It's a Cold Cold Winter...

Christmas came and went with no snow.  The kids were starting to get worried that the winter would pass us by without any sledding.  Finally, early January we get a couple inches.  It was meet with so much excited.  They tried to make snow balls, they tried to make a snow man, but the snow wasn't working with them, it was too light and fluffy.

But, the real snow wasn't too far behind.  And when it came it came with a vengeance and didn't stop.  By the time it stopped snowing we had 3 feet on the ground.

Jaxon is always entertaining.   

As the winter progressed he turned into a bigger the normal terror.  He  started spending a lot more time in time out.

The 3 older kids started ice skating lesson before Christmas break and they continues into February.  Katie was in a different class then the twins but luckily they were at the same time.  After lessons the kids have free skate time all together. 

 Parents were not allowed to leave the building during lessons--Jax and I almost froze waiting for them.

 

One day for playgroup they had some animals visit.  Jax was so funny about it.  He loved the turtles but was really freaked out by the big snake around my neck.  The other animals were in between.  he did let a chinchilla jump off his head.

I hate the cold and I really don't love snow.  My kids on the other hand like snow drifts as much as  beach waves.  On a normal day winter day, I have to force myself to go outside with them (and most the time, I don't force myself).  Luckily, I do like to sled so when I felt like we really needed to get some energy out we would head to the golf course to sled.  Jaxon was pretty annoying.  He like to sled fine, but he preferred to hand out at the bottom (usually on the path) and eat the snow.  Sometimes I could redirect him to the side of the path to eat snow there. But, usually he found his way back to the bottom of the path.

drinking hot chocolate after an afternoon of sledding with friends

February break we decided we needed to get out of town.  Mark had a very timely business trip to Vegas schedule at the same time. We drove to PA where Bethany lives and rented a hotel with a pool.  We spent a very pleasant couple days swimming and eating. 

Of course the highlight was trying to make Elsie laugh and loving on Rufio.  And Bethany and I got in enough sister time to make up for the frozen craziness we are living in.

In the mornings we would wake up and go downstairs for the hotel breakfast.  My kids didn't know what to do with all the sugar options in front of them; donuts, cereal, juice, waffles&syrup!  After breakfast we would called Bethany, and she and Elsie would come join us for a morning swim.  We has the pool to ourselves and we spent hours going back and forth between the pool and the hot tub.

Jaxon thought he could swim like the bigger kids.  At one point, as I was sitting in a chair on the side of the pool, he told me to "Mom, watch this", and he jumped in the pool without me.  Luckily responsible, on top of things Katie, grabbed him.

We got home just in time for Valentines Day.

the factory at work

All ready to spread the love at school

Jaxon enjoying his Valentines at playgroup

Addy wearing the pajamas that Grammy made her and her doll for Valentines day.

Winter stir-crazy at it's finest...

Katie made desert for all--yogurt parfaits

Addy's art made it to the Government Building to be displayed.  We of course had to go check it out.

A rare moment of love without wrestling or fighting.

President's day with Mark --we had gone to a mall for their ropes course but the line was 2 hours long so we did the carousel and dinner instead.

Jax had a knight/princess party to attend.  He is my little knight in shinny armor.

Mostly, the winter and the cold just keep going and going.  It has been the never-ending winter.  Appropriately we listened to Chronicles of Narnia on CD in the car late Winter/early Spring and we have all been wishing for Aslan to come.