SNOW

Like almost 30 inches of the white stuff...the blizzard of 2016.  The kids had a blast and I didn't even mind it all that much:)

The snowmen was completely made by our kiddos...and the pictures were taken by them as well.  Fun!

Knit hat

I finally knit a hat in the round using circular needles and then double pointed needles.  This is the 4th attempt.  But I was not going to give up - even if I did scream and holler and throw several half finished products directly into the trash can!  I have plenty of mistakes in this one but I'm learning.  It's a little big but I can wear it:) Trying to teach Olivia to knit in the round next.

Randomness around our house....

We took in a "pet" wooly bear caterpillar for a few days in the middle of winter.  Leave it to Noah to find and rescue it.   

One day when going into my pantry I spotted a random frog puppet just laying on the shelf.

And last but not least, on several occasions I have found weird things in the freezer but none so strange as our cardboard cutout of a gun, Jake's doing. And don't try to take it out...it goes right back in.

New Years Eve Day 2016

We went to celebrate New Years Eve at 12 noon at a friends house. It was fun, their house was amazing and they had a balloon room - love!  We were supposed to wear crazy hats but as it turned out we were pretty much the only ones who did that?!?!?

Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015 was a very fun Christmas for us - because of....you guessed it - Jacob!  He was soooo excited (due to his siblings excitement of course).  We had a small stomach bug running through so we stayed home for Christmas Eve service and watched a service from Tenth Presbyterian Church live streamed. It was nice and relaxing.  And to think a few weeks prior I was so upset that "our" church wasn't having a service - well we wouldn't have gone anyway!  God always has a plan.  Christmas morning was fun and pretty quiet.  Each of our kids got two presents plus a few small items in their stockings.  We all had a very special time together - most important was family.

Milk and cookies left for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Olivia 2015

Zachary 2015

Christmas Morning - mom gets a picture then you open your gifts:)

Jake with his second mommy!

Jacob blew us away with his expressions and joy over THIS gift.  

The complete love and excitement was so fun to watch.

After this big smile - the very next day he was telling us to "put him back in the box" and "don't want him".  Nice - you are 2 aren't you!

Ella got her first electronic device - a Kindle - she was so happy!

Olivia made me fingerless gloves!!!!  Wow! This girl:) 

My mom found this cute idea so we decided to try it this year - had to have snow some how.  This was the warmest Christmas ever - around 70 on Christmas Day.  We wore shorts.

I never want to forget...

How he plays with toy food.  He is so precise and neat - don't you dare try to mess up his "order".

Ella turns 8

Ella's b-day is always tricky - right after Thanksgiving.  This year we did an old fashion candy scavenger hunt (Zach's baby) and invited 6 friends over.  They painted, giggled, played games and of course ate!  It was fun!

Ella's favorite gift by far was...well you'll see.

 Leave it to biggest brother to make a card with a pig's butt on the front - she laughed very hard:)

 Little brother thought it was his birthday and had to open almost all Ella's gifts...she is sweet to him!

 Bashful the pig now has a forever home with Ella!