SNOW

FINALLY! The snow I've been wanting, the snow I have been referring to in sentences such as "I just want ONE good snow" arrived!

We woke up to find that yes, weathermen can predict and deliver. We got about 4 inches and it was so beautiful. I love that peaceful quiet that comes with a good layer of snow. I love that everything stops, you immediately bend all the rules for the day, forget all the regular schedules and just do whatever seems good for that second.

Cole and Adison had a lot of fun playing in it, although we weren't in it for long. It really was cold outside. Adison's boots consisted of 3 pair of socks, some pink Crocs, and a pair of tights put on OVER those crocs. I ended up making mittens for Cole out of an old fleece that was in the back of the car, waiting to be delivered to the Goodwill.

Another big fan of snow is Bou. This dog has always loved snow, at at 9 years young she sprang out of the house and ran all over the place. It's so fun to watch her fun around all puppy-like.

The rest of the day we hung out, watched movies, baked some seriously yummy sugar cookies (from scratch! Haven't done that in years) and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Shopping with Adison

It's both exhausting and hilarious.

No. She will not sit in a cart.

Yes. She will touch everything within her little reach.

She will sit down on anything.

She will climb anything.

She will lay down on a cold, dirty floor to bring home her point.

Which, by the way, is always:

No. She will not sit in a cart.
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That's Gonna be Mine.

I made a burp set for a friend of a friend this week, and we decided to tack on a little purse for the baby's older sister. I loved how it turned out so much. I just happened to have a HUGE pile of jean material in my closet (why?....I think it was on sale. I told Dana about it on the phone one day and she said "you're not going to start making your own jeans now, are you?!"). I decided to try it on the tote bag and I couldn't be happier.

When I walked out of the sewing room, Adison looked at it and said, "that's gonna be mine."

Oh.

I walked back into the sewing room, closed the door and decided to take it one step further and try something I've been wanting to try for months. I've read probably a hundred craft blogs, and I have seen people use quilting fabrics in some very modern ways. I decided this was the perfect time to try an idea I had in my head. So I cut and attached fabrics of varying sizes together, put the iron-on adhesive on it, and then cut out my "a" shape. I really love how it turned out, and aside from the "a" being a tiny bit crooked, it's just what I imagined.

Little Fancy Feet

One of Adison's christmas presents was a little movement class that is run by the county parks and recreation. I'd been wanting to sign her up for something like this for quite awhile but always managed to just miss the sign up deadline when I thought of it.

Once a week for the next 3 weeks Adison and I will go to her 30 minute class while Cole is at preschool. Adison moves. A lot. So I was interested to see how she would take a semi-classroom setting where she had to follow instructions and pay attention.

I was pleased to find out that she can sit down and listen when asked. She still got up 15 times, but was easily redirected and would listen intently as Miss Hannah explained what each thing was about.

She absolutely loved loved LOVED it. And did really well doing the ballet and gymnastics drills she was shown. It was so fun to do this with her, and I think I'll make it a regular activity. I often spend most of that Monday through Thursday time when Cole is in preschool running errands or doing housework and Adison and I needed this little special time together. What made the class even more fun, is that our great friends Lizzie and Rachel signed up for it too! Icing on the cake.

Worth A Thousand Words

Cole has only recently really begun to draw actual pictures. For awhile he was into drawing "maps" which was a series of long, winding lines with a circle at the end of it signaling "home".

This year in preschool he's been asked to draw a lot of pictures: of what he wants to be when he grows up, what he looks like, and of his family.

This is a picture he drew earlier this week of our family. He carefully pointed out who was who, the tallest being Daddy and so on. When I noticed an extra person in the picture, I asked who it was.

"nobody. I just drew that Adison too small".

Later in the day, Kevin took it a little further, asking Cole if he wanted a brother.

"No, Adison is fine."

The conversation turned to families and Cole explained that he was going to have a family. The conversation turned to how you GET a family and Kevin told him you find a special lady and you marry her.

Cole: "Daddy? I HAVE a special lady!!"

Kevin: "Who?"

Cole: "Grammy!!"

Kevin gently broke the news to him that Grammy, was in fact, married to Grandpa....

New Year's Day

New Year's Eve mom and dad graciously watched the kids overnight so Kevin and I could go to a hockey game and catch a little sleep the next morning.

The rest of the day was the day I'd been looking for ever since December started. No where to go. Nothing to do. We played games, watched outdoor hockey, played more games, snuggled and relaxed. The perfect family day.

Christmas at the Spillman's

More present opening, youngest to oldest. Nana tries the Wii and I think is hooked. :)

Christmas at Mattix's

Cousin gift exchange, stocking opening, dinner feast, Dean the Wacky Scientist, Kevin's flying bug.....Merry Christmas. :)

Christmas Morning

We always stay at home on Christmas morning, which I really enjoy and hold as one of our most precious traditions. We had such fun reading the Christmas Story and then opening the gifts. The kids are at such a great age for it, and were thrilled to just be excited and rip paper.

Cole was so excited to get the fire truck he was hoping for, along with a Sleeping bag and a puzzle. Adison got a vacuum that she was giddy over, until we took it out of the box, when she started shrieking in fear. It's weeks after Christmas now and she is just now warming up to it. She also got a tea set and a puzzle.

Kevin and I exchanged our gifts, but the big surprise -- to all of us, except Kevin who planned it and kept it secret -- was a Wii game system along with the Wii Fit.

It has been the most fun, and we plugged it up immediately and used it. Cole can beat both of us in bowling. He's got pro status. :)

Christmas Crafts

Every year I have grand ideas of all sorts of home made crafts adorning our tree.
This year was no different. I picked up this little kit from Target and the kids had a great time painting and glittering it. And even though they never made it on the tree (because i never finished by putting ribbon on them and hanging them....) it was well worth it to just sit at a table together, talk and laugh and enjoy some creative time.

Christmas Decorations

I'm still trying to find just the right combination of lights and christmas decor....Little by little. Here's this year.

Christmas Program

Every year at Preschool Cole has a christmas program. It's the same every year, which is great because by the 3rd year they've all learned the songs very well. This year's program was on the 12th, which just happens to be my birthday. :)

Cole really loves music and loves to sing, but he is very shy about doing so up in front of people. This year I saw significant progress, though, and it was really fun to see him get up there and sing. He certainly didn't belt it out like he does at home, but at least he didn't stand there like he did the first year.

Adison spent the majority of the program laying in the middle of the isle. Why? Who knows. Because she's Adison. That's the best answer I can come up with.

Cookie

Cole is really loving preschool this year.One special project his class does, is that a name is drawn weekly and that child gets a chance to take home "Cookie" for the weekend. Then you take pictures and write up a story to tell about your adventures and Miss Beth reads it to the class when you return.

Cole was the last one in the class to have a turn with Cookie. Beth said he had been so patient, and when his name was drawn, the whole class gathered around him and hugged him.

There is just something special about a project like this. It makes me wish I had the gifts of teaching. Cole thoroughly enjoyed his weekend with Cookie and took him absolutely everywhere, including to bed at night. It was a very special weekend.

A Moment in the Day

This Moment happened sometime in December...I confess I am behind on posting.

Cole enjoying his CD's and headphones during quiet time.

Lousiburg Christmas Parade

Kevin's brother and family live in Louisburg, about 45 minutes away from us. It's a quaint little town that will definitely make you consider leaving the "city" and moving out of town. There is something to be said for walking almost everywhere, and there's a real sense of community up there.

We happen to have Scott's old computer and on there is a video of last year's christmas parade. The kids asked for it CONSTANTLY. And I don't blame them, it appeared that Louisburg really knows how to do a parade right.

So this year we decided to check it out first hand. It was FREEZING. BUT! We didn't battle any parking, or crowds and we were at the very beginning of the parade which has many benefits. One of them is getting pummeled by the pounds of candy they throw. I seriously think it was double what the kids got on halloween.

The best part of the parade, though, was the fire trucks. I think they had at least 7 come through (not counting ambulances...), some from other nearby cities. Cole and Adison were both beside themselves. The sirens blared until the very last one had passed. For our first Christmas parade, I cannot think of a better one to have chosen.

Mattix Thanksgiving

Fresh from tree triming we went to Mom and Dad's for thanksgiving dinner. Mom made her famous home made lasagna, which is always a hit and a nice detour from turkey. It appears I got only random captures during this meal, which aren't bad in my opinion. As usual when our family gathers, there is plenty of kiddie chaos, horsie rides (I've convinced Adison that Uncle Micah is the ONLY one who can do this) and coffee and cokes. Maybe that's why it's all a bit of a blur....

Tradition

We always bring home a tree on thanksgiving. When Fletcher and Nancy were living on the farm, it was right from their tree lot in the back yard. Now that we are going to the mountains, we all caravan to where his trees are growing and pick one out and cut it down.
This has got to be one of my favorite family traditions, and this year it was fun to see all the Spillman men hover around the -- shoot, what's that thing called? You put the tree through and it wraps it up tight -- anyway, they all hovered around it like it was a 4 man job...