¡Nieve!

I couldn't get them both to smile at the same time & could barely get them to both stand still at the same time!

I had to come up with a different title since I labeled the last one "Snow". Same thing, just different language :)

Yesterday morning we woke up to another 4-5 inches of snow. And it was still coming down. And it kept coming down for a good part of the day. When it finally stopped we probably ended up with close to 6 inches. I told the boys when we got home from Joshua's party at school that after Nathaniel had a nap, we could go outside and build a snowman. When it finally came time to actually go outside and build it, I wasn't exactly thrilled. I cannot remember the last time I built a snowman. I know that one was built when I was in the MTC...there was snow the weekend before I left for Spain...but I don't think I helped in its creation. If I did, I've forgotten about it. So the last time I helped was probably when Carrie was younger than Joshua. Yeah, a long time ago. Snow is not my most favorite part of weather...I like looking at it when it comes down and everything is so pretty & pristine & white (I'm curled up inside nice and warm with hot chocolate, a book, scrapbooking, knitting, something like that)...but I hate it when it gets gray and slushy and icky (kind of how it's getting right now). 18 years growing up here I learned to deal with snow. Then 4 winters in Utah at college walking to campus, uphill, in a skirt (student teaching classes) early in the morning in the snow with no car really put a "damper" (hahaha) on how much I enjoy winter wonderlands...especially when I feel my nostrils freezing shut and remember getting to that early morning Book of Mormon class and feeling trickles down my back as my hair thawed out because it wasn't dry when I left my apartment (I hate blowdryers). So for the past 11 years it was nice to live in a town called Winters that was called so with no relation to the season! I'm trying to be better with the snow though. And so I took the boys out to play. We did our best to build a snowman...Joshua deemed it the best one ever (it is the only one he's ever made, but that's besides the point). There was no way I was getting balls rolled and stacked for making a snowman...that just wasn't happening. So we scooped and piled and eventually got something about as tall as Nathaniel. Joshua "rolled" the head and I had the boys dig some rocks out of the driveway out of the snow, slush & ice there for its eyes, mouth and buttons. I'd snagged a carrot out of the frig that I broke and stuck in for its nose. And there he was - our Frosty. We hoped that the nose would still be there this morning, that the neighborhood deer community (a dozen plus) wouldn't remove it. We know they are always in the front yard...their tracks and other signs tell us that, besides the times when we have to chase them out of the driveway to get out or wait for them to move out the street so we can drive. Doesn't appear that deer like carrots all that much because Frosty's face is still intact.

After Frosty and snow angels, we were ready to come in. Then it was time for what I believe is the best part of playing out in the snow...HOT CHOCOLATE! Joshua (and Nathaniel) had received little bags from one of the kids in Joshua's class that held a pack of Swiss Miss and a couple of candies. Joshua had Mint Chocolate and Nathaniel had Caramel Cream (I did refrain from downing Nathaniel's even though I LOVE caramel anything). So I fixed the chocolate, which Joshua insisted had to be called hot COCOA because that's what the package said. I tried to explain it was the same thing, but he refused to agree with me..."Mom, it SAYS hot cocoa, so you have to call it that." (Why was I so excited that he can read just about anything now?)

All in all it was fun afternoon with Mommy...no chores, no nagging about homework, etc. I need to do those more with the boys.

I tried to do a self-portrait...at least Joshua was smiling...Nathaniel wouldn't even look toward the camera!

Today we had a little more of that kind of fun. My grandmother and her sister have belonged to Eastern Star for 50+ years...my mom had belonged eons ago, not any more, but every year for as long as I can remember Mom has baked cookies for the Easter Star's Christmas cookie trays. I vaguely remember taking cookies with her down to the Masonic Hall when I was a kid. This year I helped with some of the cookies and took them and my grandmother's down with my mom. My great-aunt was there and some other members of their chapter. Mom and I helped load up the trays - 15, a lot fewer than in years past, I guess. And then I offered to run my grandmother's down to her, along with trays for her two cousins, another woman that lives near her and the local newspaper (members of 50 years or more get trays, as well as rest homes and newspapers, it seems). So the boys and I ran down to Fort Jones to grandma's. We took her on a few errands and she told me where a couple of the people lived and I took in the trays. Met one woman who swears I look just like my mom did 20 years ago. Anyway, after visiting with Grandma for a little while, the boys and I headed back home. It was starting to snow a bit more (it's since stopped and hopefully will hold off a few more hours unitl Brian gets home) and we decided to sing Christmas songs and carols as we rode home. Nathaniel LOVES "Jingle Bells" and tried to add it to about every song Joshua & I sang.

Nine Years...

Nine years ago today Brian and I were married & sealed for all time & eternity in the Oakland Temple...the years go so quickly! This is the first time we haven't been together for our anniversary as he had to go south to work, but at least we got to see each other this morning before he left. And as I told him this morning, I'd rather he be gone on our anniversary and be home on Christmas instead of vice versa.

SNOW!!!

The first day of winter might not be officially until Sunday, but it's already hit here. This is what we woke up to Monday morning...

I was so thrilled...I was teaching Joshua's class on Monday and knew that the kids would be pretty hyped up with it being the first real snow of the season. Yeah, you'd have thought that it was the first snow for all 18 kids in the class instead of just Joshua! Of course, it hasn't gotten warm enough to really melt any of it and today, we're getting more. Luckily, it hasn't gotten too heavy and Brian made it through the canyon with no problem. Hopefully he'll be as lucky Saturday night coming home.

Shadow is less than thrilled with this nasty icky wet cold white stuff (probably because not only do her paws get wet but she's so fat that her belly drags in it). I was hoping to get a couple pictures of her out in the snow, but this is the best I could do...she makes a beeline from the garage door to the back door with no side trips up to the yard. The first morning was hysterical...she tried to figure out how to get from point A to point B without dampening her dainty little paws...ain't possible, but she sure tried. She is happy to spend a good part of her day in her favorite spot - snoozing among the stuffed animals on Nathaniel's bottom bunk. It's like a warm cozy little cave and she'd stay there all day if it wasn't for a few items - hunger (which is obviously a problem for her, because you can tell that she's wasting a way and we never feed her) and Nathaniel.

The view: The pond across the street (above) Looking up the hill/street (below)

Nathaniel has been dying to get in the snow...Monday when I came home from teaching, he was with Joshua & I because Brian had dropped him off while I picked up the classroom because he had to meet with a professor in Yreka. As we walked down the driveway, Nathaniel grabbed a handful of snow, held it for a few seconds and then dropped it and informed me it was "Too pold!" (His hard 'c' sounds like a 'p') That took care of him wanting to go outside. Well, today, I had a yarn emergency and needed some yarn for the project I'm knitting for Brian for Christmas. So we ran to Grandma's to see if she had anything that would work - and she did. Her yarn selection is closer, better and more economical than Walmarts! We did stay long because the snow was starting to come down harder and my little car doesn't have snow tires or anything like that. When we got home, Nathaniel decided he was going to play a bit in the driveway. Poor kid...his sweats were shoved up practically to his knees from getting out of the car but I didn't notice until I took the picture. Telling Mom "No" when she asked me to come back down to her...

I love this picture...but unfortunately I slid a bit on the ice as I took it and it went blurry...still, he's got a cute smile!

Christmas Program time!

Joshua's Christmas program...kindergarten through 3rd grade. I got to watch them rehearse yesterday when I subbed in Joshua class. The song in the video has been going through my head since then! Different than our concerts and programs with Mrs. Foster, but still cute!

Sorry for the shaky video and bouncing around...I was using the digital camera and Nathaniel kept grabbing at my arm!

Blogger is not cooperating with me tonight to post the video...I'll have to try again on Sunday when Brian brings back my internet connection!

Chased by an Elephant?

About half an hour ago, I was picking up the HUGE mess Nathaniel made on the floor of the boys' bedroom this afternoon. He was playing while Brian did math homework in the dining room while Joshua & I were at school (I got to be Joshua's teacher today while his actual teacher had jury duty...but that's another story). Anyway, while I was picking up, Joshua was up on his bed leafing through his Book of Mormon. He was less than thrilled to see that the entire book had 469 pages (I believe that's what he said...I'm not sure if he's counting the Index as well or what). He briefly thought about staying up all night to read it, but it didn't take much to convince him that it would take much longer than one night to read the entire book. So he was murmuring to himself about how long it would take to read as I continued to pick up the hundreds of books Nathaniel has dumped on the floor (he's always looking at books and constantly begging some one to "read me, please!"). Finally he asked me what I thought he'd get from his Primary teacher if he read the entire book. I told him I didn't think he'd get anything from his teacher, but he would gain a testimony. Well, that wasn't what he wanted to hear. After a brief discussion about what a testimony was and why that was important, he told me (as I continued to pick up the thousands of books Nathaniel had strewn about the room) that he thought he'd get something because one kid who'd memorized all 13 of the Articles of Faith got a Star Wars coloring book. That led into a discussion on if he'd been able to pass off his 2nd Article of Faith that he'd memorized a few weeks ago. He had...that's when he told me that the 13th Article of Faith was funny. That surprised me and I asked him how was it funny. Very seriously he replied, "Well, it says that we'll be CHASED BY AN ELEPHANT!" I managed to not burst in to laughter and first, asked him who he'd heard say that. He said no one had told him that, that's just what it said. Then I calmly explained to him that what the 13th Article of Faith actually says is that we need to be "CHASTE AND BENEVOLENT." To which he replied, "Oh, well, that's not what it sounds like!" Yep, that's my boy! He may be reading at an almost 3rd grade level, but his hearing & listening is right on par for 1st grade!

Super Student!!

Last Thursday or Friday we got a letter in the mail from the elementary school. It was to let us know that Joshua had been selected as a super student for the month and we were invited to the assembly today to see him get his award. Of course, this was to be a surprise to Joshua, so we didn't tell him a thing. As his class walked in to the gym, he caught sight of us and was excited, but still didn't know why we were there. When his teacher called his name, he jumped up, turned to us and yelled, "Dad, you and I are going to *Dotty's!" Everyone laughed and his teacher said that was one of the things she liked about Joshua was his enthusiasm. Everyone in the school pretty much knows who Joshua is already...he's such a character.

*Dotty's is a local ice cream/hamburger place. We like getting milkshakes there (the blackberry ones have been a tradition for my best friend, Raini, and I for eons). Anyway, the kids get a coupon for a free ice cream cone with their Super Student certificate (when I was in school it was a free Happy Meal at McDonalds...ice cream cone is way better...especially if they still do the dipped ones!)