Sledding we will go

Luckily we have a great hill in our neighborhood, we do not own sleds are not planning on it so guess what we used, worked great and were free. The kids had a great time all bundled up in whatever warm clothes we could pile on and luckily I bought some snow bibs for Delaney this past summer at a garage sale. Harrison wore my boots and some dish washing rubber gloves under his knit gloves to keep his hands dry and it worked. Really do not need much for a 1/2 hour of sledding once or twice a year. We had a great time and are very glad we do not have to do this that often. It is 5pm and still snowing so looks like another snow day tomorrow for us all.

Toto I don't think we are in NC anymore!!

The talk around town was it was coming and it was coming BIG!! I went to the grocery last night for a few things that were not even related to the stuff I was taught to get in case of a snow-in. The milk was wiped out except for 2-1/2 gallons and I felt like I should take one with me just in case I could not make it up the hill to the store the next day, it was nuts in there. Well the call came at 5:00 am that school was closed due to weather so I got up checked on the kids, turned off the alarm clocks and looked out the window-The Biggest snow we have ever had was laying in my backyard and you all know how we feel about snow, I said it out loud to myself and went to bed.

Jason went out and did one of his favorite outdoor activities and shoveled the drive and walk, Whee having some fun now!

Next big adventure get everyone bundled up and go out for 15-30 minutes come in and warm up. Wish me luck!!

Thanks Santa

Under the tree Christmas morning was a new bed for Bodie and when we saw it we thought he would never fit in, what was Santa thinking. But looks like Santa knew exactly what Bodie needed a cuddle cup to sleep in. I am jealous of how cozy he looks.

Christmas continued

Wow, what a Christmas. It is amazing how we can be gone for 14 days and it goes by so fast. We left for our 6 hour drive to Ohio on the 20th and filled that time with our 2nd annual family Christmas scavenger hunt, annual family steak dinner, opened presents, me and the kids getting sick and opened gifts on Christmas eve at Noni's.

We left Ohio Christmas morning I think it was 6am for a 5 hour drive to Indy where we opened presents on Christmas and visited with my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin, made a visit to Bloomington one day, I had a chance to finally catch up with some girlfriends which some I have not seen in at least 23 years, that was awesome. We visited my Grandmother in the nursing home, and went to my Aunt and Uncle's home for a family get together.

If that was not enough we left the kids with my parents and Jason and I were off to Chicago to ring in the new year and celebrate his 40th birthday where we met with his friends from IU. We stayed downtown so we had a chance to shop on Michigan Avenue then we were treated to a limo one night visiting some really amazing places in Chicago then spent New Years eve the guys watched the IU game the we had a great meal and finished the night in a local bar ringing in the new year. On new years day we were on our way back to Indy to spend the night, pick up the kids, pack the car and then travel 10 hours home.

Back to school the next day was rough but we made it, our kids are troopers for all that we put them through at Christmas.

Thank you so much to our wonderful family for such a memorable Christmas and for our wonderful gifts and warm hospitality you truly are the reason for all we do and we cannot Thank you enough.

Dressed and ready for presents

Waiting to open presents

Harrison, Ethan, Campbell, Delaney, Caleigh, Joshua and Carson

These are all of Noni's great grandchildren aren't they cute!!

Merry Christmas

Yeah, The Nook he wanted

Yeah the boots she wanted

Gifts galore

Rock on with the Paper Jamz

Layne, Colin, Delaney, Gracie and Sadie

Sample Gates at IU

Eating lunch at Nick's in Bloomington

Happiness at Nick's

Stacie, Stacey, Jenn, Me, Amy, Sunday and Waneta

Jason, Derek, Manny & Christian Great view out of our room

Starry Night

Last night Harrison participated in a Starry Night performance at the High School, 7 boys and 7 girls were chosen in the 3rd grade at his school to paint Vincent Van Gogh's painting Starry Night. They met 5 times after school to paint most of the painting and last night they finished it off with the yellow, while the High School Blue Diamond Dancers danced in front to the Don McLean song Starry Starry Night. It was really amazing to watch those 14 kids on their own up on stage without their teacher painting the details. They were all so nervous before the performance but they did great and they were so proud of themselves when they finished. They put a lot of hard work into it and did and wonderful job. The painting was painted in 2 halves so they can be displayed at 2 places, half of the painting will be on display at the High School and the other half at the elementary. When I get a chance to take a photo of the actual painting I will post it, but I added below the Van Gogh version.