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Category Archives: Family

2nd Day of Sledding (and Snowmen!)

Tap, tap, tap… “Mommy, it’s light out, ya know?”

“Yeah, but I’m not done napping yet.  I’ll get up soon.”

Ten minutes later, I manage to crawl out of bed after my Sunday nap.  Man, I love those things!  (Well, who am I kidding?  I like any kind of nap!  I’m really good at them!  But I digress…)

When I find Em, she’s sitting on the couch with a new set of clothes on.

“Mom.  You know I accidentally slept with my clothes on last night?”

I’m wracking my brain and specifically remember her picking out a pair of summerish pajamas that she wore last night.  I’m sure of it.

“Em, you DO realize that this is still Sunday, riiiight?”

“Oh, no!  I thought it was Monday and I was going to school today!”

Fast forward about about 20 minutes and we were back out in the snow.

This kid has been looking forward to building a snowman since our first dusting of snow.  Around here, you never know when or if you’re going to get this kind of snow again so we had to take advantage of it.

Now remember, it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve made any sort of snowman.  I always have this idea in my head that it’s going to be really fun and really easy (because everyone’s snowmen always look really good).

However, those dreams are hardly ever my case.

(I apologize for the bad lighting in the pictures… we didn’t get outside until about 4:30pm and we were losing daylight fast!)

Example #1: Frosty the Termite Mound

Example #2: Lumpy the Snowman

Almost done... Snow Momma

Em's very own Baby Snowman

I started to make my own baby snowman and determined pretty quickly that my gloves were VERY dirty. Can you tell?

My Baby Snowman and if you look really close you'll see the hubs in the window.

Now that Daddy was up from his nap, we begged him to help us find a carrot from the fridge for Snow Momma’s nose and then finished our creation!

Nose in place and a kiss goodnight!

Momma Snowman and her maker

And when the Snowmomma was finished, we took a final opportunity to sled once more in the backyard before it melts this week.  The track was fast and fun!


…. as a follow-up, when we came inside we told Daddy how tough it was to make the snowman and how much work it really was.  He didn’t seem to be buying it.

Later, I found out he thought THIS was the snowman that we had been working SO hard on…

...really? This took an hour to make?

It wasn’t until he went outside to pick up pizza for supper that he became acquainted with Snow Momma!

Ah, family life.  Hehehe…

Soooo. What are your thoughts?  Do you like to make snowmen?  Do you roll them or have to sort of pat them together like we ended up having to do?  Are there special tricks to making snowmen?

 
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Posted by on Jan 22, 2012 in Emily, Family, pictures, Videos

 

First Day of Sledding

We had quite a bit of snow come down overnight and today was a great day for sledding.  The sun was out, the snow was deep and there was no wind to speak of.

I hopped on the sled and made a few starter tracks and the rest is history…

 
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Posted by on Jan 21, 2012 in Emily, Family, Videos

 

It’s Brisk and I Like It!

This morning is just one of those days.  Cold air, crisp snow, crunching underfoot.

My last couple of weeks have been pretty rough.

It’s a stressful time at work, which leads to a stressful time at home because I have trouble shaking things that keep my mind spinning.

I’ve broken through the home stress with grace and mercy from my family and the crunchtime at work is starting to die down due to passing deadlines.

Which brings me to crunchy snow.  Have I mentioned I love crunchy snow?

Days like these are the kind I wish I could capture in pictures or videos but you just can’t capture the cold, crisp air coming in and filling your nostrils and lungs and awakening you as opposed to the regular flinching and ducking your head like you’ve done for the past several weeks because the wind is what delivered that cold air.

Today actually brings the coldest weather we’ve had yet this winter.  It was 7°F when I left the house this morning.  The lowest we’ve had so far has been 13°F.  I know this because our 5-year old daughter is our family meteorologist and loves checking and reporting the weather every day.

If 7° is what it takes to get crunchy snow.  I’ll take it.  The sun is shining this morning.  The sky is blue.  And, the snow is crunchy.  I love the sound it makes as I walk across the parking lots and sidewalks.

It’s still not a great snow for snowmen or snowball fights but it will work for sledding.  And that’s what I’m hoping to do this weekend with our daughter before the predicted rain comes.  Yes, I’m going to go sledding, in the brisk air with crunchy snow.   Hopefully the sky will still be blue and I can take my camera along for the fun.

If I do, I will share pictures because I’m nice like that.  That’s how I roll (in crunchy snow).

 
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Posted by on Jan 20, 2012 in Family, Ponderings

 

We’re Going to DisneyWorld!

The following is just a recount of our recent trip (put together by my husband shortly after our trip) to Walt Disney World to help us remember all the details as time goes on.  You may find some tips if you are planning a trip (especially at the end) but this is mostly for our memory! =)

(Copied from tomhypes.com and I added in a few tidbits and pictures!  — jenni)


Timing
We planned our trip for the first full week of December which was GREAT timing! The crowds were low and the weather was great… The temperature was in the 60s and the 70s with only one short rain.


Sunday - The Surprise!
The moment finally came after church and our family was the last in the building. I set up our video camera in my office and we invited Emily in. The video reflects it all as Emily freaked out at the news and spent all her energy yelling and running in circles around inside the church and then outside in the parking lot.

After a quick lunch at O’Charleys, we drove down to the airport. I dropped mom and Emily off with the luggage and went to park the car. After a quick shuttle ride, we were reunited and headed through security. Emily was just as excited about flying as she was about the destination and she grabbed the window seat. Mom was in the middle and dad on the aisle…. the same both ways.

Killing some time in the airport while waiting
for her first flight (that she remembers!)

After landing in Orlando, we met our driver of the Towne car service we hired. He helped us grab our bags, get loaded, and started the drive to the cabins of the Fort Wilderness Campground. We really enjoyed Demetrious, our driver, and he had great advice. He also drove us back to our cabin after we checked in which was a great blessing.

We made it!

Since it was late, we followed the recommendation of the front desk and headed for Trail’s End Restaurant for a great buffet. After a filling meal, it was back to the cabin to get some sleep before our adventures.

Special Note: Our key card for the cabin also served as our tickets to the parks and we set them up so that we could charge on them, which was very convenient. You just have to be somewhat aware of what you are charging so you don’t go overboard.  We did our shopping on the room card and our food on the debit card. (We did not do the meal plan, which we did not regret for our case… we didn’t need snacks throughout the days or desserts with our meals.)

The front desk is also where Emily got her “1st Visit” badge which was great as it starts good conversations in the parks and gets you some surprises as the week goes on.

 
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Posted by on Dec 15, 2011 in Emily, Family, pictures, Vacation, Videos

 

A Walk in the Park (Part 3 of 3)

Our final set of pictures from our family trip to Inniswoods Metro Garden.
What a fun time!

Caleb and Christian… We had a fun time guys!

 
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Posted by on Nov 13, 2011 in Emily, Family, pictures

 

A Walk in the Park (Part 2 of 3)

Part 2 of our family trip to Inniswood Metro Gardens!  
There’s something to be said about giving a little girl a giant sucker in order to get in a few more photos…

 
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Posted by on Nov 11, 2011 in Emily, Family, pictures

 

A Walk in the Park (Part 1 of 3)

Over the weekend we joined my cousin and his family for a visit to Inniswood Metro Gardens for some family photos.  The weather was fabulous and we had a great time.  Thanks for inviting us along!

Emily and her cousin, Christian

Christian, Emily and Caleb

Em in her “Rock Star” outfit

Yeah, I don’t know what they’re doing either…

Posing wasn’t happening for either one of them.
…so let’s climb Mt. McDaddy instead!

Now we can get a cute picture!
 
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Posted by on Nov 9, 2011 in Emily, Family, pictures

 

Hide, Mr. Turkey!

Last week, Em brought home a fun bit of “family homework”. 

Mr. Turkey was sent home and our mission was to disguise him so the farmer couldn’t find him in time for Thanksgiving.  We talked about ideas for disguises and came up something that Emily thought would be really fun. 

I worked on wardrobe (under Em’s direction)
and she worked on set design.

She’s swapped hands and still smiling…

Can’t tell there’s a turkey under there, can you?

Decorating the classroom with lots of concentration…

Photo op!

A visit to Miss Em’s Beauty Salon for a manicure!

She loves homework!
I think she’s super excited about
this homework assignment!

 
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Posted by on Nov 7, 2011 in Emily, Family, Kindergarten, pictures

 

Trick or Treat

Monday night was Trick-or-Treat night in our town.  
Em was joined by her cousins, Abby (a horse) and Ben (a gorilla).

Emily was a ballerina -
who wore a winter coat
(because it was cold and rainy all night)
and took a dive at the last turn
on the way onto our very own sidewalk
some tears, a little grass stain, and a scuffed up knee
but nothing a little band-aid couldn’t fix.
Oh yeah-
 
nevermind the yellow gunk
all over her teeth
it’s part of the loot she scored
…well that or she’s taking the outfit
to a whole new level as
an out of work ballerina
with a lousy dental plan.
Still missing those top 2 teeth
but they’re starting to make an appearance!

 
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Posted by on Nov 5, 2011 in Emily, Family, Halloween, pictures

 

Fall Family Cookout

For the past several years, our family has gotten together each October for a fall cookout at my parents.  Occasionally my mom breaks out the old Halloween costumes that my sister and I used to wear…

 
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Posted by on Oct 31, 2011 in Emily, Family, Halloween, pictures

 
 
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