Winter Comes and Winter Goes

Doesn't this make you happy? Alden has been going through a drawing phase. He put these up on his wall.

Celebrating Valentine's Day is a family event. I really enjoyed writing little notes of encouragement each night in February leading up to Valentine's Day for each of them and sticking them up on their doors for them to discover in the morning. They loved them too!

Then we got dumped multiple times by ice, snow, and more snow. That in conjunction with being sick with flu or stomach bugs made me feel like I was in a weird twilight zone where society had come to a standstill. 

I just love Lenten roses. They bloom starting in winter all through Lent, and just remind us that new life has come and is ours and that life will spring up again.

Now it's really snowing. 

Chowing down on snow icecream. Cold!

Building is a necessity on cold winter days. Alden kept asking Wally if he thought he was a master builder, and since Wally hadn't seen the Lego Movie yet, Wally said, "I don't think there is such a thing." Well, now you know, daddy, now you know. 

Then more snow.

These kids didn't mind a bit.

Snowball fight!

Anything that is falling or flying in the air, Pippin feels the compulsory need to try to catch with his mouth. Catching dust and hair floating in the air is his main form of entertainment most of the day, so he was thrilled to have Rhi knock snow from the bushes. 

Alden determined to make a big snowman. 

Rhi joined in. 

Thankfully they did not make it so big that I couldn't lift the things. Wally was waylaid somewhere en route from Pittsburgh to here. 

He thinks he'll get away with Olaf's nose. No no, Sven!

Well, if the snowman falls apart while making it, improvise and make ducks.

Aunt Hannah braved the winter slush to join us in our snowfest.

Our cute bird snow sculptures. 

Aunt Hannah and Rhianwen trying to clear the way for sledding. 

Uncle Christopher came out from his work related calls to do the heavy lifting that the women folk could not manage.

Each child made their own personal snowman to knock down with Aunt Hannah's help. We also made a snowfort and pretended to fight some kind of creatures. Corwin made sure we had a nice supply of money and was upset if it was stepped on...since it looked a lot like snow, it was hard to avoid it.

That evening Wally made it back! We were so glad, and the next morning, we got to play in the snow with him. 

We took a morning hike through our woods and fields. I love the sparkle of it. 

Sledding back in the woods. This is a tradition that the kids insisted Daddy keep. The hills are so much steeper there, and I always forget to open our gate before a big snow, so that cuts our yard's sledding hill in half.

I could not stop them from gobbling snow. Is it any wonder they all 3 got stomach bugs the next week? Well, it likely was unrelated, but I had told them that I would not feel sorry for them if they did get stomach bugs after eating all that snow. Yes, not the best mommy moment.

Speaking of mommy moments, Corwin was upset about the fact that the other 2 kids wanted to play a game instead of just play with toys with him, and was yelling at them about it. I said pretty impatiently, "Corwin, do you think you are the most important person in this house?!" and he wailed, "YEEEEES!!!". Of course, I couldn't leave it at that and said, "Well you are not! Everyone else is just as important as you!" The next day I read the chapter in How to Really Love Your Child that talks about focused attention, and how important it is to make sure you provide times where each child feels like they are the most important person in that moment....yep, thank you God for pointing that one out so clearly.

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More Alden drawing. I love drawings because they reveal how their minds are working, what they think about, what they love to imagine. 

And finally, warmer weather is here. Time for seed starting, soil preparation, and thinking towards spring.

Getting ready for church.

Buttoning his shirt on his own. This picture reminds me of the story We Help Mommy. It is still one of my favorites.

As you maybe can tell, we have completely busted through every footy pj this year. It's been a cold cold winter, but we are thankful for the many signs of spring. The kids already wanted to run barefoot, have watergun fights, go shirtless, and go to the pool after our weather turned warmer.

Happy birthday, Corwin!

Getting serenaded first thing his birthday morning. The day I'm writing this post is my dad's birthday. I'd love to be able to serenade him first thing on his birthday morning, but that would likely involve the sacrifice of getting up around 4:30am.

Smiling after seeing his awesome skateboard poster. This was later used for a pin-the-tail type game.

Opening gifts. 

Before his birthday, Corwin sat down with me and asked me with concern if any of his gifts would have wheels on them. I told him I didn't want to tell him because then it wouldn't be a surprise. He got very upset at the thought that he might now have any wheels and started yelling at me, "But, will there be wheels?!!!". Yes, son, there were plenty of wheels. Skates and bicycle. Hopefully he will learn to stop yelling about stuff he wants. 

Corwin wanted a skateboard party. Because his birthday is at the end of January, these outdoor wishes can be tricky, but everyone bundled up, safety-padded up, and  had a great time. Yes, that is my brother who is being so goofy. All in the family.

Finn on a pink scooter. This little guy is the source of much jollity in our lives. He already loves making people laugh.

With his cousin Benjamin playing lawn ball? Not sure what to call it. Or maybe they are just pretending they have shields as I do not see the ball. 

Wally had to make a ramp for them. One day I asked Corwin if there was anyone who never did anything wrong, and he said, "Um, My fwend Ewi." (Who is pictured here). 

Getting the hang of his new skates with daddy's help. Daddy is wearing a helmet not because he was skateboarding, but because the risk of being taken down while helping a kid was so great...just kidding.

Using gel pens to make "graffiti" on our table. 

Listening to a skateboard story, which is now a favorite of his.

Treasure hunt. Note, Corwin is not to be found. He is off likely doing his own thing.

He did not want to be blindfolded.

Blowing out his candles.

Can you tell what happened next? Yes, the licking of the candles. This is why we are always in short supply of them each birthday.

Sad that the party it done. 

Corwin has become very interested in doing school this year, and often brags about doing all by himself...as you can imagine, he still has a lot to learn after doing school all by himself ;) He's really enjoyed listening to our composer studies and special kid cds about them and often asks for "Baldi" which is his way of saying Vivaldi. 

Corwin has become much more verbal this year and has begun thinking a lot about God, death, and heaven. After nap one day, he was sitting in my lap (you know the need little children have to sit after a nap and not do or say much for up to a half hour? this was new to me when I had Rhianwen, but not any longer!)...and he said out of the blue, "But Mama, where Jesus is making a place for us, there will be no toys!". I told him that if Jesus thought he needed toys in heaven, he certainly would provide them. 

The other day, Corwin came up to me and said, "Mommy, are you happy that God gave you boys?". I said, "Yes! I am SO happy God gave me boys. I love my boys." What a blessing this little boy has been to us. I pray his heart will continue to grow in awareness of and love for his Savior. 

January Ramblings

I knew that winter was a time when I kind of hibernate, but I didn't realize the extent of it until I saw that the last blog post made was about Christmas! I very much doubt that anyone who looks at this blog wants to resurrect this winter, but I have to document life for us! I'm already feeling overwhelmed with the task.

January and my guys want to skateboard. To see him master this ramp on video, click here.

When there was mild weather, we took advantage and hiked the Eno in the mud.

There is a terrifying suspended bridge there. Terrifying b/c Corwin loves sticking his head out over the river. 

As do my other children.

I feel like this caption aught to be a poem...to the meter...I'm a little tea pot. Anyone want to think of one?

And this one needs a broadway type song with it. 

Cocoa mustache anyone?

Apparently while the adults were in Shepherding Group, the boys tested the concept of cantilevers.

And zat is where I end my post. For next up eez Corwin's birthday bash.