Into December

 Since Josh was stuck at home because of closed roads, we were able to do our annual "Measuring of the Heights" last Sunday.  We always do it in November.

The results?  I thought Jesse would be the one to grow the least, if at all, but it was Josh!  He grew a few millimeters only.  Jesse grew a whole half an inch!  This was a first - the first time each of our children has not grown at least two inches.  Signs of the times!  Mary wins for growing the most with more than two inches.  You do that when you're thirteen! 

On Tuesday evening of this week, it started to snow.  All across Facebook and texts, the word snow day and wishing kept popping up in the same sentence. 

I was lying in bed at 5:30 am Wednesday morning thinking about substitute teaching in a 5th grade class versus playing with the kids all day.  You can guess which one I wanted.  All of a sudden I heard a pause in the practicing coming from the piano room, and I heard Jesse yell, "Wohoo!" That's when I knew we had a snow day!  Holli told me later that's when she figured it out too!

I thought we would all sleep in, but no, it was practically like Christmas morning. 

By 6:30, everyone was jumping around the kitchen and giddily happy.  We did get the scripture study in, and some breakfast and then by eight something, Peter was out with the four wheeler and the sled.  The others soon followed.

With 8 inches of snow on the ground, the street was snow-packed and perfect for sledding.  We had the usual melee in the laundry room where all the snow gear is stored. Between sledding, we played board games and had hot chocolate and crepes. 

Libby in the snow

Walker, Skyler, Trent, Kalli, Nathan and Darrin all came over, so with Kyle, Dustin and Brooke already here, there were lots of kids floating around here.  Four year old Payton rode on the back of the 4-wheeler for so long that I thought he was going to be half-frozen.  Nathan came in and said, "I can't feel my legs."  Having moved here only a year and half ago from CA, I believe this was his first snow day, and his jeans were soaked from top to bottom.  He recovered.  There is something very unique about a snow day.  It's a guilt-free play day, and we did take advantage of it!

 

 

Libby

Libby got a new gymnastics uniform.  This is what she'll wear in her Gymnastics "Recital" on the 18th.  I can't wait to see it!

Tara and Mary

We got to go to Brooke's baptism on Saturday.  Holli's mom made her white dress, patterned after white dresses that Holli saw on Pride and Prejudice.  Wow - I admire that kind of talent! 

Here is a picture of Wade and Holli's family - the ones that have been staying with us.  And here is a picture of Payton (the one I mentioned earlier).

Payton

 Wade and Holli and family moved out today, but not before leaving us with this:

It was so clever and fun!

Kyle, Dustin, Mary and Holli

 They also left a big bucket of ping pong balls, many clean and organized closets, shelves and drawers, thanks to Holli's incredible organizing skills, and a huge empty place in our home.

Both families together

After they left, we sat around the kitchen table, kind of quiet, and we talked about what we had learned from having them stay with us.  The conclusion - they gave us a lot more than we gave them.  It left us with a desire to leave things better than when you got there, in whatever circumstance you are in.  That's what their family did for us.  I can't believe how much more we learned to love them while they were here, and how grateful we are for the time they were here.  Thank you Wade, Holli, Kyle, Dustin, Brooke, Payton and Tara!!