Snow Days Part 2!

We had an unexpected snow storm the beginning of the week.  Others might've anticipated it, but, because I live under a rock I was completely unaware.  So it was like Christmas morning for me waking up to a thick, white blanket of snow last Monday.  There was so much ice and snow accumulated that the schools shut down for the whole week!  We had so much fun playing in it whenever we could, but we had a serious case of cabin fever by the end of it, and that's saying a lot since the kids and I spend most all of our time at home anyways!

Daddy even had two snow days from work!  The roads were a mess and all of Fort Campbell was shut down except for critical personnel!  That NEVER happens!  It was AWESOME!!

Laundry basket sledding!

This didn't last long!

Snowbabies!  Bottle propping at it's finest!

Building Frosty the Snowman!!

Snow ice cream!  We pulled out all the stops!

One of the most requested movies in our house is a previously DVR-ed showing of the original "Frosty the Snowman."  SO, Emmy took it on herself to recreate the scene when Frosty melts.

Paying homage.

Sis was pretty sad about it, too.

Random Pictures

My Hannah helping make waffles for Saturday breakfast!

Sweet James succumbs to his fatigue.

A little heavy handed on the salt.

I was finally taking down our front door Christmas decor (in February) and the girls made the tree their own in the time it took me to carry the other one to the attic.

I asked Emmy to grab some toys for the babies...She brought them Barbies, naturally.

Hannah loves to help feed the babies...

A new way to play. :)

Cuddles

Yesterday, I had a moment where I was reflecting on how beautiful a day it was both inside and outside of my house.  The sun was shining brightly, my big kids were playing nicely and quietly in the playroom and the twins were napping well in their cribs.  I was enjoying a warm cup of tea.  I couldn't help but think how truly happy and content I am.  This time last year, I was in the throes of morning sickness, I was physically and emotionally exhausted by all of the changes taking place within my body, with preparations for the babies' arrival, Nick's change of command, and the fear that I was experiencing with life change and the unknown.  If only I could have gone back in time to give my old self a hug and say, it doesn't seem like it right now, but you are going to be ok.  I promise.  I know so.  

Valentine's Day 2014

I had an ambitious plan to take group pictures of the kiddos to send to our family for Valentine's Day...Unfortunately, the day I decided to make it happen, naps were far from synchronized, so by the time the babies were awake and the big kids were coiffed, it was about time for lunch and nap for the bigs.  Being the pig-headed individual that I am, I forged ahead with my overzealous plan.  My children did everything in their power to un-do what progress I was making.  Every time I turned around, Hannah had disrobed and had taken out her hair.  Emmy, the bossy pants that she is, decided to take over my "set design" with her toys and playroom furniture and started calling the shots.  The babies were less than pleased, because in the time that it was taking me to gather things together (and compensate for Emmy and Hannah's backwards progress,) their next naptime was fast approaching, and the dogs were cozying themselves into the blankets that I was trying to use for a backdrop.  The pictures turned out pretty dismal, but, hey, it was something to do and I luckily had quiet time as my reward!

The kiddos had great fun making Valentines and sweet treats!  We lucked out and had Nick home for the actual holiday being that it was a 4-day weekend in honor of President's Day!  The day itself was pretty typical, but it was great to at least be able to spend it together!  Nick and I arranged for our beloved Ms. Ericka to come over after the babies were down the following night and snuck out for our first date since the twins arrived!  We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with a fancy grown-up dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Opryland Hotel (where we celebrated our engagement 8 1/2 years ago!) It was incredible!  We made a pact that someday, a long time from now, this weekend will be reserved for a special get-away every year.  We are so far from it right now, but it's nice to dream. :) I can't even imagine what God has in store for us in the years ahead!

Awesome. Thanks, Molly.

Things went southward pretty fast.

Our girls :)

Hannah pulls a diva move and storms off the set. :-P

The best of many.  Emmy lost some hair over this pose.

My little angel babies.

The only way I could take control back of my photo shoot from Emmy is to allow her to have her own photo shoot afterwards.  This is the only photo that I will share from that...She posed me and forced me to make a wide range of funny faces that I have too much pride to share in a public forum such as this.  Which should say a lot because I have so little pride as to share this one of me in my nursing tank and snowman pajamas. 

Hannah's Valentines to all of the boys in her class...It read:

I am MAD about you!

Hopefully, they're all good and scared off, if they weren't already.

Hannah wore her fanciest dress to school for the Valentine's celebration. 

Checking out their loot after school!

Tucker won Sis' heart with a Percy the train valentine.  They obviously share a love of trains! So much in common!

Valentine's goodies ready and waiting for little kiddos to wake up! (And my beautiful roses from my Dad! And chocolates from Mimi and Papa!)

Emmy opening her two new books on CD (Olivia and Frances) and Sis eyeing her "Emily" train!

Emmy stealing Emily from Sis...

Hannah's Valentine's treat from Emmy.  Emmy is holiday-obsessed, so we've been counting down to Valentine's Day since Christmas.  She is such a thoughtful little things and puts so much consideration into gift-giving. :)

Sugar high!

Date night!  I am coining a new term "progressive shower." You start with bathing yourself in the early afternoon, then blowdry your hair half an hour later, put make-up on a couple of hours later, curling and styling hair half an hour later and then dressing oneself immediately prior to departure.  Voila!

My Gift

I asked that my Valentine's treat from Nick be a picture with the kiddos.  They are growing so fast that I want so badly to be able to look back and have a picture holding them...I'd also like to remember these things that fill my heart with joy...

Emmy: She is such a natural-born leader.  She has assumed a new way of explaining things to me, which I believe that she believes sounds hyper-mature.  It's almost as if she's been studying President Obama for his speech pattern, to include choppy phrases, with frequent awkwardly placed pauses and lots of hand movement.  She is an old soul trapped in a little body, that one.  Her new favorite movie is "The Sound of Music." After she watches it, she goes through the rest of her day singing and dancing.  That makes two of us.

Hannah:  The fact that she is a participant in our daily conversation is so wonderfully novel to me.  A couple of days ago, Emmy was mad at me for catching her doing something naughty, so she was wailing for Daddy from time-out (he was at work.)  I overhear Hannah saying, gently, "I know, I know.  It's ok, Emmy.  Daddy be back soon."  I do believe her love language is touch, because, when we sit together (or when she sits with Nick,) she reaches for my hand, holds it, and delicately rubs her thumb on my fingernail.  There must be something calming in that practice.  Hannah is a voracious "reader"and insists on inspecting every page in a story book before we move onto the next.  She becomes deeply engrossed, asking lots of questions and making comments.

James:  Oh this boy has got me hook, line and sinker.  He LOVES his jumperoo.  I affectionately refer to it as "his office." Because as soon as I place him in there, he is hard at work tinkering with the toys with the most intense focus.  Another sweet observation, is that he has made Juju's pink knit blanket his own.  That boy does love his pink blanket...As soon as I lay him in his crib and place the blanket over his body, he lights up, wiggles around with it as if he's getting cozy, and then pulls it up over his head.  He sleeps with is that way (just like Emmy did,) I don't worry about it because there are plenty of holes for air flow. ;)

Julia:  This little girl is so HAPPY!  She smiles when smiled at, without exception and "talks" when talked to.  She tries to match whatever sound I make, the higher-pitched the better.  Julia figured out rolling over from belly to back just before Valentine's Day, and is so quick at it, I can't hit the "record" button fast enough to catch it on video.  She is little but she sure is nimble! (James mastered rolling over about a week later!)