Climbing "Mountains" and "Dragon" hunts

The snow is quickly melting outside so I had to get these promised photos up.
Before the last big melt (followed up by another big snowstorm)
I took Owen out to climb mountains and hunt dragons:
The "mountains" are really the huge (gi-normous, as Owen likes to quote from Elf)
piles of snow from the parking lot near our home.
Literally the most fun "butt slides" I've ever made.
(A "butt slide" is when you make a path without a sled
and keep going down it to make the path compact and really fast!)


This picture I took of Owen at the top and I was sitting at the bottom to show how big this pile really is...If it were daylight, you'd see the tops of trees that are nearly buried under these snow piles.

I taught Owen how to clear pine branches for good climbing and nesting inside its cover.
He loved having a place to hide from the "dragons."
I still have no idea what these are or where they came from but he warns me when he sees one coming. He says this is the look he makes when he is surprised by one...

Sometimes it got cold out there, but how could I tell him no?
We knew it was time to go in when the sky was dark...
at least in the winter we can follow that rule. :-)

Delayed Gratification?

So...I forgot my phone charger in WI.
It takes 2-3 days to get a package from one state away.
When the package finally came, there were two packs of gum, a few forgotten toys, and my charger.
Thanks, Dad and Mom!
"Thanks, Gramma & Papa Phi!"
Yes, Gabby has a new name for Grampa Phil.

So, we opened the package at dinner and Gabby emptied her pack.
You can see here.
She started to unwrap and put pieces into her mouth when I wasn't looking.
After two pieces I told her no more...

She didn't like that!

My tender, sweet, baby girl...
has become a two-year-old!
AHhhh...I was wondering when this was going to happen.
:-)

Snow to Spring...maybe?

Spring Break is upon us...and so is nicer weather!

Before the sun started to warm things up and before the snow started to melt,
Owen and I got to go on a few "dragon hunts" (that's a whole new post!!),
make forts in the snowy trees,
and then teach Gabby all about making forts in the living room...

We used all the cushions, the footrest, all the furniture and as many blankets and sheets that we could find. Even Mom fit under there with her coffee! :-)

So this was a whole 10 minutes of fun because the kids were desperate to go outside...

We tried...we really did! It ended up being really cold and the wind had blown loose snow over the driveway...when will it end???
I am not so cooped up, but having a 4 and 2 year old who need a world to explore...
I am eager for spring.

So, what happened today? :-)
A teeny tiny Melt-down ...
I am aware that March and April can still bring a blanket of snow,
but today we drew with chalk on the driveway and found some old toys that were buried in the snow last fall!

Literally buried! I remember putting them on the stairs to clean up and bring inside before the snowfall. How did they not get brought in?
These past two years, I can say that once the snow fell, earlier than anticipated,
it stayed until spring.

Please don't judge me for not putting clothes on him...
He's "thick"...he'll be alright.
:-)
At least he remembered a hat!

BEAUTY...

When you get to live in or travel to some of the most beautiful places on the planet, you often think that may be the only place beauty really is.
I never want to take for granted the blessing of living where I am or with whom I am living...around or near as well.
I drive Hwy 10 every day for less than a mile.
As I get off the highway and onto the ramp, I get to see the various stages of the seasons and daylight's savings because of where the sun rises over this hill.
Owen is so tuned in to detail that he often points out to me,
"ooh! pretty sky!"
Especially if there are lots of colors.
Yes, we still have about 18 inches or more of snow on our lawn and it is March.

Yes, today I was feeling warm because it was 36 degrees.
Yes, I tell Lori I will move to Florida if we ever sell two houses. :-)
Yes, I wish I didn't have to heat up my sheets with rice bags before I crawl into bed.
But...
I have never hated it here.
I am blessed...Yes, God is good.
If I can teach my kids one thing...God is always good.

Taking a moment to appreciate the little things that make me smile!

A few "lately" stories that I want to remember forever:

When she wakes up, the first thing she says (other than, "momma!") is, "Owie? Daddy?"
"Owie? Owie?"
(that's how she says her brother's name...
not responding to being hurt, in case you were confused)

I pick her up from daycare on Tuesday and Wednesday and she asks,
"Owie? Daddy? Home? Pizza?"
Yep, she knows what she wants.
I have come to the horrible realization that I have taken 1/2 the amount of pictures of her than were taken of Owen. I cannot believe the number of photos I have of him...

I am so proud of him-he is starting to get breakfast for himself because I tell him he can't wake anyone up until a certain time (depending on the day). Even though most mornings he wakes up singing, I don't want to be woken up before 6 on Saturday morning! :-)

The other morning he did it all by himself and he came to show me how he had put peanut butter on his bread all by himself...good thing I was just crawling out of bed.
Another time I heard a plate drop and Owen say, "oh!"
It was a new loaf and he couldn't get the inside packaging open.
He tip-toed to my door, pushed it open, and whispered,
"uh, I need help."

Another time I woke up to Owen in the bathroom saying,
"oh, that's just great!"
I still have no idea what happened in there...

The other night I heard Roger getting frustrated with Owen.
Something about "taking a bath."
I go down the hall to find Owen giving himself a "bath" with his toothbrush.
He's getting it wet and brushing his body...
Yes, I can see why Roger was frustrated...and disgusted.
But I couldn't help laughing.
Man, the things I NEVER want to forget.

Like the time Owen was running around the house in just a neck warmer.
What a picture! (No, I didn't take that one with the camera!)
I recently was thinking about when I am going to allow Gabby to wear make-up and hoop earrings...definitely not this young! :-)For now, each morning (and sometimes at night) she asks me to do her hair: she gets her stool, sets it next to me in the bathroom, pulls out her comb and hair bands...I can never deny her that one little request
(or ANY request, for that matter...she is so precious!)

Gabby has a way of making everything fun.
One time at Applebee's she was dancing along with the music-
she won't sit in a highchair or a booster seat so she stands in the booth next to me.
The next day she decided to dance on her chair at breakfast...but there was no music.
I had to smile.
Owen walks through a room and it explodes...not literally, but he leaves a path...mess after mess after mess.
Gabby, on the other hand, straightens and picks things up.
She even lays down her diaper just so and straightens my shoes on the mat by the door.

Owen caught on to mealtime prayers quickly. To this day, Gabby has not stopped eating for ten seconds while we thanked God for the blessings of our day and for the food.
BUT...at the end of every book she says, "AMEN!"
Oh, she'll catch on...eventually...hey?
(like the leg-warmers? Gramma Mimi made those for her! I gave her the idea of how to use of the rest of some old yarn...cute, hey?)

Last week when I picked Owen up from a playdate I could tell he was so tired
(no nap and late night day before).
His friend offered him a snack,
but I said we could get something at home if Owen was still hungry

(they had just had ice cream and I didn't think fruit snacks were the best option)

We got in the car and Owen said, "I AM hungry."
"ok, honey"
He proceeded to tell me that if I did not give him something to eat, he would be very crabby.
"ok, honey"
He then told me that he was going to count to 5 and I'd better give him something.
"ok, honey"
You see, the few minutes before he falls asleep in the car, he tends to ramble, yell, complain, and whine about everything under the sun. It used to make me mad
(it still bothers me, but now I know what is happening),
Now I just wait and watch for him to fall asleep.
Yep, 5 minutes into the drive: fast asleep.
I carried him to his bed and in his sleep he proceeded to tell me,
"I want something!"

(Are you giggling MB?)
Oh, the stories are endless so I will save more for another day!

(**reminder to myself: I laughed while writing this and laughed while reading it again...)