In our own Backyard!

So, this is the view from our back porch. There is a big berm between our property and the country road, which - wouldn't you know it - is the perfect place to go sledding. Master S has been bugging us about getting sleds and finding a good hill since it snowed Wednesday. And today he mentioned using cardboard to walk on the snow, and I thought, why don't we use it for sleds? We had a big box from the water softener and so we went to work, and this is the result...

The fold worked great to keep snow from getting on the sled and getting it stuck .And there were LOTS of smiles as a result! What fun - in our own backyard and it cost nothing!!! Yeah! Master S even went back out for more in the afternoon. This is Miss Lilly making a snow angel - backwards.

Big D watched from inside. Little guy would have gotten lost in the snow - 12 inches makes it hard even for Miss Lilly to get around. Big D has recently been way into the phone. This is a pic of him trying to talk into it this afternoon.

Snow Day!

Big D at 11 months is BUSY! Did I say busy?!?!? Because he is absolutely the most curious, getting into everything, and everywhere, driving me crazy because I can't get anything done when he is awake BUSY! But, he is so cute doing it, that I just can't get mad at him. He is different than my other kids in that he is very careful looking at and getting into things. I think he just wants to see how it works -- he sits and looks at books, turning the pages carefully (just waiting for that to change . . . ), he begs to look at the camera, crying until I give in and then he just sits and turns it around in his hands, oohing and ahhing at it - literally. He has been refusing his morning nap lately -- AHHHH! A half and hour just isn't enough in the morning for me to work out, shower and do the dishes before he is up again. So, wish me luck - I've just got to get up earlier to get some of that done and I've got to skip the early morning feeding with him - no more bottles, so that he won't sleep in until 8. Am I crazy?!?! Yeah - but I need that morning nap for 6 more months!!!!

We woke up to 12 inches of snow this morning, which must be out of the ordinary here, because a man that was shoveling his daughter's drive-way across the street came over and introduced himself and asked, "Do you even remember the last time we had this much snow?" I kind of laughed and said, "Well, not here - we had it in Utah about 12 months ago - not sure what its supposed to be like here yet." It made me feel like home though. Master S was just a little disappointed - he passed the second level of mad minute math at school on Tuesday and was anxious to try out the third today. But, as soon as we went outside to play in the snow and then I reminded him he could play the wii, I think he all but forgot about math for the day. We built snow couches, and slides on the snow and shoveled the walk - which seemed gigantic today. Then we had hot chocolate and just enjoyed being at home. Miss Lilly came down from her bath tonight - all dressed for bed, and she did it all by herself. I was going to help her, but she refused to get out when I could help her, so she decided she'd rather do it herself. And, she did a great job - even tried to comb her hair, but when I said, "Miss Lilly, did you comb your hair?!" She said, "Yes, with the brush in your bathroom, the green one". I said, "OH?" Not sure which one that was, and her response was, "yeah, the one to brush your teeth with". So, I'll be looking for a new toothbrush tonight :)

Questions and Answers

This is for Claudia - hope you enjoy :)

Where is your cell phone? pocket
Your significant other? patient
Your hair? short
Your mother? friend
Your father? comfort
Your favorite thing? time
Your dream last night? too short
Your favorite drink? fizzy
Your dream/goal? joy
What room are you in? family
Your hobby? dollar stretching
Your fear? seperation (from kids/J.D.)
Where do you want to be in 6 years? content
Where were you last night? kitchen
Something that you aren't? patient
Muffins? blueberry
Wish list item? bookshelves, drapes, desk (can you tell we just moved?!?)
Last thing you did? read
What are you wearing? jeans
TV? noggin
Your pets? none (thankfully!)
Friends? faraway
Your life? interesting
Your mood? mellow
Missing someone? J.D.
Drinking? hot chocolate
Smoking? choking
Your car? too big
Something you're not wearing? shoes
Your favorite store? target
Your favorite color? Purple
When is the last time you cried? AM
Who will resend this? few
My favorite place to eat? anywhere I didn't cook
Favorite place I'd like to be at right now? Beach

If anyone would like to be tagged, this is your invitation! Just remember - one word answers - ok . . . well, as short as you can get it :)

Time for Craftiness?!?!

So, most of those who know me well, also know that I haven't had much time to pursue personal crafting for awhile - ok, so maybe it's been years . . . but I've somehow squeezed out some crafty items lately. I think it has something to do with a very small budget (I'm not working and thus can not justify spending on any usual splurges), a very cold temperature outside which keeps me indoors and finally, but most importantly, two small children at home during the day - translation: 2 big reasons to just stay home and avoid any public display of how much we all just really need a nap!!! So, to pass the time I've been up to some very enjoyable craft time (usually during Big D's nap and Miss Lilly's computer time). So here are the results:

Yes, I know - I'm a little late. But, better late than never and Big D will have a stocking for next year! Although, the flashing lights he had on his stocking this year will be hard to give up for this.

This is an idea I had from a friend in Salt Lake - if you read this, thanks Ali. I thought it was a fantastic idea for birthday presents for kids to give. It's a pillow case. Her son gave one to Master S (baseball themed) for his birthday last year. So, when Miss Lilly got invited to a princess birthday party this weekend I decided we'd practice a little frugality and see what we could make - a princess pillow for a princess birthday girl! It turned out great. I learned how to do french seems and after some web site searching, I even found a lazy way of doing the contrasting band and satin embellishment (http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/?p=2057), so when it is washed there are no bare seems and no frayed fabric to deal with! It even looks professional. Yeah! Plus, Miss Lilly absolutely loves it! Hopefully her little friend will too!

Memory Lane . . .

This morning J.D. announced to the kids that we were going to go see the homes he lived in as a child around Indianapolis. Master S was less than excited, but when we threw in a visit to the Children's Museum afterward, he was hooked. So, we bundled up, piled into the car and started our trek. First we drove up to Zionsville. Had I known J.D.'s work would be moving from Avon into Indianapolis, more that direction, I would have definitely looked at homes there. Don't get me wrong - we LOVE our house and where we are at, but we recently found out the company he is working for is moving to a better location, which is another 20 minutes away, closer to Zionsville. So much for the short commute! But, he is loving his work and it will be a great move for their company. We also went to Carmel and drove around a bit - although J.D.'s memory was a bit fuzzy, so much had changed. It was fun to see J.D. talk about being a kid and remember some of the places and people he grew up around. We've been to the only house I ever knew growing up, a million times, so it was nice to see him have that chance to talk to the kids about his childhood. Carmel and Zionsville were both a great areas, especially for local, home grown, shopping!!! Carmel is definitely a more expensive area, but both places I definitely need to check out on my own, that is without children, sometime . . . in the future! So much to discover, and someday I'll have the time, sigh :)

We then went to the Children's Museum - thanks to J.D.'s parents for the year pass. It is an awesome museum! It's like the Discovery Museum in Utah, but on steroids. Although, J.D. spent some time there as a kid and he remembers it as being much larger - but don't all childhood experiences seem to be recalled as larger than life as we age?!?! I think it is huge still . . . they even have a mini-(Thanksgiving Point like) Dinosaur area that the kids love. So much to do!!! I'm glad we have all year to enjoy it and the kids just beg to stay. We've been three times already! Miss Lilly loves the carousel - it is absolutely her most favorite thing in the world right now, anything that has to do with horses or animals. Master S loves the science area - they have a great place where you can build boats and maneuver them through channels, a ball maze similar to the one in Utah, a huge construction area, a climbing wall . . . there is so much to look at that even Big D doesn't get bored sitting in his stroller. He is content to just sit and watch it all. Thanks J.D., it's been a great Saturday!
The pics are from the first trip to the museum a few weeks ago. Sorry, Big D's sideways - it won't load the other way.

Baby, its COLD outside!

"What does negative 4 mean?"

That's the question Master S has asked a few times over the last few days. How to you explain negative numbers to a 1st grader? My answer is usually something like, "Well, its less than zero, and it means its really cold!" The windchill is around 20 below here and its pointless to shovel the walk, because the snow just blows back over it. This morning the thermometer said, -15!!! I've never been in a place this cold before! Utah was cold, but with the humidity and the wind here it just is 'bone-chilling' cold. So, we are staying inside a lot, only leaving for important things, like milk at walmart, school (if it isn't cancelled or delayed - which happens more often here, it just starts two hours later than normal), work and of course playgroup today. As a new mom in a new place, playgroup with other moms from church, is incredibly important - almost life saving! So, Miss Lilly and Big D braved the 4 degree high today and made the trek to the church. What a blessing to have people to call friends almost from the moment you move in, or even before if they know you are coming. The gospel is truly an amazing thing, it brings out amazing things in the people who embrace it and try to live it. It is an overwhelming feeling to move somewhere, a place where you really don't know anyone. A place, where it is significantly bigger than the city I was living in before, knowing that no matter where I go, I probably won't run into anyone that I know. It kind of magnifies how big the world really is!