sledding!

Rough night with the kiddos and more snow this morning, but yesterday was spent sledding and hanging out with family...and even a Target run! Nothing better than that!

snowed in

Being snowed in isn't so bad afterall...

You get to do some fun things like:

...play with geometric shapes and have adventures in the snow if you're Parker.

...hide things in the vacuum cleaner and act innocent if you're Griffin!

...wonder how we're going to get that car out of the snow if you're an adult.

where is his mother?

Could it be? Yes it is...Griffin wearing Brooklyn's Hannah Montana snow boots, playing with open markers, scissors, and...tinsel?! Oh, and pantless with training underwear. Nice.

Maybe I should be more attentive?

**by the way, I AM NOT potty training. He just likes to wear underwear and likes to pee on the potty. He's ready but I'm sooooo not. Geesh, I just finished with Parker...

dear mr. weatherman

Dr Mr. Weatherman,

I know you do your very best....but really? This is it? Where are our 12 + inches of snow? Where is our blizzard? I had my hopes up to be snowed in. Do you have children? How am I supposed to tell my three year old that he has to keep making his snow angels in frozen slush? And just so you know...sub-zero temperatures are soooo not as cool as a snow storm. Totally not cool. But we forgive you, Mr. Weatherman. In the spirit of Christmas, I will give you one more chance. But only one.

Yours Truly,

Lady in Waiting (for snow)

p.s. I've attached a few pictures for your enjoyment. You may notice their very disappointed faces. Please do better next time. For the sake of the children...

sweet stripes

I don't eat tons of junk food. I'm not a total health-nut, but I tend to be fairly disciplined. However, I have this little problem this time of the year...

Bob's Sweet Stripes

I have a hard time not eating the whole bag. They're old-fashioned, soft peppermint sticks. Yum! Watch out 2009...I might just have a mouthfull of rotten teeth!

un-orchestrated

Is it just me or do others become obsessed with the task of making the holidays special, memorable, God-centered? Okay, okay...that was a rhetorical question. I know the answer. However, something happened the other day that made me relax a bit...

It was last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and we were just hanging out at home as a family. And then it it started snowing--the first snow of the year! Oh, it was magical! We usually have snow earlier than this so it was much anticipated and the boys were watching with wide eyes as the flakes covered the ground. I can't remember who said it first, but Joel and I were in agreement...we just had to put up the tree!

Typically, I would want everything to be at least semi-orderly, and would put a lot of effort into making the whole decorating process really special and memorable. But without any preparation at all, it just happened....the magic! You know, the magic:)

With Christmas music in the background, we tripped over boxes of ornaments and small children to get our little tree set up, lit, and decorated. We all ate peppermint sticks and everyone was allowed to hang ornaments. Then, as the decorative moss went flying everywhere, we brought the nativity scene out of the box and the boys had fun playing flying angel-guy.

No, our tree doesn't look perfect, and yes we had a few ornament casualties and sticky, peppermint fingerprints were everywhere....but it was perfect! It was festive, it was memorable, and we even had good conversation about how baby Jesus could be bigger and better than a super-hero.

I guess I just realized that the "moments" I strive and hope for during the holidays often cannot be orchestrated. My new hope for the weeks ahead is that we are flexible as a family and make time for those un-orchestrated Christmas moments to happen...

some thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was so good! My pilates routine is calling, but I wanted to post a few pictures. Oh, how I love you, Turkey Day...I miss you already!