Snow Day - Finally!

After a really dry winter last year, the kids were delighted to see several inches of snow from our last storm.  They were even MORE delighted when the snow was mostly still there on a Saturday, which meant they could go sledding!

 In fact, Jayden got a sled for Christmas last year, and it still had the BOW on it - an indication that it had been a long time since the boys had been able to go sledding.

 From all the grass showing through, you wouldn't think that there was that much snow, but the snow was pretty wet, the ground was still pretty warm, and this hill was VERY well-used.

This is the ONE picture of my ONE ride down the hill.  I wiped out a second after it was taken.  Nice.

And, of course, being boys they had to find the best jump.  And, of course, they had to tweak the jump to make it even better.  

After getting their fill of sledding they built forts and started a snowball fight.  We literally had to drag them home - they didn't want to ever leave.

What a handsome angel.

Halloween 2012

A pretty ordinary Halloween for us this year.  We started off the week by carving pumpkins for Family Home Evening.  Usually I don't do my own pumpkin because I'm stuck carving several other pumpkins for the younger ones.  But, this year I only helped Landon just a little bit.  I'm not a fan of carving pumpkins, but supervising isn't so bad.

 This year I only had one kid in the parade.  It hardly seemed worth the 10 seconds that it took his class to walk by and the 2 seconds for Landon, but I think it's important for kids to have their moms there.  Landon wanted to be "Snoopy" this year, which wasn't too difficult once I found the white sweats.

 After the parade I helped out in Cameron's class where they played several games including the classic Toilet Paper Mummy.  

 "Peace, man."  This 70s shirt has gone the rounds.  I have no idea from where it originated, but I wore it as a costume when I was a kid.  When my mom was divvying up the Halloween box, this was the only thing I took, and we've put it to great use.  We get a lot of comments on the vintage shirt.  They are hard to find.  I had to manufacture my own bell bottoms at the last minute, but I think Cameron made a great hippie.  Next time he wants to be a hippie, we'll just not cut his hair for 6 months and he can sport his own 'fro.

After Cameron's class it was on to Landon's class party.  After helping in two classes, it is clear that I could never be a school teacher.  Granted, it WAS Halloween and the kids were extra excited, but still, the energy (a.k.a. chaos) was a bit unnerving to me.

 Trick-or-treating is what redeems Halloween for me.  I actually enjoy going out with the kids and talking with other moms on the sidewalk.  I love seeing the pure enjoyment on their faces and the constant stock taking of the loot.  I almost didn't get to go this year since Cameron and Landon were going with some friends, but I tagged along anyway - not willing to give up the ONE thing I enjoy about Halloween.  That and I'm in denial that my kids are growing up and don't need me.  

 It doesn't look like much, but he worked hard for it.  His feet were so sore towards the end that he'd walk up to a porch and sit on the step until someone rang the doorbell.  He got a piggyback ride on the way home - all tuckered out.

Now, on to better holidays!

(I know I'll miss Halloween with all its craziness when my kids are old and gone.)