A Beautiful Snow

The weather channel told us we'd get snow starting last Sunday night, and they were right!  Lane worked Sunday, so the kids and I made a quick grocery store trip to grab a few things...the milk, bread, ingredients for chili, etc.  Of course everyone else in town was doing the same thing!  (Alexee was mad at the boys in this picture because she said they slammed her fingers between the two carts.  Boy was I ready to get home.)  I think it started snowing around 7 p.m. and school was cancelled before we even went to bed so it was nice to know for sure ahead of time.  We got a beautiful, powdery snow...probably 5 or 6 inches deep! 

It was fun to wake up to such a pretty winter scene!

They were bundled up and ready to go out by 7:20 Monday morning!  They've grown a lot since I ordered these snow suits--time for bigger ones.

This is what Bogart's fur looks like after he tries to walk through snow.  He gets so cold but he seems to like running around in it.

So excited to have a REAL snow day!

February 16, 2015

They did a lot of sledding.  It took several trips to pack the snow down enough to make the sleds go fast, but once they did it was really fun.  

I decided I wasn't too old to sled, so I hopped on and zipped down the hill...right onto this large rock. OUCH!  I was laughing to try to avoid crying, but it hurt!  The plastic on those sleds is not thick at all.  Ha!!  I cracked the green sled on my very first ride.  :(  Time for new snow suits AND new sleds, I guess.  Sorry, kids!  

This little guy is a big fan of the snow.  He was happy staying out much longer than anyone else.

Rhett in action!

I put chili in the crock pot early Monday morning so we had that ready for lunch, and we also warmed up with hot chocolate and whipped cream.  Then I made pumpkin bread.  What is it about snow days that makes us want to eat nonstop!?  I could not keep the kitchen clean!  :)

Crosby had a very loose bottom tooth that was bothering him, so I pulled it that day.  Here's his cute new smile:

School was cancelled again on Tuesday & Wednesday (Feb. 17-18).  The second day the kids had a snowball fight, Alexee and Crosby vs. Rhett.  By the third day (today), Rhett and Alexee were kind-of bored with the snow and bundling up.  Not Crosby.  He couldn't talk R & A into going out with him this morning, so I bundled up and we threw snowballs and went for a hike in the woods.  We saw deer tracks all around us, and this evening we saw three wild turkeys in the back yard.  I made potato soup and cornbread for lunch and sugar cookies for dessert (the baking really has to stop) then C & A went outside for a while this afternoon.

It has been fun, but I'm hopeful that we can have school tomorrow.  I'm glad we had one beautiful snow, but now I'm dreaming of spring!

Valentine Fun

Thursday the 12th--Had a nice lunch date with Lane at The Keeter Center.  This pecan pie bread pudding and vanilla bean ice cream was delicious!

After school Thursday we finished the kids' class valentines.  Rhett's class didn't have an official party, but they were allowed to pass out cards/treats to their classmates so he took snack packages of Chips Ahoy cookies.  Alexee and Crosby took the same kind of cards.  I printed these free Valentine words searches, and we attached a pencil and a fruit snack to each one.  

Teacher treats and puppy bag sample for Crosby's class--they made these during their party.

Alexee wanted to make a Beanie Boo box for her valentines.  We painted "Rocco" on cardboard and glued it to an empty cereal box.

It was nice that the 2nd grade and Kindergarten parties didn't overlap!  I went to A's party at noon.  Miss B always has things super organized--I love it!  She divided the class into four groups which rotated through the four activity stations:  math activity/sorting and graphing candy hearts, a Minute to Win It cookie game, craft and snack.   

                         

They also did this cute Valentine questionnaire for writing that day.  :)

 

Crosby's party was at 1:30.  The kids were so excited to exchange cards and eat snacks!  

AND Mrs. H, who is currently on maternity leave, made a surprise visit during the party--and she even brought her beautiful baby girl!  It was super sweet when she walked through the door and the kids all ran over to her.  They were so happy to see her, and they thought the baby was very cute.  

She asked if I'd like to hold her...YES, OF COURSE!

Saturday morning Crosby had a basketball game.  We took a quick photo on our way out the door.  His game was fun--he did great.  He got the ball and shot twice, rebounded once and got to dribble the ball down the court once.  He works hard and always has fun!

After the game we stopped at Target.  Rhett had a gift card that he wanted to use, and he was so sweet to offer to buy Alexee and Crosby each a small valentine gift.  He has always been a thoughtful gift-giver.  

 Bogart got a bath, a red bandana and lots of hugs for the holiday.  :)

Watching Peppa Pig

Then the mailman delivered a fun package from Grammy and Bobba!  The kids were excited to open their valentine treats!  (Thank you, Grammy and Bobba!!)

Lane had to work the early shift on Saturday but was home that evening so I made our cherry pies.

Father/Daughter Valentine Dance

Lane and Alexee had a special night together at the community Father/Daughter Valentine Dance on February 7.  This was the night after her birthday sleepover, so I think she was a little bit tired but had a great time.  My sister mailed us one of my niece's dresses, and it worked perfectly for the occasion!

She was excited about wearing a corsage.  Lane helped her put it on.  :)

Ready for their date!

She likes to wear her hair down.  We straightened it with the flat iron, did a few curls on the ends and did one small braid on the side.  

They met up with Alexee's sweet friend and her dad, and Lane saw several guys from work as well.  Lane said they danced a lot, and Alexee collected several balloons, which they had to hold while they danced-ha!  :)  I'm so glad they made this fun memory together!

Here are their previous dance dates:  

2013 (Kindergarten)

2014 (1st Grade)

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(Meanwhile, the boys and I had our own little fun date to Sonic!)

Eight Years Old

Our Groundhog Day baby turned EIGHT!  I just can't believe how fast the years go.  I think she had a lot of fun celebrating--we stretched the fun out over several days!  First, while I was in Houston Lane's parents came up for the weekend.  They took her birthday shopping at Dick's 5 & 10, a neat store downtown.  She chose quite a variety of things, from marbles to glitter, and she even brought something back for the boys.  :)  (I wasn't here to take photos, but she enjoyed the weekend!)

Then the next weekend (Feb 1), the kids and I drove to Flippin on Sunday morning to go to church with my parents and have a birthday lunch with them.  Mom made chicken tacos, cheese dip and a yellow cake with chocolate icing and a number '8' candle on top (A's request).  My grandparents came over too! 

Four Generations:

Knowing how Alexee loves cats, my Grandparents gave her this picture of a calico kitten sleeping in a chair.  The picture used to hang in my Great-Grandmother's house--such a special gift for her!

And this is the morning of her actual birthday before school--Happy Birthday, Alexee!  WE LOVE YOU!  It was a very cold day, and it even snowed a tiny bit that morning.

I went to school to have lunch with her.  I wrapped a new Beanie Boo and put it in her lunchbox for a surprise.  She was excited to get "Rocco". :)

So thankful for this amazing EIGHT year old!

2007 and 2015

After lunch I picked up cupcakes for her class.  They sang Happy Birthday to her before their snack.    

We gave her the option of going out to dinner or me cooking a meal of her choice that night.  She decided she would like to go to Olive Garden.

And finally, the weekend after her birthday she had four friends here for a sleepover!  Lane picked up pizza for us, we had more cake, they played and stayed up late, and she asked me to make monkey bread for their Saturday breakfast.  They seemed to have a lot of fun!

Blessed to have these sweet, new friends.