snow much SNOW

Oh. Hello Winter. I think the older I get the more "true" Winter I am experiencing. That sounds funny I know, but it seems that snow is more expected than dreamed of now that I am a grown-up. Maybe it is because as an adult I dread and hate snow. But as a kid I wished for it...and when you long for something it seems to take forever to happen.  I honestly don't remember it snowing every winter when I was a kid. But I am pretty certain that as an adult I cannot remember a winter when it hasn't snowed! (Now..I know location plays a role...I haven't always lived in Kentucky...and a lot of my childhood was spent in Alabama and Texas. That may be why I don't remember snow. Anywho...)

As I am writing this post we are actually in the middle of Winter Storm Jonas...it is "blizzarding" outside. We have probably gotten about 5 inches of snow so far? Though I haven't ventured outside to measure, and the snowdrift in our backyard is probably 3 feet. But this post is from when my parents came to visit a couple weekends ago...and it snowed then too. Our first snowfall of the season. When my parents come to visit us in winter, it snows. The boys were thrilled and so was my sister! The rest of us adults were content to stay bundled up...after all it was crazy cold outside. But we bundled everyone up and headed outside for some sledding and playtime. 

Other than Finny losing a glove and touching the snow with bare hands and all-out flipping, everyone had a great time! Even the dog got into the action! Keagan and Finn got a new sled for Christmas from Gamma and Poppy and Keagan put it to good use. And that sucker was fast! The street was solid ice so Keagan would sail down yard, across the street, and then we would have to start yelling at him to "roll off" so he wouldn't continue down the next hill!! It was pretty funny! Thanks to Grandma who helped me take some pics! The boys weren't content for me to have my camera out the whole time!

OK. I am ready for Spring now!

Packin' Momma - Pie Face

In the last post I told you I had a concealed carry class coming up. Well we have since had that class, and wouldn't you know it was on the coldest day of the year so far (18 degrees)!! I am very proud to report that I made 100% on the written AND the target shooting portions of the test! (And Josh was concerned I would pass the shooting part...) I was a bit nervous about hitting the target mainly because I was shivering and freezing and trying desperately to load the gun, aim, and shoot and not have my fingers fall off! I had to hit 11 of 20 shots somewhere on the silhouette, and I hit 20/20 and not to far off the X! The class was actually not too boring, and it was just women so it wasn't too intimidating. 

Now...to my original post...Mom sent the boys a couple games for Christmas and one of them was Pie Face. It was hilarious! BUT I am pretty sure mom and I had the most fun of everyone!  Keagan needed some coaxing to play, but he did allow himself to take a pie in the face twice! Both times flipping out afterwards as if soap was being poured into his eyes! But then he was all cool and proud of himself after it was wiped off. Finn tried but then really just wanted it squirted in his mouth! Or he would eat it off my face. Pretty funny!

It was a pretty fun game to beat the winter blues...especially since it snowed and we were stuck inside!!! Unfortunately, mom and I were the only "grown ups" who played. Grandpa "only plays the game of life" as he used to tell me when I was a little girl. And by life, he doesn't mean the actual board game LIFE. He means life...   And then Hannah had poison ivy all over her face and neck and wasn't too keen on having whipped cream slathered anywhere near it. And Josh was at work.

Annie Oakley, I am not.

Last weekend my parents came to visit us (or, mainly the boys!). Aunt Hannah surprised the boys by coming with them. It was a really wonderful and relaxing visit. Unfortunately for my family, I am dealing with the most awesome nausea and so my hostess skills kind of stunk. I didn't cook anything beyond pancakes or muffins for breakfast. And we ate take out or at a restaurant the other meals. I really enjoy cooking for my family, but tis the season of pregnancy where I am just surviving and the kitchen has some funky smells for me. Luckily, everyone was okay with this. My dad did a lot of fix-it jobs around our house, which was super helpful! Mom enjoyed the boys and played round after round of Connect 4 and Guess Who with Keagan and Finley. We did get out a few times and do stuff around the area, but the weather was pretty yucky for their whole visit. The first couple of days were warm by January standards, so we took advantage and did our "getting out" those days. Then by Sunday there were a couple inches of snow on the ground, so we went sledding!

With the weather being fairly warm on Friday evening, we went out to the target range to do some shooting. Finn was itching to shoot his new gun and Keagan is always on-board with shooting! I have a concealed carry course coming up so I did some practicing of my own. Mom and Hannah even got in on the action. We all had a great time!