We had rain today, so we didn't want to take a chance of rutting up the ice. The boys didn't even come in after school. They started playing in the snow with their backpacks on! Lydia joined them after a while. (They eventually brought their packs in, too)

This is Lydia at story time.
In the middle of December we had the insulation done on the house. The bottom half is spray foam, but they couldn't easily get into the triangle at the top of the house, so Scott cut holes in the ceiling so they could blow in cellulose. It's a good thing that we had this done in the winter so we could see the results of a little snowfall. Look at that melting! We haven't heard back from the contractor yet, but I am glad I didn't paint and finish the room before finding out we've got to tear things apart again! We'll see how things pan out.

The beginnings of our outdoor skating rink. Last year we went to the rink in Norwich a few times a week. This year we get our skates on at the front closet and head out to the driveway.
So, the first Saturday of the new year Scott spread out a 20 by 60 sheet of plastic in the driveway and filled it with more than 2500 gallons of water (it was measured by the water softener). After a week of single digit nights I was able to go out and groom it and get it ready for skating. Anxious feet dipped in several times, and one day after school the boys walked out on the ice before following me into the house. But, after a couple of days hosing it down it was smooth and ready for skating. We haven't had much snow, so a light shoveling was all it took to clear it away a couple of days.

A night of broom hockey on the ice - with a lovely sunset behind.
After two weeks of temperatures below 20 degrees, the weather was warming up... to 35 degrees. The difference is that it didn't drop into the single digits at night.
Caleb all bundled up when it was 13 degrees for skating after school.

Lydia had me wrap her in my scarf to play. She then walked back into the room carrying her swaddled baby! How cute!
Caleb reading to Joshua. Isn't this the scene we always hope for?
I had set Lyd up to watch "Cars" - we had it from the library for a week, and she had to have it on every day. When I came back, she had made these arrangements - the rocking chair next to the ottoman, her legs up and the dvd player on her lap. What a funny girl!

Lydia singing a song on the karaoke machine.

The kids were having a "lesson", like a mini primary. They had set up the karaoke machine the day before, and they continued taking turns singing, teaching and praying into the microphone.
This is a game I found at the second hand store that reminded me of my childhood.


Church was canceled after Sacrament Meeting, so Grandma and Grandpa stopped by on their way home. The snow wasn't awful in the morning, but enough that I turned around on my way to church and came back home. I just had a prompting that I shouldn't go the rest of the way. We may never know why. It's better that way.

Arianna
Joshy
Caleb
Emma
Lydia

Lydia, Arianna, Emma, Grant, Josh and Caleb
Lydia loves Baby Grant
Arianna loves Caleb!
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Happy New Year!

Annual New Year's Eve Celebration in Harpursville with Scott's Mom's famiy.
Emma and Lydia with their chocolate faces.
I brought along Twister to entertain the bigger ones for a while.

The boys bringing in wood. I dumped the wheelbarrow full of wood several times at the top of the stairs and gave them the job of carting in down and stacking it. Worked out pretty well.

Oh, the beautiful chaos!

One last shot of the girls playing at the farm. They had so much fun together!

Our Friend Cathy Weinell (the children's librarian) invited us to her house for sledding and a visit. The boys loved it. Another break from the ongoing party at the farm.

We were near their house in a field - note the corn stalks poking through the snow. There wasn't enough snowcover to go over there, but nobody complained about the hill we were on that often led them into a little stream. It was a challenge to stay out of the water. Josh had so much fun that he didn't want to go home (incidently she also brought out a huge bucket of LEGOS). On the way home Josh proposed all the days he could think of for us to go back. I'm glad he enjoyed himself so much! Thanks, Cathy.

Grandma Camilla sent Star Wars Legos to the boys for Christmas. The unveiling of this gift was reserved for a day when we took a quiet break at home from the party at the farm. Caleb invited Vinny Taylor over to help put it together.
I love how K'nex and Legos occupy these boys for hours!

Fun with cousins for Christmas. Lyddie and Emma on the rocking "cow."
Caleb joins the fun.
Joshua was always smooshing the girls' faces. Poor Arianna.
Daddy relaxing (as best you can with all the kids running around and climbing on top of you.
Another ride on the cow. I guess I never got a shot of the actual animal...

We call a shot like this "the babies" although they are not "babies" anymore with each of them turning 2 within the two months. Personalities continue to shine through! What a handful!
A cute shot of Lyd and Arianna, but Ben had had enough.

Christmas Day sledding. The weather was perfect in the morning. 30 degrees, just a little snow. By evening the grass was showing.
Lydia loved the baby sled. I hadn't even thought about trying it this year, but it was a hit.
Arianna and Emma were not as excited about sledding as Ben and Lydia were.

Josh was having a good time. Caleb worried about all the feet walking over the paths he was making.

Lydia loved baby Grant (Kenneth and Heidi's youngest). After being with them for Christmas Lydia now has a concept of a baby being in her mom's belly.

Diane organized an elaborate "gingerbread house" project for the kids. She supplied dozens of decorating options and taught them how to "glue" graham crackers to little milk cartons to hold them together. Thanks, Diane!
Lydia and Emma hanging out.