!!!SNOW DAY!!!

Finally we got some really good, powdery snow. The boys LOVED it and cried when we made them come in. We spent about 45 minutes outside playing with our neighbors in the snow.

Alex and our neighbors son (also named Ben) had fun on an icy driveway with a sled.

But Alex fell over backwards as soon as Ben let go of the sled. It was so funny!













We think sliding into a pile of snow was more his speed.













Ben laughed so hard when he hit the pile of snow he couldn't get up on his own.

He also enjoyed eating the snow off of the hand railing in on the swingset. ICK!

Oh and then there was Ben's face-plant. He kept falling and I kept shooting pictures. 'Cause that's the kind of Mom I am. Take pics of your kids in an embarassing situation.......THEN and only THEN help them out of said situation.













This was one of the first pics we took. It's right outside of our house. They were throwing snow at each other almost immediately. It's so cute how somethings are just natural, like a snow fight with your brother.

How to Know When Your Kids REALLY Love Their Knit Caps

The boys have fallen in love with their knit caps. They wanted to sleep with them on the other night. But we had to go in and take them off after they fell asleep because their little cheeks were so read and they felt hot. It was adorable, though. Sometimes, they'll just sleep with the hats...not on their heads...just somewhere in the bed with them.

Peacocks Strides for Babies

Kate ran her first 5K today! She did SO well! But I admit, I totally held her back. She was ahead of me the whole race. I kept calling up for her to stay where I could see her. The race was so hilly! I was dying trying to keep up with her and run the killer hills! At one point she did waited for me. I said, "Oh you are so sweet to wait for your old mom." She said, "My hoddie zipper is stuck and I didn't want to cross the street without you." So, I fixed the zipper and we crossed the street and off she ran. Then we came to a really large hill that I could not see the other side. So I hollered up to Kate to wait. I told her to walk with me until I could see the other side. So she skipped up this huge hill - show off! I was so proud of her. She did such a good job! I really did hold her back. I need to find her a better running partner. Way to go Kate - you are a natural runner!

GOING UNPLUGGED

So, as most of you have heard we are unplugged. We have a new family rule...no TV during the week and limited viewing on the weekend. I am not sure how this will all go down, but I have just been feeling very strongly that TV does not need to be a part of our daily lives. We will see how it works tonight. I did go by the library and got some books for the kids...including some origami and drawing books. I got out some old puzzles, and thank goodness the weather is nice, so outside is an option. I think we can handle today, no problem. I will keep you posted!

Dr Seuss Birthday Celebration

The girl's school had a big celebration for Dr Seuss' birthday. The second grade performed Seussical the Musical. It was really cute. The Principal was the Cat in the Hat and the vice principal and the instructional coach were Things 1 & 2. The kids LOVED it! Here they are singing about green eggs and ham!

Kate listening to the speaking parts!

Happy birthday Dr Seuss! Thanks for all the fun silly books!

Happy Birthday Stephen

Stephen decided for his birthday he wanted to go tubing. So, we got the girls out of school early and drove for THREE hours to a tubing place in North Carolina called Hawks Nest. Here is the birthday boy all warm in his Christmas gifts - water proof hunting attire!

Here is one of the tubing runs - can you see the lanes? They had like 4 or 5 different runs with each having several lanes.

Here is the old sky lift and slope. They don't use it any more...Stephen said it was a horrible slope...the worse he's ever skied! No cameras are allowed on the tubing slopes and I don't' think I could have managed a camera anyway, as Clair had to ride with me! (Bowen rode with Stephen.) It took us awhile to get the hang of it, but once we did we had a blast...next year I think we might stay over night and get in a couple sessions! After our sessions we headed home. We stopped off in Ashville, NC for dinner at a yummy Italian place. Bowen told us it was the best day of his life...the girls agreed. I hope we have many more family days that our kids feel like are the best of their lives! Happy birthday Stephen!

Lots of Snow in SC!

Snow was in the forecast for several days. I decided we need to buy a sled. So, the day before the snow I went and bought a sled. As soon as it started to snow the kids rushed out with the sled! They were SO excited, but alas...there was not enough snow. But they sure had fun! Clair as the snow starts to fall!

Kate in the new falling snow!

Bowen boy, so excited for the snow!

So that afternoon it snowed and snowed and snowed. After dinner the kids were dying to get out in the snow. So we bundled up and despite the fact that it was dark and night time we got to use our sled for the first time. We were outside for over an hour before we came in...we didn't want to keep the neighborhood up! The next morning we woke up to almost 4 in. of snow! That is a lot for SC! Behind our house in the woods, Stephen saw some deer.

Here is the proof of almost 4 in.

We joined several of our neighborhood friends on a nice sledding hill near our house.

So, I think I like the snow - if it happens only once or twice a year...and if it goes away quickly!

Career Day

It was career day at school a few weeks ago. The kids are supposed to dress like what they want to be when they grow up... Kate the entomologist!

Clair the chef!

Bowen the artist? No, he actually informed me he wants to be a Fox News guy when he grows up! (Stephen is so happy!) But he drew this picture and wanted me to take a picture of it to post on the computer, so here it is!