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The snowplow this year has made quite a hill in front of the neighbor's yard.  They offered to let the kids play on it – I am not sure they realized that they would take them up on it every single day for the rest of the winter.  As soon as they get home from school, out come the sleds… and they are on "their" hill until it gets dark enough and cold enough that I feel like I should drag them in.   I had to put in both pictures… one with the flash, so you can see the kiddos… and without, so you can see how dark it really is.

Our first "real" snow.  This year, the snow is so much fun… now that Carter is old enough to have fun and I am smart enough to dress as warmly as the kids when we go out.  Highlights of this storm included everyone taking turns with Dad running the snowblower, and playing some tackle football in the drifts.  

The first ever – but certainly not the last, it was such a hit – sleepover under the Christmas tree.  Carter laid awake for an hour with his sleepy eyes looking up in wonder at the lights… it made me so happy to see them all snuggled up together under there.  And Carter came in and got me in the middle of the night to come sleep by him… so if the couch counts, I guess I got to sleep by the Christmas tree, too!

Have you seen those commercials for auto insurance with the guy that says, "protect yourself from mayhem like me."  Well, we had our own little version of "Mayhem" at our house this year… when we were putting the decorations up, wherever he was – there was trouble.  His hair only made it better – and when I asked him if I could take his picture, this is what I got… enough said.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And since we're on the subject, here are a few other funny things Carter has done lately:  

– Walks around all day long pretending to be Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars.  (This requires a broom or mop due to something Zach showed him on lego.com…)  And he'll say to you, "Jar Jar is hungry."  or "Jar Jar had a great nap!"  or a number of other things referring to himself in the third person as Jar Jar.  It is hilarious.  

– He has a bigger than average head that has a hard time fitting in and out of shirts sometimes… and I told him that the reason why his head is so big is that it's full of his big, smart brain.  His reply:  "Let's take my brain out then so my head will fit."  

 

Dear Santa, 

I want a baby closet, baby bowling costume. When is the elf coming.

Love Emma.  

 

 

I had such enthusiastic helpers this year for the tree and the decorations – the only things they didn't do were the lights (all Nate) and the star on the top of the tree (put on by our elf, Bob – thank goodness, because it was starting to get ugly deciding whose turn it was.)

 

…We celebrated with just our family.  It was peaceful and easy and fun to be grateful together.

…We made 7 pies for 5 people (not kidding… and also, if we're being totally honest it is only for 4 people, since one of them doesn't eat pie.)

…We watched the parade, and I had the great idea to make a fort for the kids to watch in – which they then crawled in and out and in and out of stepping on each other and getting mad.  I love the parade!!  Next year there will be no fort.

…Emma was my "Thanksgiving kitchen helper."  It was so fun to have someone to cook with!  She is a GREAT kitchen helper.

…The microwave was broken.  It broke while I was cooking a squash for the pies… the day before Thanksgiving… and we managed to make our entire feast without it.  Just like the Pilgrims.  :)

…Carter ate nothing but Jell-o for Thanksgiving dinner.  

…We spent the month writing one thing a day we were thankful for… the kids' lists are priceless.  They are going directly to my cedar chest.  

…I was reminded once again that living a grateful life brings such joy.  We have so much to be thankful for!!! 

Don't worry, firefighter Carter is on the job.  All day.  And would be all night if I'd let him.  Here are some familiar sights around our house these days:  

Kids in the "fire truck" at the top of the stairs…

Carter in his fire boots and "packpack"…

The "pumper truck" that the kids created by hauling all their stuff into the laundry room (why that makes it a pumper truck, I'm not quite sure…)

And the pumper truck I tried to make on the wall so they'd stop hauling their toys into the laundry room.  It worked for about two days.

 

Football, that is.  Playing football outside in weather so cold all you can have showing is your eyes.   They wanted me to join them… I'm too old for that.  

It doesn't take much to get the kids excited… they were out with the shovels even though the only place it ever stuck to was the deck, and Carter convinced me we could make a snowman… and although he was tipped over and mostly melted by the next day, we did!  Here's to winter… as long as it's as warm as it was today.