Snowstorms!!

Well I thought I should share some pictures of the snow that we have gotten recently. My kids have almost decided that they like playing in the snow. At the end of last month we had a little storm and the kids helped me shovel the two inches off the drive then asked me to build them each a seat and them they wanted a big snowman. So here they are with their snowman and Lizzie in her seat.

I found that my yard is great for making snowmen. I just had to get the ball to the top of the hill and then let it roll down on it's own. However as the snowman melted all of the leaves started to show.

Then last week we got our best snow storm yet, probably over a foot of snow although I didn't measure this time. it was beautiful to watch it falling all day long and to see the world looking so white. Sadly the kids both had runny noses and coughs so we didn't go out and play in it. I don't think they would like to walk in that deep of snow anyways. Brian worked from home that day so that he wouldn't get stuck in the city as the snow kept falling. I did take the kids out for a little walk to get some fresh air after their naps. I love walking in the snow and was sad that I didn't feel up to doing so earlier either.

A few days after the storm the kids and I did get out to play with the snow although we mainly just stuck to the driveway and didn't actually walk in the snow, except the times the kids let me throw them in, feet first, of course.

As we drive around Jamie keeps repeating "Snow! Snow!" as he sees all of the snow around. It is fun to see them enjoying the winter time so much.

Holiday Projects

Well it is probably about time that I do some blogging again. It has been a while, I know, I know.

So I thought that I would start by displaying some projects that we got done the last two weeks of December while Brian was using up some vacation days, plus the other holidays he got off. First we decided it was time to get some shelves in our basement, and to get that organized so that someday it might just seem livable. We also put some in the garage and was able to straighten that up so we could park a car in there. (The purchase of a garage door opener helped as well, with that part.)

The next project was to find a place for my Christmas present (the bright light with plants growing under it). We decided to put shelves in our dining area because there was no place for it in the kitchen. I took this picture today which is why the plants look so mature.

Our next problem was our front room and play room closets that were wallpaper, smelled funny and only had a bar and top shelve in them. Things were starting to get a bit to piled up on the floor. So we finally took the wallpaper off, painted them and put up my much desired shelves. In the play room we did two shelves all of the way across.

In the front room we did four shelves on each side of the door for games and videos leaving the middle part open for big things like folding chairs and the leaf to our table.

It has been so nice to have these projects done and to feel more settled in our house and to have things a little better in order. I also like having a shelve where I can put decorations that i don't want the kids to get into.

I almost forgot, we also got our curtains up on our two front windows. I am really happy with the ones that we choose. It is great to have something over the windows so that everyone can't look in at night.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to all.  We hope that 2010 is a great year for all of us!!! 

Kids Splashing

I finally got around to playing with iMovies on my computer to combine these movies of my kids splashing in some puddles in the fall.  I hope that you enjoy it!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

We spent this last weekend getting ready for Christmas.  Brian stayed home with the kids while I was able to go shopping all by myself.  It was great!!!  I had forgotten how much easier it is to shop without kids.  While I was away they decorated a gingerbread house.

They are very proud of their house, and all through dinner said "Hi" to the "mom and dad" that lived there.

However after taking some pictures we couldn't wait to start eating it!  After this picture was taken the kids ate the "mom and dad".

After nap time, we made some popcorn and cranberry strings, which we put up on the tree after dinner and bath time.  We also put on some more decorations because we couldn't find many that we liked last weekend when we bought our tree.  Amazing how it can take a week to decorate a simple tree.

While we were doing this decorating inside, Mother Nature was doing some decorating outside. 

It snowed all evening and through the night.

When we woke up this morning there was almost nine inches out our front door.  I love the look of lots of fresh fallen snow.

Sadly then we had to go and mess it all up.  The kids enjoyed helping with their little shovels.

My little snow bunnies!!!

Curtain dilemma

We have finally decided that it is time to choose curtains for our two main front windows.  We went to the store and picked out some that we liked and hung them up to see how they looked.  

Now we just have to decide which ones we like, any suggestions?  We thought we had decided, but as we have left them up longer we are no longer so sure.  Not that this picture is really the best of them, but oh well.

Thanksgiving at Topsail Island

This year we again got to spend Thanksgiving at topsail Island with Brian's family.  It reminded us that we left England over a year ago.  Time really does fly.  It was a year ago on our trip down there that we saw our house for the first time and decided against it, but that was before we saw what else was on offer.  So you could say the trip down there brought back many memories from a year ago.

This year Lizzie had no problem with walking in the sand and would even go out there barefoot from the very beginning.  Both kids really enjoyed having so much sand to play in.  They built themselves a bench.

And some sand castles with the help of cousins and parents.

This was one of there better ones.

Jamie once again loved the water and this year was able to play in it more independently, which really saved my back.

I did play with him in the water most of the time, but when I asked Brian to take the pictures he would get to nervous and didn't get any good pictures.

The weather was quite nice for us most of the days so we were able to spend much of the time outside.  I was sad that I hadn't packed a swimming suit for myself because I wanted to jump in the water.  Jamie was getting very brave in the water as well.

Lizzie even touched the water to wash her hands which was a start.

Brian also got some fishing in though I didn't get any pictures of that.

We were also able to enjoy the beautiful sunsets, and sunrises though most mornings we slept in.

The best part was being with the family.  The kids loved that they could usually find someone to read them a story.

It was also fun to see them be willing to give goodnight hugs to everyone they could find especially to grandma,

grandpa,

and cousins.

We had a great time as we do whenever we get together with family and wish that we could see them more often.  Although I feel that we have seem more members of the family this past year, it seems as though the visits are always very short, especially compared to the week to month long visit that we are used to.  

I am so grateful for our families.  

I am grateful for this beautiful world that we get to live in.

I am grateful for the gospel and the peace that it give me.

I am grateful for my husband and my kids.

I am grateful to have a nice home to live in.

I am grateful for Brian's job.

I am grateful for friends near and far.

I am grateful for the life that I have had so far.

These are just a few of the many things that I am grateful for in my life, though the list could go on and on, nap times, washing machines and so many other things.  I have had so many blessing in my life that I sometimes worry about when the hard times will come and what they will be.  I guess we will deal with them as they come.

Now on to Christmas.