Kickin' it Like Laura Ingall

So what do you do with no power?

#1 Watch the icicles grow.

 #2 Eat dinner by flashlight.  We tried candles the first night but they were just too messy and not nearly as effective.

 #3 Wash dishes the old fashioned way.  You can only store them in the dishwasher for so long before it starts to smell.  Fact.

#4  When the water doesn't work either, you melt snow on the stove to fill up the toilet.

#5 You watch movies on the portable DVD player.

#6 Play games.

#7 Paint, draw, do puzzles.

#8 Have icicles for a snack.

#9 MOST IMPORTANTLY try to stay SANE!



24 inches in 24 hours

When we moved out here, they told us that we would get a "few snows" but it is mostly rain.  The first winter we had several BIG snows and everyone told us how unusual that was for this area but once about every ten years we would get a really Big Storm.  Maybe because time moves slower up in the mountains people forget how long a year is.  We've had these Big Storms every year for four years now.

This time it was about 24 inches in 24 hours!  I don't really know how that compares to other places (this storm came down from Alaska so maybe my Alaska friends can tell me what real snow is like) but this was heavy duty for my tastes.

This is the back of the house and still snowing...

the Swagger Wagon...

this is one of the giant snowballs from last week's storm

this is what the snowballs look like now...and joe swimming in the snow

Abs thought it was super cool that she could get up to the roof...and little monkey thought he would follow...

Jono shoveled the path for us...

Bean couldn't walk in it at all.  But he loved getting thrown into it!

here's where Abs lost her boot.  they had to get the shovel and dig it out.



The power did go out.  and our phone line.  and our water on day 4.  But more on that tomorrow. 

Alaska, no more of your weather please.  Alabama, feel free to send us some of that 70 degree stuff you have!

The Pinestraw Hill

So that was just a couple weeks ago on The Pinestraw Hill (not very romantic or clever but that is what we seem to be calling the new playground area.  and some people around here seemed confused by the term 'pinestraw' which seems also to be called 'pine needles')

and this next one was last friday.

Most of that snow is still on the ground.  We still have three gigantic snowballs in the front of the house, not a snowman, mind you.  Although if you asked Joe he would probably tell you some horrific story about what happened to the snowman.  Maybe I should ask him.  Or spare you.  Hmmm.

We are supposed to have loads more snow coming in tomorrow.  yea.

Draw in the Dirt : A Bear Lives Up There

Our kids mimic us.  And that can be a good or bad thing but in this case it was definitely good.

Most of you know about Jono's blog, he writes clever little poems usually accompanied by his own illustration.  The other day, Joe sat down and wrote a poem and illustrated it,

just like his dad!

Take a look...

Very cute, right?

We decided we should use it for this week's Draw in the Dirt.

If you would like to participate,

then all you have to do is create your own illustration for Joe's poem

and share it with us by clicking on the Linkster down at the bottom.

Here are the ones that Jono and I did...

Hmmm.  You can tell a good bit about a person from their doodles.  I mean, my bear is cozied up by the fire while his bear is on the moon!  Good thing we're a couple.  My life would be so normal and boring otherwise.

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Snow's Back

So we got some snow.  I don't know how it snows other places.  Being from Alabama, northern Cali is my only experience with the stuff unless you count the "blizzard of '93" when Bama got 6 whole inches.  The snow here comes in feet, granted it only happens a handful of times each winter, but it's the real thing. 

Usually I dread it.  It's cold, confining, wet clothes everywhere, and inevitably the power goes out.  But yesterday was a great day! 

I took the littles out in the morning.  It took me literally at least 30 minutes to get us all ready to go out.  I was thinking, this better be worth it, and it totally was!  We had a blast.  I asked Trek if he wanted to build a snowman or maybe go sled the back hill.  No, he wanted to 'fall in it'.  So we did.  Again and again.  Then we rolled a gigantic snow ball that we pretended was just like the one in the Backyardigans.

The big kids got out of school early so we went back out to play again in the afternoon.  Turns out the new playground is perfect for snow play too!  Snowball fights, sledding, and tricks off the swing are a lot more fun when you can fall into fresh powder.

  

Trek started sliding this hill on his belly!  Then, of course, the little monkey has to do it too.  Joe is working on building a ramp at the bottom.  I'll let you know how that comes out.

Happy Friday!

Enjoy your weather, whatever it happens to be!

The Inaugural Fire

Thanks for all the name suggestions for our new playground.  It will be put to a vote soon and I will let you know the results.  We used the fire pit for the first time this weekend.  Smores and stories!  It was a huge success!

The boys got "too hot" and had to take their shirts off.

Our sweet friends who joined us for the occasion...

Can't wait to have more friends come over for some friendly fire!

And there is my valentine!  Love that guy.  He makes me laugh.



Sorry the pictures are so blurry and grainy.  I obviously don't have the right setting for a bonfire at night.

Valentine's Day Hair Clips

Happy Valentines Day!

I made these little clips for the kids to put on the "girl" valentines to take to their class today. Wonders of wonders--Abs wanted one too!  I mean they're pink and red with hearts and stuff.  If you would like to make a little valentine clip for yourself or someone you love, here's how I did it...

You need: 

decorative brads (found some on clearance @ Big Lots)

hair clips

strips of t-shirt (or any fabric scraps)

Tie a knot in one end of your strip of fabric.  Put the brad through the knot and flatten out the prongs.  Using hot glue (or fabric glue), wrap and glue the fabric around the brad forming a mini flower.  Glue the flower to the clip and you are set!

Have a wonderful day & celebrate the ones you love!