It's All Over the Place!

I think my in-laws are trying to scare me off. This is what they have up in Michigan.

This is snow fort height!

Don't go off the path, they'll have to send out a search crew!
Well, at least the house number is still visable!
4 Wheel Drive?

There is a lake in this picture, it's hiding...underneath all the snow!

Looking at the weekend forcast on weather.com, it is saying we are going to get close to 50 on Sunday - wouldn't that be nice! Of course, I'm sure we won't and I'm sure that it won't melt all the white stuff outside! I do see more snow in the forcast, which will be alright, if what we have already goes away first!

I guess us Midwesterners are getting a reminder of what winters used to be like all season! Mom and Daddy have a lot of snow also - can't we export it to the melting ice caps? Oh well, before we know it, we'll be saying it's "so hot."

Our Winter Wonderland

Southern Indiana has been blanketed with snow and ice over the past 48 hours. It all started Monday night with a bit of snow. We woke up Tuesday morning to snow on the ground and school being cancelled. By noon, freezing rain had started and continued well into the night. The mall closed early, which luckily enabled me to stay home and not endure the winter weather. Marty had come home early, but when he pulled into the driveway, the car was already covered in ice. This morning (Wednesday) at about 2AM our power went out for the first time - it came back on not too long after, thankfully. Unfortunately, sometime between 6:30 and 7AM it went off again, leaving us in the dark and without heat until about 10AM. Macee tried turning on cartoons a couple of times and when the TV wouldn't come on, she would ball up her fist and start grunting in anger...quite a funny site!

Anyways, we got another 3 inches or so of snow on top of what had already fallen and the ice that accumulated overnight. Schools are closed again today, the mall is closed also. Marty's company was on a 2 hour delay, but he got an email saying that they had no power...he chose to stay home knowing that without power he wasn't going to get any work done there. So, the Laritz family is having a snow day...together!

From the front window...once the snow started falling.
Our swingset, trampoline, grill, and patio table set is covered in ice, icicles, and snow.

The back side of our house.

Each tree branch has a coating of ice around it.

Another shot of what it looks like from our front window.

Looking down the street. Some have ventured out.

Our house in the middle of our Winter Wonderland.

The landscaping infront of the house...most are slumping from the weight of the ice and snow on top of them.

Marty trying to help this tree regain shape - hopefully we won't be redoing our landscaping this spring...what a bummer that would be!

Winter Wonderland Fun

Among the mess brought about by the ice and snow is a little bit of fun, of course! We headed outside this afternoon to play in the snow! The girls and I went out for a little bit yesterday, but soon after we got out there the freezing rain started. Macee has been unsure of the snow, taking some bribing to get her to come out of the garage. I don't blame her, I'm not too excited about it either! Rylee, on the other hand, was so excited to see the snow yesterday morning she didn't even care that she wasn't able to go to preschool (schools were closed yesterday, are closed again today, and I look for them to be closed tomorrow also)!

Macee, all bundled up.
Ry, excited to be out in the snow!

Macee came out of the garage to ride in her car...she drove it into the snow (with a bit of help from Mommy)!

Marty shoveld the driveway - if we EVER move where there is more snow than this, we will have a snow blower!

(Make sure to noticed his pink gloves - a manly man!)

I'm the one who takes all these fun pictures - thought I would take a self-portrait for proof that I am outside, in the grossness...and I'm SMILING!

We have HUGE icicles! Of course, we just have lots of ice everywhere!

Macee tasting Rylee's icicle.

Macee having her own. She finally realized it is a good idea to wear her gloves while not only being outside in this cold weather, but also while holding a huge piece of ice!

Cookies at Bedtime

Right before bedtime, Daddy decided that it would be fun to make cookies...all together! The girls picked out the cookie cutters they wanted to use...which ended up being all but a couple of the ones we have. They watched as I rolled the dough out and cut the cookies. Once they had baked and cooled, Daddy and Rylee iced the cookies and sprinkled them with sprinkles! We chose to not ice all of the cookies so that the girls could have just one before they went to bed :)

Daddy and Rylee icing our cookies!
Rylee did a superb job at icing the cookies...all accomplished without getting any on our clean bodies and jammies!

Macee letting us know that these cookies were "hot." She got to watch Daddy and Rylee ice the cookies - she would have been a guaranteed mess!

Our beautiful cookies (well, the iced ones at least)!

Is It Summer Yet?

Yep, I definately think our favorite time of year is when it is WARM! The girls like to be unclothed, hince the almost nakedness of both. For some reason they both decided it was a fun idea to take off their warm fleece jammies and spend the morning in their panties and diaper.

We had a picnic at lunch time. I spread out our big picnic blanket and we had a yummy lunch which included a favorite summer fruit, strawberries!

Maybe tomorrow we'll put on our swimsuits and pretend we're on the beach...

Rylee and Macee, almost naked, eating their picnic lunch.

Making Muffins

Daddy and the girls made some yummy muffins today! Both girls were eager to help Daddy!

Daddy giving Rylee the eggs...her favorite part of baking...she LOVES to crack the eggs!
Thanks Mom and Dad for the extra step stool!
Macee uses the desk Nina and Papaw got Rylee for her birthday as a way to reach things...
Smart cookie huh?

Rylee licking the bowl clean :)

A Night with the Ransiers

Jamie, Marc, Jacob, Thad, and Cooper all came up and stayed with us on Friday night! They had a wedding to go to in French Lick and came up early to spend some time with us! We had so much fun in our short amount of time with one another!

Jake, was super excited about the PS3! He spent most of his time here playing Star Wars! Here he is in complete concentration!
Cooper (or Baby, as Thad calls him).

Thad and Rylee were the best of friends while they were together!

"Baby" kissing Macee goodnight - Macee wasn't too sure about that...or anything else while they were here for that matter!

I do wish we all lived closer! It's so fun to see our children together, they are so sweet and absolutely hilarious!

Life Isn't Always Giggles and Smiles...

Macee has started having tantrums and fits...WELCOME TO THE TERRIBLE TWOs...early! It's like overnight, she went from being our sweet little baby to this. This tantrum was set off by me just wanting to have a picture of her and her cute little pigtails we're now able to put in her hair.

Refusing to look at me...she does this now too...puts her face into the wall when she is mad. "You're so mean to me, Mommy!"

Ry's New Leo

We had to invest in a new leo for Rylee. We went to gymnastics the other day and when we got back and were changing her clothes you could see an imprint of the leo she has been wearing because it had been so tight! She gets so excited about this kind of stuff...well, she gets excited over just about anything you do for her!

Our little gymnast!

Rylee had her very first dance class this past Friday, she LOVED it! We were rushed to get from gymnastics to dance (although in the same building, we had yet to purchase dance shoes) and I didn't have a chance to snap a pic. of her in her dance leo. Will for sure do that this week - anticipate that blog to follow!

Let's Get Dressed!

The other morning we were running a bit behind schedule. We had to get Ry to preschool, so I just kept Macee in her jammies knowing she would be alright in those and we'd get her dressed when we got home. Once we got home I said to Macee, "Let's go get you dressed." I said this though while I was doing something else and didn't follow her immediately into her room. Once I finished up what I was doing, I started heading down the hall to her room and hear her rummaging around in her drawers. Of course, she was into the dress up drawer (I'm telling you, nothing but entertainment.). Macee had decked herself out in accessories, ready for the day!

Isn't she lovely?
She was even wearing shoes!

Dressed Up Divas

Ok, so besides the PJs the girls are glamed up! I picked up these new shades for the girl's one day at work - yes, we already have our first spring line out! Anyways, the new sunglasses are a hit with Ry and Mace...they love them! They have been pairing them with other accessories...it's too cute! This is why I'm always looking for things to add to our dress up drawer! It provides entertainment not only for the girls, but for us too!

Our little divas!

Macee is way too busy deciding which bracelets to wear to look at the camera. She is now asleep in her room with all her jewels in a bag next to her!

Rylee checking herself out in the mirror. She says she is wearing the ring so she "can be a parent" hmmmm....she's too funny!

Bird Food

Rylee's class made little treats for the birds this past week! They covered bagels with peanut butter and bird seed and hung the bagels with those pipe cleaner things. A sweet treat for our flying friends!

Rylee with her bird treat! Looks quite yummy huh...for a bird right?

I went outside in the FRIGID cold to hang it on our tree for our birdie friends. I don't think a single bird has eaten from it :( Maybe I'll move it...see if we get any takers at a different location.

Laritz Family Update

I know, I should be scolded, it's been a week since I last updated the blog! This past week has been a busy one...and I can't quite remember what made it so crazy!

Rylee missed another day of preschool on Tuesday. She woke up running a fever (which automatically takes her from school if she's ran a fever within 24 hours of school) and complaining of a headache. Of course, not being able to go to school was worse than the headache and not feeling too great. This kid really likes school! We also tacked on dancing to Ry's list of activities. She has her very first dance class on Friday...right after gymnastics!

Macee's eye is completely healed...no more Rocky...for now at least! She has finally adjusted to her new bed completely and hasn't been coming into our room in the wee hours of the night to sleep with us (thank goodness!)!

I dived a little deeper in serving the Lord this week! I am now the Team Leader for the Toddlers classes at our 11AM service! Today was my first day, it was crazy, but isn't it suppose to be on one's first day? I know I'm going to love it! I met so many wonderful volunteers as well as children today...they ROCK! I am also still working a few days a week at The Children's Place. We are still short an Assistant Manager, so until they get that figured out I will continue to be an Assistant and do what I can to help them out!

Wondering about Marty? He's always busy doing computer stuff...when he's not having to play "only parent" while I'm at work! I think it's been an eye opener as to how busy the girl's are ALL THE TIME!!!

We had a little photo shoot the other day when it was beyond FREEZING out! Here is one of the shots I got of the girls!

Dress Shopping with My Bestest!

Friday morning I headed up and over to Cincinnati to meet my bestest (as well as her momma, her future mom-in-law, and her sister-in-laws) to shop for the perfect dress for Lindsey. We had a super fun day of looking at dresses, watching Linds try on MANY dresses, and finally seeing THE ONE! It is a fabulous dress and she looks absolutely beautiful in it! We also tried on lots of bridesmaids dresses! I believe that we accomplished a lot for Linds big day yesterday! The best thing, we had so much fun together!

Lindsey and her Momma after the dress decision was made!

(I would post a pic. of the dress, BUT at risk of too many seeing the most sacred piece of the wedding, I am not! Some will just have to wait until I post about the big day...in November!)

Princess Cookies

The girls and I made princess cookies the other day! They are quite yummy! I'm working on having the patience to bake with the girls. I'm quite uptight when it comes to messes, unfortunately, I'm working on it though! We made princess crowns and slippers, Ry helped chose the colors...well, with some encouragement for more than just pink!

our princess crowns - we made one for Daddy too...guess his can be a prince or king's
sorry, unable to flip the pic. for some reason - these are our princess slippers!