A Snowy Start...

Today was off to a snowy start. The snow started here by early morning and by mid-morning the big girls were asking to go out and play in it. We explained the snow was still falling so it would seem colder to them (usually we can get them to wait till the snow stops and then go out). We made it past lunchtime and by mid-afternoon, they were still hoping to go out and the snow had actually almost stopped for a few minutes while we were getting our coats, snowsuits and gear on (of course, it started back just as we stepped outside!)

 The first thing these girls wanted to do was swing in the snow.

 This little lady went out for just a few minutes and then we put her in her cozy crib for an afternoon nap.
 

 Brent and the big girls started on the long hill in the backyard to sled.

 Brent gave Rachel a push to start down the hill and she was off...

 She made it all the way to the very bottom of the side yard. It was definitely the farthest any of them have gone on the sled.

 Here is our snowy start to the day. The first picture was taken about 11 am and the second picture was taken about 4 pm and it is still suppose to snow ALL day tomorrow!

 

 After awhile, I noticed Brent and Rachel had gone for a even longer sledding run. The big girls were definitely much more into sledding this year than last year. They had gone almost to the top of the big hill in our neighborhood and were sledding all the way down past our house!

 

 

 Their daddy was sure sweet to these girls! After they sledded all the way down, he would pull them both back up the hill so they didn't have to walk all the way back up. Here goes the "Daddy Conveyor Belt"!

 Here are our two super sledders this year.

 Rachel took a turn taking Bekah down the hill too.
                                
 
 I think their Dad had as much fun as the girls did!

Bekah even went all the way to the bottom of the big hill with her Dad. She was certainly more adventurous about sledding this year than last year!

 We came in and made good use of the mitten and hat tree that Mimi and Pop gave us for Christmas. Isn't that a neat little tree! Instead of the mittens and hats hanging all around the kitchen table to dry they are all in their own spot. We had popcorn and hot chocolate as is tradition

Then it was time for a little grilling in the snow for supper! It has been a good snow day! Praying for all to stay warm and safe as we still have a lot of snow to go!

Stocking Stuffers

 We spread our Christmas out the week after Christmas with visiting the family in NC and then even a little more with our stockings around Old Christmas. This is a tradition from my family growing up. We usually opened them around Old Christmas (January 6th). We are doing the same in our family now. Brent's Mom gave me all the stockings for Christmas one year with our names on them too and she added Bethany's stocking this year.
 Between Rachel's birthday and Bekah being sick it was actually even the week after Old Christmas before we got our stockings open this year. We don't have a mantle or fireplace in our house so we have a stocking staircase instead.

 Bekah was helping me carry the stockings for all the family.

 Stockings for us are a time to stock up on small new things they need like new hairbrushes (color coded because someone's hairbrush always seems to be lost these days) or fun small things like favorite candy and new toothpaste to go with it!

 
 The big girls got new favorites, sparkly nail polish!

 Rachel and Bekah even surprised us as they had colored pictures and made ornaments for us and slipped them in our stockings too.

 We had a fun time stretching out our Christmas a little with our stockings this year.

The Big Game

 We were invited over to our friends, the Beelers house to watch the National Championship game this year. We had a great supper with them and then they had even planned fun things like cookie making before the big game started.

 They all did awesome making the cookies. Blake and Rachel stirred

 and they all took turns dipping the cookies in the cinnamon sugar. They did smile at me for this picture but there were sure some funny faces as they felt the cookie dough in their fingers at first!

 The girls had fun playing with Blake.

 Brent found a friend in Blake too as Blake liked all the learning games Brent has on his phone for the girls.

 The guys did get to watch the game.

 Everyone had a great time reading with Mrs. Lydia too.

 Blake and Rachel also showed us their piano skills.

We were sad for Pop who is a HUGE HUGE Clemson fan but we had a great time watching the Big Game with the Beelers! Thanks for a fun time, Beeler Family!

Piano Lessons

 This past week , Rebekah and Rachel began piano lessons. I had a friend contact me back in the fall about a group that was going to begin piano lessons near us after Christmas and I was thrilled. I had been looking into piano lessons for the girls since our neighbors gave us their piano this past spring.

 Bekah was a little nervous before her lesson but Ms. Chole put her at ease right away with a story about music.

 Here was the bookworm waiting for her first lesson.

 Bekah had a great first lesson. I think she is very excited about piano lessons now! Here she is with her teacher, Ms. Chole and her new piano books!

 Rachel had the second lesson today and she could hardly wait. She learned all about each note and how many counts it is today. She was already playing a portion of a song by the end of her lesson and Ms. Chole told her that if she practiced this week that she and Rachel would play a duet next week.

 Rachel wanted her picture taken with Ms. Chole too.

 
 They both have homework given to them for this week by Ms. Chole and instructions to practice 10 minutes a day.

 Both of them remembered to practice and we may or may not have had a discussion between sisters about who got to practice first and who got to practice the most minutes....I hope they continue to be so excited about piano lessons!!

 Rebekah and Rachel had a great first piano lesson and we are looking forward to seeing all they learn this year!