snow day part 1

 Snow Day! 

It was amazing! So many memories packed

into a small amount of time. 

This post is from the first round of playing in

the snow. It was so cold that it actually hurt to 

be outside for too long. 

(obviously factoring in that we don't have

clothes to support a temperature of 16 degrees that

feels like 1 degree...yes, one. ONE!)

This. This is the face of a little Texan seeing snow in his

own front yard. 

It might not look like much, but there was 

so much snow for this area. It was

exceptionally thick on all the sidewalks and streets. 

Look at Brooke! Joining in on the fun!

 A smile!

Seriously, this is one of the only ones. 

And then the wind just started to

sting any skin that wasn't covered. 

Haha, a quick pat down from Dad.

I swear this kid didn't feel the temperatures out there. 

He was fully in his outdoor element, 

totally fine with (or unaware of) his freezing/wet hands

and feet and face.

So happy to throw the powder snow at his dad. 

And then Brooke froze in this spot in this position and 

the weather just got to be too much. 

Look at that pink little nose. 

This was only 2 minutes after we got outside. 

Literally 2 minutes- I checked the time stamp on the photos. 

Done and begging Josh to take her inside. 

Looking at those gloves-these kids were troupers. 

Kids are really the best. They just don't care about

being uncomfortable...they're just happy to join in 

on these big ol experiences!

Snow man dreams taking shape!

It was sooooo powdery that you couldn't 

even form the snow into balls. 

See that dusty snow?!

This winter wonderland was all fun and games

until power and water went out and pipes

started bursting. 

(and plants died...like that giant palm)

But in this moment, it was pure magic. 

Dad!

Mom!

Snow Angels!

The snow on these chairs lasted for daysssss. 

Like 6 days. 

Nuts!!!!!

I never thought I would see a snow drift

against our trough. 

A week after this photo was taken, it was warm

enough for the kids to play/swim in that thing. 

Texas.

Some last minute exploring from the little pink lady. 

I was going to blog our snow pictures once 

I had a chance to edit them, but that

just doesn't seem too realistic these days. 

Again...the snow on this truck was there

for a solid 6 days. Our previous snow days

were just so magical...but the 

snow melted within hours. 

This was a monumental snow storm that

took over national news once the heartache settled in. 

But the joy everyone was feeling on day

one will be the memories that I cherish forever. 

I don't think there was any area left unexplored by this kid.

It took all we had to lure him in to warm up.

A trough full of snow!!!!!

More to come!

a little bit of life

You know what I miss? 

Blogging about the mundane days

around here. 

So, here’s a bit of a glance into

life lately. 

Tate and Paige had dentist appts today. 

Gotta love covid weirdness showing up

in everything you do-future self, remember

when you called the doctors’ offices to let

them know you have arrived because

waiting rooms were closed? 

Brooke builds things for her

roly polies all the time... here’s her

roly poly motorcycle. 

A little game night fun with my mom and Valerie. 

Wheel of Fortune! 

Tate created a snake farm, and now requests

“Snake Farm” on Alexa all the time. 

He also hosted a circle time for

his beloved snakes and a few animals. 

Tate Man also created a flag for his bug hotel. 

Josh and I worked on a puzzle and stayed

up way too late working on it. 

Sweet PaigeyK reading a book. 

I love this little bookworm. 

She also learned how to scoop poop! 

Hallelujah!

I’ve never met a kid who thinks about other

people the way that Paige does. Seriously lucky

to have her as a daughter!

We got our chore chart hanging up! 

We’ll see how this goes. 

And Dakota Rae curled up in a ball. 

That dog is either sleeping or barking at the

wind these days. 

musical beds

Josh and I wake up with a kid

or two in our bed pretty much

every morning. 

We’ve started sticker charts to reward

staying in your bed. Our numero uno

needed encouragement to stay in

her bed in the evenings. Our numero

tres needed some incentive to

stay in her bed in the middle

of the night. 

Our numero dos? That boy

needed all the everything to stay in bed in

the evenings and in the middle of the night and

everything in between. 

He’s a little me-just wants

someone nearby. 

Insert sibling slumber party! 

To say they read a few books

before bed might be an understatement.

Meanwhile Paige enjoyed her bed solo.

She’s surprisingly territorial of her bed at night. 

Then there was a night of sickness...

... but soon the two amigos 

were together again. 

Love Brooke little reassuring hand on

Tate’s hip. 

We assumed this was a honeymoon

phase, and we weren’t wrong. 

Somehow Brooke ended up with

Paige the next night. I’m not

sure how Tate gave her up that evening. 

And I’m really not sure how

Brooke convinced Paige to let her in. 

We put bed rails back on Tate’s bed, 

but we never thought Paige would need

them for Brooke to bunk with her. 

Clearly Brooke still needs some

boundaries while she sleeps. 

I added a bunch of pillows over there

and added a baby monitor in case she

actually fell off. 

I put her sleepy little self back

on the bed. 

Love these sisters!

Tonight the littles were too unruly and

Brooke got booted back to her room

(per her parents)

Tate was pretty bummed to

lose his roommate. 

I had to do a little monitor rodeo again, but

I snagged this earlier in the evening. 

I love this little bookworm!!!

Sweet dreams, PaigeyK

brookie and the barn

 Brooke sure loves to play.

I love that she loves to play. 

She's happy to play on her own, but she's also

always willing and so happy for someone to join her. 

It's the best of both worlds. 

one of those days

Today is one of those days when everyone

needs me at the same time.

Everyone is in whiney/crisis mode and

there's a domino effect of incidents. 

Block towers are falling over, fractions are hard,

little one is at counter height and keeps hitting her head

on the corner...

Messes everywhere, chaos everywhere. 

But.....

they all just went upstairs unprompted.

(this never happens)

So I'm drinking my coffee and taking the time

to work on something that I love.

Hello, little blog. 

Homeschool will be completed later. 

Blocks will be rebuilt with a sturdier foundation....

and one day that little head will be as tall as mine and

the counter run-ins will be long forgotten. 

So, I'm gonna suck it up and 

power through my day. 

Hopefully in a less frustrated way. 

I just remembered that it's Friday!

If ever there was a day to power through, it would be Friday. 

The weekend is almost here.

It's a calm one with minimal plans-my favorite!

Well, it's hours later and I'm editing this post

because it's just a good reminder that powering through

takes patience and time.

I attempted to do the dishes, but Brooke peed getting onto

the toilet (not in it)....which lead to a mopping of 

the bathroom and the discovery of old gross pee in the 

training toilet (that now serves as a stool.)

This lead to the removal of that toilet and an impromptu

cleaning of the bathroom. 

While I was deep cleaning the regular toilet, Brooke

turned the tub into a shower and water was spraying everywhere.

An hour passed and I finally finished the dishes. 

PSA-never ask a stay at home mom what she does all day.

Oh my goodness...editing this again. 

I don't think I've ever added to a blog post this many times-

probably because I never blog in real time.

BUT!

My sister totally saved the day and sent me Tiffs Treats.

She wins.

Really I win- I hit the sister jackpot.