This and That

I've got lots spinning around in my head tonight.
My heart aches a little that Sammy will turn 5 tomorrow.  Saying good-bye to 4 is bittersweet.
I think he's going to have a fun birthday party, though.  It's his first one to invite friends to.  Pictures tomorrow!
Crazy weather this week.  Eight inches of snow on Sunday and close to 70 degrees today.  Not complaining!
Here are a few shots from the week.

 I could eat her up.

Sometimes I don't know what I would do without my Kayla.  She's a sweet big sister.

 I don't ever see a little girl in sunglasses without thinking of my cousin Crystal.  There's one picture of her around three when she was wearing sunglasses and looking so cute.  I think she still wears fun ones.

One more of my basketball star in action.

100%

Sammy and I sat on the bleachers, watching the last basketball game of Jack's first season playing.
Jack's coach encouraged him, always with smiles,  often and loudly, to be ready.
"Hands up, Jack!"
"Turn and shoot!"
And then.
Let's just say I was one proud mama.
MY boy scored in last night's basketball game.
The ONLY score.
Now I won't mention the final score of the whole game because it wasn't pretty but as Jack's coach said, he scored 100% of the points for the team.

 Just a little happy.

 These two are brothers (and the coach's sons) and all together, the three of them are great buddies.  I have been so thankful for this family ever since we came to Grace Covenant.

Coach took everyone out for ice cream after the game.

If you haven't been close to a table full of 8-10 year old boys, let me tell you- it's an experience.

Even little brothers get in on the action.

When we got in the car, Sam said, "That was awesome Jack.  I think you're the best player ever."

To me, that was the icing on the cake.

A Little More on the Snow

We stirred in the sugar, vanilla, and milk.  The snow in our plastic bowl began to look a little more like ice cream.  The smell of vanilla always reminds me of snowy days when I was little.  Doesn't it seem strange to come in from playing in the snow, with red runny noses and pink cheeks, just to eat something cold?  I prefer something warm, myself.  And so do the kids, really, but they couldn't pass up the opportunity for snow cream.  Who knows when it will snow again?  Better get it all in while we can.

Don't think they forgot about hot chocolate for a minute- and don't they look so cute?

First Snow!

The snow started this morning during church.  Finally! Big, fluffy flakes.
It was so pretty to watch.
When we got home, it was straight outside.
Later, hot chocolate- finally a real reason to drink it!!
The kids settled in to warm up and I found a good spot in the rocking chair beside a window.  I love to see it snow.  It slowed down for a bit but now it's coming down fast and hard.
Lucy found a good spot, too, in my lap with some books and a little conversation.  Why is it so much easier to slow everything down when it  snows?
Here's a few shots of our first  snow of 2012.

Teaching Lucy about snowball fights.

Falling...

Snowy Forecast

(last year's picture)

Didn't I just say I would like a good snow?  Just one?

Well.......I   think      it      is      COMING!!!

Just a little excited.  I love listening to the updates and reading the latest forecasts.  Right now we're in the 4-8 inches range.  

Can't wait for those first few snowflakes.  

p.s.  I made some changes to my comment settings- think it will be a little easier to leave a comment so give it a try if you want.

Beach and Books

"Mama, I want to go the beach!  I want to go to the beach, Mommy!"
Wouldn't I like to make that one happen for Lucy!
I don't know what got her started on that but I heard it more than once this evening.
It does sound pretty good to me at this point in the winter, even if it hasn't been that cold.  Still pulling for a good snow... at least one!

Lately Sammy and Lucy really like to read books in our bed instead of on the couch after they get their jammies on.  It's pretty nice.  We all get settled under the covers with plenty of pillows behind us.  One of the things I love about evening storytimes is how the older kids wander in and listen to picture books.  Sure it's good for them to listen to good stories but I think they just like the togetherness of it all.  So do I.
Here are a few we've read several times lately (I hadn't planned on including all yellow books!):

 

We all love Norman.  Great pictures and a strong storyline from Don Freeman, who wrote Corduroy.

I love the imagination of the little boy in this book.  One of Sammy's favorites.

I assumed this was an older book because of the wonderful, simple illustrations but it's actually fairly recent.

A sweet story of friendship.

An Afternoon Outside

Can you find Sammy in there?
We played hide and seek this afternoon and he hid in this tree just about every time.  Every time!  And he would laugh and laugh when I looked somewhere else.
There was also ninja training in the backyard.  Who knew?  All this time I thought they were just running around and swinging swords at each other.
As much as I'd love a good snow, the weather this winter has kept some of the winter blahs away.
Who can complain when the kids can be outside so much and not come in with rosey cheeks and numb fingers?
I keep remembering one evening in particular last spring when the windows were open and a warm breeze blew in the sounds of the spring peepers.  I cannot wait to hear that again!