First Ponytail

Cookie Exchange Party

First snowgirl, complete with pigtails

Gingerbread houses

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Weather man predicted up to two feet of snow today. We don't belive the weather man at our house, in fact we usually belive the opposite of what he says.

I stopped at the grocery store and bought a few dozen eggs, just in case the weatherman was right this time. If I was stuck in the house for a week I wanted to accomplish my Christmas baking.

The family went to the temple last night to see the Christmas lights. As we were enjoying hot cocoa with friends a few flakes started to fall. By the time we were home the white stuff was sticking to the ground. By morning time there was a lot hanging around and it kept coming.

Morning wake up call

Rob checked at 2:00 p.m. and the tally was 15 1/2" and still counting. Final count will come tomorrow. The roads are covered, power still on, plently of eggs and a warm fire. I think I will start baking.

Do you BELIEVE?

S requested a surprise. "Are you sure", asked Santa? "Yes"

"A remote control truck for me, red would be awesome!"

A asked for, "the Rebecca doll." Should there be a limit when we have more American Girl dolls than acutal girls in our household??

The best request was our first snowfall last week. Sledding, snowman building and an afternoon of fun.

Lovin' the Truck

Little Jo, a.k.a. minnie Rob has a love of wheels. In church yesterday she was driving a matchbox car up and down my dress while making car sound effects. At home you can catch her rolling a car along the ground. Trains are another love. I guess it should as no surprise that when she is placed in Rob's truck she is in her element. In the truck bed or at the wheel she doesn't care much.

Thanks

Giving Thanks for him...


and her...

and who could forget her...

and of course her...

and my little one...

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Christmas is in full swing at our house. Lights are up, tree is light and presents are bought.

Princess Pat

Here are some recent pics of the "princess" or "Queen", depending on her mood of the day

Fall Fun

Fall is in full swing at our house. The leaves changed color and started dropping the past couple weeks. Now the pick-up fun begins once again.

Enjoyed a wonderful Halloween week with school parties, ward trunk-or-treat, pumpkin carving, and visiting with friends.

M & S loved their Little House pioneer dresses.

A & J made adorable bumble bees

Rob and I enjoyed dressing as tacky tourists. At one point being told, "you look like I did while traveling through Europe this summer." Was that a good thing?

Princess Pat

Our little J is becoming a little class clown. A brought these glasses home from school and thought it would be a fun time putting them on her little sister. They lasted about long enough to snap this pic.

New favorite toy in our house are the piano keys. J is currently learning Symphony #2, by Bach

Mum's the word

After our stay in Lancaster we spent a few days w/ friends. Near their house is a beautiful greenhouse w/ a large hill on the property. We stopped by last year during Thanksgiving and thought the hill was cute decorated w/ cabbage and other winter flowers. Little did I know what it would look like at this time of year. The entire hill is covered with mums of every color. It was a sight to see.

Riding a Buggy

The family enjoyed a much needed weekend retreat to Intercourse. Yes, the lovely town we spent a night in was Intercourse, PA. I suggest a visit. The family was making the rounds to visit our close friends (sutto family) and we took a night detour on the way up. We spent a day in Lancaster county and were able to observe Amish & Mennonite families in their element. We have a farmers market near our home that is run my Mennonite's. When we go to visit the girls are always fascinated by the girls in their dresses w/ their long hair pulled up. They also love the variety of cheeses.

Anyway, it was a great weekend. It was a delight watching a community set back in time, working hard long hours but in a different way than we work in our world. My girls were fascinated and wanted more. We just finished reading the Little House on the Prairie series. I think we all have a farm life fantasy playing out in our heads.

Enjoyed a buggy ride complete w/ two little boys racing us w/ their Shetland pony. They won by a lot, M & S asked why our horses could not go faster. Lots of adorable shops w/ home decor. Stopped at a pumpkin stand and purchased enough pumpkins & gourds to cover my front porch, homemade rootbeer stand (a little to much yeast), and a quilt shop. I admired those quilts and just took it all in. I completed my first quilt this last year and it was a crib size! I won't be making another anytime soon.

Baby Einstien

Who needs Baby Einstein when you can watch the washing machine?

Going Buggy

I had to opportunity to take the girls to a "Kids Day" at our local 50 acre display garden. I am in heaven when I walk around the grounds. On this particular day my kids were in heaven. They offered at least 9 different stations throughout the grounds. The stations included face painting, creating "critter condos", bug bingo, painting, and a station with entomologists and their critters. This was the perfect week to learn about bugs. My 2nd graders are studying butterflies, bugs, and insects as part of their science term.

S & M's bug condo

A's bug condo