Snow Baby!

I just can't help it. I. Love. Snow.

Period.

End of discussion!

Here's why:
1. It is a buffer for noise. It makes the world much more quiet.....awwww....silence.....
2. Life slows down. No one wants to get out in the cold. Forget about driving. We are staying home.
3. Two words: Snow angels.
4. Throwing snow balls for Captain. He can't find them. (because they're white on white)
Hi-lar-i-ous!
5. Playing with the dogs. While I make snow angels, 3 dogs trample me.
6. We live in the country which means many photo ops! Please see below.

Our boys!

Rosemary still thriving through the cold.

(I think I can say my pepper plant is done.)

My piggy bench.

Happy Winter Everyone!

Toy Shopping

“Toys simply make life more fun!”



Opening their gift certificates to a toy store, as a Christmas gift, my 7 year old niece said, "That's nice, but what comes with it?"

WHAT?!?!?! What comes with it? You know what comes with it? You get to experience toy shopping all for yourself. Rummaging through all the store as to offer, learning lessons of having options and choosing which toys are right for you with the amount of money you have, budgeting, purchasing, taxes, the whoas of other shoppers....I mean it'll be FUN!!!!!

OK I know receiving a piece of paper for Christmas is not the most wanted gift for a 5 and 7 year old, but maybe the memory of shopping for their own toys might make it a Christmas-break worth remembering....at least as an aunt that's what I hope for....awww I can only dream.

Here's how it went.....



We are ready to SHOP!!!!



Running to the next toy, then the next, then the next...



Hmmm this would be nice, but so would this...



Hi guys!



Outfits for Barbie is worth considering.



What have I here????



BARBIE!!!!!!!!



YES!! THAT'S IT!!!! ART SUPPLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Getting a great lesson in shopping, budgeting, paying....



and HAVING FUN!!!!!

 

I am VERY proud of my nieces! They did great picking out toys they wanted in the price point they were given.  I hope they had as much fun today as I did!  

New Tradition

A new chapter, or maybe tradition, has been placed before us to either continue on with, or simple let pass. I felt like taking hold of that tradition and carry it forward. See, Shawn lost his dad, Charlie, 17 years ago. Every year, Shawn's mom, like clock work, would place a wreath at Charlie's headstone for Christmas. Since she is now in a nursing home, someone needed to do it. Like a school girl waving her hand with excitement, I wanted Shawn and I to be the ones to do it.

From the store to home, the smell of cedar and fir engulfed my car. Goose bumps ran up my back at the thought of this wreath going to its final placement, taking the same path Charlie did. It road in the back seat of my car, from LaGrange to Smithfield. Strong and beautiful.

A cold, dreary December day has been turned into one filled with warm thoughts and love....meant to be carried on....

Charlie,

I am told many stories about you. Some crazy and wild, but all of them nice. I think we would have gotten along very well had we met. You would be very proud of everything Shawn has accomplished, and even more proud of the way he does what's right even when it's hard. I look forward to that day when I can hug you and say, "Thank you for raising a good man!"

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

Your daughter-in-law,
Sarah