A first grader's backpack

2 crocs (shoes)
4 pairs of gloves
1 stuffed penguin (Webkin)
2 sweatshirts (hoodies)
1 winter coat
1 hat
1 sample lotion from Nana
2 dead glow sticks
5 worksheets
9 photographs
1 book from school
1 scarf
4 Halloween pencils

This is not a joke. I actually emptied all this stuff out of Grace's backpack. (Please note, I empty her bag regularly) I took a picture too. But couldn't get it on my computer...so I added this pic of Grace at the beginning of the year, of course she looks nothing like this now, she's much more grown up (sniff, sniff). Still, I thought the post should have a picture.

Snow days

When they cancelled school the Friday before Christmas I was like "WoHoo. let's make some cookies." (I was trying to think of something fun since it was still too dark to go out and play in the snow, but it felt like we should be havin a "partay") And so cookies we made, 4 different kinds. It was a cookie-ball-athon. I like to just put the cookie balls in the fridge so we can have warm cookies on demand. And I like to triple my batches (it drives Matt crazy).

While making out sugar cookies, the kids were rolling them out and making their own. McCade comes up with the idea for me to cut around his hand. The others followed suit. Cute huh?

My little helpers hung with me through 3 of the 4 batches of cookies, but then had to abandon me for the freshly fallen snow.

McCade was snitching cookie balls.

The fox and the hound

A crazy slash funny thing happened tonight. I watched Toby take off like a shot from outside the window. He wouldn't come when I called him so I went to check it out (in case he was harassing the neighbors.) He was in the field next to our house with a fox. I know the pictures aren't great (can you say hybrid lens for Valentine's day?) but I had to try and ... I have to share.

The small dot is the fox, the big black dot is Toby.Notice how close the small dot (fox) is to the big dot (Toby)? Yeah, Toby is stuck in the snow and the fox is prancing around, getting closer and closer to Toby until...

Toby makes a lunge and frees himself from the snow, the fox scampers out of reach again as Toby takes up the chase. It was so funny because the fox was totally on top of the snow and every step Toby took, he sunk in. He chased him all the way down the street, we followed in the van. At one point Toby turned around and headed back our way. The fox followed him, until Toby couldn't resist and and chased it again. It was hilarious to watch.

Our brave protector; he also jumps up and chases magpies when we pull into the driveway or if he knows we are watching him.

Fun Weekend

A couple of weekends ago we had Val (Matt's brother) & Tami and their girls over for some sledding and games. Matt's sister Pam (whose family just moved from AZ came up from Twin for the day. It was COLD but sunny when we finally headed out to the hill. I have no real pictures of the action but I do have a good story to tell.

Pam and Bella getting all dressed in warm clothes.

While we were sledding Sadie was in a collision and ... broke her ankle. Poor little thing. We have way to much medical experience in our family; Tom (brother-in-law) (ER nurse), Val (angiographer) (I think I just made up that word, but Val never checks this, the point is, he does angiography), Tami (NICU nurse) and me (x-ray). The reason this is a bad thing is that we didn't take her to the ER for hours (she seemed fine, {Tom checked her foot out} just sitting with her leg propped with some ice, a little pale,maybe but... it is January in Idaho.) Anyway, about 9:30 we (Val, Tami, and I) took her to the ER. I took her x-rays and the Dr. splinted her up. She was tough. Once she realized she wasn't going to get a shot for pain she didn't utter another cry.

Bella commiserating with sweet Sadie, don't they look commisserable. (yeah, I made that up too.)

I spent most of the time in the van with Bella, but I did manage to snap this cute pic before she started crying uncontrollably because she was so cold.

Sunday, the girls made cupcakes, gotta love my big counter, there is room for everyone.

Kids say the funniest things

In church they were talking about ancestors and one of the kids said, "I have two grandmas and two grandpas." McCade said, "I have one grandma but I have more dead grandpas than you." His teacher said she couldn't stop laughing. Irreverent, yes. but also, funny and so McCade. Val would have thought it was funny.

My dad too.

Better late than never

Some pictures from Christmas:

My sister, Bre, and my mom

Me and McCade ( he was so exited about every present he got, even this Pirate Christmas ornament from Disneyland that said, "Yo Ho Ho Ho"

Matt, making good use of Grace's gift

My youngest sister, Wynn and Bella Boo

My brother-in-law, Tim with Bella (I was teasing him that his yellow shirt wasn't going to go with any of my Christmas scrapbook paper. I guess I will have to buy some.:)Grace was also thrilled with her presents (but bummed she didn't get a DS)

My beautiful Grandma with Bella, I know she is in a lot of pics, but she moves around.

Our Merry Christmas in a nutshell.

Gotta start somewhere

A bit like my scrapbooking, with pictures on the shelves in chronological order and thousands (did I say thousands, I meant hundreds, Matt) of dollars of scrapbooking supplies in my new little nook... I feel overwhelmed. I haven't blogged in three event filled weeks. I haven't scrapped in . . . So... lets start somewhere.
Christmas was fantastic. My sisters; Wynn (Tim) and Bre (David, Gage, and Chayce), my mom, and my grandma were all here. They (besides my mom, who was here for a few weeks) were only here for two days because they were worried about the roads so they left a day early. But while they were here...really fun.