Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow......

......said NO ONE in Indiana!! I know this is old news to everyone, but wow!  What a winter it's been!  With snowfall accumulating to more than 40 inches, I think it's safe to say this is the worst winter we've had in a long, long time.  In fact, I don't ever remember seeing anything like it!  I would like to say that we've enjoyed playing in the snow, but it's been so bitter cold (-43 degree wind chill bitter cold) that the kids haven't gotten to go outside like they would like to.  Yes, they have been out a lot, but not like they would like to, and a few of those times they couldn't stay out too long because of the wind chill.  The kids have missed several days of school and have had too many delays to count, and while normally I love a day off school, this is getting old.  The kids need normalcy and routine.  I think we are finally getting there, though.  We actually had our first 'full' week of school this week since Christmas break!

They've gotten to do a lot of sledding

Here I was trying to capture the depth of the snow, but this picture doesn't do it justice.  It's almost to the bottom of the trampoline!

Having fun with dump trucks

Jade always has to get in on the action:-)

I had to add this picture, because I really like it.  This dog is seriously in all her glory in the snow.  She is so funny!  She hops around trying to play with the kids:-)

Big snow pile right outside our garage

The driveway out to the shop....definitely not passable! 

The kids and Linsey made their best attempt at making Olaf from Frozen:-)


Here's to no more snow and warmer temperatures!!  (Ya, right!)

Christmas 2013

Like I mentioned before, we were in Florida over Christmas this year, but we had Christmas festivities throughout most of December and even once we got home in January.

On our way to cut down our Christmas tree

We found the perfect one!

It was Kelsey's turn to put the star on top

Lance surprised me with an early Christmas present.....

A new camera!!

We celebrated Christmas early with Lance's family this year.  Sadly, I didn't get very many pictures.  Here is a good one with Harv and Ellen and all of the grandkids:-) 

This was the morning we left for Florida.  We always let them open a little something before we go, usually a movie for the ride down:-)

Yep - a movie!  Maddox got Saige, Kelsey got Dispicable Me 2, and Landon got Turbo

Mom came out that morning before school to say good bye and give them a bag of goodies for the ride to Florida

After we got home from Florida, we went to my mom and dad's to celebrate a late Christmas.  Mom and dad didn't want to keep their tree up until mid-January (who can blame them?), so Kelsey put a few ornaments on this little tree.

The boys putting together a puzzle

Excited to open presents!!

Kelsey's 10th Birthday

This post is a little out of order, but I came across some pictures that I had forgotten about and wanted to share them.  In December, Kelsey celebrated her 10th birthday (double digits!).  Kelsey is reaching an age that she is definitely not a little girl anymore and is becoming a young lady.  While I love every single stage of my kids' lives, this one scares me a little.  Ok, who am I kidding?  It scares me a lot!  There is so much responsibility.....so much to teach her, help her with, be a good example for.  I don't at all feel qualified for this job, but I know that, by God's grace, we will make it.  I'm sure we will make mistakes along the way, no doubt about it, but I will continue to pray every day that we can help her become the young lady (and eventually young woman) that God wants her to be.

Kelsey is a fun, loving girl.  She is currently in gymnastics and practices twice a week, so that keeps her very busy.  She loves to be with her friends or downstairs playing on her gymnastics equipment.  She also loves to play games and watch her favorite TV shows.  

Happy 10th Birthday, Kelsey!

Getting ready to open presents from Grandma and Grandpa, and Nanny and Papa

No cake for this girl....she wanted a Hershey Cream Pie!

Birthday sleepover with friends

One Direction party:-)

Robot??

Nope! It's Landon! He bought this jacket with his own money....too cute! He absolutely loves it and wears it often:)

Walt Disney World

As part of our Florida vacation, we also went to Disney World.  After leaving Bonita Springs, we stopped in Orlando for a few days to enjoy the wonderful world of Disney:-)  Let me tell you, it never gets old!  This was our 3rd time going, and it was just as great as the 1st.

We stayed at Disney's Art of Animation Resort.  

The first day there was beautiful, and the kids were able to enjoy a couple hours of swimming

We went to the Lego store at Downtown Disney.  The kids had Lego gift cards from Christmas and were excited to spend them.  The boys put their money together and bought the police station.

Kelsey got the Lego Friends High School

They had some incredible Lego creations!

This is always one of our favorites!
(If you can't tell, it cooled off quickly while we were there!)

This was right outside of our building, which was in the Finding Nemo section.  This is Crush from Finding Nemo.

The kids loved looking around the Cars section at our resort

First day at Disney...Magic Kingdom.
Here the kids are ready to ride the teacups, always a favorite!

Pure joy!

Getting ready to ride Goofy's Barnstormer (Maddox's favorite)

Disney's Electrical Parade (obviously!).  It was pretty neat.  Every float was pure lights.....

Day 2....Hollywood Studios.
Here is right after riding the Tower of Terror.  Maddox wasn't too sure at first but ended up riding it a couple more times.  This was definitely my favorite ride!

We watched a live stunt show.  Lightning McQueen made an appearance:-)

Very cool!

It doesn't get much better than this....so beautiful!!

Florida Vacation 2013

This past December, we went to Florida over the kids' Christmas Break.  As always, it was an amazing, relaxing vacation.  I took way too many pictures to put on here, so I chose several of my favorites.

The kids really enjoyed the ocean (or Gulf, I guess I should say) this year.  They spent most of their time in the water while we were at the beach.  They had so much fun with their boogie boards.  Way too cold for me! 

Nicole and Robert were down there with their boys as well, and our kids loved having someone else to play with.  They found several starfish, and here is Karter with one of them:-)

Getting ready to dig a hole

Kelsey and Lance made a 'sandman' on Christmas day since we didn't have any snow:-)

Mini Golf!

Lance and the kids did a lot of fishing while we were there.  Harv even took them out on the boat to fish, which they loved.  Landon caught a stingray!

Kelsey and Papa

This is a small beach area at Harv and Ellen's place

Having fun watching the ducks

Always a little gymnastics!

You can't see it, but the boys caught a lizard

The kids loved for Lance to throw them in the pool.  Here is Maddox:-)

Landon's turn!

Can't forget Kelsey!

This little guy was hanging out in our garage...

More fishing!

Picnic at the park

Christmas morning, each with their favorite gift....Kelsey - Rainbow Loom, Landon - Bey Blades, Maddox - Flashlight Friend

Kelsey always loves spending as much time with Nanny as possible!

Papa too!

All the kids hanging out at Nanny's

The boys had Christmas money to spend, and they bought some things from Bass Pro Shops.

We had a lot of fun boating

Snack time!


A big thanks to Mom and Dad for letting us come stay again this year.  We had a wonderful time!!