The Drive Home

We had a white Christmas! The very first white Christmas for any of my kids. It made the drive home from Mom and Dad's very interesting.



One last look and wave goodbye!



All is clear on the highway!



The kids love long drives.





And they know how to keep themselves busy.





Making sure Leon is wide awake.



Snow plows in Mom's city.



Snow plows in the big city near home.



Snow plow headed towards "Mayberry"...



Our favorite lake.

White Christmas

Snow in December

This is almost unheard of in our neck of the woods. We usually don't see snow until January. I think we are in for a hard winter.

But boy! It sure is pretty!









It started coming down just before we left to go camping with friends in honor of Elijah's birthday. Of course, our trip was canceled. We met with our friends in their home instead.





The next day was gorgeous!

The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down

"In rushing rising riv'lets. Till the river crept out of it's bed and crept right into Piglets." Some songs just live with you forever. :D

I love rain. I have loved rain since I was a little girl. Mom would open up the windows in the house and clean. She usually mopped the floors with Pine Sol in those days. The wind would blow through the windows, making the house cool and crisp. The smell of rain would mix with the clean smell of Pine Sol. Sometimes she'd play a record while she cleaned. She always turned the coffee table upside down on the couch. My brother and I would climb into it and pretend it was a boat. Such sweet memories. I clean with Pine Sol to invoke those memories.

So where was I? Oh I love rain. The sound of it is so soothing, most especially when it is thundering and lightening. There is nothing like stormy weather in the middle of the afternoon. I usually just stop and listen to it. Many times I'll go outside and just watch.

That's what I was doing in these pictures.

Just watching the rain soak the world around me, making everything clean.

Thursday Tips - Pollen Season

The male pine trees are pollinating the females right now. The air with thick with lots of "tree love". When cars drive by the house I can see a cloud of yellow following in their wake.

This is my back deck 30 min after I cleaned it off. I took a friend's advice and used the water hose. The air is hot, sunny, dry, and dusty with this stuff.



It's so super fine. You can see it floating in the air. This picture doesn't do justice to the color. It's a Crayola yellowish-green.


My tip for this fine Thursday is to STAY INSIDE. If you can't stay inside, DON'T BREATHE. If you must breathe, wear what my friend Stephanie lovingly calls the "tree sperm condom". Finally, pray for rain.


Your lungs and throat will thank you.

Want to read more helpful tips, or do you have a tip you would like to share? Click over to Melissa's blog, Coffee With Me.

Perfect Day

The weather could not possibly BE any prettier than it was today. We've all got spring fever something terrible! I can't think of a better cure than an evening spent outside. We flew kites and walked the trails (I walked they rode their scooters).

Jeremiah had a handmade kite that didn't make it.




Calvin took this picture of me (it was very windy). I like to play with my kids. I don't usually just hang back and watch. There's no fun in that.

Joshua's Snowman

I completely forgot to post Joshua's snowman. This snowman was just too cute not to post. Joshua took this picture as part if his Photography Beltloop requirements. I love this picture! I think the snowman looks almost sad. Like he's saying, "Help me. Please?"



I'm dating the post for Monday...the day he made it. It just makes me breathe a little easier.

Another Day in the Snow

Joshua was going down and his sled spun him around backwards. It was so funny.


Kelsea had more fun today.


She even went down the hill once.


Ishmael started at the top of the stairs then continued on down the hill. It looks more serious of a drop then it is. But for these southern boys it was serous.






Joshua was not to be outdone by his brother.


Jeremiah took out the lids to the laundry baskets.


Taking the sled back up the hill was hard work.




Score! Joshua flew into the dugout!


Leon was there (in shorts of course) but wouldn't go down the hill.


I on the other hand, had a blast! The kids kept saying "Mom, it's my turn!"


Afterwards we went to Food Lion for just "a few things". The only milk they had was buttermilk. I have my own in the fridge, thank-you-very-much. ;)


Then we came home and had a big breakfast followed by snow candy (pans in the middle).


Leon and I took a good long nap and the boys were in and out most of the day. Kelsea lounged on the couch watching movies all day.

I went out and made a snowman with Megan, Joshua, and Jeremiah.


Tonight we made snow cream and now the boys are playing monopoly with Leon. It has been a very full day. I am exhausted!