We went up to the in-laws Christmas eve night, and our two day, one night stay turned into a three night, four day stay. Christmas morning didn't start til 10. I know. Weird. The kids did score some awesome gifts,
Barbie Jeep that Glammy bought for the girls
Drew with one of his new toys
and I got a little black dress that I adore.
Isn't it pretty? *big smiles*
Christmas night we started playing board games, and I guess we didn't want to stop because several pots of coffee later we got the great idea to play outside. At 3 am we went to shovel off the roof so we could sled down it. The boys decided that wasn't exciting enough, and they went hooky bobbing. I sat that one out in the truck because I wasn't nearly ambitious enough to deal with that kind of cold. Just imagine the powder being thrown into their faces from the truck as they were whipped into one snow bank after another only to be thrown off their sleds and sent rolling through the snow. AJ had icicles on his eyelashes. Literally. Maybe another time. During the day. The girls had to have their day in the snow (since they were obviously asleep when we were out there), so we took them out with us on Saturday. We didn't get to go to an actual hill but they played around the house.
How sweet is this picture?
Snow angel.
Kaylen in the church's Christmas play.
I have to say that even though we had fun, I was more than happy to go home. I could have kissed the carpet when we got in our own house. What is it about home that so nice to come back to?
My sweet baby boy, your first birthday has come and gone, and I can't believe that it's been a year since you were born. I'm so glad you're not independent... Not in a hurry to walk or talk. I wish you could stay my baby forever. You're sweet and loving. You're soft and gentle. You're my little cuddle bug. My lover boy.
You're my blessing child.
I remember how scared I was when I found out you were on the way. Amber was only a few months old, and I didn't think I could give you both what you needed. I was so wrong. You were what I needed. You have been a joy to me from the first time I saw you, and I am so blessed to be your mother.
The three kids and I all have colds, and while I have a super sinus headache, I suppose I should be grateful. It seems like at least one of our kids is always sick during this time of the year, and this is the first time that it's been passed on to me.
The sun is shining on our beautiful, white world. It would be a great day for sledding! We got about three feet of snow in the last couple of days.
This was yesterday morning. It snowed til last night.
AJ was babysitting for me the other night while I went to a Christmas party. He got ambitious and pulled out the camera. Pardon the coloring in the video, I'm not sure what he did.
We had Kaylen's birthday party yesterday, and it was not the disaster that I thought it would be. Due to the FREEZING weather we didn't go skating.
I'm pretty sure we'd be amputating appendages or something. It's
definitely the coldest winter I've ever had here... and it's only the first snow.
Not that I mind. I'm still excited about the snow.
Anyway, instead of skating, we had everyone come to our house and we had chili dogs, a costume contest, makeovers, and decorate you own cookie.
The cookies were to replace the cake.
The girls loved, and I mean LOVED the makeover session. They got their nails painted, and grownup makeup (courtesy of yours truly). Britani and I even let the girls do ours.
Britani with her makeup artists.
Me with my makeup artists.
Amber was especially stoked about the makeup.
She kept moving and trying to do it herself.
Then she wouldn't smile for a picture.
You're lucky she she's even looking at the camera.
Remember that conversation I had with Amber earlier? The one where she asked me if I had made snow during the night? Well, over snack, I had pulled back the curtain to show her that it was snowing again.
Me: Look, it's snowing again.
Amber: Oh. Snow so pretty.
Me: You're right. It is pretty.
Amber: Gamaykissknow.
Me: What?
Amber: Gamaykissknow.
Me: Ga. May. Kiss. Know. Okay. Uh huh. (Clearly the best answer when you're obviously not ever going to understand what she's saying. Right up there with 'yep' and 'mm hm'.)
Amber: more excitedly now Gamaykissknow! Woo hoo!
Now, I'm sitting there puzzling over what she's trying to say (It's obviously a big deal to her, whatever it is.) when I realize that she's repeating what I told her earlier when she woke up to the snow and was convinced I had done it. God make it snow.
God make it snow. Awww... now that's cute if you ask me.
Amber looking out the sliding door this morning: Mama, did you make snow?!
Yes, it did snow. I can't say I did it, cause if I was the one making snow, we would have been having it for weeks. I look forward to the beginning of the snowy season, and I hope the latest one sticks and stays.
Something about the snow makes me nostalgic and sentimental. We used to go sledding so much growing up. We had a horse that would pull us up the hill on our sleds, then we would go down and do it all over. The huge, treeless hills made for some awesome sledding in the winter.
sample
Winter wonderland, right?
And don't even compare it to Sandpoint. I know Sandpoint is like the best winter wonderland ever. Since it's got trees and all.
I am sad to say that I have never taken my own kids sledding. Maybe this is the year!
One from last year. Drew's even in this one. Can you find him?
On the fifteenth of May, in the jungle of Nool, In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool, He was splashing… enjoying the jungle’s great joys… When Horton the elephant heard a small noise.
So Horton stopped splashing. He looked towards the sound. “That’s funny,” thought Horton. “There’s no one around.” Then he heard it again! Just a very faint yelp As if some tiny person were calling for help.
“I’ll help you,” said Horton. “But who are you? Where?” He looked and he looked. He could see nothing there But a small speck of dust blowing past though the air. “I say!” murmured Horton. “I’ve never heard tell Of a small speck of dust that is able to yell.
So you know what I think? …Why, I think that there must Be someone on top of that small speck of dust! Some sort of a creature of very small size, too small to be seen by an elephant’s eyes… “…some poor little person who’s shaking with fear That he’ll blow in the pool! He has no way to steer!
I’ll just have to save him. Because, after all, A person’s a person, no matter how small.” -Dr. Suess
