The Snowy Snowy Mountains

Last weekend we took our first family trip to the snow.  We have wanted to take the kids to the snow for a couple of years, but the winters past have been fraught with ear infections and respiratory illnesses and I was afraid the altitude and cold would only make things worse.  This month everyone seemed well, so up the mountain we went.  

The kids were beside themselves with excitement.  William asked every day for a week, "Is today the day we are going to the snowy, snowy mountain?"  I don't know where he got the snowy snowy mountain thing.  Aaron suspects Dora.  It sounds like something she would say.  It stuck though, and that is now the official name of any mountain with snow. And there was a lot of snow on those mountains.  We missed the snow actually falling on us, but we got all the lovely leftovers.  

James was sure we'd be staying in a log cabin.  We were, and on Holiday lane, no less.  It was a sign of good times ahead.  
William's first glimpse of the snow was priceless.  There he stood, all bundled up like the kid on A Christmas Story, marveling at the snow.  Once he got down in it, the reality set in: he could hardly move in his snow suit, we had to take those gloves off so he could use his hands, it took him a while to figure out how to walk in the deep snow without losing his boots, but eventually, he loved it as much as he did that first moment.

Sledding was the first order of business.  James got right to it.  There was a perfect sledding hill right outside our front door and he knew just what to do.  Next year he wants to sled on a bigger hill, but he managed to have a lot of fun on this one.

 

Lilly even got in on the sledding action.  We sent her down in this pink saucer.  She was amazing.  Actually, this was a good place to deposit her without sitting her directly on the snow.  She couldn't crawl in her blue Teletubby suit and that pretty much irritated her, so she didn't last too long in the pink saucer or the snow.  She will like it more next year.  This time it was all about the brothers.

At first, William just wanted to be towed around the snow like on the boogie board at the beach.  But after watching James head down the sledding hill, he gave it a try and decided it was pretty fun.

Lilly got some Mommy and Daddy time since she tired of sitting still on the saucer like some kind of non-crawling 6 month old.  Aaron let her try eating the snow.  She liked it of course.

Obligatory family shot.  I need to crop it, but who has time for that?  It is a miracle I am getting these things posted at all.

William trying to walk in the snow without losing a boot caused him some difficulties.  The snow was really deep.  I sank right in to my knees.  Watching my kids in the snow made me think of kids who have never been to the beach before.  The waves scare them.  They don't like getting sandy.  They are as white as, freshly fallen snow (ha!).  My kids have the beach thing down.  We are working on this snow thing.

The boys had a blast playing together.  And I mean the big and little boys.  It was bliss for James and Noah to spend a whole weekend together.  William and Natalie loved being with each other too.  They are good at making mischief together.  One of the funniest moments of the weekend was when I asked William if he needed his nose wiped and he replied, "no, Natalie's got it."  And there she was, wiping his nose for him.  Ahh, young love.

William loved the snowball fights.  His favorite part was throwing snowballs at Uncle Greg's head.  What a sweet kid I've got.  James liked them too, until Daddy threw one in his face. Strangely, he wasn't too fond of that.  Who does Aaron think he is?  My Dad?  

On Sunday afternoon, we took a walk.  It started to rain, so we packed up to leave.  James shed many tears as we drove away from the cabin.  He always has a hard time saying goodbye to anything.  It was a great weekend, so we promised we'd come again.  I think the snowy snowy mountain is going to be a yearly destination.  

Heaven on Earth

A friend of mine told me a funny story the other day.  She was talking to her 12 year old son, and he confessed to her that he really does want Jesus to come back, but he hopes that he gets to kiss a girl before it happens.  If only Jesus could wait for that, he'd be really happy.

I couldn't help felling a sort of kinship with that idea.  Although I never would have admitted it, when I was a little girl, I always hoped that Jesus wouldn't return until I had the chance to be a mom.  Oh, I knew that I was wrong to think that, that I needed to be more heavenly minded, more like the apostle Paul, but I couldn't help myself.  For as long as I can remember, I have longed to be a Mommy.  

God has seen fit to answer my secret prayer 3 times over.  And despite the fact that I lament daily about the difficulties that my 3 blessings create in my life, I would not trade these days for anything.  These 3 are my little pieces of heaven here on earth.  Thank you, Jesus, for these gifts.

Thanks also to Aaron for getting behind the camera so I can have some photos of me and my babies.  We make beautiful kids!

Happy Valentines Day!

On Saturday morning, the kids woke to a house full of Valentines Day love.  The dining room was full of hearts and the table was set with valentines for all.  It was pretty fun to see how excited they were.  It is the little things we do for our kids that make their lives special.  There were no extravagant presents or decorations.  Just handmade valentines made especially for them, a few tubes of glitter glue (which were promptly all used up in glitter glue crafts) and a book.I set the table with construction paper placemats and put out a few chocolate hearts.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that in the end  it is the time I spend with my family, just gathered around our table that will be the most important.  Not the perfect gift, that amazing vacation, all kinds of classes to take or places to go.  Days like this help me remember.

Aaron drew each boy their own Valentine.  It was a drawing of what each one is interested in at the moment.  James really likes to draw buildings, so Aaron drew him an ornate building.  He loved it.  William got a seascape with a smiley whale, lots of fish and a penguin.  He was so excited.  I think we've stumbled on a new tradition.  They also loved their cards from Nana and Papa and the candy they so lovingly provided.  You can see a piece of the "choc" in William's hand at 8 am.  Oh how far my standards have fallen!

    

On this Valentines Day, I am thankful for a house rich in love.  A husband who will always be my Valentine (He bought me a set of dishes for our first Valentines Day.  Did he have plans for us or what?) and the 3 little sweethearts he has brought into my life.  I love you all more than I could ever say. 

Valentines Party

I remember one of the first parties I ever planned and hosted. I was in 4th grade and it was a Valentines Day party. It was the first year we were home schooled, and I was very saddened at the thought of missing out on the Valentine exchange.

Oh how I loved making my heart shaped mailbox, hanging it from my desk and watching it become fat with valentine notes from my friends. There was always the hope that you'd get a special valentine from your special Valentine. Although, if you were like me, you'd die before admitting you even wanted a special Valentine. I remember reading every valentine and reading into every valentine. It was clear when someone chose one just for you: "you make my heart race, Valentine". That couldn't be an accident, right? I know I chose my valentines VERY carefully. If I wanted someone to know how I felt about them, good, bad or indifferent, I'd have to choose just the right message.

I still have some of my favorite valentines. There is a Snoopy one from David McMillan. It is a big sticker and therefore stood out from a crowd of simple paper valentines. I have some handmade ones from kids I used to babysit. I have the ones my friends Heather and Shannon sent to me when we were lonely teenagers, wishing a boy would send us a Valentine instead of our girlfriends. Of course I have lots from my favorite Valentine.

I don't remember all the details of the party, but some stand out. I made heart shaped sugar cookies with red sprinkles for the guests to eat. I planned a craft. When the boys wanted to go outside and jump on a mattress we had in the backyard, I was frustrated they were not following my party agenda. (No we weren't hillbillies. I don't know why the mattress was out there.) Ironically, I don't remember the valentine exchange at all.

This year, when James mentioned giving out valentines to his friends, I realized I wanted the boys to have a chance to fill thier mailboxes with special notes. So I planned a party. Every kid brought a shoebox and some valentines. The shoebox was decorated and a mail slot cut in it, turning it into a mailbox. We then took the kids outside to exchange valentines. Of course, since none of the kids could read, it was rather chaotic as the mamas tried to tell each child whose valentine was whose and whose mailbox was whose and not to read them yet, keep passing them out and don't open that lollipop yet and no I can't read it this second, just look at the picture. It was fun.

After everyone had a box full of notes, the kids sat down to "read" their valentines. For the boys, this lasted several minutes. Then it was back to the toys, the running around and the crashing of cars. Boys often miss the deep meaning attached to valentine cards. The girls, however, carried their boxes around for the rest of the party. And, if they are anything like me, they are probably driving their moms crazy by wanting to hang onto those beautiful mailboxes, stuffed full of pieces of precious paper.

Obviously, I still love Valentines Day. Isn't it nice to have a chance to tell people that you normally might not tell that they, "Arrrrgh the best Valentine!" (from a pirate valentine) It looks like I have passed on my love of party planning and Valentines Day to my boys, because they are already planning next year's bash. They both think we should put candy in our valentines. They also wanted to know what the next holiday is so we can plan that party too. Easter egg hunt anyone?

Puddle Ride

The past week or so has been very wet.  I look for every break in the weather to get outside. The other day, in between storms, the boys wanted to go for a puddle ride.  At first this was just a regular ride through the neighborhood.  Then they found this puddle.  It was then that I understood what a puddle ride is.  

That puddle was a lot of fun, until they found this one.

They must have ridden through that puddle 50 times.  Maybe more.  As I stood there watching them, cars kept slowing down to watch them too.  Every car with a male in it had a similar reaction.  A big smile, a wave, a thumbs up or a beep on the horn.  Sometimes they even rolled down their window to yell, "way to go boys!" or even, "way to go Mom!"  I think all those boys wished they could have gone on a puddle ride too.

The 2 Wheeler

There is a little girl who lives 2 doors down from us.  Her name is Alexis.  She is 5.  She is small for her age, which James points out regularly.  "Alexis is 5 and I am only 4 and a 1/2, but I am bigger than her."  Alexis also rides a 2 wheeler.  

As soon as James observed this, he was in turmoil.  His competitive spirit could hardly bear to have Alexis riding her 2 wheeler while he still tottered around on training wheels, but he wasn't quite ready to give them up.  For a few days he consoled himself with the fact that his bike was bigger than Alexis' bike.  That soon wore off and he couldn't take it anymore.  Off came the training wheels.

It only took a few turns up and down the sidewalk, and now his bike has a new name.  "The 2 wheeler."    

And he's going, going, gone.  Way to go James!  We are proud of you.