January Wrap-Up: Library, Shooting, Snow, Handy Helper

I love the library! It was one of my favorite places as a child and it's a favorite with my own kids. One of the local public libraries is just down the street from the boys' school. This is a little quiet reading section that Ezra goes straight to when we get to the library. He usually picks out a couple books and looks at them in the rocking chair or on one of the couches.

Steve and I finally found a local babysitter. She actually lives right across the street from us and even goes to our church! She has babysat for us a few times, giving Steve and I some much-appreciated date time. Our first date (in a long time) was to a shooting range with our new Christmas presents. It was my first time with rifles or pistols and it was good education! I felt like a tough chick!

(No, that is neither an automatic nor an assault rifle. It shoots small caliber .22 rounds, one at a time.)

We had another snow day in January. This one caused a 2-hour school delay, so while we waited for school, the boys "geared up" and hit the slopes. Fun! Check out that snowboard -- it's as tall as Ezra!

The boys even made a snowman that morning. I didn't get a picture of it, but it was sure cute!

Daniel had red, rosy cheeks when he came in from playing in the snow.

Ezra was looking for something to do one day so I gave him an apron and some dishes to clean. The sunlight coming in the window combined with a smudge on my camera lens to create quite the angelic scene.

Milking A Cow

We took a short trip to Frying Pan Farm Park today. It's the last working farm in Fairfax County, Virginia. We got there in time for the daily cow milking and the boys got to participate!

 Mikey went first.

We didn't get a good picture of Ezra because he was "all business". One squirt and he was out of there! No time for photos!

Daniel did a great job! He is ready to work on a farm!

Unfortunately, Virginia is one state where it is illegal to sell raw milk. Very disappointing!

It was a beautiful day and we stuck around for a bit to play on the tractors, walk around the farm, and enjoy the weather.

Daniel's Birthday

Daniel turned 9 in December. Happy birthday, Daniel! You are such a special boy! We celebrated with a Star Wars cake.

Daniel is very artistic and loves crafts and drawing. He got an art case that he loves.

He also got a book of "stained glass" pictures to color by number and Shrinky Dinks. He called his birthday "the best day ever!"

Snow Day

We have had so little snow in Virginia this year, just a couple days of dustings. One of our dustings of snow came on the day after Christmas, perfect timing for trying out the new snowboard! Mikey headed straight outside with his shovel. The boys are still at the age that they enjoy shoveling the snow.

The boys had a lot of fun going down our neighbors long, sloped driveway on the snowboard and sleds.

The snowboard worked great on our steep front grass, as well.

This next picture shows Daniel giving Ezra a push on his green sled and Mikey on the snowboard.

Racing...

It was just an inch of snow (maybe less) but the boys made the most of it!

Christmas 2012

I love the look of Christmas tree lights in an otherwise dark house! Especially on Christmas Eve!

Our family Christmas traditions include a "special" Christmas eve present from Grandpa Dan and Grandma Patty. New pajamas, of course. The boys love it!

And here's the result ... the boys in the nice, new PJs with their stockings on Christmas morning.

Here's a Christmas morning shot of our living room. Yikes! Total overload for me!

Yes! A cammo fleece hat! (dad's gift) Everything is better in cammo! (The boys each got a cammo fleece hat and love them! They wear them to school every cold, winter day.)

Yipee! An Angry Birds toothbrush. (mom's gift)

"Bubbles! Can I go dump them all out on the sidewalk now and get it over with?" (cuz that's what happens anyway)

Yay! Fruit flavored flossers. (yes, another mom gift)

A money jar that counts the boys' allowance as they put it in the lid (because who needs to know how to add and count money??)

I sure love this cute, little, cuddly boys!

Super! Balls in the living room! (Of course, cuz there's nothing breakable in here...)

Bamboo sticks, one for each boy. (Another dad gift. Mom would never think to give the boys sticks for Christmas...)

We found a couple snowboards at thrift shops this winter. The boys LOVE them! We have steep hills in our front and back yard and the snowboards (plastic) work great in snow and even just on the grass.

A classic daddy wrap job. Bet you can't guess what it is...

So, mom bought the boys toothbrushes and flossers, a bike for Daniel, and skateboards for the brothers. Dad bought candy, sticks, snowboards, a BB gun, a bow and arrows, cammo hats, and an archery target. Dad bought mom a couple guns (woo-hoo!?), cammo pants (phew, I was afraid I wasn't going to get any cammo), a jewelry box, a really neat jewelry mirror that he made himself, a cameo, and a breadmaker. Mom got dad a leather jacket to display all his patches (pictures to come) a couple shirts, and a vintage record/CD/tape player (pictures of that later, too).

Oh, and Mikey got a special broom and dustpan for his chores (sweeping the dining room after meals). He loves it, really!

From the grandparents, the boys got some cool drawing books, the softest fleece Star Wars pants, BeyBlades, Hero Factory, and some awesome warm shirts and sweatshirts.

Mikey's Birthday, PJ Day at School, Silly Boys

Mikey turned 7 in December. Happy birthday, sweet boy!

We forgot to give him his Schultute at the beginning of first grade (a special tradition in Germany that he prepared for in Kindergarten and was very excited about). So, we filled it with special things and gave it to him for his birthday.

Can you tell he was very excited about his birthday present?

I think it was a hit!

Everyone loves it! Mikey got four (so he could share) BeyWheelz, a favorite toy in our house for the last couple years.

The boys' school had Spirit Week before school let out for Christmas vacation. The last day of Spirit Week was Pajama Day and the boys wore Christmas hats with their pajamas. They are SO cute!

One morning during Christmas vacation, I came downstairs to find these three funny kids sitting on the kitchen counter listening to Alvin and the Chipmunks. I love those boys!!