Never A Dull Moment

Last week we did our usual school work, as is normal.  Barb joined us in the studies one morning!

 The kids went outside daily to play on that new snow hill Mr. Barney made for them.  They soon had their sledding paths well established and were sailing down the hill, squealing all the way!

 They talked me into pulling them around on the street one afternoon, where we learned that pulling the four of them equals a workout for Mommy!

 We decided together it would be fun to make snowballs with some new snowball makers they got, and to use them to stage an attack on the shop.  So, they anxiously knocked at the back door til Daddy came,

 Then they unleashed an attack!

 When the results weren't what they wanted, they moved to the main door and resumed their attack!

Daddy was coaxed out, where he was immediately the target for more snowball throwing.

 Just when he thought it was over, Ezri snuck up on him with a shovel full!

 After that, Daddy retreated, but that didn't stop the girls from continuing their attack for a few more moments, enjoying with giggles the reactions from inside.

Several days, they also got to play with our neighbor's grandson, Jamesen.  They found more reason to use their snowball makers.

 Now it was to sled a gauntlet of flying snowballs.  They loved it!

 Especially when they were the ones throwing.

 Friday, the kids hung out with Daddy while Mommy went off for a small photo shoot.  Elam helped me prepare.

Friday night, we did our usual hang out with our friends, and the kids did their usual at bedtime- watch a movie together in the girls' room before going to sleep.

 Saturday was a day of work for us.  Daddy put in a lot of hours in the shop and at the computer while Mommy decorated cakes for two upcoming birthdays, and prepped food for the party on Sunday.  That evening, after the baking, cooking and cleaning was done, the girls treated us to a concert in the basement.  They called their band the "Newskids" (they are just a tad excited for the Newsboys concert in April). 

It was quite adorable to watch, and they had a great time entertaining us!

Sunday was the beginning of the Alora and Elam birthday extravaganza... but we'll save all things birthday for next time!

Waiting on Winter

We had all sorts of fun this past week.  Tierney's new princess cook book provided most of the meals this week, and the kids all loved helping make new things.  Elam especially insisted he help with everything!

With winter still holding off, but making some attempt, the kids played outside a couple of days with their snow gear on for warmth, but had their scooters and bikes cruising the street too.

 They tried to make whatever snow there was work, though.

 Saturday evening, Alex and I, along with Kathy and Tony, headed to Grand Rapids for the wedding of one of the gals from my MOPS group.  The kids spent the evening with Grandpa and Grandma while we enjoyed the small, intimate wedding and reception.  It was fun to hang out with another MOPS friend who was also invited, and the husbands all hit it off well too, so it was a great group in a beautiful, though very cold, place, as it was held in an old industrial space with renovations only just begun.

 It was even more fun to see a previous MOPS friend who had moved away this past summer, as she was a bridesmaid.  So it was like a little reunion of friends!

 While the reception went on, the weather outside changed from rain to freezing and blowing snow.  We took a very cold service elevator ride to exit the venue (for fun, of course) before making a long, slow trek back to get out kids.  The road condition had changed quite a bit by then!

With snow having fallen Friday night and again Saturday night, the kids were very excited to get outside and play after church.  It was even more exciting when they heard Barney fire up his tractor.  They watched with anticipation from our yard as Barney plowed and sculpted a hill for them.  When the scene was clear, they ran for the hill and spent another 2 hours just sledding and playing together!

Elam and Tierney wore out long before the older kids, so they came in and got their hot chocolate, which is a part of the post snow routine around here.