Snow Day!

Oh, Pacific Northwest. How you taunt us with your mild weather. In winter we balance on a fine line between wet and ice, rain and snow and the reality is we are almost always on the side of wet and rain at about 42 degrees day and night. Then when it does get cold it is only because the rain has gone and we are left with freezing dry weather. Then the rain comes back with the warmer temps. So every once in a while, just a couple times during winter, we get a tiny overlap. Freezing temps come in over the top of rainy weather (or vice versa) and we get a brief snowy day. Some winters are better than others (if you love snow like we do!).

The last couple weeks or so, we have had lovely sunny, cold weather. Cold like highs in the 30s, lows in the 20s (could be worse). Then the rain came back and overlapped with the cold weather and we got a good amount of snow during the transition. It started snowing Saturday evening right before I went to work. I had a large group of painters (22) who all braved the weather and painted anyway. We decided my mom better head home since she lives 45 mins from the studio and who knew what the roads would be like at 10:30pm. And 10:30 when I headed home it was a winter wonderland. So beautiful! I wish I would have taken some pictures!

In the morning we knew we had to get out there fast if we were going to enjoy the snowy treat. We had almost 4 inches, but it was warm. The driveway had already melted. We didn't even have breakfast. Everyone found appropriate clothing and out the door we went. Probably 8:00am. :)

Sleds. Snowmen. Snowball fights. We did it all as fast as we could! The next morning you would have never known.

 

We got a delivery of new hats and mittens just in time!

 

Her chariot

 

Brendan looking a little man-ish

 

She's gotta learn how to hold her own in a snowball fight

 

Buried

 

A word about Sammy...

Sammy LOVES snow. I think she loves to hate it or something. She goes ballistic!  She DESTROYS snowballs. We have to put her inside if we want to build a snowman because she goes nuts ripping it to shreds like a mad-dog. It. is. hilarious! She's getting kinda old, but you wouldn't know it when we are out in the snow! So we held her off while we buried Wyatt and then we let her loose to dig him out. Oh my word, it was so funny!

 

Dig him out, wonder-dog!

 

Oops. Hadn't thought about all the snow flying onto his face! :)

 

Annabel to the rescue

 

This picture was taken just a little later in the day, in the afternoon. You can see how much the snow had already melted. But Wyatt managed to get a snowman up!

Fun snow day!

Promotion Day

Woot!! I got back here in about a week! Improvement!

Not sure I've managed to write about the boys and their martial arts before now. Brendan and Wyatt have been taking Brazillian Jiu Jitsu since about September. I can't quite wrap my brain around what it is exactly and what type of people learn Jiu Jitsu, but many MMA guys use it. And there are many military and law enforcement guys who take classes there as well. All I know is the Jiu Jitsu dudes look tough. Like, scary tough. So, self-defense is the name of the game and rather than striking and blocking they are learning grappling, take downs and submissions. You'll have to ask them....

This was actually their second promotion day. Belts work similarly to karate, but they don't have as many colors. Instead you receive stripes on your belt as you promote. Both Brendan and Wyatt received 2 stripes during their first promotion day a couple months ago. And then Monday received another stripe. Little pieces of athletic tape are a big deal!

Annabel::2 Years

Time flies! Isn't that how all birthday posts begin? It's said so often it's almost cliche, but man! Where does the time go?! No babies in my house. And none on the way.

If Annabel is indeed my last baby, she is quite the finale! She is full of it! She is the happiest thing. I know I say she is crazy a lot, but I have to say it again. She's crazy!! She is brave and daring. She is loud and adventurous! She climbs on things, still. She's always balancing on ledges and jumping off of things. She will try ANYTHING she sees her older brothers doing. She sings and rocks baby dolls, and always has to bring an armful of them in the car. I looked up the other day and she was peddling a tricycle. Backwards, but still! I will not be surprised if one day this year she just picks up a book and reads it.

I have got to capture her walking on video, because everywhere she goes, she struts. No walking. It's either running or strutting her stuff. It's hilarious!

A couple months ago she decided she just didn't want to wear her diaper anymore. And so she used the toilet instead. It only works if she is naked, but still! :) Diapers are nearly a thing of the past!

She is my earliest potty trainer and my earliest to be done with pacifiers. Pacifiers were by accident, but still! She was really addicted! One day we couldn't find any. She asked. We said, "nope". And she slept without one, no problem. Hasn't looked back.

She eats almost anything and everything. She will eat vegetable soup with quinoa and kale for breakfast because she loves it. She eats spicy food and vegetables. What more could a mother of multiple children ask for? Just eat the food! And she does!

For her birthday we celebrated Lalaloopsy style. She has a Lalaloopsy doll that she loves and watches a Lalaloopsy movie that we found on Netflix. I find it fascinating that she loves girly things. She calls it "Loopy". And anytime Netflix is turned on Annabel will be shouting, "Loopy", which actually sounds more like "Yoopy"!
I made a fun Lalaloopsy cake with a new Lalaloopsy doll I got her, that turned out far better than I expected (cakes can easily go either way). It's been a while since I have been craftily inspired since having a 4th child, starting a business and homeschooling a 3rd and 5th grader. It was fun!

Annabel is a blessing and a joy.

2013::Year End Wrap-Up

Christmas 2013

Is 30 pictures too many? Well there might be about that many and I'm just going with it. With my lack of blogging consistency I sort of have to make up for it when I make it over to the space with pictures.
This year was similar to last except that Rachel and her family stayed in Kansas this year. :( We went to my mom's for Christmas Eve and my Dad's for Christmas Day dinner. Rand's mom came from Phoenix and stayed with us for the holidays as well.

We're sad that Christmas is over and we have the dull, dreariness of a long winter to face, but we are looking forward to good things in 2014. I even got an AeroGarden for Christmas which I've already planted and am waiting for herbs to spring up....which really gets me thinking about spring and gardens and that's something we can start doing now!

Without further ado....Christmas pictures!

Christmas Eve (the bag was her idea)

 

Jon winning over Annabel with food (an easy thing to do)

 

Jordan with a straw in the ranch. (not really)

 

 

Tired, but present

 

Annabel winning over Travis with her charm

 

 no winning-over needed

 

"Just Dance" Champ

 

Jordan is sad because he out ate his 3rd outfit. :(

 

And then Jetson ran across the house covered in mud

 

On to Christmas morning!

 

 

"Dad, look!"

 

he likes it

 

Brendan is wearing my clothes/pjs because of our Christmas pajama disaster. I'm a little disturbed that that sweatshirt fits him so well. CLASS OF '95, BABY!  (there's a weapon in that box)

 

Brendan giving Grandma a gift he made

 

my favorite Christmas picture of all