The GREAT SNOW STORM!!!

JANUARY 2010

The Great Tennessee Snow Storm

I kid, but it was a pretty substantial storm for these parts of the country. It all started on Tuesday when I heard through the grape vine that there was a storm coming. Many were worried about the ice and a winter storm (triple threat). So I stocked up on flash light batteries, made sure I had the means to cook food for my family and even planned meals that wouldn't require the oven. They canceled school on Thursday night due to "Anticipated Inclement Weather." Around 1 pm on friday we started getting flurries. It was so funny to me that we sat around all day waiting for the snow to fly. :-) By Saturday morning the storm had produced a pretty good snow fall. Some nice big drifts. The kids headed out to 'shovel' the walk. They're equipment had a little left to be desired... A rake, a garden spade and a bent up snow shovel. They did what they could with it. The snow stayed pretty dry and cold all day Saturday. Then on Sunday.. it warmed up.

I am sad to admit, that I took my children out to build a snowman, and they were stunned and amazed. They had NO idea how to build one. They were so surprised that the snow would roll up like that. Seriously... how did they not know this?? They had a blast building up this guy.

This is the first time that we got to use our cute "snowman kit" in a Very long time!

Then Alex wanted to build up some forts and the girls got to work on some more snow people.
Alex was pretty good at throwing his snowball all the way across the yard to hit his dad behind the other fort.

Here's the house and yard about 36 hours after the storm ended. Some still on the road, roof tops melting down, and forts and snowmen built.

Liza built this "mommy" snow man, and Tori built the baby.

Even Katie stayed out with us. She usually doesn't like the cold, but it was SO extremely warm out that Alex and Liza took off their coats. It was really nice.

Even Katie got into the snowball throwing. It was a fun fun day.

Now for the funny part.... The county has canceled school for tomorrow too!! LOL:-)

I suppose it is because a large number of students live up on country roads and the busses can't get to them because the plows haven't gotten up there yet. And so, tomorrow, I think I will take the kids into Nashville to the science center. Should be a fun day.

Pinewood Derby

Or as they call 'em in Canada: Kub Kar Races!

Alex was very excited for this night. This was his first race, he came into cub scouts right after the pinewood derby in MD, and then we moved. He was so trilled to get to design and build a car. He came to his dad with a drawing of this car. Even the flames and the number.
It has a 25 on top in green and red flames down the side. Pretty cool! Brent helped Alex get the basic shape that he was looking for, and then left him to sand and prep the car for paint. Brent was hesitant about the design, it didn't look to be stream line, but he let the boy carve what he wanted to carve. Putting the weight in was a trick, as they melted down fishing weights and poured them into holes that were strategically drilled in the base of the car. The paint job was fun, and Alex did the bulk of that himself too. He was proud of his creation!
When he weighed in, his car was exactly 5 oz, right on target! Graphite was applied to the wheels and "the silver bullet" was ready to go! Sizing up the competition in his pack...
The boys all waited for the BIG RACE.
He was SO shocked when he WON his first race...... and second......
AND Third!!!!!! He was the fastest "wolf" car. The races continued... and Alex continued to win!!
ALEX HAD THE FASTEST CAR IN HIS PACK!

And so off we go in March to the District Pinewood Derby Race in the mall!! Yeah Alex... ***Here's to my little Engineer!!!***

Something 'bout that drawl

There are a lot of things that I love about Tennessee. Of all the places we've lived, I've never fell in love with a place as quickly as I fell for Tennessee. So what is it that is so great about Tennessee? Well, mostly, the people. I'm not talking about the folks I know, cuz I've gotten to know awesome people everywhere that we have lived. I'm talking about the stranger in the grocery store, the lady at Sonic, those kind of people. I've never met such a lovely hospitable people, ever. In discussing it with Brent, we've wondered if it has something to do with religion. There are many different religions here, as there are in other parts of the country, but here in Tennessee, these folks are a God fearing, God loving kind of people. God is spoken of amongst strangers in such a casual way, as tho, naturally, we all believe in Him. I am told on a VERY regular day to "have a blessed day." Nope, not just at Christmas time are they talking of God and Jesus Christ, on a daily basis people are expressing their belief in God by wishing others a "blessed day". I think that if you believe in God and Jesus Christ you act differently. You are generally more courteous and kind. Driving here is sometimes downright crazy because everyone is being so courteous to the other drivers. I've nearly rear ended many a folk, who stop, in the middle of a major 4 lane road to "let in" someone who is pulling out of a parking lot off the side. They just want to be kind and help each other out. Which leads me to my story of today,

After being wished "a blessed day" by my grocery bagger, I headed for home. I decided to stop at Sams club and buy the shelf for the storage room that I had wanted, but resisted the day before. I figured, I knew what I wanted, I just needed to run in and grab it. Tho my van was full of groceries, I figured that the shelf (unassembled in a box) would surly fit in my front seat. The box was heavy, but I got it off the top of the stack and into my cart, and eventually out to my car. As I struggled to get the cart to stand still an older gentleman pulled up along side me. He asked me if I needed some help. I accepted his helping hand, which was quickly assisted by yet another gentleman. The two of them quickly determined that this shelf box was NOT going to fit in my van. The first asked me where I lived. I told him a general area. He said "oh, I live pretty close to there, all I need to do is go pick up a cake and then I can bring your shelf to you in my pick up." (now keep in mind, he's offerin' me this in his sweet southern drawl.) The man had to be over 65. I told him that he looked like a trust worthy man. He showed me his drivers license, told me his name, pointed out his address and put my very heavy shelf in the back of his pick up. Now anywhere else.... I don't think I'd have gone for this idea. I would have been skeptical of this kind offer. But there is just something about that drawl that makes me trust him. Something about that sweet gentle manly voice that makes me sure that he's just a good ol' boy. And so, I gave him my name, my address, and my phone number ( I know crazy... really... quite crazy in a skeptical world) I got home, and just prayed that the kind man at Sam's didn't need a new Utility shelf. I got all my groceries into the house, and was just closing up the van when his pick up pulled into my drive. He carried that heavy box (yet again) into my house and set it down in the dining room. Offered to lay it on the floor, and when I said, "no, there is fine", he reminded me to mind the little one around the heavy box. I offered him a few dollars for his time and gas, to which he replied "No, ma'am, happy to help. My wifes' a little lady, I just hope that someone would do this for her." I told him again "Thank you SO much!" and he assured me, "it was no trouble Ma'am." And headed on his way.

For him a relatively small act, that took some time out of his day, for me... who knows the trouble he saved me. How on earth would I have gotten that thing home? What a blessing.

On Mothering

So for the past 9 years or so I have made it through mothering. I regret to admit that I didn't do a whole lot of enjoying the ride. Thinking back to my first Trimester with Alex, that was when I lost all enthusiasm for my job. I had SO much fun with little Liza up to this point. I did spend some good times with her in the 3rd Tri. with Alex, but then he came so early and the panic set in. And from that time on, I grabbed a hold of the mothering handle bars as tight as I could and white knuckled my way though. Did I have some good times? Yes, when I planned them.. like trips to the farm to pick berries, and apples. Vacations and little various day trips to the zoo and other things like that. When School began for Liza, I somehow tightened that grip even more and really clenched my teeth to get through.

Today however, I've come full circle. I am back to having just one little one around. And I almost cried. :-(

I never want to forget how it feels to walk through a parking lot, with that little hand wrapped around my 2 of my fingers.

I never want to forget how that little grip tightens when they hear a loud sound, and look up to you and ask "what's that?"

I will miss the little things that they point out, like shapes on the ceiling of the building you're in, or a bird on top of the car next to you.

I will miss listening to them jabber along beside me as I walk, and the jabber in the back seat.

I feel like I missed these moments with Tori and Alex, I was always hauling along an infant carrier, and rarely took a moment to enjoy the little fingers, the carrier was always heavy and the fear of that little one bolting over road any kind of enjoyment. I am glad that I've finally slowed down enough to appreciate things a little more, but I am sad that it took this long. I am trying very hard not to make the same mistakes, but always in the moment things seem crazy.

Funny Girl

Tori and Liza were messing around w/ Katie near by. This is what I heard.

Liza: "Tori, if you hit me with that, you're toast"

Katie "Tori is too big for the toaster."

:-)

Katie Pie

Katie had her first BIG hair cut today! She loves it and so do we! I sure love this little girl.

After Christmas

Here they are in their Sunday Christmas Outfits. This year the girls didn't match exactly. (Liza is getting TOO big) :-( They were a little disappointed at the variance, but they looked cute anyway. These are the first pictures I got to take w/ my new Camera. I LOVE IT!! It is so much more versatile then my old one. Oh, it is wonderful!

This it Patty's 1880 Settlement. The decorations are divine! You wouldn't even believe it! The pictures don't do it justice. The place is broken into rooms, and each room has a theme. We sat in this blue room: All the decorations matched, boasting blues and silvers.
This was the first time the kids have ever gone and we took Grandpa for his first trip too. It was just SO much fun to look around at all the decorations. This place books up weeks in advance during the Christmas season, so be aware of that if you want to go.
This is the red room that was next to ours, it was empty which must have meant that is had been reserved for a party that was on their way. I got a good picture anyway.

The kids Love the Indian in the bathtub. Katie showed them this, a sister in our ward told us about him being behind a closed door. We would have never known he was there.
There was a Gingerbread theme room. It was really cute too.
Outside there are a ton more decorations and lights, and a few little shops to go through. They are so cute and quaint. I am told that in the summer it is a beautiful garden. I am excited to go back and visit. I loved the look of this water mill. It was so pretty with the ice all over it.
And lastly.... Brents Christmas Present (and birthday and fathers day and anniversary, and valentines for the next 100 years) was delivered to us on December 30th. He is one happy boy! Brent has always wanted to fly, and it was costing us a lot of $ to rent a plane. He found this great little 2 seater plane (a Tomahawk) It has been wonderfully maintained and cared for, and we've suddenly joined the world of Aviation. Brent is making a lot of friends out at the airport, including the neighbor who owns the airstrip (Chris).

Christmas day 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

On Christmas eve we went out to a Japanese Steak House for Dinner. The kids LOVED the show, it was a wonderful night, we had a great time being together as a family!

We then went home where we did our normal traditions, of opening up 1 gift, chosen by mom, that is ALWAYS PJ's. :-) The kids always run to put them on and spend some time adoring each other in their matching attire. The mood is almost always "little house on the prairie ish". I had to take a picture of the kids gleefully singing and holding hands as the circled in the living room. This is NOT a common occurrence, so I had to capture it, I believe the song was Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

Here is the family in their matching Jammies. They really like that Brent and I match too. Katie especially liked it this year. She likes to be twins with me. So the Story was read from Grandma Walls scriptures, and songs were sung with out the piano, (altho we have one, I stink at accompanying singing) and carrots, cookies and milk were left out for Santa and his pals. They said good bye to the elf on the shelf until next year, and headed off to bed.
This year Liza was "in the know" so she pretended to go to sleep and then got up and watched some shows with us. We put out the piles of gifts from Aunts and uncles, and Grandma's and Grandpas, and Great Grandmas, and then sent her off to bed.

Here are the spoils:
Oh dear, I think Santa went TOO far again!
Here they come... on the run!! Merry Christmas!!!

Santa brought Tori and Katie this wonderful "motor car". Tori has been asking for one for 3 years... she is nearly too big, but she LOVES it none the less. Later, on Christmas morning, Tori and Katie were cruising up the street in their car, tunes going on the radio, and bow still on the hood. It was a christmas dream.
Liza has been begging me to let her read Twilight. Altho, I hesitate, not because Twilight is bad reading, but because she is sure to ask to read the rest of the series and I am not sure I am ready for that. However, she has never ever been passionate about reading (she's too much like her mother), and I wanted to see if these books would spark that love of reading. Indeed it has. She is over 1/2 way through the book an it has been a little over 2 weeks. This is the most reading she has ever done. She can now be found, up in her room reading and any time of day.
Alex "lost" his bike right before we moved here to TN. It was too small for him anyway. The poor kid has been w/o a bike for 6 months. The poor kid has resorted to riding Tori's princess bike, which is almost too small for Tori. He was out racing w/ some boys in the community a few days before Christmas, and I felt so bad for him, he peddled his brains out, but to no avail, the bike was just too small. :-)
Katie asked for "the talking house", she was the result of all the commercials for it. She has however enjoyed it immensely. Not necessarily as a doll house, but as a Littlest Pet shop house, and a puppy in my pocket house. It's great for all those things.
One of my most favorite things about Christmas is when the kids give and receive gifts to and from each other. Tori bought Alex a slide whistle this year, he was so happy to have it. And I think they appreciate these gifts more because they know how hard they had to work to earn the money to buy their gifts.
Katie saw a Brown and White bear at Hobby Lobby months before Christmas. This began her Christmas List. For months before Christmas Katie was easily deterred from any and all toys in the stores with the simple phrase "put it on your christmas list". It got so that every time I took her in a store, she said a hundred times "mom, can I put this on my list?" to which I would have to reply, "oh, that ____ (insert name of toy, you had to do this to show that you were paying attention) yes! You can put that on your list." To which she would cheer "yeah!! That is on my list!" LOL!!! She is now making her "birthday list". :-) She spotted this set of bears so early on, that I had long forgotten where we were, and I had only ever been in a hobby lobby that one time, so I was sure it wasn't there. As Christmas approached she talked incessantly about the "black and white bear". I couldn't find it anywhere! Finally, as a last ditch effort, I tried hobby lobby, and low and behold, there it was... however, the bears were brown and white, not black and white. I bought them and spent the remainder of the days before Christmas trying to convince her that the bears were indeed Brown and white, not black and white. She came around fully when i took her to Hobby Lobby and we 'happened' upon them. She was so happy that Santa brought her her bears. :-) (BTW they were unstuffed bears that came w/ stuffing and 4 princess type outfits. )
Liza was spoiled for Christmas because Brent and I fell victim to a BOGO deal at the phone store. I needed a new phone, for I could never hear on mine, and it so happened that the phone I liked was Buy one, get one free. Her phone was free, but the cost to add her on every month is not. So she got a 1 year phone plan, after which she will be 12 and will get to work her phone debt off in babysitting. She can not text nor use the internet, but she sure loves the camera and video feature. I dare say she knows the phone better then I do. :-)
If you ask Alex what he got for Christmas, his top 3 are "a pocket knife w. my name on it, a bike and a fishing pole" He absolutely adores the knife that Grandpa got him. Grandpa used to be a cub scout leader, so he knows the importance of having a pocket knife. So far... so good with it.
After all the gifts were opened, It was off to the kitchen with me, to get making some dinner in my new pots and pans, using my new Knife set. The girls drove around the house, the best they could, but ended up outside.
Unfortunately Brent got sick on Christmas Eve and was sick all day Christmas day. It was a REAL bummer. I never realized how much I relied upon his approval of my big dinner. :-)

This is him sleeping while he is waiting for me to notice that he had snuck another gift under the tree for me. He gave me pots and pans, since I was still using the ONE pot that I was given as a wedding gift, and the same 2 frying pans from 15 years ago. He also gave me a knife set, which was great since we've used the same, cheap set for 15 years too. I was happy, even tho Brent promised me years ago that he wouldn't buy me kitchen things from my gifts. We both are spoiled and feel like these should be house hold expenses not gifts, I don't want pots any more than he wants a weed eater. :0) I was happy tho, to increase my kitchen, and had no idea that he had slipped another gift under the tree when I wasn't looking. Finally, much much later on, I saw it. "what is this?" I looked at it and opened it up...
Oh yes, my Friends, my Camera! The camera to end all cameras! Oh, this hunny is a good 500% better then the one I had. I was so thrilled. No more light frustrations! Yipee!!
And the FOOD! Oh all the food. Brent joined us, but hardly ate. Really just a taste of it all. He had left overs a few days later, but it's just not the same. It was a lovely dinner (if I do say so myself).
Katie didn't make through dinner tho. The kids were up at 3 (apparently) and were told to go back to sleep. We think they may have, but we're not too sure. Katie went full force till dinner, and the minute she sat still, she was out. Too funny. Poor girl.

It was a lovely Christmas. Everyone was spoiled beyond belief (see Brent's spoils in the post to come). We had a lovely day together, the kids played together so nicely. Katie and Tori took days to open their things because they were opening one thing, and then they would both play with it for hours, and then another thing and then play for hours, so because they were sharing, they too twice as long. They were so sweet together, it was fun to watch them. Although it was great, I am glad it only happens once a year. I was pooped when it was all said and done.

This was the greatest trash bag ever, the bike bag from Alex's bike. I couldn't believe that we filled it, and 2 other black bags and that the trash guys took it all!! Crazy. i think I'll buy a bike bag next year too. :-)

Gingerbread houses, cookies and lights

We look forward every year to the building of a gingerbread house. I always think of my high school friend Jen whos family used to make ginger bread and then cut it and fashion it into cathedrals. (she is an engineer now) We don't go to any such lengths here. In fact this year, we didn't even stick the walls together, all we did was decorate a pre-assembled house.

We had fun none the less. And really, isn't it all about the candy and frosting?
YUMMM

I got the kids new stockings this year. We had a little trouble finding a "V" so I had to get it off the internet. They mailed it to me in this box.....
LOL! Are you kidding me?!?! That little stocking could have come in an envelope, but they put it in the white box there, and then put the white box in the giant brown box and surrounded it with those air bags. LOL!! SILLY
The kids and I made my Great Grandma Duke's Short Bread. MMMMmmm. Nothing like it I tell ya! We used Grandma Wall's cookie press, which is always special I love that I have the little shoe box that she used to keep it in too. :-)
We also made "stained glass" cookies this year. I have a memory as a child of making these. I realized this year why I have A memory of this, I don't think I will ever do it again. Just a hassle and took forever to do, and really, not that cool to eat. We did hang some on the tree. It didn't take Chinook long to figure that one out. Dogs and cookies don't mix. :-)
We went to my new favorite place "Patty's 1880 settlement". It is up in Kentucky and they have the most beautiful lights and decorations. They were closed a few days before Christmas, but they leave their lights on. We got to walk around and look at the pretty lights. It was SO much fun and will definitely be on the list of things to do every year.
They even had a pretty manger scene in one of the shop windows.
I presume this is where Santa sits during regular hours, but we missed him. It was great tho, cuz NO ONE else was there! And still SO pretty!
Tori driving the reindeer.
Some of the lights. It was lovely.
More pictures to come of Pattys. We came back after Christmas and had lunch, so I got pictures of the inside decorations. Lovely