Sledding!

Our kids played out in the yard with our sleds during Christmas break. And then it snowed and snowed and snowed. Typically, in Indiana, the snow will melt a week later and then snow again maybe the week after that. I didn't think much of the sleds until later in January when I realized the snow wasn't going to melt. It was too cold to go sledding until now, so this morning I went out and dug around our yard looking for those sleds with no luck at all. There is a ton of snow out there!!

Well luckily our friends let us borrow their sleds, we got out of the house today and had some fun... And its a good thing because its supposed to warm up this week(!) So the snow will most likely be gone soon enough. I'm looking forward to the 50° forecast for Thursday! But I had to admit, even though I hate the cold, its been nice having a white pretty winter instead of a gray boring one (:

Sledding

I'm posting photos way out of order... but that's okay. This was the last day of winter break and the last day of this snow :) We went sledding just in time! 

First time sledding for Daphne! It may not look like she was super thrilled about this, but she LOVED it :)

The hill was small enough that we didn't get tired going up and down over and over, and it was big enough to have some fun! The kids have been wanting to go back ever since, but we haven't had enough snow :(


Sledding 2013 from Jessica Bateman on Vimeo.

Snow!!

On Tuesday Evan asked, "Is that rain white?" He was very excited when I told him it was snow! He and Kiah spent a lot of time out playing in our first snow. Unfortunately it was very wet and slushy and didn't stay for long. When he asked if we could build a snowman I told him to wait until it snowed more. He took matters into his own hands and built a snowman himself :) I am such a poor sport and used the baby as an excuse to stay inside! It was so cold and wet that day...

The Storm.

My husband probably thinks I am the most lazy stay at home mom ever. This is what happens when you get snowed  iced in and the only thing left to do is read, eat, nap and blog :) Okay... there are other things I can be doing, but really I love a day where I don't feel obligated to do everything and anything. 

The storm that is sweeping the country has past us (at least I hope it is past...) Last night the wind was insane and just the thoughts of being out in it made me shiver. On Monday I stocked up on groceries... and ice cream, doughnuts, chocolate chips... um yeah. I knew I'd be wanting something to yummy to eat while stuck at home for who knows how long. Walmart was insane. Worse than Christmas time by far. Apparently when there is a snow storm people like to have plenty of bread... the shelves were near empty when I was there. Every checkout line was open and the parking lot was full. It took me 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot and across the street to pick up Dallas from work. By the time we were headed home the snowflakes were HUGE and I was perfectly happy to just stay inside for the next few days.

Dallas woke up early today to go to work. He spent a ridiculous amount of time shoveling our driveway (with the help of our very nice neighbors). Then, as he was leaving I said: "I don't think you should leave until the road gets plowed. You WILL get stuck out there." He assured me he would be fine and left. Minute later he texted me and said: "You were right." He didn't even make it all the way out of the driveway. Surprise, surprise :) I love being right (except when it means I have to go shovel out the car...) Luckily it didn't take long to dig the car out, and Dallas ended up staying home today (this is how he now knows that I am the most lazy stay at home mom... at least for the day that is). Most of his coworkers were also unable to get away from home. 

We can handle snow. We lived in Cache Valley and we've had our share of snow. But this isn't snow, it's ice. We had to break it down with a shovel and then move it with the snow shovel. We helped neighbors as well. Dallas has spent the majority of his day outside digging out cars and shoveling, he is such a nice boy. We have not been the only ones to get stuck on the road that's for sure. I understand how busy the snow plows are today... but we always seem to be the last ones to get our road plowed :( Oh well... at least Dallas got a snow day out of it. 

(See Kiah walking on top of the snow? It doesn't even budge when you step on it... it's ice.)

Random:

Here is my wall arrangement for the kids bedroom... I am wanting to print some of the pictures from my last post and have them mounted them on styrene (and of course, place them where the brown paper is). The only problem is the cost (of course!) One day I will be able to afford all of my photography desires :) Haha... maybe not. Until then we will have the brown paper up, ever reminding me of the pictures I'd like to put up instead.  

(For those of you wondering what styrene is, it is a plastic mounting board 2 mm thick. Here are some examples... here and here (I love the idea with the letters!) I love the idea of styrene because it can be framed, placed on an easel, set on a shelf or just hung as it is without a frame... which I plan to do.)

Anyway... I hope you all are safe and warm at home! Hopefully spring will come sooner than later...

New set of wheels...

Along with Kiah's new bike, Evan got a scooter from his mom and dad :) He has been wanting one for a while now and I even remember bribing him with one *if* he would learn to go potty. Well, he definitely deserves one now! He and Kiah have been having fun riding around the kitchen (I am a poor sport and I hate being out in the cold... even though our snow all melted away). I am so glad Kiah got a bike for Christmas, now when warm weather rolls around she will be a bike riding pro! 

The fact that these videos took 57 hours to load makes me hope that you will enjoy them. Okay, okay, they probably bore you. But I like them. I like watching Kiah ride her bike... I am in awe that she can even sit on the darn thing, let alone ride it by herself. Is she not a baby anymore? Are you telling me she isn't a baby? Are you telling me that I don't even have a baby? Life just isn't fair. Why did she have to grow up anyway? And Evan? We shouldn't even go there. He is going to be 4 this month. FOUR. 

I took the videos with my new point and shoot camera (a Canon PowerShot). I love it... but my heart will always be with my Rebel. I love having a SLR... the quality is so much better, in my opinion. I do like having a smaller camera though, and I am excited to have the digital video option. Thank you Mom and Dad Bateman for the gift card, I was excited to use it to help buy my camera!

Today

I have been catching up on blogging today... don't forget to scroll down, there are a few posts up now :)

Every morning when Dallas leaves to work I am still in bed... and so are the kids :) That's the way I like it, I love to sleep in! The kids have been good lately by not getting up before eight (knock on wood). If they do get up then they come to bed with me. This morning Dallas came and woke me up to say goodbye. He said that I had to do two things today... one, shovel the walks (he only had time to do the driveway) and two, build a snowman with the kiddos. I could handle that :) We had tons of fun making our snowman!

Then we got to go watch a fun light show in Battle Ground. My brother actually does the same kinda thing at my parents house every year (Is it up this year mom??) It's pretty fun to watch the lights go along to the music. The kids both fell asleep on the way there, but we got them to wake up and they loved it! Evan kept saying that the lights were dancing :)

Too much Chocolate... yes it's possible...

This is what we did yesterday to stay busy... dipping pretzels :) I think this needs to be a yearly tradition for us. We also made these last year and they are yummy! The light in my kitchen is so pretty, I am in love with these photos :)

I know what you are thinking... don't worry, the kids made their own pretzels and I made a separate batch for friends :) After all the double dipping and finger licking I knew I had to make my own!

This all explains my upset tummy yesterday afternoon! I really did eat too much chocolate...

Staying busy...

We've been doing one thing after another these past few weeks. I am trying to stay busy so I don't have much time to think about being homesick. I miss being able to be with family during the holidays. Last weekend I really started missing everybody. Dallas and I were talking about how we could have just gone to visit family this year and it wouldn't have been a big deal.... but now it's too late. Then we started planning for next year's trip (we'll see if it actually happens :)) I wish we could just jump in the car and go... oh well.

My dear sweet mother called me yesterday with great news.... she is coming to visit for Evan's birthday! Wahoo!!! She and my Dad realized that they had just enough flyer miles for my mom to come. I couldn't be happier! Thank you mom, I can't wait for you to get here :)

Here is one of our winter activities to keep us busy....

I forgot to put a picture up of our stockings with the pictures of our tree :) Here they are... aren't they cute? I am so lucky to have a mother in law who is so talented! Thanks to Dallas' mom! We are so grateful to have such nice stockings :)

Finally some snow for the kids...

We finally got some snow on Wednesday. But that day was so crazy and cold that we didn't even get the chance to play in it. The kids were sad when it melted away, but no worries... we woke up this morning to some beautiful snow! The kids have been talking about building a snowman ALL week so that's what we tried to do. To bad the snow here isn't what it is in Utah. It just wasn't working and this was just about as good as it got...

While Kiah was building her snowman she started to sing. I finally figured out what she was trying to sing... "Once there was a snowman." So we all joined in and sang it. She loves to sing.

I thought these photos were cute... Evan trying not to get hit by a snowball from Daddy and Kiah trying to hit Daddy with a snowball...

I was telling Dallas just last night that we needed to let the kids play outside the next time it snowed... I was assuming it would be during the week when I would be the one that would have to go out in the cold. Well lucky for me it snowed on a Saturday and so the kids were able to play out in the snow with Daddy. I got to hide behind my camera and take pictures :) 

I've decided (though, I am still trying to have a good attitude about snow...) that snow is so much fun when you are young, but when you get older it gets to be more of a pain. I love summertime when you don't have to worry about boots, coats, gloves and packing the kids into the car when it is wet outside. It's so much easier and faster to get out the door when all you need are a pair of flip-flops (ahhh, filp-flops :)) You don't have to worry about icy roads and driving in a snowstorm during the summer. When I saw the snow this morning I canceled all my plans for the day and we stayed home- it was kinda nice! 

On Wednesday I drove Evan to Joy School just after we got some snow. The roads were soooo icy. I should have not even left the house (but I am usually not one to worry). As I was slowly moving into a left turn lane my car started to slide. I had no control at all. The car turned completely around and landed in the median. I sat there not knowing what to do and Evan said "we need someone to help us!" Luckily we were able to drive right on out of the median with no help. It kinda scared me though. About two minutes later when trying to turn right my car just kept sliding straight forward. Luckily it stopped before I hit someone. It was a little adventure, though not a big deal... we are safe and our car is fine... that's what matters. Though I will be a lot more cautious out on the roads for now on :)