pink palooza

My amazing Aunt Fawn has been breast cancer free for four years now!!!  That is defiantly something to celebrate...so every year they do with their annual Pink Palooza party!  Unfortunately, we haven't been able to attend but that doesn't stop us from celebrating.  We all wear pink in celebration of Aunt Fawn winning her battle against cancer, in honor of those who weren't as fortunate, and for those who are currently fighting.  Here are a few photos of our Pink Palooza day:

.katherine.

making valentines

Matt and I love making art projects with the kids!  I think it is so important for them to be exposed to creativity and art but it also helps with their fine motor and decision making skills...plus what ever else we can throw in (shapes, colors, etc).  This year for Valentine's Day we made felt hearts for the great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and ourselves.  The kids had a great time playing with the materials and putting them onto the hearts.
I found all the materials at Hobby Lobby...felt hearts, felt words (that I glued on before the kids started),  felt stickers (robots, frogs, owls, and hearts), foam letter stickers, and fuzzy balls.   It was such a fun and simple project that the recipients all loved!

Here are photos of the progress: 

And the finished products:

We hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!
.katherine. 

saying "see you later"

While you wouldn't be able to notice based on the weather today, there are only four weeks until spring.  While this is very exciting, it also means moving season is upon us.  We are "patiently" waiting for our own orders but also not looking forward to saying goodbye to our friends.  I grew up a military brat so I know what it is like to move and have your friends leave.  However, it doesn't get any easier as I get older!

Two weeks ago great friends of ours started the process of their move.  The Ehn family will be reporting to their new base in May but Abbey and the boys moved already to give Eric some time to finish and sell the house here.  It was hard to see them leave but we are also happy for the opportunities that await them at their next assignment.  We have been friends with the Ehns for about three years...before any of us had kids!!!  It has been great to see our families grow.  Here are a few photos over those three plus years:  

The first time we all hung out...carving pumpkins for Halloween of 2009.

 Our book club group in January of 2011.

Abbey meeting the twins for the first time in September of 2011.

Meeting Theodor in January 2012.

The first photo of the kids all together in March 2012.


The night before Abbey and the boys left we got to have dinner with the Ehn, Dirks, and Bennett families.  The four families have gotten close over the past several years and it is always a good time when we get together.  

While it is never goodbye, just "see you later," it is never easy to leave good friends and it will continue to be difficult as we say our good-byes this summer.  We have truly been blessed with great friends here in Minot.
.katherine.

challenge quilt

My mom is doing a new quilt challenge and I decided to participate.  (You can find out more on her website: www.marywkerr.com)

The challenge is "Dare to Dance: An Artist's Interpretation of Joy".  I titled my quilt "I have family" and am really pleased with how it turned out.  Below are the quilt and my statement about the quilt.  Enjoy!!!

Artist's Statement:

My definition of joy is my family.  They inspire me, make me laugh, and fill my heart with infinite happiness.  My quilt, “I have family,” was created to pay tribute to fact that no matter what we go through we will live each day to the fullest and we always have each other.   

Over the last two years we have been faced with many obstacles.  On June 15, 2011 I gave birth to twins thirteen weeks prematurely, on June 26, 2011 our town and home were flooded, and on April 12, 2012 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis!  Through it all we have stuck together, taken each situation as it arose, and remained joyful.  We have each other, our health, and a strong support system; what more could we ask for?

Most of the material used in this quilt comes from those three events: maternity shirts, preemie clothes, baby blankets, MS walk shirts, flood support shirts, and even jeans I wore when rebuilding our home.  I also included all the important numbers in the quilting around the edges.  It is wonderful to see all of this is a creative work of art and know that we made it through all of those challenges together.

.katherine.

snowfall

Winter days in North Dakota and usually all similar - snow on the ground, cold temperatures, and playing inside.  However, rarely we get this amazing light, fluffy snow and you can actually see the individual snowflakes.  It is BEAUTIFUL!  Every year since we have been here I have set out to try to photograph it but due to the sun it doesn't last very long.

Last week we had this snowfall in the middle of the day and I set out during nap time to our backyard.  I was able to capture several photographs of these perfect snowflakes.  Winters in North Dakota can really be beautiful! 

.katherine.

a warm day

Winters here in North Dakota can get pretty chilly and we all get a little stir crazy.  We try to stay as active as we can but nothing beats getting the opportunity to go outside to play.  We took advantage of the "warm" weather last week and headed to the back yard to play!

The kids were a little unsure of the bulky clothes and trying to walk in boots but quickly adjusted and had fun playing.

The dogs even joined us and loved that the kids were playing with them outside!

We are looking forward to our next day around 30 degrees so we can play outside again!

.katherine.

creative mom

Over the last few months I have been taking time to get creative, both for myself and for others.

For Christmas this year I made busy books and actually finished two of the four in time.  (I am still finishing the ones for Bryce and Zoey but they will have them soon.)  Matt and I started making patterns while we were watching the summer olympics!  The books did take a while but I loved every second of making them!  They are very interactive: the owl wings lift to show bugs and another owl, the ribbons can be braided, the numbers have snaps so can be taken off and put back on, the shoe laces can be tied or untied, the mailbox opens and the flag moves, the suitcase is full of clothes that can dress the person, the beads can move and be counted, the clock hands move, the glove can be put on, and the car can drive on the roads.  Since most of us travel a lot to visit our families, I am hoping they will help keep the kids busy in the car/train/plane over the summer.  Here are photos of one of the books!

For Christmas, I also made a car/crayon holder.  I loved making it and it was a huge hit!  One side had a spot to hold five cars with roads for the cars to drive on.  In the middle section there is a space to hold six extension road pieces.  The other side holds crayons and three coloring books.

After we took down the Christmas decorations we moved one of our storage units upstairs and rearranged our living room.  I had been wanting to do a painting for the room for a while so I spend a little free time the last two days making a new piece of art work.  Here is the finished product.

I am enjoying being creative and am glad I am taking some time to do so!
.katherine.