.  And so, February.

Peace and love!:)