Snow - Again... and again... and again...

What a strange winter we've had with all the snow (Christmas, Valentine's, Spring Break). So much so, the last time it snowed the kids weren't even rushing out to play in it. Here are some shots of our 2nd big snow of the season - the Valentine snow.

Heidi liked licking the snow.

Day one of snowfall. I drove the kids to school in this. Crazy. I don't think it was a very productive school day, even though they did go all day long.

A huge snowball fight - like with HUGE snowballs. Do you see the size of that thing flying at Little Girl?? (I believe it missed her.)

The kids had a blast playing until dark in all the snow. It was perfectly sticky, too.

They sledded down the slopes by our house so much, they wore all the snow off. And there was a LOT of snow. Little Buddy is in the red coat running up with the orange sled.

Bear enjoyed eating (and sharing) the Valentine cookies that would not be making their way to school for Valentine parties the next day. Another batch would have to be made over the weekend for the rescheduled school parties...

When Dad got home, we went for a walk (slide) down to the creek. He got pelted with snowballs from the girls the whole way there. I was safe holding the camera... ;)

It was a winter wonderland at the creek.

Then, the next morning we woke up to THIS! More snow!! Dad took pictures when he got up with Little Buddy. It was unbelievable!

Little Buddy was up to his knees in snow as he made his way up the backyard.

Snow - Get it While it's Cold!

Dad is definitely on vacation. He sent the kids out to play in the snow in the dark. Definitely not the norm. Of course, it's also not the norm to have snow twice in one week in our part of Texas. At least not in December. And it was such "perfect" snow, he couldn't pass up the opportunity.

He even took the precious hand-made sled Poppa made years ago out to try out the backyard snow. Bit barely fit. She'll be glad to know I blogged that bit... ;)

Little Girl is spending the night with a friend, so she missed out. She's going to be VERY disappointed when she finds out...

The reddish blur is Bear making her slide down the hill.

This one is all blurry (I was taking all these pictures in the DARK), but I thought it was cool how everyone seems almost ghost-like since they're moving while the camera is setting up the picture. Dad's throwing a snowball (on the left). Bit is the barely visible blur in the center dodging the snowball Dad is throwing. Heidi is just to her right watching. Little Buddy is up on the top retaining wall working on his snowball for the snowman.

Bear is standing at the top of the backyard with the little snowman they built. Great snowball and snowman snow. Maybe he'll still be there in the morning so they can decorate him and we can get a better picture of him. Can you believe this picture is taken in the DARK?! Thank goodness for the tripod. The exposure took forEVER. Bear kept asking if she could move yet...

We Love Routine!

After a very busy, very lazy, very slow, very fast, very non-routine summer, we were SO ready to begin the regular routine that school brings with it today. Ahhhh....

Bear headed out the door first today. All alone. By herself. First time ever. She was relishing the thought of the independence of no siblings at school with her. For now she thinks that's cool. Next year she might be wishing for some sibling company at middle school.

Little Buddy and Little Girl were ready next. They had decided against riding their bikes the first day, but Little Buddy tore off on his when he saw the neighbors heading out. Little Girl and I drove up to the school and met Little Buddy to head in to their 3rd & 4th grade classes.

Heidi was already feeling the woes of the day ahead because Dad left with his suitcase (business trip to Florida for a few days) and Mom was getting ready like she was going to leave too. She pouts when she knows we're leaving her. So pitiful.

Bit was insistent on NOT having the traditional first day of school picture taken.

She ended up giving in while the younger two were goofing off out front. Butterflies were making her a bit jittery on her first day of high school.

That's MY pillow!

I don't know why anyone would think we'd created a monster... Ugh! That's MY pillow!!!

Blogging Buddy

We've been discovered. The blog actually has a co-author. Dad is such a good encourager...

Heidi's Birthday Present

Heidi got to go on a field trip to the new house. Now that the backyard is sodded and fenced, Heidi is free to run.

She LOVED her soon-to-be-new-backyard.

I should have used my telephoto lens...

She ran and jumped off the low retaining walls.

Boy and dog - who was this "field trip" for again?

I'll get another post ready with some updates on the build. Looking pretty close to done here? Looks are deceiving... Still another 6-7 weeks before we close.

Happy Birthday Heidi!!

Sweet little Heidi is TWO today...

December 2006






February 2007

November 2008

She's just a big baby...

"Dog Tired...?"

At 10am this morning, this was in my bed.

The reason for that would be one or more of the following:

a) She's just lazy

b) She thinks it's her bed

c) She was up late last night watching everyone play on the new Wii

d) All of the above

4th of July

We forewent the annual family reunion down south to take the older girls over to Mawmaw & Pawpaw's for the weekend. (And with gas prices, the closer location was more favorable...) Plus, since we sold our house in 3 days (more on this after we close next week) we had some little repairs we needed to get to after receiving the inspection report at 5pm on the eve of a holiday weekend.

So, here are some shots of yesterday as we visited with Mawmaw & Pawpaw at the Lake. They had festivities and were glad to have some kids to share it with.

Bit enjoys our first big tomato from our garden - we took it to share with Mawmaw & Pawpaw since only two people really like tomatoes at our house.

Bear got a flag tattoo on her face while the others were out riding a boat around the lake. It was a LONG boat ride, so she took a throw at the dunking booth and listened in on some Karaoke for a bit while we waited for the others to get back.

Sno-cones were a hit. Nice and cold on a very warm day.

Pawpaw let Little Buddy back up the golf cart on the way back to their house. Little Girl was keeping an eye out for him as he drove. He knows what he's doing, but he scares us to death. Oh, I hope the next 7 years go slowly before he's allowed to get his driver's license.

The kids did the little poppy thingies out on the driveway at Mawmaw & Pawpaw's house. Here's Little Buddy chasing Dad & Heidi with one.

Little Girl just stood there and threw all of her little bag one at a time on the ground in front of her.

Mawmaw & Little Girl played a few games of Uno. I think Little Girl won most of the games. She must have had a good teacher...

Heidi really enjoyed her turn to ride on the golf cart. She NEVER voluntarily gets into anything with wheels. EVER. She HATES to get into or out of the truck or van. We were amazed when she jumped up into the golf cart, hardly before it stopped. The only thing we can figure is that she enjoyed the thought of the wind blowing through her ears... On the other hand, maybe she's claustrophobic like Mom and Little Buddy...

Making faces... Bear

Making faces... Bit

Making face... Little Buddy

Making faces... Little Girl

Fireworks on the lake

I like the outlines of all the people sitting out on their docks on the water watching the fireworks.