Snowy Days

Since everyone seems to be talking about snow these days, I thought I would join in.
It's snowing here again today, big beautiful flakes.
Actually, we have had quite a bit of snow this winter.
It comes in little dumps here and there.....and it stays.
All winter long...it stays.
We won't see grass until around April or so.

Do I ever get tired of snow?
Truthfully, there are some days where I would like to sit out on the deck and hear the birds sing,
or be able to go outside without having to dress like a big marshmellow,
or having the kids be able to play outside for hours at a time without worrying about frost-bite,
or not having my nose hairs stick together when I step outside,
or being able to take off your gloves for more that 5 seconds and have your fingers feel like they are ready to fall off,
or being able to go for a walk without having to walk with big boots that make me feel clumsy,
or not losing "who knows what" that the kids leave around the yard, which we won't find until spring.

Do I enjoy snow and winter?

Truthfully, I DO!!!
I love the way the snowflakes fall so peacefully. Seriously, if you want to know what peaceful looks and sounds like, watch snowflakes fall on a calm day. Millions of snowflakes fall, and not a sound! It really is amazing! Reminds me of our Amazing Creator.

I love the time we get to spend playing hockey as a family every day on our rink. Couldn't do that without cold weather. Of course our little guys might think they could do with a rink without the snow that they have had to shovel and shovel and shovel off this year. Hey, it's a great way to get rid of some boyish energy :-)

I love the way snow is so pure and white. There is not much more beautiful than a fresh blanket of snow that sparkles in the sunlight.

I love the way the winter makes a fire feel so warm and cozy.

So ya, I guess it's a mix. I wouldn't want to have winter all the time, but a season of it is okay.
But once warmer weather comes, you can be sure I will be one of the first to be enjoying it.

No just to figure out how to skip all the mud 
that comes once the snow melts :-)


Here are the evergreens behind our house heavy with snow.

This is looking out our front window

Looking out the south window.

The deck I like to sit on in the summer and hear the birds sing.

The birds should really come and clean off their roof

before it caves in.....

Oh by the way, if we get too much heavy snow, we really have to do that.....clean the snow off the roof of our house. That's always a fun job. Most often we get a nice big wind that blows the snow off instead.

This is what the pond looked like in the summer.....



And this is what it looks like now.....
So glad we decided to take the fish inside for the winter :-)





So to all of our southern friends who are enjoying their recent snowfall......
hope you have a great time with it.
And when your snow is melted and gone and you are sitting on your deck listening to the birds,
please remember your Canadian friends who are still buried :-)

Thoughts I Had While Cleaning the Fridge

*I wonder how sour cream can go bad?

*I wonder why sour cream doesn't turn out the same as sour cream :-)
*Syrup spilled in the fridge makes for a sticky mess.
*If you would combine jars containing the same ingredients, there would be more room for other things
*Labelling doesn't always work
*I would not be a good scientist, mold does not intrigue me
*When you have too many left overs, make soup
*Some of our kids must have no depth perception, they can't tell when a container is empty
*I wonder if you push the little button that turns off the light while the door is still open, does the food think you can't see it?
*Celery that's not wrapped gets really gimpy
*10 month old babies like to crawl in a fridge while its open
* I wonder how a humidity controlled crisper works.....maybe I should be a scientist!
*Some things are entirely too tall for the shelf they are labeled to be on
*A clean fridge makes me feel like I have accomplished something :-O

How about you? Any random cleaning thoughts?!?

Thumbs Up!

This week I am discovering a new thing.

I am discovering that thumbs are a gift from God.

I am also discovering that having a sprained thumb makes some seemingly simple tasks, that I do every day without thinking.... very difficult and often painful.

So here's my top 10 list of things you shouldn't do with a sprained thumb :)

1. Zip up jacket zipper

2. Change a baby's diaper

3. Use a can opener

4. Put on certain articles of clothing

5. Put a ponytail in a little girls hair

6. Open a jar

7. Button up buttons

8. Tie shoes

9. Do dishes :(

10. Fold clothes

WARNING: This list is not exhaustive. In fact pretty much anything that requires both hands is not recommended :)

So all this to say that God was really thinking when He gave us thumbs because they really come in handy :) (Okay, maybe also to get a little sympathy too :) ?!?!?!?!

But seriously... isn't it amazing when you think of how our bodies are made and how everything works together? So today as you are using your thumbs....give God thanks for how He made you so perfectly....just the way He wanted you!

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14

A Quick Holiday

We have been wanting to take some holidays since field work was completed, but there were so many projects that we had to get done first that we kept postponing it. But finally last week we figured that is was time. So we are off for a few days. Nothing spectacular, but a holiday all the same. So we are at a hotel right now and plan to stay for a few days. We did some swimming this evening. The kids had a blast. Brooke loved the water slide. The weather is still very cold so we don't plan to go out much. Just hang out and swim and pretend it is warm! We went shopping a little today and the malls were crazy. As I looked at people's perplexed and frantic faces as they picked out gifts, I was thankful that we didn't have much to buy this year. This is really quite odd for me as I love to give gifts, but this year it just isn't a priority. We did get the younger ones a couple of little toys to play with while in the hotel, but that is about it. I was waiting to put up Christmas decorations when our walls were all painted. That is done now, just the base boards to put up, but we are gone now so I guess there won't be a lot of decorating. Oh well, less to take down:) One thing you might not know about me is I love little/miniature things. Today I found the cutest little oranges. You may have seen them, but I hadn't. They are mini honey mandarins. And as a bonus they are even yummy. This pregnancy I have lost all my chocolate cravings but I could eat fruit all day! So these little oranges are hitting the spot. You can pretty much eat them in one bite! So cute:) Talking about little, it won't be long now until our little blessing will show his/her face. I really am having a hard time believing that my due date is less than 2 weeks away. And honestly, I a don't have everything ready. I took out some newborn clothes, but they still need to be washed. We still have some switching of clothes (transferring to different shelves) to do and some switching of bunk beds. So it will have to wait until we get back. I just feel a little unprepared. Not like me, usually I have things done way too far ahead! But baby will come when God says its time, no matter how prepared I am! And there are many arms ready to hold him/her! No worries there :) By the way, the vote is still running. It looks right now like December 31st is the day in your opinion! If you haven't voted yet, throw in your 2 cents! And if you have voted and would like to be in the running for the book I want to give you, make sure you leave a comment telling me which day you voted!