More snow play!

BJ pulled the kids back up the hill on the sled - until he got stuck in a pile of snow!

Mushroom table top on the patio!

All bundled up!

Cameron LOVES the snow!

Look at those red cheeks.  Brr...

Minnesota Day Two - Playing on the lake

After breakfast (Cameron requested pancakes of course) we bundled up and headed out on the lake. This lake is about 150 feet from their house.  We were supposed to fish on this lake but they got too much snow and now the fishing is bad because the ice is too far below the snow (or something like that.)  But we didn't care.  The kids got pulled around on the sled and BJ and I got to snowshoe.  Cameron even took Haley for a spin on the sled.

The temperature while we were out there was negative 3, with a windchill of negative 25.

Minnesota - Day one!

We stopped at McDonalds somewhere between Rochester and Park Rapids.  The kids didn't want to eat; they just wanted to play.  I can't blame them.  We had been in the plane for 3 hours and then the car for about 2 hours.  They needed to 'wiggle."  They loved playing in the snow even at McD's!

As soon as we got to Aunt Charlotte's house Cameron wanted to play outside.  So we did!  Charlotte took them for a sled ride.

BJ made them a slide from a huge pile of snow.

Haley went down really fast and always said "Weeeee!"

Making snow angels is always fun

I'm not sure what the temperature was when we were playing, but I'm guessing it was about zero.

One Hour...Literally

This is how long I've been working on this post.  I am SO frustrated.  I finished the smilebox of our ski trip to Brianhead but the internet wont let me send it because it doesn't allow me to sign in.  Why?  I have no idea.  Maybe it's a bad connection since I'm in zero degree weather in the middle of the woods?  Who knows.  According to the computer the signal is strong.

Anyway, so then I just try to log on to blogspot to post this frustration note, and it gives me the run around too.  Seriously...it must be a conspiracy.

So anyway, we are having loads of fun in Minnesota so far.  The kids (including BJ) totally love the snow and we are looking forward to a full day of outdoor play tomorrow, including walking across the Mississippi river.

At some point I hope to get the Brianhead Pics posted, as well as some pictures from our trip here.

Good night!  

Can you relate?

Can any of you relate to this article? (I am challenged in the link department so I hope the link below will work. I tried to insert the link by following the directions but it didn't work.)

http://forums.parenting.com/blogs/parenting-post/posts/order-or-something-closely-resembling-it

Anyway, I think she is on to something. That week between Christmas and New Years is so busy and we pack it full of things to do and then we fail each and every year! I think I am going to have my own personal New Year start on February 1st. It will work for me!

And as a side note - Joseph was missing from my nativity a few years back and this year I am missing one of the wise men. Seriously - where do they go? Perhaps I should check my mis-matched sock drawer since nativity characters seem to be as mischevious as the socks are!

Who wants to join me for a New Years party on Jan 31? I am serious! However, it will be a dinner party since we all know that if we are missing Joseph, wise men and socks that we likely don't stay up until midnight!

Mixed Emotions

How can it be that I can feel so 'tired' of my kids and ask them to play quietly or play alone or ask them 1000 times to put their toys away and eat a good meal and wash their hands after they use the restroom and take their vitamins and be quiet at bedtime and wake up happy in the morning and and and and....

And then when they suddenly leave me for the night I immediately start to miss them as if they've been gone for a week and wont return for another week.

Tonight, Haley went to spend the night with GG and unexpectedly (but boy was he happy!) Cameron spent the night with my dad.  I'm not sure what to do with myself - honestly.  How odd.  

But what I do know is that I'm totally blessed to have family nearby that loves my kids as much as I do.  And I'm happy that my kids enjoy being away from me and enjoy being with other people.  We all can use some alone time every now and again.  And hey, if they eat a lot more snacks at Gramma's or GG's house than they would at home - that's 100% ok.  That's what being a kid is all about.

I love you guys - and I miss ya!  See you tomorrow.  I can't wait to hear about your day.

Love, Mom

My Haley

Haley's jammie pants were too long.

Haley:  "Momma, can you roll up my pant sleeves?"

Love it!

A lil bit later she wanted her tap shoes on.  She asked me if these were her new ones that are bigger.  I told her yes.

Haley:  "Momma, I got new tap shoes because I'm growin'.  I'm growin' big because I've been eating CRAB!"

(We had crab for Christmas Eve & she ate it.  We told her eating good meals like that will make her grow big.)

Um, when did this happen?

My little 5 year old boy is growing up.  WOW!

Christmas Eve

We started off our celebration at Central Christian Church.  It was great, and we have a great memory of getting booted out of our seats by a little old lady.  I know you're wondering, so I will tell you the story!  

BJ and I got there early to save 6 seats for the entire family (Us, Jeff, Jeny, boys, GG and Mima.)  So we're sitting and saving seats about 15 minutes before service starts and this lady walks up and starts to sit down in a saved seat.  I say "I'm sorry ma'am, but we're saving these."  She said "I sit here every service" and she continued to sit down in our saved seat.  This is where I had a really tough choice to make - do I be my normal self and stand my ground?  Or do I remember that I'm at church and in about 10 seconds I will be fighting with a 70 year old lady over a seat and we will both look like fools!  So I say again, "Well, I'm sorry, but we're saving these."  She says "TOUGH!"  Wow, I am in shock.  I can't believe this is happening.  So since I have to get the last word I stand up, touch her arm and tell her "You are a VERY sweet Christian.  Have a Merry Christmas" and we move!  She says to me as we are walking away "I know I am!"  Is that not ridiculous?  What a woman.  Anyway, church was great.

This pic is out of order, but it's the kids in the jammies that Santa brought them.  They all have matching striped pants and then long sleeve shirts that have their first initial on them.  So cool!  (Haley doesn't have her shirt on yet, actually, now that I look at the picture, she doesn't have any of her jammies on yet.  Hmm)

Santa came to visit.  GG made a wish!

Haley gives Santa some love.

Cameron LOVES is "San!"

The kids wait to see what he pulls out of his bag.

GG and the kids.

Me and GG making lefse.  Yummmm

The kids leave cookies, milk and ice cream for Santa once we get home.  We can't wait until morning!