TWO snow days!

On Monday, we had a great day!  We relaxed and we got a lot done....my kinda day! :)

I wish I could bottle up how much I enjoy snuggling with my kids in the morning, watching cartoons, and drinking coffee.  Then I could always have it with me! :)

Lily got a seeing kit for Christmas, so I taught her how to sew.

She is a fast learner!  She made a little pocket that she now keeps her tablet in. :)

Hudson played a lot with his magnetiles.

I worked out!  Whenever I workout, whether it is in the basement or living room, they follow me.  So, they made me food while I worked out. :)

The wind was more impressive than the amount of snow.  This was the neat drift by our kitchen window.  On Monday, the kids and I didn't make it out into the snow. :(

Awhile ago, I painted the playroom white with primer and Matt had painted the ceiling.  So, this is the before picture.

These are the end walls.  I did two coats, but I might need to touch one up.  I ran out of paint, urgh!

I can't wait until this room is done.

On Tuesday we had school and it ended up being a beautiful day.  In fact, everything melted and the sun was out!  Lily's school got cancelled at 4:00pm.  What?!?  I couldn't believe it, I thought they were nuts for calling off school when it was so nice out.  Well, I get a call early in the morning that we were closed as well.  2nd snow day!  Crazy!

The large flakes coming down outside my window.

I was actually up before the kids.  :)  I watched Good Morning America in my bed with coffee.  Awww, I love that!  It reminded me of some of my summer mornings, but then I looked out the window. :(  ha ha

He found me!!!  He is so sweet in the mornings!  He loved these two days home with Lily and I.

He loves a game on the iPad.  He is doing well on it and will say "I'm going to preschool Mommy!"

There were a few times, Lily would complain that there was nothing to do.  Geez, she has tons of toys and gobs of things to do.  I suggested a fort....good idea!

It didn't last long because Hud would knock something down and she would get so upset over it.  Goodness, it is hard to have a perfectionist and a 2 year old.  ha ha!

Finally we got bundled up to go outside!

She started a tunnel.

Can she get through it?

I went inside with Hudson and Lily stayed outside.  She ended up calling to me saying she can fit through her tunnel.  These pics are from the kitchen window through the screen.

She made it!!!

Later we made snow ice-cream.  I had never made it, so we followed the steps I found online. :)

Mixed sugar, milk, and vanilla.

We LOVED it!!!!!

We saved it for Daddy to have too. :)

The kids went out again!  I couldn't keep them inside. 

Oasis loved all the attention.

"Mom, I can almost climb over our fence!"

Hud came in later because his hands were cold.  I was working out and he just played.  Lily and Oasis were chasing each other in the snow.  It was cute to watch.

We had another wonderful snow day!  I got caught up on some blogging, the laundry, worked out, and played with the kids.  I think we need these days once a month. :)

~Omaha~ Meeting new babies

We planned a weekend in Omaha to visit our friends' new babies.  We drove there on Friday and picked up Matt in Waverly.  He flew in from North Dakota and parked his pickup at Chris's house.  We stayed at our favorite hotel.  WE LOVE their breakfast! :)   On Saturday morning we went to Micaela and Mike's to meet Landon.  He was born on January 13th.  It is so fun to see Cala as a mommy.  He is an adorable baby. :)

Lily could have held him ALL day!  So sweet.

Aww, they love babies.  (too bad Hudson sneezed on him. :(  )  Sorry Cala.

A natural

Thank you for letting us come visit.  We can't wait to watch him as he grows up.  You two are great parents and will love having a little boy.

We then met Beau and Kami for lunch.  They had Neely on October 28th and hadn't met her yet. :(  So, it was fun to meet up with them.  Beau had to ref basketball games that afternoon and evening, so we are glad it worked out.

Neely, Lily, Hudson, Brinley

Cute!

The Daddies watching the little ones.

I love putting babies to sleep and I had the touch with Neely too.  Lily just had to hold her (see, I told you she loves babies)!

After we ate, we did a little shopping at Scheels.  I love this Scheels!  Matt took the kids on the ferris wheel.  Fun!

Moose!

We then made it back to the hotel for some swimming!

It is so nice that she can touch in most of the pool.  She is getting really good at swimming.  We have to remind her to use bigger arms, but she just needs more practice.

I didn't get any pics of Hud in the water because I was in with him.  Yes, I actually got into the water. I don't know why, but I normally let Matt do the swimming duties.  ha ha!  It was fun to all be in the water. :)

In the room, I played music and they gave us a singing and dancing show!  :)

It was an early night for all of us!  In the morning we headed out earlier than we were planning because of all the snow.  It took us almost 5 hours to get home.  Matt's pickup was in Waverly, so we dropped him off there and we drove separate the rest of the way.  Talk about stressful!!!  Lily and Hud slept part of the way and were great kids while mommy was white knuckling the steering wheel. There were many times it was a white out.  Ick!  I do not like driving in snow or rain, so this was loads of fun.  

We finally made it home and watched the Super Bowl in the comfort of our own basement.  It got really exciting once I got the call the school was cancelled on Monday!!!  Whoop Whoop!  First, Lily only had a 10:00am start, but then it got cancelled as well.

Lily's first grade music program

Lily's Music program was on a Tuesday night.  All the first and second graders sang songs and had speaking parts about the circle of life in a forest.  There were many nuts and animals!  :)  Lily's part was a cashew.  She gave us some directions on how to create their costume.  I was not as creative as some of the parents, but she was an adorable Cashew.  She was to be a sick and sleepy cashew, so she wore a sleeping mask and slippers.

In her speaking part, she has a sprout growing.  Not all the kids had a speaking part.  Lily volunteered for one and she did an awesome part!

Good job Lily!!

Thank you to Grandpa, Grandma, and Maverick for coming to watch her! :)

Bingo, Pizza, and Popcorn!

Doniphan-Trumbull's Bingo Night!!!

The first grade parents and teachers are in charge of the Bingo night.  Matt ended up having to go to North Dakota, so Hudson helped me serve water while Lily mingled with her friends. :)

We sat with Jessi and Jill and their kiddos to play Bingo.  

Both of them won a prize!  Lily got a peace sign lap desk and Hudson picked out two ring pops.

We had another fun evening at the Bingo night!  What a fun even put on by the school.  I wish our school could do something like this.  This is when it is great to be in a small school. :)

My hobby

Matt has so many hobbies and I didn't have anything that was just mine that didn't include my children or my first graders.  I enjoy taking pictures (of kids) and blogging (about family).  Last January, I decided I needed to start taking care of myself a little better.  I was working out and stopped drinking pop.  In April I started running outside.  So I am pretty proud of myself for running 130+ miles from April-December.  

I love to collect things and see things accumulate.  So, this app is really motivating for me.  So, my goal is to run 150 miles from Jan - Dec.

One of the beautiful Saturdays in January, I went for my run.  Sometimes I have a plan and sometimes I just go and if I'm feeling good I keep runnin'.  I ended up running from our house to the river and back.  :)  It was my farthest: 5.55 miles.  

So, I sat down one night and looked at all the Nebraska races there will be in 2015.  There were 20 that I think will be fun.  At this time I am signed up for the Shamrock Fun Run (2.5 miles) and the Race for Grace (6 miles).  There are a few more that I will do for sure, but have not registered yet.  I am tempted to sign up for a half marathon some day.........but not sure if that will be 2015.?.?  :)

~Big Boy Bed~

January 2015

When we got home from Arizona, we decided to set up Hudson's big boy bed.  He had been sleeping on a hide-a-bed in Arizona, so I thought it would be a good time to get away from the crib. :)  So, as soon as we unpacked, we took down his crib and brought up the big boy bed.  He calls it his "good" boy bed.  

He was so excited!

nap time

The first couple nights were a little hard but then we found out his ear drum had burst.  Sad, I know.  Poor guy!  Since he has been in his big boy bed, he has voluntarily went to lay down at times.  He continues to be a great sleeper (we are so lucky!)  Now, many of us have slept in this bed.  Thank you Grandpa Virgil!

We hope to paint it brown at some point when we decorate his room for a boy instead of a baby. :)