First Snow & Organizing Snow "stuff"

The kids were very excited to get a little snow here today. The little girls had a snow day from pre-school, and the big kids insisted it was "totally not fair that everyone else is out of school and I would even THINK of making them do school!" And to be honest, Mark has been gone all week and I am on a big organizing kick, so it did not take long to convince me we could all use a day off!


It took F.O.R.E.V.E.R to dig out everything. Find what would fit who, finding enough to go around, not a fun job! So I was determined that we were coming up w/ a system, pronto! After the fun of course.

They look ready for fun don't they?

And tired of having pictures taken as Sawyer is telling me "Lets get this show on the road!"
Some might have been a little more anxious than others. Mavery could be screaming because she got stuck with the old boy coat. Nah, she is just tired of waiting to get outside stuck in 2000 layers. Well that and she looks like this most of the time. Precious little angel child. ;-)
Out, and baby it is COLD out there! For this cold we would certainly enjoy MORE snow!
Sledding down our front hill. Our small hill with not enough snow. We have the worst wind up on this hill. Brrr!
A snowman! He might be tiny, but isn't he cute? You will notice that I took the back of the snowman. I was not about to walk around to the front, no thank you!

First child in, looking a little frozen and ready for some hot chocolate!

Sage wanted to keep her snow gear on for the whole evening. We had to convince her she could not eat soup in gloves, but oh she was determined!
So here is what I came up with to "try" to keep their snow stuff organized so that next time we venture out, it won't take hours to find the stuff! I hung each coat and pants on a hanger. Took a baggie, wrote their name on it. In the bag I put their snow gloves, hat and scarf. Then just poked the hanger through the bag so it stays together. I wish I could figure out how to attach boots to the hanger! If you have less than 5 children, and especially if you have less than 4 girls, this is probably not an issue for you. And I realize I am more organizationally challenged than most! I have tried to convince Mark that it would be so much fun to have a row of lockers in the basement to hold their snow gear. He finds that to be a waste of time and space for our once a year snow. He is never on board with my great ideas!



I hope that you all are staying warm! My thoughts and prayers have been with those that I know do not have heat, or even a home in this weather. I can't even imagine and pray that shelter will be found.

Muffin Tin Monday-New Years

We have skipped muffin tins for awhile with the holidays, but the little girls asked before going back to school today if we were having muffin tin lunch. They were very excited to use their new shiny tins from Amy for Christmas! So in honor of the new year...

• 2010 ( can you see it?) made out of pb & j sandwich, cheese and a pretzel
• mac & cheese is our confetti to celebrate!
• Popcorn & cookie because we are popping into a new year that we pray will be very sweet!
  

And I am linking up where you can see more fun muffin tins and where we get our themes. (though this was their theme last week and we had skipped) Click here for ideas!

My Christmas Gifts!

Had to share some of my Christmas goodies. A new comforter! I LOVE it! The old one looked just like the curtains and I was ready for something brighter. I may regret white, but so far I just love how crisp and clean it looks. In the process of redoing the room so will add pictures when I am all done. Trying to figure out what color curtains would look best?
My new computer. We made the switch to a MAC, after hearing everyone else talk about how wonderful they are, and I have to say, I will NEVER go back! I can't say enough good things about it so far.
And my new favorite cookbook. If you have never been to her blog, you must check it out here.
So far I have made olive cheese bread and the chocolate sheet cake, YUM! Thanks Amy for this, it really is a fun book to read!
It was a Merry Christmas!

Ringing in the New Year!

Everyone made it till midnight! 2010, here we come!

Fitz's Our Favorite!

Mark was off all week so we enjoyed lots of family time. We saw many movies, ate out and played all our new Christmas games! We headed down to Fitz's one day and the girls all enjoyed Root Beer Floats. YUM! (Sawyer was with a friend at Incredible Pizza, not being ignored for pictures, for the record!)

Christmas #4

And the last of the Christmas parties! Dinner with my parents and brother. We all survived with smiles! Not survived dinner w/ my parents, I mean the entire week of Christmas! Well maybe my dad is not smiling. Blame it on the Chinese food we had for dinner, it made us all sleepy!

Christmas #3

Sweet Baby Leighton with her Uncle Brett. Isn't she beautiful? And he is handsome to of course!
We made the men play the left right game for their gifts. I know they loved it. And if they did not, does not matter because it made us ladies all laugh!

My grandpa

Grandpa with all of his great grandkids. Notice anything about this picture? Like the fact that there is just one boy? Poor Sawyer, girls girls everywhere! ;-)

Christmas night was spent with my moms sister and family celebrating with my Grandpa. Highlight of the evening was Grammy running upstairs every few minutes to wrap a present she forgot about. hehe!

Christmas Morning

It was a very Merry Christmas Morning at our house! Nothing more fun than watching 5 kids tear into gifts! Actually, the older ones wait and watch the little ones. Mavery tore through the fastest, we barely got a picture of her at all! Last year she was just home so she was very overwhelmed, this year she is all about the presents! Santa goes overboard here, there is no doubt. Rumor has it his (HER) love language might be gifts. Hmmmm... Some fun things on their gifts this year.

• Malaine sat on Santas lap the week before Christmas. I asked her what she asked Santa for. "Kirsten the American Girl doll that is going away and I just know he is going to bring her for me and I can't wait!" Amazingly Mommy had NO IDEA that she wanted her. Or that she was SOLD OUT in the store. Thankfully that Santa is smart and was able to deliver because I could see her looking around for that doll as soon as she walked out! and she loves her.
  
• Makenna, also a week before Christmas, saw some clear converse tennis shoes she wanted. Up to this point she had asked for nothing except $$ because she is saving to travel to China. (she wants to go and work in an orphanage, no we are not adopting again!) So in the days before Christmas Santa was busy! As you can see from the pictures she did not expect Santa to deliver those shoes! Her 2nd favorite was a package of socks that did not have matches in her favorite prints and colors.
  
• Sage & Maverys favorite was their motorcylces. Sage got a scooter her size because she insists on riding Malaines around. Which is to big for her. She was excited for about 20 seconds till she realized that a 3 wheel scooter does not go as fast as a 2 wheel scooter. She quickly passed it on to Mavery telling us it is WAY to slow for her. I have to get this kid on video riding this to big scooter. She is FAST! As I said before, Mavery tore through her presents, tossing each aside quickly. Sage took her time, studies each gift, gets excited over each thing. They are so different.
• Sawyer was thrilled with his as you can tell. Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics was his only wish along with legos of course. Though he insisted Dad had to have a certain game for his Christmas Gift (playstation 3) which I am certain was as much for Sawyer as for dad! How do I expect my son would not be into electronics when their almost(not quite but getting closer!) 40 year old father is still getting new game systems for himself?? ;-)
  

I love LOVE the magic of Christmas morning. Watching my kids faces as they open things, priceless. I have no doubt that my children know what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. And I believe that God finds joy in the delight going on in our house Christmas morning!