Sledding 2015

Last weekend, John took the kids to a park in the Riverwoods to sled.

They had fun, but today he took them to Rock Canyon Park 

for the big sledding hills. This time Alton stayed home with me.

Last week he was a bigger fan of the park toys than the sledding hill.

Max and Jonah didn't have a lot of luck snowboarding this time, 

but the snow was great for sledding. They came home mostly happy. :)

And I was happy because John took a few pictures for me.

And I am caught up on my little blog!

Hooray and Happy New Year!

Family Fun

We had a fun-filled weekend with family.

Here are some highlights.

Milo smiles despite his helicopter wounds.

Maxwell's BB8 and Alton's Mickey (driven by Milo)

battle in the kitchen.

Ruby had really, really wanted a wheelchair or crutches

for Christmas, but her heartless parents said "No."

Lucky for her, Pa was a lot more sympathetic.

He took Mindy to the British Pharmacy for chocolates,

and happened to find a pair of kid-sized crutches.

He saved Ruby's Christmas. Thanks Pa. 

Mindy and Ruby went to Build-a-Bear for Ruby's birthday,
and Mindy made Toothless the Dragon.
Alton fell in love with Toothless.

Milo got a gum-making kit for Christmas from Maxwell,

and Mindy helped him make it!

Mindy gave me a lace skirt for Christmas,

and we took a girls picture after church.

Sunday night, we played Beat the Parents as a family.

And the kids Beat the Parents! 

It was pretty fun (for everyone but Alton - he was bored).

Alton and Jonah played outside in the snow.

I'm so glad that our kids have each other!

On Wednesday, my Dad and Warren stopped in for dinner.

They were on their way to Buffalo to see Spencer and his family.

It was nice to see them for a little bit.

For years (YEARS), Maxwell has been asking me

to make him a Ranger's Apprentice Cloak.

He asked for one for Christmas this year

(along with a Star Wars cloak) and I told him

I would just make him one over the break.

Yesterday I finally did it!

He got two cloaks in one - Star Wars on one side,

and Ranger's Apprentice on the other!

I would make the hood smaller and the cape wider

if I did it again, but overall it was a success.

Now I just need to finish Jonah's medieval tunic . . .

Christmas Day!

Christmas was nice and quiet.

We enjoyed our gifts and time together.

John, Bentley, Maxwell, and Jonah shoveled snow

while I worked in the kitchen. Some of the kids

played outside. Alton went out for fifteen minutes,

but decided he'd rather play with his track and car wash.

Ruby mastered her remote control helicopter

(after crashing into Milo's face), and Max and BB8 got acquainted.

The WiiU was set up and played and played and played.

I used my tripod TWICE! Bentley tried out his guitar and

his satin sheets, and Jonah read his new book.

Milo played the WiiU and learned some programming with John.

My parents and Mindy drove down in time for dinner

and brought more gifts. It was pretty close to perfect.

Christmas Morning

The kids woke up early on Christmas morning.
They couldn't wait to open presents, and they very
noisily waited "quietly" for us to wake up.
I got ready with the camera in the living room,
and then John let them in.

Bentley saw these socks in a music video,

and asked for them. Santa was pretty amazing to find them!

The big present from Santa was a WiiU!

Everyone seemed happy with their gifts. 

Merry Christmas!