Things I Love

A few things I love and want to forever remember...

Sweet sounds of the boys playing together in the mornings when Drew wakes up.  Since Drew was an infant and first started sleeping in his crib, Mac goes in to talk and play with him as soon as Drew wakes up.  Mac has recently wised up and figured out how to move a stool over to climb in bed with Drew.  They play and talk and read books and sing.  Love it!!

I always love having a superhero nearby to protect and help me.

Sweet boys being so big getting a haircut...this was the first cut that was not done at the children's salon.  Mac went first to "show Drew how to be a big boy." 

These boys are truly best friends.  Melt my heart!

I sure love our new wireless headphones or "radio phones" as Mac calls them.  CeCe kindly gave them as an early Christmas gift for our drive home from MS at Thanksgiving.  The silence was fabulous!

Amazing Ozark sunsets...this never gets old

 

After school snacks with these little guys. 

Sweet Shower for Clara

I am incredibly blessed with fabulous friends that hosted a double shower for myself and another great friend.  Our friends Jamie Albritton and Sara Boyer hosted the shower for me and Brooke Kramer.  Brooke is having Baby Nora three days before Baby Clara makes her appearance.  It's been fun having a friend walk this journey with me.  And it was sooo fun to have a pink party!

Delicious cupcakes for Clara and Nora

 

Me and Brooke...not the best pic of me but it is what it is :-)

Little pink girl sweetness everywhere

It was so fun opening all of the frilly, girly gifts.  We are blessed with a loving church family.

 

My fabulous friend Brooke even got a gift for me!  I was so pleasantly surprised and now proudly sport my new purse!

Some Early December Fun

We did some marshmallow roasting inside on a frigid night.  The boys loved it, though Mac didn't like his to have "roasty" parts on it...no shock there!

Growing up roasting marshmallows in the fireplace was a common occurence for my family.  Sam thought it was a bit odd, but it makes more than perfect sense to me!  Yummy marshmallows and you don't have to sit in the cold!

That has good smeared all over his face!

Mac liked doing it all by himself.  Only caught one on fire :-)

Charlie the Elf made his return visit, and Mac and Drew were excited.  They both were quick to tell him what is on their Christmas list...#1 for Mac is "Anger Birds Cheggo Pirate Play Set" (something that does exist but not with the name Mac has given it. haha) and #1 for Drew is a "big Nerf gun."  Hope Santa doesn't disappoint this year!

 

A Few More of the Snow

Throwing huge snow chunks

Good thing I found a pair of snow bibs for Drew the day it started snowing!  Always amazes me that kids have such a high tolerance to stay in the cold.  Or maybe I'm just a wimp in the cold! haha

Snow stuck to their gloves but since it was so powdery and not icy and wet, their gloves stayed dried.  Crazy!

All of the tromp marks in the front yard from playing. 
Good memories made at 112 Stoney Ridge Drive!

 

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

On Thursday, Winter Storm Cleon (who knew they had names??) made a grand appearance in Missouri.  The forecast had been calling for ice, sleet and snow, but we kinda figured we'd believe it when we saw it.  Well, come Thursday afternoon we believed it!  It started with freezing rain, and by Friday morning we awoke to heavy snow falling and already had 6 inches accumulated on the ground.  The Ozarks are just beautiful in the snow, and both boys were super excited to play outside!



Trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues

I ventured out when the freezing rain first began on a mission to find a sled...the laundry basket that we tried to use last winter just wouldn't cut it this time!  I finally found one at the local hardware store and became a hero for the morning :-)

 

The snow was incredibly powdery and soft...not exactly great material for snowballs and snowmen but lots of fun to play in.

This would be our driveway and road.  Yes, we were snowed completely in for a couple of days.  We have a fabulous neighbor who plows our drive and road for us once conditions allow.

Just beautiful

Some spots had nearly 7 inches, others almost 10, and it was steady coming down!

Sweet Drew had a bit of a time trying to walk in snow that was past his knees

A few times Mac figured it was just easier and more fun to crawl his way up the hill!

Rosy cheeks and snow-covered gloves

That's one sweet Daddy working hard to pull the boys back up the hill

A little snow beard after taking a tumble on the sled :-)

Hard to believe this is in our front yard!

In the afternoon Sam and Mac went back out to look for animal tracks.  Drew and I stayed in and made cookies and hot chocolate for their return.  I think I much prefer being the mama that stays in making warm snacks while the boys are out playing!

Working hard to make a path

They found some deer tracks

Trying to pick up snow to throw

The snow plow left perfect chunks of snowballs to throw.  Of course Mac pretended they were Angry Birds hitting piggies.

Drew was not afraid to just lay out and enjoy the snow.  He loved eating it!

Poor Sam spent almost an hour hacking at an ice layer in the drive so our van could get traction to get out.  Now's the time when you need a 4WD!!