Snow Days

We got at least a foot of snow on Saturday! For a place that doesn't get any snow - 2 feet this winter is a lot. Maybe Virginia should admit we do get snow and buy some more snowplows and maybe I should break down and buy boots and snow pants! We'll see if it snows again this winter. I personally don't like snow or snow days - but I can't do anything about it. Everything shuts down - we braved the roads and blizzard like conditions to find a place for the kids to play and everything was closed. Sam's Club was open so we ate bad pizza and let the kids roam the aisles for an hour. On Sunday everyone canceled church. The kids did go out and play in the snow, we just put plastic bags on their feet and called it good. They were happy playing for 10-15 minutes. Anna Elise's school has already been canceled and we haven't heard about Calvin's little preschool program yet. I am going to work tomorrow - I need out of the house!

Last week Mike was in Logan UT for NHance training for our franchise. I was a single mom for a week and now I need a break! 4-5 hours at work is as close as I am going to get to one.

Anna Elise throwing snow

Lilah tried to throw snow...

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Lilah really liked eating the snow

Calvin and Anna Elise both made snow angels and then Calving went inside.

Madeline went in first, she refused to wear bags and those snow covered feet got cold fast!

Around the House

Several months ago we re-arranged our house - moving rooms and kids around. (Our office upstairs was shifted over to our bedroom, the playroom is now upstairs in the old office, and Lilah has her own bedroom in what used to be the playroom). I still don't feel like we've 'settled' in after that move. I'm still decorating and adjusting things. We also got some new things for Christmas. So with all this going on I'm hoping to finish everything to do with the house and get it crossed off my list!

Here's a few pictures of what I've been working on.

This is in our new playroom. I love these letters! I've also framed a large poster of their artwork.


Here is my downstairs bathroom, after living here for over 3 years I finally decorated it. Again, I love the vinyl!


This is my new Mark Mabry print of the Ten Virgins, we finally got it back from being framed. We set it on our mantel - I thought it would be more of a focal point there with the lighting we have and not just another picture on the wall. I love it!



We also FINALLY framed a picture we got from Mike's dad years ago. Its hard to see, but it's a picture Mike's dad took of wheat amidst some weeds - the wheat is literally glowing in the sunlight. He then hand wrote, in very tiny script, scriptures about wheat and tares. He made for Mike's brother while he was on his mission and gave a copy to us. It's amazing and it's nice to finally have it hanging up!


This is a poster of a picture taken at the Taxpayers March on 9/12 that our family attended. I framed it and gave it to Mike for Christmas. From the size of the crowd - I would guess this was taken after we'd left, but I could point out where we would've been standing if we'd still been there later in the afternoon.

OK - sorry for all the pictures of pictures. It's just so nice to get a new look and to have meaningful things surrounding us. In all the moving around we also bought Calvin some bunk beds. He is in heaven. We had to rearrange his room as well. Now that I have it the way I want it, we had better stay in this house for atleast a couple more years!

Calvin Goes to Kiddie College

Calvin started Kiddie College this week. He goes to a county program 2 days a week, for a couple of hours, for 8 weeks. It's just a little preview of what he can expect when he goes to Kindergarten in the fall. He LOVES it!

Lively Lilah

Lilah is 15 months old! I haven't done an update for her in a while because I haven't taken her to the Dr. My kids haven't been sick yet this winter and I think staying away from the germs at the Dr is the best way to keep it that way!
She is growing - she is a tall girl, but thinning out some. She got her first 2 bottom teeth when she was around 6 months old. Finally, 8 months later, she has 2 more teeth. However, it's not the top 2 front teeth, its the side top teeth. I jokingly say we've had just a bit too much Twilight around here if my baby is growing her vampire teeth! So she looks just a little bit funny and we are hoping it's not another 8 months before the next 2 come in!
She started talking early and then stopped talking and has reverted back to baby talk. She says Mama and she says amamamam for everything else. We occasionally think we hear more words, but they aren't often repeated.
She likes to get dressed and have her diaper changed. My other kids decided at around 9 months or so that they didn't like to be diapered or dressed and it was always a fight. With Lilah I get her clothes and diaper out and hand them to her. She takes them, squeals, runs around, and then lays down in the right spot. She holds her legs up and helps in any way she can - I LOVE it. She also likes to go to bed and she loves her pacifier. We only give her the pacifier in her bed and at church. I haven't decided if I like the pacifier better then a thumb, but I really think talking her into the pacifier instead of her thumb was a good idea. I'd like to take it away, but the dentist says if I take it too early she could go back to her thumb...so we are keeping it for now.
She is a very busy little girl and sacrament meeting is a challenge for her. She is very opinionated and lets you know what she likes and doesn't like. She likes to play with her brother and sisters. She is usually a happy girl and likes to make everyone laugh at the dinner table. We love having her!

Happy Happy Birthday Madeline Dear!

Today Madeline turned 3! Sundays are a bit crazy for us so we celebrated her birthday yesterday. She was SO excited about her Tinkerbell cake. She had a great time opening presents and she really hammed it up when we sang to her. I think she got a bit embarrassed by all the attention (which surprises me) and plugged her ears halfway through the song. I think she had a good day and everyone has had fun playing with some new toys!