Day 316. First Snow!

Well, technically it snowed some on Thanksgiving, but we weren't here to see it.  Do you remember what it was like, when you were a kid, to see the first snowfall of the season?  The hope that school will be called off the next day?  The thrill of tromping outside, all bundled up, (for all of fifteen minutes) and building snowmen (well, trying...) and lying down, flailing your arms and legs to make angels shapes?

That was a quickly fleeting moment of a lifetime, I must say.  NOW, all I see, is the potential for dangerous roads, slippery sidewalks, frozen water pipes, tracked up floors in my family room.  Ick.  Am I a GRINCH, or what?!?!?!!!!

But I get to relive some of those sweet childhood memories through my kiddos.  They still see a miracle when those flakes fall to the ground.  Now, they're the ones who go outside for a glorious fifteen-minute run through the yard, and I get to wait inside, make hot chocolate to await their return, and wash all the clothes later.

I don't mind.  I know these days will be gone before I know it.  And I continue to remind myself of that fact as I load the washing machine.  :)

Our back yard.  So pretty before it gets all stomped through!  :)


Ellie doesn't mind.

Later in the afternoon, after it stopped falling, the boys just couldn't wait any longer.

I love our yard.  I truly believe whoever designed it had 3 little boys in mind.  :)

KS2, being ornery.

And he's not about to stop, just because his brother turned around.

In fact, he'll just chase him down!

If you look closely through his bundled up face, you can see the mischievous smile.

I think, about this time, KS1 is giving him what-for.  And KS2 is responding with, "Whatever.  I'm not in trouble.  Mom's standing right there, and she saw the whole thing."

Ellie's puppy energy, being displayed.

Mandy hardly looks as though she's in the mood for such frivolity.

"Are we really going to do this right now?"  Mandy's such an old lady.

"That's it.  I'm going inside."

"Mom, Ellie's being mean!  I'm going in now."

And this sweet, little angel missed the whole thing.  :(  He spent the day right where his brother did, earlier in the week... with the tummy-bug.  He didn't even care that they were outside without him.  :(  So, Mandy came in and snuggled up with him instead.  :)  It made them BOTH feel better.

Day 315. Enough is Enough!

I'm not a "spring cleaner."  I am random in all that I do.  :)  When the mood strikes me, OR when I have been given reason, I will go through things... purge, sort, organize.  This weekend, I went through my sweaters and boots.

I think it's time I admit I have a problem:

Day 314. Silly Me.

I have my kids take pictures all of the time... I was scrolling through some of my albums, and realized just how many times I see THESE results....

They LOVE to keep clicking away as I'm walking toward them or as I'm readjusting... or any other unflattering time.  It made me giggle when I realized just how many times they've done this... and these are just a few:

Day 313. Socks.

This post is specifically for my dear mom.  She told me yesterday that I'm hard to buy for!  I can't imagine this being the case.  Give me something girly, and I'm a happy girl!  I'm perfectly pleased with the simplicities of feminity... perfume, clothes, jewelry, shoes... it all makes me happy!  Well, I thought of an actual NEED to suggest to her.  I NEED and WANT new socks.  Here is an example of what I LOVE and don't have nearly enough of:

These are my favorite. If I wear socks, it's when it's cold. Otherwise, I'll have on cute, little flats, or flip-flops, even. So, if I have socks on my feet, it means I'm wearing boots. And if I'm wearing boots, I want a soft, cushiony, WARM sock in between the boot and my foot. Simple as that. The only other purpose is if I'm wearing them around the house, in which case, I STILL want them to be soft, cushiony, and warm... and fuzzy. Fuzzy doesn't hurt either.

So, here you are, Mom... a good example of the socks I want... Buy me ten pairs, and I'll be a happy daughter!

Day 312. Sick Babies.

Just like any mommy, I absolutely can't stand it when of my kiddos gets sick.  KS2 woke through the night with a stomach bug last night.  Oh dear.  I'll spare you the gorey details.  Throughout the next day, he just slept and watched TV all day long.  In the meantime, Mommy did about 6 loads of laundry, while disinfecting every surface of the house... doorknobs, lightswitches, faucets, sinks, toilets... You name it, it has been doused in Lysol. 

A friend suggested airing out the house, so I gave it a try.  I turned off the heat, opened up the windows, and turned on the attic fan until the house hit a chilly 55 degrees.  (KS2 stayed bundled up in three blankets and his hat and gloves!)

No worries.  We warmed everything back up.  :) 

All was not lost for the day.  He got all caught up on watching Myth Busters (as though he hasn't seen every episode at least a dozen times) and he did a lot of this:

Nothing like a boy and his dog.  She stayed cozied up next to him all day long, sweet girl. 

Still watching and waiting to see if the bug will hit someone else in the family.  So far, so good.

Day 311. Crafts.

I found these darling craft ornaments at Michael's today.  I thought I'd bring them home for the boys to decorate.  KS1 hasn't even opened his yet.  Go figure.  :)  That's okay.  Maybe Mommy can play with them.  But KS2 and KS3 couldn't wait.  I'm pretty sure there's not much guessing to decipher who did what...   :)

Day 310. 14 Years.

14 years ago today, I married the man of my dreams.  :)  ICK.  I know it sounds ridiculously mushy.  But the truth is, it's the TRUTH!  I won't sicken you with the syrupy-sweet story of how this wonderful man has continued to sweep me off my feet for the last 14 years.  I'll just say that I love him.  I'm so thankful for him.  And I'm so glad that God brought us together.  There is absolutely no other person with whom I'd rather spend the rest of my life.  14 years, and COUNTING!