More Snow!!!

Our snowmaker at work a couple of weeks ago!!! HA! I'm sure it'll be super fun next year!!! :-)


The swing covered in snow & ice

These giant snowflakes came down ALL day!

All bundled up & ready to play!

We bought a snowmaker this year. It is sooooo cool, and makes great snow, but we have had so much snow this winter!!! Maybe not the best year to buy a snowmaker. :-o Ha!!!

It snowed again today, and there is TONS of beautiful powder everywhere! It is so absolutely gorgeous, and probably 6-8 inches deep. I love it!!! It makes me just a pinchy-bit nervous because the trees are sagging beneath the weight of the ice under the snow, and I can't help but think back to the winter 2 years ago when we lost power and one of our trees. The city was devastated by the ice storm, and I'm praying that this storm will be nothing like that one! In addition, my Dad was traveling today, and I was praying like crazy for him. He's back now (Thank you, Jesus!), and our trees & power are still intact so I'm trying to just sit back and enjoy the beauty of it. Kevin had most of the day off, and we have had a blast playing in the snow, making cookies, doing art projects, & playing video games. What a super fun day!!!

Harold

Although we were in Texas when the "blizzard" hit, there was still plenty of snow left to play in when we returned home. We used our new saucers from Mimi & Pop-Pop to slide down the hill at their house. It was sooooooooo fun!!!! Unfortunately I forgot my camera and missed out on some good pics. :-( We also made a great snowman who Bryson named Harold! So great!

Christmas

Where is Kevin???


"Sword fighting" with Pop-Pop

Carter is suprised (and excited!)

Bryson got a remote-control tractor from Santa!

Christmas morning tractor ride

It started with the kids; soon Kevin was lifting all of us!!!

Carter peeking out from behind his present tower!

Logan

Bryson got a hat first, then wore it to unwrap everything else! :-)

Making the gingerbread house

Snow!

Kaelin

Snow Angel

This year we spent Christmas in Texas with Kevin parents & his brother's family. It started snowing on Christmas Eve and was the first white Christmas in Texas in a long time! We had fun decorating a gingerbread house, reading the Christmas story, playing in the snow, opening presents, eating too much, and just enjoying each other! The day after Christmas, Kevin went with his brother to hunt. Can you find Kevin in his camo??? He is actually a little hidden in his parents' wallpaper! :-) HA!!!

Our second Christmas celebration was on New Years at home with Mimi & PopPop. We opened lots more presents, ate an amazing Christmas lunch, and just played all day. I love spending the holidays with family!!!

Christmas Lights

This tunnel was set to music and the lights were constantly changing

The American Flag

Growing up, looking at Christmas lights was one of my favorite family traditions. I'm trying to make it a tradition for my new family, but I'm not having tons of luck. Last year, the boys were grumpy and didn't want to look at lights. This year, they fell asleep before we even got to the first neighborhood! Maybe next year...

That being said, we did find a church here in town that puts on an AMAZING light show that we all enjoyed. We went one evening when Kevin got in from work and walked around the massive grounds. The boys loved running around and we all loved the lights. They were gorgeous!!!! Some of the lights even "danced" to music! Can't wait to go back next year!

Church Program

For the second year in a row, our church had a special Christmas program. The kids dressed up (the boys were sheperds, the girls were angels, and the tiny twos were sheep), and they were soooooooo cute!!! They sang several songs including Away in a Manger & Jingle Bells. They sang loud & proud, and did a really great job!

Mommy & Me Party

Our Mommy & Me group also had a Christmas party this year. I enjoy these ladies so much, and the boys adore their friends. The kids exchanged presents, we decorated cookies, and just talked & played. We always have fun when we get together!

Christmas Train

The real steam engine


Climbing the spider web on the playground



It was way past bedtime at this point - check out Bryson's grumpy face!

In the gift shop

Real ponies!

Funky glasses in the Christmas store!

Our great friends & their beautiful family

Bryson riding the carousel after drinking all my hot chocolate!

Our good friends Kyle & Kylene invited us to the Christmas Train, so we went again for the second year. We were so glad we did! It was so much fun!!! Last year we were freezing and fairly miserable, but this year was great! We did tons more this year and stayed longer. We (of course) rode the train, played on the playground, had hot chocolate & Fun Dip, rode the real ponies and the carousel , visited Santa, shopped in the store, and just had a blast!

Christmas Party

Santa passing out candy canes

Bryson thinking hard on what he wants for Christmas - he decided on a hotel!!! (since we had just come home from Great Wolf Lodge)

Carter saying, "I know it's YOU, Pop-Pop!!!"

I love this pic with all the kids looking down from the staircase

The week before Christmas, we had our church group over for a Christmas Party. We had a delicious traditional Christmas dinner and enjoyed spending time with our great friends. This year, we had a VERY special guest - Santa!!! My Dad dressed up (THANKS, DAD!) and gave each of the kids a candy cane and let them all tell him what they wanted for Christmas and pose for pics. Most of the kids LOVED him ( including Bryson!), but a couple were nervous, and some knew "he wasn't the REAL Santa!" (Carter!). Everyone had so much fun!

Being Santa

These pics were just too cute not to share - the boys were taking turns "being Santa"!