Christmas Miracle!

OK, so it's only a miracle to those that have had children addicted to pacifiers...

Travis is now passy-free!!!  Tonight will be night #4 that we have been without.

On a different note...

We went to Jake's grandparents' home last night for Christmas Eve dinner and gifts as we do every year.  It was great to see the family that we don't often get to spend much time with.  We all loved on the newest baby cousin - Kennedy. 

The boys ate really well and were ready for gifts.  When Brad opened the gift from Granny and PawPaw, he yelled out in joy.  He was SO EXCITED to get the Whimpy Kid series of books.  He immediately pulled them out of the bag and showed them to me.  I'm so glad he wants to read!

Wyatt got some books too, but wasn't quite as excited.  But when I told him we could start reading them together, he perked up.

Travis got a new John Deere tractor and didn't care about any other gift.  In fact I had to open the others so he could see he got some other cool stuff!

Of course Santa stopped by and dropped some loot off!  I had a little talk with the jolly fat man and asked that he only bring one big gift and stockings.  Our boys get so many gifts every year that we felt Santa could take care of one biggie. 

So this morning upon walking in the room, Wyatt suddenly became quite sad.  Santa hadn't brought him the LEGO set he wanted.  Instead he got some Nerf gun set.  He was a bit down for a while until Nana reminded him that his birthday wasn't far away and he could still get the LEGO set.  Ends up that his Nerf set has been the most popular gift today!

Brad's gift has to go back because it's not as great as it looked.  He got a skateboard kit - and the boards, as well as trucks and wheels are just crud.  So we're going to return it and use some of the gift card money he got from family to get a really cool skateboard to use with his new ramp that Nana and PawPaw got him.

Travis got the basketball hoop he wanted, but no Barbie.  I don't think he's missed the Barbie one bit!

Jake ended up getting *bonus* gifts for the boys.  Of course PawPaw helped out to enhance the gifts...

Brad and Wyatt each got a BeBe gun and Travis got a VA Tech basketball.  All are happy as larks!

Needless to say, it's been a good day.  And tomorrow we'll head to my grandparents' for food and white elephant exchange.  And then it's off to Grammy and Grandpa's for more family, food and gifts.  Yay!

No School

I think I'm more sad than the kids are since they are out of school due to the snow.

Of course I'm sad that I have to entertain 3 kids, but I'm more sad that they couldn't have their Polar Express day today and their parties tomorrow.  What fun is that?  I hope when they get back there will be some sort of New Year's party or something.

We went out to drop off some Scentsy to some customers today...

We had to take the truck out because there was no way the van would make it out of the garage.  I had to put the truck in 4-wheel drive to get it over the massive hump of snow where the kids were sledding.  There was one other spot that I had to throw it in 4-wheel drive to get up a hill, but other than that we were smooth sailing.  The boys LOVED it when I'd fishtail here or there. 

I ended up shoveling the rest of the driveway so we can get the van out on Wednesday to go down south.  I got an extra workout!!!  Now everything can start melting and make icy areas everywhere :).

Another Day Inside

We just got the call from Bishop that church is cancelled.  Is it bad that I'm relieved?

Jake and I had already decided that I would stay home anyway --- we don't have enough room in our truck for our entire family anymore.  So someone would have had to stay behind and the kids are still too young to leave at home alone :).

So it's another day of playing together as a family!  We will likely go out and play around lunchtime or so.  I have to throw our coats and pants in the dryer from last night - I think Wyatt had more snow inside is coat than our driveway!!!

Jake will head to work tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure the kids are out for the holidays now.  I'll have to find some things to keep them occupied.  And as soon as I can get out of the neighborhood in the van, we have some Scentsy deliveries to make.

We're excited because Jake has Wednesday off, so we will head to family that afternoon.  Yay!  We can't wait.  I just hope I don't forget anything!!!

O the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Wowee!  We have had some snow in the last 12 hours!!!!  We knew some was coming, but Jake just took a reading and it's now at 15 inches.  The crazy thing is that we're supposed to get the bulk of it this afternoon!  The news says it won't taper off until midnight or so.

I say, "Bring it on!"

Last night we went to bed a bit worried about Chad since he was at a stand-still somewhere in West Virginia.  This morning we found out that he never started moving until 5am.  He sat in the Xterra on the road with a bunch of other yahoos for about 12 hours!  AND he had left Wisconsin at 3:30am - so he was a bit tired.

I just got a report from him and he was just west of Charlottesville (he's on his way to Richmond).  He might get there by 3pm.  Ugh!

So when I got up this morning I decided to make some cookies... 2 types; gingerbread and sugar.  All cookies were completed and sampled by the time Jake was done shoveling the driveway.

The boys kept bugging us to go out, so at about 11am we decided to hit it.  We took the snow tubes and packed down the driveway making it a pefect sledding hill - until I flew over the edge and went toward the woods with Travis on top of me.  I was so aftraid I was going to hit a tree - and nearly did.  Luckily Travis and I were just snow covered in the end.  It was fun but I didn't want to repeat it.  I don't need a broken bone!

Jake clears out a new spot for the sledders.

Brad is carrying the tube back up the hill and Wyatt sits in the snow bank waiting.  Brittany (neighbor across the street) is waiting for Travis to sit on her lap.

Travis and Brittany head down the driveway!

Wyatt

Brad

Travis

Notice the pink cheeks?  Yes, it's time to stay in for a bit.  Our clothes need to dry out and we need to warm up before another stint of fun.

I have some pork barbeque going in the crockpot.  The house smells great and dinner will be ready when we are.  Love it!

At the mall...

Today Travis and I picked up our friend, Ashlee so we could go shopping.  She wanted to introduce us to some great shops including the Christmas Tree Shop (which is quite cool).  We also ran into the mall which puts our puny mall to shame!!!

We had a good time looking and talking.  Travis was really good and seemed to have a pretty good time too.  Around noon we headed into the mall and ate at the food court.  Afterward we visited a few stores and stopped at the really cool fountain with fun lighting.  Travis liked that part.  After throwing coins in the fountain, we looked up and saw Santa walking toward his "throne" after his lunch break.  Travis was so excited and waved for a good 2 minutes before Santa saw him.  The jolly ol' man was nice and walked around a couple of people to shake Travie's hand. 

Needless to say, Travis enjoyed the trip to the big mall and shopping with Mommy and Ashlee.

We hope to go again after the holidays!!!

Pirate Ship

Have you ever seen the 3D puzzles? 

Nana and PawPaw brought back these 3D pirate ships for the boys when they went to the beach this fall.  Unfortunately one sat with pieces all punched in the corner.  In fact I believe Travis took a few of the longer pieces to use as weapons against his brothers.

Today I decided to de-clutter the dining room because I was having a Primary Presidency meeting here.  Under a pile of stuff was the ship puzzle.  Travis asked that I put it together, so I figured I'd try.

 

It didn't take long and it was pretty fun.  Travis loved it but had to be careful or pieces would fall off.  Brad and Wyatt were impressed when they got home.  We have another, but it will remain tucked away for a while.

First Snow of the Season

OK, so this post is a bit late since the snow is nearly melted now.  A good week and a half ago we had a nice little snow storm that lasted an entire Saturday.  It was beautiful.  Unfortunately our Ward Christmas Party was cancelled and we ended up eating all of the prepared food after church the next day.  But all in all the day was a nice one.

The boys went in and out about a million times.  I think the dryer ran all day as they would come in to warm up and dry their snow clothes and then put it all on again to play more.

Travis played hard and came in around 3pm or so.  He ended up stripping down to a diaper because his clothes got wet too.  I asked if he wanted to get dressed, but he just wanted to wrap his blankie around him.  While we were watching TV he went over to the vent to warm up.  This is how I found him.

 

I look forward to more snow this season.  It can get a little hairy when the boys are home multiple days in a row, but the good thing is they play outside the majority of the time.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Trials

Lately I've been thinking a bit about the different trials we face here in mortality.  There are the physical ones that may include sickness or disease or just physical limitations.  There are financial trials that don't even need explaining.  And there are the emotional trials that can make us stand back and look at ourselves in a different light.  And then there are the spiritual trials that are kind of the refiner's fire to hopefully make us stronger and bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.

I am thankful that right now I am not facing any physical trials (other than the normal winter cold).  Our finances aren't perfect, but we're not in a bad way that would make us lose sleep.  No, the trials I've had lately are more on the emotional and spiritual side...

Just like any other trial, if I can get through it then I know I'll be stronger!  Sometimes I think we're given challenges so that we can evaluate who we really are and what we really believe.  At times life is good and we forget those things.  I know that I'm a mom and a wife, but what does that mean?  Well I'm trying to define that for myself these days.  Hopefully when all is said and done I will be a better wife and mother and feel even better about myself and the contributions I can make in life.

Thank goodness for challenges that give us new perspectives!!!

My turn

It was my turn to get a haircut today.

My inspiration was Jennifer Love Hewitt from Ghost Whisperer.  I LOVE her hair and want to grow mine out.  It was a leap to go for bangs, but both my hairdresser and I LOVE it.