Snow 'n Stuff

Since this is "snow 'n stuff" - let's do the "stuff" part first...



Rebecca and Jessica had their school Christmas concert last week. Of course they were cute as buttons and it was fun watching all the kids. Here they are in their pretty dresses:

Mackenzie and I went to get hair cuts and they also styled hers straight and I thought it was super cute! We took off several inches, so maybe we'll have less frustration. Oh and her bangs are now officially grown out.

Alright, now for the "snow" part...

We got a few inches of snow. Don't ask me how many, I don't know. So we went sledding and then last night we got a few more inches of snow! And it's a dry snow so there will be no snowmen hanging out in the yard, but it's great for sledding (and skiing).

In the back yard we have this dug-out place and the kids like to sled down into it and...

...then it shoots them up the bank, and then back down again. (That's Mackenzie above and that's Jessica sledding in the picture below.)

Jake just liked hanging out and eating the snow.

Here's Rebecca heading down.

It's also good for snow angels! Here's Mackenzie...

and Jessica...

Rebecca was a good big sister and took the whiney 2 year old back in the house while the rest of us trekked down to the mail box. So I'll have to get Rebecca's angel pic next time we're out.

But for now I'm staying in by the cozy fire and having a cup of decaf!

Good Times!

Well I thought I'd update you on our latest and greatest happenings over here in the Estrogen Ocean. (I wrote this a few days ago, but am just now posting it...)





~ It's cold. Single digits, or less. I was really enjoying the mild weather we'd been having but I guess it's time for snap back to reality. At least we got our first snow. Finally. (update: we're back in the 20s again!! wooo hoooo!!!)


~ Jake learned how his hands feel when they get really cold and start stinging. He didn't like it. At all. Actually it made him quite mad.


~ The electricity went out (remember, single digits) and when it came back on, our TV wouldn't. And no, I promise that doesn't mean there will be any additions to our family. (Since by the 4th pregnancy people were asking us if we knew how those things happen. Yes. We do. Thankyouverymuch.)


~ I'm the worst mom ever. I saw the letter that Rebecca wrote to Santa at school. Other than the $80 stuffed animal that she won't be getting, she also asked for a new coat since hers is dirty. Doesn't that make a momma proud? I'll never be able to get a job at that school!


~ Jessica learned what happens when she sticks her tongue to a metal pole in single digit weather. She didn't like it. At all. The rest of us laughed because we're sympathetic like that. I'm pretty sure she freaked out, but by the time we headed out there she had unstuck herself and came in with her blood-tinged tongue hanging out.


~ I'm pretty sure Mackenzie planted that tongue-to-the-pole seed, but I can't prove it. Not that Jessica has ever needed prompting for anything, though.


~ In better news, our tree is still standing. (Maybe I should wait until after Christmas to report that?) And the dog hasn't peed on it. (Our dog is a girl, so I'm not too worried about that one. It just sounded so hopeful.)





Well, I ran out of colors so I'll stop there. I'm opting out of sending Christmas cards this year. That just sounds better than the previous years where I just didn't get around to it.


Sounds more proactive this way.


Not that I don't love all of you and wish you a Merry Christmas. I think you'll understand.


Jessica wouldn't be in the mood for licking envelopes anyway.


So, I'll keep you posted on any other wild and exciting times going on around here. In the meantime...



Merry Christmas!!



And that's "Christmas" -- with "Christ." Just in case you didn't know.

Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

It's time again for BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes! At first I wasn't going to participate because I thought it'd look just like last year. But, I couldn't resist...and there have been some minor changes/additions. I'll try not to talk too much since I know you're here for the pictures!

Now, since I haven't posted about actually getting the tree, we'll start there. Grab your cup of coffee/cocoa while we go outside.

Stan and the kids always go get our tree and bring it back as a surprise to me. Jake didn't make the trip this year because his nap was much more important. Trust me.

Here we have it all inside and set up, complete with towels under it to catch any melting ice. It's so hard to wait for it to dry out before stringing the lights!

Now we will stay inside for the rest of the tour because, baby it's cold outside! It was -3 degrees when I took the kids to the bus (wind chill -20). When I went out to crank the Excursion it said to me, "Are you stinking kidding?!" So lets cozy up to the fire for a bit.

Ok, so here it is all decorated. I give each of the kids a bowl full of the non-fragile ornaments to hang wherever they can reach then I hang the rest up high. In case you're wondering, the tree is roughly 13 feet tall. And yes I need a 10-foot ladder to decorate it. And yes I'm afraid of heights.

But isn't it worth it?! ;o)





Now we'll go around the room and check out the rest of the Christmas sights.

I was a little bummed that I didn't put up my little cowboy tree with the chili pepper lights this year, but having a 2 year old in the house calls for some modifications. He likes whacking the bell tree (pictured above) and making it ring. And I resist the urge to stop him, since what's the use of having a bell tree if it doesn't ever ring?

These little trees are new this year. Not the greatest picture, but at least I don't think you can see any cobwebs.

This year Stan came up with the idea of the 12 scents of Christmas and I gladly took that challenge. I found this cute little...um...what's it called? Anyway, you put the scented wafer in the bowl and light a tea light under it. Lots of fun! (Now if only the tea lights lasted longer...)


Confession: this is last year's picture, but it looks the same. I promise. Mom made this fun quilt wall hanging a couple years ago.

And she made this fun wintery/tree quilt wall hanging this year!! Isn't it beautiful?!

This is also last year's picture, but again...it still looks the same. This was new last year and I absolutely love it! I'd love, love, love the Willow Tree nativity set figurines. Maybe someday...but for now I'm happy with this!

(We do have our fun Little People nativity set...somewhere...I still need to go digging for sheep and baby Jesus. They couldn't have gone too far. Surely.)



So there you have it! Thanks for stopping by, we really enjoyed the visit! If you come back next week we'll have some homemade nativity cut-out sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles. That is, if you trust them. The girls always help make them...and sample them during the process.

Be sure to check out the other homes in the tour!

Birthday Girl is 6!

Jessica seems to have mellowed somewhat in her ripe old age of 6. I wonder if she's starting to pass the torch to little brother, but I'm not letting my guard down for a minute!

So, on to the birthday girl...



She asked for a brown bear cake, inside and out. So we had a chocolate-filled day! Note she is wearing her favorite color - purple. Also see that her bangs have grown out nicely. You can barely see the remains of her self-haircut in her school pictures. And her teacher loved the story and her pack of 24 scissors.




Don't be shy, Jessica. Go ahead and get up there and blow those candles out.


Thank goodness she is still easily pleased with her presents!

Now if she can just keep it away from Jake long enough so that he doesn't think it's his.

Jessica is still quite the free spirit. She loves to sing and will make up words and tunes if she can't think of any. She still loves to dance but some of her dance moves have gotten to be a little scary. But then again, while we were singing in church last Sunday she broke into a full body swirl and sway with the arms and legs and all. At least she stayed seated. She also has a vivid imagination and will recruit anything that isn't tied down into her little world of make-believe, giving them voices. And attitudes.