Snow Day!

 I'm trying to get caught up with loading pictures from this winter.  I've taken plenty, but they end up hanging out on the camera for a lot longer than they used too.  I'm working on that!

Before Christmas break it snowed a bit, but since it was the first snow of the season school was out.  It just so happened that this was on a Thursday, the only day of the week that one of us wouldn't be able to be home with the boys. I was a little stressed out but Ben had it all figured out.  If he was out of school, then the older kids that babysit them would be too! Problem solved!

Our new neighbors spent the day inside with them while Jeremy and I worked. They had a great time and only hit a bump when they wanted to watch a movie.  I received a call asking how to turn on the DVD player in the basement and was quite proud of myself that I was able to walk them through the eight remotes and twelve steps to get it switched on.

When I walked in the door they were begging to go outside to play in the snow.  I figured that the girls would have had enough of them by that time so I was surprised that they wanted to come back over with snow gear.

They laughed and giggled while they threw snow balls, made snow angels and were even able to sled down the "hill" in the backyard.



Perserverence

Belt testing is not usually a very stressful occasion. It comes up every three months and the boys usually just go through their basic forms, the weapon forms then break a board. The class ends with them receiving a certificate along with a new belt.  This time however was a lesson for Ben and me both.  He had such a difficult time breaking the board with the down kick. It took him several times and almost every kid had gone on around him. I was tearing up behind the camera willing myself not to break down.  It was one of the hardest things I've had to watch. Mrs. G and the kids in his class were offering encouragement each time his turn would come up as he continued to struggle.  I must say that Ben was quite a trooper.  He kept at it without getting too frustrated and when he finally broke that board everyone at the ceremony broke into applause for him.  

  

 I don't have any delusions when it comes to our kids.  I know that they aren't going to be super athletes but I was one proud mom when we left that night.  He learned what it felt like to really work for and earn a belt.  They weren't going to give it to him.  Even though I wanted to go out to the mat and break it for him myself, he had to do this on his own.  I learned just how tough that kid can really be.

That's my boy!



Christmas in IL (part 2)

We left Jeremy's Mom's on Saturday and drove down to my parent's to celebrate the holiday with them. Man has our family grown!  This little cutie was born in October and is such a sweet little guy. I spent a fair amount of time snuggling little Daniel who is my youngest brother John and his wife Emily's pride and joy. He's a happy baby and thinking of his laugh still brings a smile to my face.

It wasn't that long ago that James was "the baby" but he recently turned a great big ONE. I love watching this kid scoot around on his knees. He's Greg and Steph's youngest. I love his big blue eyes and red hair.  

Hannah with her Mom. She is such a sweetie! Ben and Owen love playing with her and she's such a trooper to put up with a bunch of boys weekend.

We ended up staying for the extended family Christmas celebration and were able to see my Aunts and Uncles and all the cousins that I grew up playing with.  I always enjoy watching our kids all playing together.

Jeremy is showing little miss Katie the finer points of 'stachetastic by letting her see what she would look like with facial hair.

My parents always ask for a picture of all the grandkids together right before we leave and without fail it always turns out like this.

This is my favorite! I sure hope that they stay such good buddies!