The Christmas that keeps on going....and going....and going....

Since the snowy weather was with us, our 'usual' Christmas routine was altered and delayed. Normally we celebrate Christmas with my mom's side of the family at my Grandma's house Christmas Eve. Grandma didn't want any of us driving in the snow, so she asked if we could come the following Sunday to celebrate. Christmas morning was spent with just us.

Oh Santa was good to us!

Noah and Tyler opening their stockings.

He was much more fascinated by the wrapping and packaging than the actual gifts!

Mommy helping Tyler with his big present.

Noah helping Daddy open his gifts.

Noah really got into Christmas this year. He doesn't quite understand the 'giving' aspect of it yet, but he really likes to help open ALL the gifts and was very excited for the person receiving the gift (even if it wasn't him).

We hosted Christmas dinner at our house. My dad's side of the family came over. Unfortunately, my grandparents could not make it, as the roads were not cleared enough to safely travel. We ended up celebrating Christmas at their place a couple weeks later so they could enjoy the great-grand kids opening their gifts.

We were able to take a moment for this pic!
Poor Noah, he was SOOO hungry and then very disappointed to find out that he wouldn't get to eat at 'his spot' at the table.
But he really enjoyed dining with 'Spiderman' (Peter).
Tyler and myself.

Daddy and Tyler. Dave was such a good sport-he entertained the kids so that I could relax and enjoy my family without stressing about the boys.
Noah, Peter, Sofia (in the background), and Julia opening gifts.
Who needs toys when there is a huge box!? They loved playing hide and seek!
Sofia showing us where her pockets are! My cousin and I both wore this dress hand made by our Nana. Nana is so grateful we took such good care of the dress and loves to see her great-granddaughter wearing it.

Noah (2 1/2) and Peter (4) standing back to back to show how 'big' they are. Noah is almost as tall as Peter and is 17 months younger!

We celebrated Christmas at my Mom and Gary's the day after Christmas. It was really nice to relax and hang out with them and my brother.

We also received a great big package in the mail from Dave's parents.

Tyler is enjoying his music instrument! He figured out where the sound comes from and was trying to 'get it'

Noah is all wrapped up in his wonderful blanket made by Momma Rose! This blanket is so special and full of love. I love it so much that I told Noah he can use it when he is on our bed because that is where it is (until Noah gets a bigger bed)!

We had a wonderful Christmas season and are so thankful for everyone that is in our lives. We truly are blessed beyond words and I honestly feel as though I am living the dream.

Oh our weather!

Yes, I know it has been a couple weeks since the last posting. The weather here has been CRAZY! We had a couple of weeks of true 'winter weather' lasting long enough to have a 'White Christmas'! Below are a few pics to illustrate just HOW much snow we did get!

Here is the cooler, we couldn't even open the sliding glass door without snow coming into the house. I was going to go out the side gate, um, but that wasn't an option!

Here was looking out toward the street from the garage. Dave was at work and since it had snowed so much during the day, it finally dawned on me that if I wanted him to come home, I would have to shovel the snow so that the car would make it into the driveway and garage. Oh, that was some very hard work. There was a layer of snow, then about 1/4 inch of ice and then more snow!!

Our house (before I started to shovel the snow). You cannot tell where the yard ends and the street begins.
My neighbors car.

Let the melting begin!! This was the day after Christmas!

Noah is throwing snow at Dave. He calls the falling snow 'snowballs'.

Now that the snow has melted and the temperatures are above freezing, we have had A LOT of rain. We have gone from a winter wonderland to a flood zone with many rivers flooding or swelling very high. I hope the rest of the winter is much more mild!

Winter Wonders-Daily progression

Since Saturday morning, we have been living in a Winter Wonderland! It constantly snowed all day Saturday turning into freezing rain late Saturday night into Sunday. Sunday afternoon, the snow started back up! Oh, it is so pretty outside to see the dense snowflakes fall to the ground. But then the power went out at about 4pm. That is not so much fun! Especially since we don't have a fireplace! I took out ALL the candles in the house and had our dinner by candle light. The power came back on, so I blew some candles out and put away all my 'reserve' candles. And as Murphy's Law would have it, the power went back out! Out came the candles again...the power came back on at about 7:30 and stayed on (thank goodness)!

I have taken so many pictures of our week-long winter weather. Here are a few pics to show the progression of it all. As I type, it is still snowing outside (it has been now for nearly 24 hours!!) and is so beautiful! Dave has volunteered to work at the hospital today. They have been severely understaffed so I am glad that he is able to help out!

Saturday night: Looking out onto our deck. The snow was about 4 inches deep on the cooler.

Saturday night: A view of the deck. It was a bit windy!
Saturday night: Mr. Zebra

Sunday Morning: everything was iced over! About 1/4-1/2 inch of ice.

Sunday morning: Noah's summer toys!

Sunday morning: no the photo isn't out of focus....it is the ice!

Sunday morning: our pool

Sunday morning: the back deck.

Sunday morning: the view out of the kitchen window. Such an oxymoron to have a snow-covered, frozen palm tree!

Sunday night: a look at the deck.

Sunday night: the cooler. It was about 6+ inches deep.

This morning
Monday morning: Um over a foot deep on the cooler!

Monday morning: Mr. Zebra!

Monday morning: our pool.

Monday morning: the back deck....what deck?!

Monday morning: Dave's truck. Notice the tracks already filled in from Dave taking the car to work about 4 hours earlier in the morning. (the car was parked in the garage).

Let it Snow!!! Sat, Dec 20th

Satuday we woke up to snow! It has been snowing on and off for a week now. We did have a couple of days of clear weather where the previous snow melted a bit and the roads were driveable. Above is a pic of our house!

A view down the street.

Dave made a make-shift sled out of my wreath container! Noah LOVED being pulled in this!

On our snowy walk to the park. Ty was not a fan of the cold.

So sweet.

At the park there were so many kids with discs sliding down the hill. One child was nice to share with Noah. This was his first time sledding and he LOVED IT!!
At the park, Noah wanted to play on the play structure. He especially loves this slide (since it is in a tunnel). The first time he went down it, he shot out of it like a cannon!! I missed it on camera, but got the second time around!

Noah's First Haircut!

So, we have NEVER cut Noah's hair. We did trim the bangs, but his long locks are his baby hair. With others, his hair is an issue. Everyone always is hounding Dave and I about cutting his hair. When Noah was born, Dave stopped getting haircuts. Dave's intention was to grow his hair out (as Noah's was growing) and donate it to Lock's For Love. They then would get their hair cut together--Dave's for donation and Noah's as his first haircut. A couple of years have gone by now, Dave's hair is long enough for donation but we have become fond of the long hair and Dave isn't ready to cut his hair yet. In that being said, we continued to let Noah's hair grow too. His hair is beautiful, blonde, and (in a sense) a part of his personality. Well, the decision was made to cut Noah's hair. Dave said with much disappointment but the realization, "I think it is time". Noah is constantly being referred to as a girl by strangers. Even when we correct them, they still continue to call him a girl (this is so irritating). Also, Noah will be starting school soon, and we have noticed when he is concentrating on coloring or doing puzzles that require him to look down, his hair gets in his face. He refuses to let us put his hair in a ponytail so, it was unanimous, it was time.

Noah is sitting in his chair at Little Clippers watching Thomas. Braids are done.

First cut. (insert sniffle)
Braids are gone. I had tears in my eyes.

I asked her if she could keep his hair longer--kinda a shaggy look.

He still has his curl around the face.

Not much shag in the back, hmmmmm.

Because Noah's hair was weighted down so much by the length, we didn't know how his hair would be. Curly? Straight? Mixed? Well, it is a bit mixed. Curly around the face and neck area, but straight elsewhere with a significant cowlick in the nape of his neck. So, the shag/bob cut he received did not look boyish-rather girly. Back to Little Clippers we went and came home with a more traditional 'boy' cut!

Oh he looks so different! He aged with the haircut.

Back view. No longer blonde.

Dave is having a hard time with the haircut. He couldn't go with us when Noah got his hair cut in fear that he wouldn't go through with it. Dave also isn't ready to cut his own hair.

Noah's braids are about 8 inches long. He received a certificate for his first haircut.