Snow Fun

Five hours.

That's how long the kids stayed outside playing with the neighbors instead of going to school.

Snowball fights!  Guess who usually had the upper hand?

Just happy to be included.

Showing off his ammunition.

Her Indian name is Runs In Snow With Apple.

Playing Fox & Geese

I think this one should say, "And here we have a nice red minivan driving by for your viewing pleasure."

And what was Abigail doing this whole time?  Reading books, playing with lacing cards, and prancing around like all good three-year-old girls...

...in her swimsuit.

Celebrity Sighting

I just had to surreptitiously take this photo while in the check-out line at BJ's.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  It's HAGRID! :)

Love Letter from the Five Year Old

It says:

I (heart) loove (heart) mom (heart) anD (heart) DaD

HigH mom  HigH DaD

1 26 5011

Naomi

I love the date.

 

But I especially love how she spelled 'hi'.

The Snow Storm Begins

They cancel school here for the tiniest amount of snow.  So, when there was a big storm in the forecast for this afternoon, Ethan woke up asking, "Why haven't they canceled school?"

Well, they should have.  Or at least had an early-out day.

Gratefully, MY kids got home safe and sound and only about five minutes later than usual.  Unfortunately, our friends' kids didn't get home until 5:30pm!  The buses couldn't get through.  The roads were (are) horrendous!

Now I know why they cancel school here for the tiniest amount of snow.  Those poor kids. 

2010

Last year, we made predictions for 2010; things we wanted to happen.  The two littlest girls had gone to bed already.  They were:

Laura (6 yrs. 3mo. at the time)

1. Playing
2. Eat candy & cake
3. Uncle Danny will get a job near us

All of her's came true, even (miraculously) #3.  Danny & Tammy are just four (to seven, depending on traffic) hours away!

Anna (9yrs. 9mo.)

1. Going to have a dog-themed party
2. DisneyLand
3. Pass SOL's

She's still waiting to go to DisneyLand, but successfully completed the others.  (SOL's are the end of year Standards of Learning tests, like finals in college.  They start in 3rd grade here, and are a big deal.)

Ethan (11yrs. 1mo.)

1. Pass SOL's
2. Finish reading Lightning Thief and watch movie  (It is a requirement in our home to read the book before being allowed to watch the movie.)
3. Go to Utah alone on a plane with Anna

Again, two out of three is pretty good.  We didn't feel comfortable sending our kids alone out to reign terror on all the relatives...   Ethan is never without a book.  He finished reading The Lightning Thief, yes, and also about 20-30 other books.  I can't keep track anymore.

Derrell

1. Get dream job
2. Move
3. Go on a cruise

Well, those three HUGE predictions proved to be a little more than one year could handle.  Only the cruise actually happened.  The dream job looks like it may be a reality in 2011.  Check back in a year, and we'll report on that.  ;-)  As for moving, we're thinking that it will take us at least five to ten years to be able to make up for the loss in property value.  We don't dare put it on the wish list this year.

Me

1. Finish 14 year journey to Doctorate
2. Fly mom out to watch kids while we leave for a while
3. (removed because of its sensitive nature)

Thank you very much.  All three are fulfilled!


So, at the end of 2010, we decided to record our most memorable moments.  My mom, brother Matthew, and his cute pregnant wife Suzy were here to participate.

Abigail: My mom painted my fingernails and I loved going at the beach with a whistle.
Naomi: Played outside
Laura: Granna, Matt & Suzy coming to visit
Anna Moira: Having a dog-themed movie birthday party
Ethan: Spending time with family
Matthew: Found out I'm going to be a dad, and took lots of trips
Suzy: Found out I'm going to be a mom
Julie: Getting my husband back, and going on a cruise
Derrell: Graduating
Granna: Coming out here to visit two times  (she had to say that ;-)  )

Gone Cruisin'

To celebrate the doctorate and our anniversary, we went on a cruise to 

The Bahamas!  

It was great fun and very relaxing.  

The first day was unseasonably cold.  The high was only 44 degrees.  Even with the clouds, the terrain was beautiful.

This day was much warmer--60's.  It was a very pleasant boat ride around Nassau.

Waiting on the pier for a boat to take us para-sailing.

Soaring high!  It was very peaceful up there.  We could see all the way to the edge of the earth. ;-)  The water was clear as glass, and it was amazing to be able to see so far down while sailing so far up!

The sun setting on Nassau.

The last day was spent snorkeling and sliding down a 40 foot water slide and getting sunburned.  We are anxious to get the pictures back that were taken with the waterproof disposable camera. 

The kids showing off their nifty gifties.

  

My mom kindly agreed to fly out to stay with the children.

And she brought my little brother and his wife, too.  Good times!

 What we learned:

• Cruises are indeed fun!
• The food is indeed abundant and fattening.
• So, Tums and Gas-X or Beano should be consumed regularly.
• Anti-motion-sickness medicine should be taken before embarking.