A Sunny Day

Who cares if it's 30 degrees...

The sun is shining!!!
30 degrees and sunshine is something to celebrate around these parts :)

We ran out and threw snow balls, splashed in the melting snow, rode bikes, climbed snow piles, and RAN until dusk.

It was wonderful!

Snow...Snow...And More Snow!

We woke up this morning to snow coming down...still. 

It feels like weeks since we've seen the sun and the inversion is getting REALLY bad.

I miss that beautiful blue sky I use to know, and the warm sun-rays that would stream through our windows!

I miss it so, SO much. 

But, I'm determined to enjoy today. Because I have today.

And I get to play with baby T.

So, we bundled up and attempted to shovel our car out of the driveway for carpool...

which I managed to do.

Then I got a spurt of energy and decided to shovel the driveway and sidewalks.

Little T. watched me from his car-seat while eating a Graham Cracker (his favorite).

I was so proud of myself!

That cement was a welcoming sight.

I had a moment of hope that I would actually be able to walk on semi-dry land, and park without peeling out!

Thirty minutes later, it was as if I had imagined straining my arms and back while shoveling all that snow into neat piles.

The driveway and sidewalk was covered in a blanket of fresh, white powder...again.

Booo!!! Oh well.

I'm counting on a beautiful, green spring!

In the mean time, I'm going to snuggle on the heater with my baby boy and thaw out my frozen bones.

Arkansas, Arizona or St. George anyone?

Phone Gems

The children are back in school, and I'm already missing our lazy days! 

It's still snowing, but now I have to actually drive, shop, and carry children around in it.

Not to mention, get everyone out of bed bright and early in a cold, dark house!

But, I'm doing my best to keep a smile on my face.

Children have a way of seeing the happiness in everything. 

They don't mind the snow one bit.  

In fact, they love it!

And school is something they look forward to...aside from the homework.

I need to be more like them!

While going through my phone this morning, I came across several pictures that put a smile on my face :)

The children love to take pictures with my phone, and sometimes they turn out pretty darn cute...and hilarious!

Here are a few of my faves:

Profile shot!  Our handsome boy when he still had all his teeth...

Princess showing us her muscles...

Dress up and hair!

They do it all on their own...

 

Eyeball!

Hawaii style!

She's a ninja!

 

I needed these today...and every day,

Cold & Cozy

There's been a blizzard raging outside for the past couple of days now! 

Well, maybe not a blizzard...BUT, there's been wind and lots of snow.

I'm pretty much over the whole snow thing.

But, the children are on Christmas break still,  so I haven't had to attempt car pool or errands in it...yet. 

I prefer to stay snuggled up on my heater, watching movies with my babies.

It's been nice!  If only it wasn't coming to an end soon.

{The girls decided they needed to venture out into the snow.  It lasted about ten minutes, but they had fun in the powder!}

Sport takes after his mom in so many ways.

We prefer to stay out of the cold and watch movies while eating left over Christmas :)

Baby Timmy is such a snuggler.

He likes to take a time out from playing just to snuggle up to me and bounce his leg.

It only lasts about two minutes, but I eat it up!

Sledding after dark is SUCH a favorite.

The children beg dad the moment he gets home from work for a ride!

They have a pretty awesome daddy, let me tell you.

He'll pull them around in a snow storm...just because.

And I say a prayer every time that he won't end up in a ditch on that little "meep meep" of his-as we like to call the scooter!

Even the neighborhood kids come running out to join in the fun! 

 

A little hot chocolate afterwords just tops off their night.

It's going to hurt going back to school schedules in a few day!

Lazy, Winter Days

{Playing in the Christmas snow with neighborhood friends}

The children are out of school for three weeks! 

The snow is coming down and it's absolutely beautiful. 

We are counting down to Christmas and enjoying lazy days with the family :)

Tea parties with dad by the fire are pretty special!

I caught little Minnie making up tunes to the "magical snow falling down outside", while looking out the window this morning.

She makes me smile.

"Look, mom! All those push ups I do at night before bed are really paying off!!" said Sport while flexing his his bulging muscles!

Warming little feet by the fire.

They take after their mommy!

Mickey Mouse sings of his birth! 

Gave me a good chuckle tonight after tucking the children in bed.

I love finding gems like this around the house...

Sleeping by the fire in the family room is such a treat!

Sport tried to keep his eyes open until the very last fire burned out in the fireplace...He almost made it.

 

I'm loving these days with no homework or schedules to keep! 

Sledding Until Dusk

Oh my gooooooodness!!!! 

 It's SO cold. 

Thank heaven for friends that take our cooped up children for a spin around the block...on their sleds, pulled by a totally sweet jeep!

 

Sport went flying around the block and church parking lot with his buddy C. until the sun went down.

Little boys going wild!

Always a new trick to try :)

 

I'm just going to watch from my window.

Oh, Christmas Tree

We just couldn't wait any longer.

So, for family night, we pulled the Christmas tree out of it's box.

We've all made bets on how many times baby Timmy will yank it down by Christmas day!

While the boys assembled our little tree...

The girls went to work decorating their gingerbread house from Aunt Andrea.

They had so much fun!

Sport jumped in and finished up the tree...

 

Once the Christmas tree was assembled and lights strung,

we turned the decorating over to the children.

I love watching them load the tree with their memory ornaments! 

Every ornament has special meaning to me.

Even the round balls that the kid-Os argue over who-gets-to-put-what-color-where every.single.year!

I convinced the children to put their special ornaments up high where baby Timmy couldn't reach them...

Before I knew it, nearly all of the ornaments were up top!
 I guess they are all special to them :)

Such a noisy, fun, crazy evening! 

{Our goofballs}

Surprisingly, little Timmy has only pulled off a few ornaments and tried to eat the lights once.

I think the tree will make it through!

The house is sparkling with Christmas lights and there's excitement in the air!

It's even snowing!

Now it's time to build a fire and snuggle with my babies.

An Icy Weekend

I was not prepared!! 

Where has my brain been?

I do live in Utah after all.

Snow coats, gloves, soup, vitamin C....SNOW TIRES!! 

Well, thanks to the little reminder over the weekend, I am now ready for a blizzard.

The children have snow gear, soup makings are in the fridge and pantry, we are stocked up on vitamins...and my phone has Mr. JP on speed dial since snow tires will have to wait.

I've already had to use that speed dial...

On Friday during carpool the snow was lightly falling, but by the time I dropped off our last little friend, I couldn't see the road (neither could anyone else...which is rather terrifying)!

By the time I reached the new bridge on Geneva Rd. my tires couldn't find any traction.

Hazard lights were flipped on and people started sliding off the road. 

Including me!

I was slightly freaking out.

Princess said a prayer and Sport recommended we call dad.

Dad came to the rescue and got us home!

My hero :)

Snow tires are definitely on my priority list.

Although I'm not the biggest fan of wet, cold, snowy, sunless days...

It really can be quite beautiful!

On Saturday morning, we woke up to a winter wonderland.

The children spent the whole day sledding and digging in the snow...

Mr. JP went right to work building his traditional snow-cave!

Such a big kid.
He's just awesome like that.

Once the snow-cave was complete, sleeping bags and thick blankets were laid inside for a fun night sleeping under the ice.

Mr. JP got the Coolest Dad EVER award!

I preferred to warm my feet on the heater with little Timmy and finish up the hot chocolate.

They cuddled to stay warm! 

Mr. JP made it through half the night before bringing everyone inside.

Between Sport and Princess's snoring and the cold, he wasn't getting an ounce of sleep!

At least the children only vaguely remember being brought inside. 

It was all an unforgettable adventure to them!

By Sunday morning the snow-cave looked a little lopsided.
It's already warming up again!

One of the joys of winter is the smell of burning pine in the fireplace while

snuggling with my mug of hot chocolate...

and Mr. JP :)

Thinking positive!