This is what happens when I don't blog regularly!

Oh, my little neglected blog...
I've been cheating on you.
With my sewing machine!

Yes, instead of blogging I have been sewing. A lot. Bordering on obsessed. But having oh-so-much-fun! Here are some of the things that I have made lately:

Has a matching one with a flower on the opposite side.

This one didn't have a match, so I made a flower to put on the dress below. Now they coordinate!

SO, the pillowcase dresses were SOOOOO easy that I decided that I could do the same thing with some cutsie fabric I got at the store. This was my first creation:

With more confidence, this is my second creations (both of these have identical ones for the sisters)

And now, making these are my absolute favorite:

Oh, and I went to the fabric store and found so many prints that I will be working on this week! Love it!!

What else has been happening around here? Oh, it is official - I bought our tickets to Disney. Joseph, the boys and I will be headed there for Spring Break. The sisters are staying with their Gigi (my stepmom) and their Aunt Lara (my 13 year old sister). I have a feeling they will be getting a lot of attention and spoiling. I'm a little nervous about the trip, but I am also so excited! It has been a rough couple of months around here and we could all use some time away. When I told the boys that we were going, neither were excted. Actually, they both said the same thing, "But, I don't want to go to Disneyworld." Even as we tried to explain it to them, they didn't believe us and weren't buying into it. We tried to compare it to SeaWorld (which they love) and told them it was even bigger and better that that. They still didn't buy it. We decided to drop it - they just have no idea what kind of fun is in store for them.

We're gonna take an odd turn here, but after that whole telling-the-boys-about-Disney-and-them-not-being-excited thing happened, God showed me the coolest thing. For those of you that don't know, I have this odd fear of heaven. It sounds great and all, but I really like my life here. I know what to expect here and I like it. I have no idea what to expect in heaven and am not positive that I will like it as much as here.

Does that sound familiar? That's the boys and Disney. They like SeaWorld, know what to expect and can't imagine it getting better that that. But it is OH-SO-BETTER!

Not sure if that got lost in translation (as most things do with me!) but I love it when God does cool stuff like that. Love.it!

In another completely odd turn, I am going to my yoga training this weekend and can't wait! I get to spend 8 hours for 2 whole days doing and learning about yoga. Is that like heaven too, Lord? ("Oh, it's even better than that!" He says.)

I also signed up for another half marathon in April. Training looks close to impossible, but I'll give it my best shot. Joseph is supposed to be gone the month before my race, so it looks like I will be spending a lot of time on the treadmill since I won't have anyone home to watch the Darlings. I'm only doing it because it is the last run with the person who inspires me to be a better runner and person! My friend Heather is a great running coach and amazing runner. She just ran the Austin Marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon. I think I have a picture of her somewhere... here it is:

Heather is on the left and Jeannie is on the right.

Isn't eveything made more fun with a picture? Yeah, so I'm going to run a half in Houston with her. Obviously not next to her since she will finish in like 1 hour and I will finish in 5!

And this is my Crossfit buddy, Lee Anne. We work out together all the time and she pushes me farther than I would push myself and is the best encourager! She's also super funny...

Normally she has blond hair, but decided to take a ride on the dark side. I love it darker, but she doesn't. Isn't she gorgeous? This girl kicks but and takes names!

More turns: The first time Caleb did this, I about died laughing - He walks in the door from school and announces: "Cause the party don't start 'till I walk in!" If you don't know where that comes from you can hear it here. I wish I could say I have no idea where in the world he would listen to such trash from, but...I can't. I hate to admit it, but I listen to total trash music when I run. And drive. I don't really listen to the lyrics, but apparently my children do. Note to self: pay attention to what is on the radio!

Gosh, this boy is going to break hearts some day.

Little Luke is learning to read! He came home from school the other day and said, "A simple blend is when a vowel comes after a consonant." I love that they are learning phonics. I learned to sight read as a kid and I did just fine, it just seems like they learn faster with phonics.

And this boy is something. I tell y'all - one minute I am ready to throttle him and the next second I want to squeeze the love right out of him!

Speaking of their school, their registration is due this month and man is it going to be costly with two. I need to get a job. Nah, actually I have NO desire to work. This stay at home mom gig keeps me plenty busy.

Those turns keep coming - My sweet little Ella is getting a hair cut. A very short one. And I am SO sad! But is has to be done. That girl is a mess. She does this twirl thing with her hair and it produces these matted dreadlocks. It can take up to 30 minutes to get the knots out and there have been many times that we can't get the knot out, so we have to cut it. It has been going on for so long and we have tried everything to stop her. Nothing is working, so our pediatrician suggested that cutting her hair short is the only way to stop her habit. :(

I love this picture of her. It's a face she makes when she is day dreaming. Look at those cute chapped lips. Yummy...

Isn't she so cute? I have been in denial that cutting it is the solution, but at this point her hair on one side of her had is halfway down her back and on the other side is at her shoulder. Yep, she looks a mess. It doesn't help that the sharp contrast is Lily Kate with her long hair halfway down her back, in ringlets. ((SIGH))

My hair lady is coming over this week to do the deed, so I will take some pictures of my sweet Ella soon.

In another completely unrelated topic, it snowed here today. It was only for about 5minutes, but hey I'll take it. Here are the sisters celebrating their winter gear (and cereal apparently!):