Project Birdhouse

Carter loves his Papa.

Carter loves to paint.

Carter loves projects.

Today Carter spent the afternoon with Papa painting a birdhouse they built together last week (and lots of other fun stuff). He had a blast. What 4 year old boy wouldn't?

Thanks Papa for taking time out of your busy week to spend with Carter!

We love you!

ps YES, little brother Turner was pretty sad for the first five minutes, but he got over it and had fun with mommy (and napping).

A Blizzardly Wonderful Christmas

So I just realized I skipped writing about Christmas day!!!!! How could I leave you hanging like that?! ;) Haha... ok, for family memory-keeping purposes... how could I skip that???

If you remember from previous posts (someday I'll figure out how to easily link these!) it was snowing and snowing and snowing all Christmas Eve day and this did not end on Christmas day... it was continuing to snow in large quantities. Our drive home from Mom and Dad's was quite an adventure on Christmas Eve, so when we woke up to more snow falling and signs that it had snowed all night, we decided it would be impossible to get to their house in the van.....

Here is a photo of our street the day after Christmas when the snow had finally stopped!

And my darling husband out on snowblower duty!

Thankfully Dad's truck has 4WD so he & Justin were able to scoop themselves out and come pick us up. Not only us, but they also picked up my G&G Martin.... who's driveway looked like this when they arrived! (This a view from in the garage - the drift is about 3.5 ft high!)

They also went out to pick up our good friends- Tyler & Leslie Engel and their kiddos (who weren't able to make it to family for Christmas thus "stuck" spending the day with us). Picking up all of your guests for Christmas dinner....that's some hospitality if I don't say so myself!!!

G&G reading to Carter & Savannah before dinner!

As usual Mom cooked up a delicious Christmas dinner with all the fixings... even after learning only the day before in the middle of a blizzard that the pies, salads and a few other items would not be making it. No one puts on a better spread single-handedly than MOM!!! (I guess I did bring one salad... that she sent me home with ingredients for the night before. Pathetic, I know!)

After dinner and dishes we settled into the post-dinner entertainment. Naps for the little guys, a movie for Carter & Savannah, Scrabble for the ladies and Wii golf for the guys. A fun time of relaxing and enjoying friends and family.

This would be a good spot to have the day end peacefully.... but the real adventure came around 6pm when we decided it was time to take G&G home. Dad & Justin went out to survey the situation and came back saying they were going to need more help and enlisted Todd (I know you are thinking Tyler should have helped too.... but he conveniently didn't have anything but his slippers with him... so he protected the women & children back at the house).

I could go on and on.... because this was a LONG adventure.... but to sum it up 2 hours later (or maybe a bit longer) everyone had been delivered back to their own houses safely with beds to sleep in. There was a period of time where we thought we were going to have a huge slumber party... which was sort of exciting... sometimes I think we should of for the memories.... but with only 2 beds (and 14 people) it was going to be interesting... not to mention not enough toothbrushes and contact cases!!!

(THIS SPACE LEFT BLANK IN HONOR OF THE GROUP PHOTO WE NEVER TOOK... so sad)

All in all it was a blizzardly wonderful Christmas to remember!! Maybe the only one we'll ever get to spend Christmas Day with our dear friends (since I suppose we'll have to share with their own families next year!).

Aw, the memories!!

No better place for Christmas Eve'n

Snow falling steadily, gifts neatly wrapped under the tree. Maybe we should let them open just one. An early package handed to each boy soon after they finish their lunch. Their new Christmas pajamas a hit.

The snow continuing to fall. Two boys down for naps and two boys up way too soon. The excitement seeming to build. Time to put on our Christmas best for church.

We all grinned with delight as Uncle Justin & Aunt Mitzi met us at church. Together we sang praises to honor our Savior, stopping to remember the newborn King. We helped Daddy light the advent candles, we watched Mamie play her flute. We remembered the stories of Christmas and why Jesus came to earth.

Then through the snow we were off to Papa and Mamie's. A family tradition of soup for supper was savored by all. Time for a family photo and then on to the "fun". It didn't take Turner long to decide he liked to unwrap.

And the snow continued to fall. Mitzi seemed even more thankful for her new "snuggie" that Momma had made her to keep warm. Little did we know this was just the beginning of the snow. So long as we can keep her in Nebraska, she is sure to put this gift to good use!

Papa unveiled one last special gift. Not completely a surprise, for it had been hard to hide. Two years of handiwork and a P51 Mustang Pedal Plane the result. Finally they could ride in it, you can imagine their delight!

I have to say there's no better place for Christmas Eve'n. Being together with family, all safe and warm. So thankful Justin and Mitzi (and the dogs) arrived safely in Lincoln, bravely journeying through the snow to be with us. So blessed to have parents close by, who share so much of themselves with all of us.

We ended the evening with another family tradition. Homemade Ice Cream fresh from the can. And maybe a cookie or two. We realize we are blessed, we remember why we celebrate.

Time to head for home, the snow still falling. The wind still blowing. Thankfully we arrive safely. After quickly putting two sleepy boys to bed we begin preparations for our own little family celebration.

Hard to believe it already came and went....