Winter Wonderland.

I’ve been lazy, I can admit that.  I haven’t taken very many pictures lately!  I am hoping to get back into the swing of things, and hopefully this can entice me.

Snow…

The theme at I {heart} faces this week is “Winter Wonderland”, go see what other fun, wintry entries there are!

Day 23.

I am thankful for the kinda-sorta “blizzard” we had for a second today.  I am thankful for the excitement and fun it brought.

They (the meteorologists) sure talked up a big storm, and we were excited!  But, it wasn’t as big as we’d hoped for…  it did pile-up outside the door.

I think there were some people praying that it would putter out.  We were praying to get snowed in, for the power to go out, have to live off of our food storage, use the lanterns and flashlights for a night (or two), cook dinner on our camp stove, sleep underneath mounds of blankets snuggled closely to each other to keep warm.. 

You know, an “adventure”.

We had fun while it lasted…

After dinner, as I sat down to finish Lynn’s birthday shirt, Merrill came in my craft room, looked out the window, rubbed his hands together, and said to the girls, “Let’s go out and run in it!”

We were all down.

Soon, everyone had on snow gear, and we were out in it. 

We made a few snow angels, chased each other and even had a couple of tackles and white-washes.

After that, it was inside for hot baths, hot cocoa & homemade doughnuts, and snuggling while we watched a movie.

What a great day!

Maybe the next storm will pan out the way WE want it to (sigh..).

November 23rd..

Day 8.

I am thankful for the calm that Heavenly Father gives in the form of nature.

This morning, it was dark outside.  A storm was here, and the gentle pitter-patter of rain falling quietly on the roof, helped to start our day here peacefully.  It was a nice, calming, soundtrack to hush my mind of it’s worries and stresses, and to just relax a bit.

Not long after, the rain changed over to snow.  Pure, perfect, beautiful, and white, it continued to bring peace to me.

The atmosphere in our home tonight was relaxed, cozy, and comfortable.  It usually is, but seems so even more when the outside is doing what it is doing.

I am thankful for the quiet beauty of it.

It’s Springtime in Utah.

Officially.

We have been enjoying wonderful weather, loving every second we get to spend out of doors..  enjoying how long the days are.

Then the weatherman had to open up his mouth.

SNOW.

I tried to change that forecast by showing the weather gods my utmost love and affections.

Lynn pitched in too:

“S is for sun

P is for play

R is for rane :)

I is for ixided :D

N is for nests

G is for gardeans”

We enjoyed playing outside every second we could to show spring just how much we appreciate the sunshine and warm weather..

I even made cupcakes..

With chocolate butterflies…

They were even FILLED!!

This love fest got us plenty of rain (which I love), some thunder and lightening (which we also love..), all parts of spring that we enjoy.

I even stopped belly-aching about my allergies!!

I thought I had helped Utah (or at least our neck of the woods) to dodge that snowy bullet.

And then I woke up this morning..

To snow.

Thank heavens it is melting!!

(And now my head is rather wet from standing underneath this tree with all that snow melting and dripping on my head!)

A different kind of fun..

It has been snowing like it should be here, and we went to have some fun in it today.
Grandma called and started a snowman making contest.  Each of us would build a snowman at our own houses, and we would receive prizes for them later.
The girls played while I shoveled (because we work, then play around here..) and I enjoyed some ibuprofen with my lunch later.
Their play wasn't exactly how I remembered having "fun" in the snow..
Lynn was attempting to get out every ride on in the garage, and take it out the un-shoveled part of the driveway.
Have you ever tired to ride a trike in 8 inches of snow?
Turns out, she really wasn't having all that much fun.
So I threw her in a snowbank.
She still wasn't having fun.
Ashley was busy burying and then rescuing the ornaments I forgot to bring inside after our Christmas card photo shoot.
It was complete with sound effects and a rather convincing script.
Peyton was trying to copy the snow angels she saw Ashley do as soon as she set foot in the snow earlier.
The only difference:  Peyton was making angels in the dirt and oil of the garage floor where Merrill parks the truck.
I finally got the shoveling done, and we started our attempt at building a snowman.
Needless to say, the snow was too powdery to pack, and there were no snowpeople rolled in my yard today.
We drew one instead.

I think we might just win the award for "flattest snowman".
But I did get some "traditional snow fun" pics...  without the snow clothes, because those got "boring".

SNOW!!!!

We love it..
Peyton is also in love with her (hand-me-down) snow bibs.

They had a good time out there!

Peyton discovered that underneath the trampoline, there is still an oasis of grass.  She crawled to it, ten feet away from the trampoline was her starting point.  She enjoyed herself under there for a while, but then decided to leave.  Her hood ended-up getting caught on a spring, took off her hood and her beanie, so she wasn't happy.  We got her happy again, only to have some event transpire in which she began crying again, and Lynn began yelling at Ash..  so to sum it up, who knows what happened..
Lynn was so loving and helpful, she tried to carry Peyton inside, but only accomplished tripping repeatedly, with Peyton in front of her, whitewashing her poor sister with every stumble.
I am glad they both managed to survive.

November 14th..

October 27th..

First snow..

Hard Day's Work..

I seriously thought I had it pretty rough today.. Clean House Monday.. then Mer got called into work with no time to shovel, at least a little.
Two trucks came in, loaded with furniture (the carpet is now laid on the second and third floors) to unload and get to where it needed to be.
Not done as easy as said, though.
The phone isn't all hooked up, and you need to have that to have an elevator!
No elevator to move furniture up to the second and third floors.
Ouch!
Some of the heavier stuff, needed to be placed somewhere else, temporarily.
Many guys worked very hard today!!
I was ready to quit shoveling 7 inches of the heaviest snow yet this winter.. my house still isn't completely done..
I would so rather be scrapbooking! (That was the mantra playing in my head ALL DAY..)

Layouts..

I have had these layouts sitting on my table, works in progress for the last few days. All that fogginess in my head made them come together slower that I like..
They are from last year's winter. I still have more, in progress!
This one is for Lynn's book:
And Ashley's book:
Supplies: Paper from Bazzill and the embossed snowflake paper is from KI memories Love Elsie line.. I made up the template for the background of the pics and used the Cricut "Cuttin' Up" (for the words "snow" and the girls' initials) and "Doodletype" for the snowflakes. I busted out the vellum, inspired by Jennifer McGuire from CK for that one! I am loving these new double dates stamps by Katie Pertiet from Autumn Leaves.. you should be seeing them a lot..

Flashback Friday...

I've been saying how much I love the snow..
I was looking back, at some scrap book pages of awesome storms we have had, and found this layout... you can tell how old it must be, 8 1/2 x 11 and all.. the journaling pretty much says it all.. Lynn was so little!! Barely one, she's wearing the same coat Peyton wears now.. what good memories!

I love winter..

We got quite a bit done today..
All of Christmas is put away.. :( I am sad.
The only thing to fill it's void is snow and wintry wonderfulness.. so if you don't like it, you can blame me :)
I will be honest, I cried as I took the tree down. I think I was halfway done taking off the lights and the branches, when I just started to cry..
Why?
The cozy nights, together as a family, while the first big snowstorm rages on, quietly, outside our window...
Gone.
The feeling, the spirit, in the atmosphere...
Gone.
The anticipation.. excitement..
Gone.
The gentle, twinkle of white lights in a quiet room..
Gone.
The music.. the movies..
Gone.
Those nights and days when we go nowhere, when we stay cocooned inside our home, together, because we can..
Gone.
So I pray for large amounts of snow to make up for the loss of the Christmas feeling, to fill my large void. Maybe we'll get enough snow, that we will be snowed in, we will all be together, can't go anywhere because it isn't possible to get anywhere.. that is my dream.
So I got it all put away, sadly, and Peyton and I re-arranged the front room. She loves looking out the window (it's genetic I think..) so I moved the love seat from it's spot, as of lately, in front of the windows so she can claim her perch..
I did some other re-arranging..
I just might post a pic or two.. Ally has my hooked!
Thanks Christie.. having one less shadow made it that much easier.. and less questions to answer.. "Mommy, why are you crying? Did the tree hurt you?"

Our Snowy Weekend...

Sunday, we woke up to some awesome snow! It really feels like Christmas now... The girls begged to go out and explore. Since our church is later (but not for long :) WoOHoO!) we got them all bundled up to go out.
I made an interesting discovery...
Ashley's snow boots, no longer fit her :(...
I racked my brains to figure out a solution, Lynn was all dressed, and I couldn't keep Ash in due to my negligence!
Lynn's Barbie cowgirl boots would work. We layered on the socks and sipped 'em up. I wonder what Santa will bring sweet little snow boot-less Ash...
(I am so obsessed with taking pictures of feet lately... ever since I stumbled across a photographer who took a pic of a bride and groom's feet...)
They enjoyed themselves... and guess who's feet were toastier? :)
I even let Peyton go out... on the deck, that is...
She liked it too. She giggled at the snow flakes falling and kept sticking her hands in the snow that had piled up. She didn't even freak out...
Look at those pink hands! I would have been pretty uncomfortable.
No crying, she just crawled back in... and left a snowy bum print on the rug.
She is "snow" cute! (I know... that was corny!)
I can't do a snow post without pictures of the aftermath...
They had fun and Merrill cleared our driveway, but ended-up with a snowdrift on top of his head... what a good guy. I bet he was wishing he hadn't returned the snow blower to the warehouse...

Faith... and MORE SnOw!!!

I realized, after I finished this layout, that the one I did last night, was dated A YEAR BEHIND! See, that is what I get for putting it off, TWO YEARS...
Here is our deck... we have had some warm days that had our snow melting, mind you, but here it is... Merrill is praying that the snow will collapse the deck, and somehow the gate too... then we can have homeowners cover the cost of re-building. (Now, who was it who said that outdoor carpet on our deck was a bad idea???)
I've been thinking a lot about Faith. I've been thinking about it for a while, but ever since my conversation with Lynn, I've been thinking about it even more. I feel like I am being prepared for something. Everything that we read in the Book of Mormon talks about agency, the plan of salvation, opposition, Faith... yeah, I know that's the Scriptures for you... There are a lot of things going on in our life that could go in any direction. I don't know what it is, but I feel as if I am being prepared for some opposition. While I am scared, because I don't know what it could be, or if it's anything at all, I feel like what Lynn said needs to be applied. I need to be tough, even though I want to be scared. I love that my kids teach me so much.
I wanted to get up today during Fast & Testimony meeting, but I felt too emotional. It would have been blubbering, rather than a testimony. I can't explain it. Something is coming. The last time I felt this way, it was that Primary needed a change, a shake-up. And boy did it get it! But while it was hard, and stressful, and a learning experience, it was good for me. Maybe it's just that the unknown of having another little one is freaking me out! But I need to let go, and let what is supposed to happen, happen...
Oh, and Mom, I think it's safe to say, that with your guess, you are out of the contest... I'll still make you some cards, for Mother's Day...

Snow Removal 101

So this was too cute...

I was working away at my layout for the day, when Mer calls, "What are the girls doing?"

"Playing Barbies."

"Have them go look out the front window."

Lynn acted really put-out. Then they saw him... they love watching him from their "perch". They love watching for guests to arrive from there too. Funny that's the first pic I've gotten from that vantage point...

We got one of those "friendly letters" from our postal carrier... we know, our mailbox has like ten feet of snow, packed in front it. We won't get mail unless....

So here's my sweet husband, doesn't he look hot operating heavy machinery? One of the many perks to the projects his dad is pursuing, we have a backhoe. A shovel would have taken him well into the spring to get that mess cleared... okay, maybe not that long... Mer doesn't mind driving it up the hill, in all the traffic. He made quick work of our little obstruction.

The irony of the whole situation, the mailman had just passed our house abut five minutes before he did this! I guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see what kind of Doctor bills are waiting for us!

And all before lunch...

Here's our morning... We had a lot of fun, well at least the girls did. I really can't get out there, I don't have snow pants that big or even a coat that can zip up over my tummy...

I first threw them into all of the snow on the deck... I've been wanting to do that since yesterday. Then they explored for a little bit, got icicles, and then wanted to go down to explore some more.
Ashley cracked me up! As I was putting her mittens on, she said, "Mommy! My thumb is swimming in it's thumb hole!"
Then, when they were outside, going to see the trampoline, which Mer put up, and the playhouse, she was trying so hard to keep up with Lynn. She got to the end of the deck and yelled, "I can't take this anymore!" I was laughing so hard, she turned around and said, "What's so 'bunny' (funny) mom?"

sNoW!!!

I LoVe It!!! Here is all of our snow, so far, it is still falling, even though the local satellite images say it should be clear... my deck above, and looking out my front door below... I tried to shovel a little path, but decided to stop...

SnOw???

So today, we were supposed to have some "major" snow storm... I hope someone else really enjoyed it... It was really falling early this morning, but by the afternoon, it was GONE. No snow, no ominous clouds, just blue skies and the ugly snow left over from the plows. We really enjoy a good storm. I shouldn't complain, we did get some accumulation, not what we would have liked...

I was also supposed to have a scrapbooking day with Merrill's family, he has a cousin in town, but because of the early snow, and the warning of more... nobody dared to attempt "the drive" up "the driveway". I was really looking forward to it. Merrill told me that I deserved the break and to take as long as I wanted. Instead, I kept myself busy all day, organizing Primary stuff that has been organized to death already. But I had fun doing it!

The girls have been quite the handfuls lately. Yesterday, while "crafting" together, and my back was turned ever so slightly, for just that right split-second; they, while water coloring, decided to flick their paintbrushes at each other. I have been talking about re-painting my craft room a "peppy-er green", but not a "speckly-er green". I sent them up to their room to sit on their beds until I could calm down a little, and clean it too. After a while, they came down stairs.

Lynn: "Mom, we wanted to apologize to you..."

Ashley: "Yeah! And we wanted to say sorry too..."

Yeah, I guess I forgave them... :)

First, well second, snow! First one that we got to play in anyway...

It started last night, late, and we prayed for a lot of it to fall on us. Our prayers were answered. We woke up to this beautiful sight out of our window. We got about 7 inches, not too shabby...

I got the girls all ready and Merrill took them out to play while he cleared the driveway. They had some fun! I feel bad that I am improvising on snow clothes. We've never had snow pants for them. I told them, as I was piling on the layers and layers of clothes, that maybe they would get some for Christmas. Lynn was a little disturbed at how many items of clothing I was putting on her body. She protested a little. Ashley just went with it. She took my little bit of explanation, I didn't make the science of warmth too complicated for her, and did it. She kept telling Lynn to "just do it, I did..." So simple to her...

Lynn really wanted Merrill to build her a tunnel, she called it a hole, for her to crawl through. He packed the snow down and started digging. Ash kept attacking him, jumping on him and throwing snowballs at him, making sure they went down his shirt. He got it done. Lynn had her first attempt and cried when it got a little too tight for her. She said she couldn't fit because her head was too big! He widened it a little and the second attempt went much better. We tried to get Ash to do it. She said she couldn't. I told her to pretend like she was a snake and to slither on her tummy. She got really mad and said that she couldn't pretend to be a snake "because she was not wearing a snake costume!" Do we take dress-up a little too seriously or what?

Our ward party was tonight. We didn't go. I have been having these pains. Nothing major, but certainly uncomfortable. I feel best when I am laying down and children are not teasing each other, preferably... It got really bad when I went to do groceries. It is already difficult pushing the cart, with groceries, and anywhere from one to two riders, and all of the Braxton Hicks, then all slippery floors today, and snow in the parking lot! I was feeling great (yes, that italic great is sarcasm, Brooke...) when I got home and got to carry all of the groceries into the house and up the stairs to the kitchen.... Merrill was supposed to take the girls so I could get it all done by myself, less weight to push and less time out, but I ended up bringing the gang when he never returned from helping his dad. That was why I got the workout of carrying them in all by myself too. Love him though! At least I didn't have to clear the driveway to get out!