Winter Wonderland!

More pics are coming soon, but we have over 15" at our house now (the picture below was from 2 days ago). Here in the NW, we are getting record low temps (4 degrees here last night) and TONS of snow - well for the NW anyway. All of you in the midwest probably think we're big wimps (and you're probably right), but it's a big deal for us up here :)! We're loving it - pics of the kids sledding, playing, etc. to come! Merry Christmas to EVERYONE!!

Taken 2 days ago - there's been 7+ inches more since then!

The view from the front of our house - gorgeous

Trying Something New and Wrapping Gifts

So in an attempt to keep myself on top of things I've decided to add 2 new sections to my blog called, "This Week's Dinner List" and "Recipes" (they're on the right side). I'll be listing what I'm making for dinner that week and then it will be right there - easy for me to see and a way to keep my buns in gear with dinner and grocery shopping. I try to do my grocery shopping 1 x/week to buy just the things I will need for that week. I also attempt to align our meals so that we're using many of the same ingredients that week in some of the meals (i.e. ground turkey can be used 1/2 for White Chili and 1/2 for Tacos). This helps to save money on groceries. In the next section called "Recipes" I'm including some recipes that I have either gotten off of AllRecipes.com or things that have been handed down to me or that I messed around with on my own. Feel free to use any that you'd like :)! Just thought this might be a fun attempt for me and anyone else who struggles to figure out what's for dinner!!

Wrapping Gifts:
On another note, I had the kids help me wrap gifts for their cousins today! They were so awesome (Abraham was sleeping, so that was actually awesome too)! I had them lay out the gift on the paper and then made a marker line for them to cut along - they LOVED it! Then I had them help fold the sides up and put the tape on. Then they each picked out a bow and the tag and wrote their names! It was such a blast and they each told me separately - "Mom, I loved wrapping presents - that was so fun!" Yeah - I love being able to do things like this with my kids during the Christmas season. It builds memories, bonds and makes for wonderful time spent together - which in my opinion - is what this holiday season is all about!

Whitt cutting along the line (well close enough :)!

Lowa putting the tag on her cousin's gift.

Wow this looks posed - promise - it wasn't!

Lowa cutting along her line. She would start on one side and 1/2 way through switch to the other side. Too cute!

PS - It does get a little messy, but they picked up all the scraps and garbage - way to go Lowa and Whitt!

Here's a cute picture of my precious Abraham - just had to throw it in. You can see the pink in his eye - he's a trooper though!! Love you buddy!

Playing one day when we took all the pillows of the couch - lots of fun! Those pursed lips crack me up - he looks like that much of the day. I love to give them big kisses!!

Nap Time, Snow and Pink Eye

Here is what Lowa decided to do during her "nap" today. Productive (not in the sleeping way, but imaginative way). Lots of fun this evening with Miss Cranky Buns - but we got a pretty good laugh out of it! It's looks a bit creepy doesn't it?!


This past week we've received 5 inches of snow at our house. It's stinkin' COLD here (highs in the 20s) - trust me for B'ham, that's cold!! Abraham had a good time checking out snow for the first time. It was time for his nap, so he didn't last too long. He did think it was fun to kick it around though! Of course, Lowa and Whitt are thrilled and want to go out and play in it all of the time! Thankfully we have an enclosed deck off the back where I can watch from the window - I'm not crazy - it's fun to watch, not hang out in all day!!



So we've had pink-eye going around - woohoo - FUN! First Lowa, then a week later Whitt. I thought we'd made it through without Abraham getting it, but guess what he woke up with this morning - goop and pink eyes!! I'll be glad when this has run its course (Tom and I have managed to escape, but now have dry-cracked hands from all of the hand washing). Good times :)!

Look at my little buddy with his swollen eyes. They've all been troopers (with 4 drops/day for 7 days - not so fun for little peeps)!

A Roll of Toilet Paper

The other morning I had my hands full and asked Lowa if she would run downstairs and grab me a roll of toilet paper. We keep them under our stairway downstairs. As she came running back upstairs, she said, "Here's the toilet paper mom."
"Thanks Lowa - that is so helpful!!

As I looked over I saw the "roll" that Lowa had brought up! Here's a picture of it!

It was a little strip of toilet paper that was supposed to be the roll of toilet paper. So sweet b/c she got what I asked for (in her mind a roll of toilet paper is no different than a strip of toilet paper).

Needless to say, I had to walk my buns down the stairs and get the roll myself :)! Such a wonderful helper :) - love it!

Guess Who's Coloring?

Abraham thinks it's pretty cool to try and be like big brother and sister. He's taking up coloring now! Pretty cute!

God in a Penguin

Today Lowa, Whittaker and I made Christmas magnets. It was a blast! Lowa made a cute polar bear and Whitt made this penguin. He was drawing a face on it while I stepped away to make lunch. When I came back he had drawn a little person in the Penguin's belly (you'll see two eyes, a una-brow, a smile and two legs). I asked him what it was. He told me, "It's God in the penguin's belly!" To know what he's referring to you have go back a bit. We talk a lot about how Jesus lives in our hearts when we invite him in. Whittaker takes this to mean Jesus live in our bellies (I love how children view the world - such innocence :) )! So, Whitt decided that this penguin needed to have God live in his "belly." I love this boy and his heart for God! I pray he always continues to seek him with his whole heart!