It's almost embarrassing

Today, my mother in law gave me a big surprise.  She brought a bag of things that Zeb had left at her house.  Inside that bag, was a stack (56 to be exact) of love letters!  Dating all the way back to 1998! ha!  I don't remember ever being cheesy, but they definitely are!  But what a treasure to have them back!  I have only read a couple so far, but I will read them all before bed tonight!  

And just so no one thinks I pursued him...Here is my box of letters that he wrote to me...hundreds and hundreds!  ( I think I have every one but one that he has ever written...the one that was the most special.  I carried it around for the longest time and somehow when I was a freshman in college, I lost it!)

I can't wait for him to get home because he has some explaining to do as to why he left them at his moms!  

Making the most of our snow...

Everyone was so excited to wake up and find snow on the ground on Tuesday morning!  We definitely tried to make the most of our day!  I had a couple of small activities ready for a snowy day!  We were glad we were able to do them!

Of course, there was lots of playing...

We were able to snap a few pics before daddy headed off to work.

snow/dirt/grass angel

caroline came and played with us tuesday morning because her brothers had school for a bit.  we made cookies.

her brothers got out of school early and a couple of them stopped by for a snowman craft.

there was lots more playing in the snow.

after the cookie dough chilled, i had some help rolling and cutting them out as snowmen. while the cookies baked and cooled, everyone went back outside and played.

mr. jeff helped them gather snow for a snowman

then back inside for the fun part.

the final product!

and again the final product!  i thought they did pretty good considering they didn't have much to work with!

and this is an absolutely terrible picture, but we went in to the courthouse a  bit before 6 and there was zero snow.  at 6:45 there was already this much on my car!

Representing the Great State of Missouri

Did you know that St. Louis, MO is credited with the first hot dog in 1880?  I didn't either until Leigh came home with a note that she would be  representing the great state of Missouri at grandparent's day at FPDS.  Grandparent's day is for 4th and 5th graders, but little ones who have older siblings dress up to represent each state.  She is definitely the cutest hot dog I've ever seen! 

By the way, what did we do before google???

SB's Race Day

The Blues Marathon expanded its one mile fun run this year from 50 kids to 1,000.  I'm not sure of the exact number that ran--but it sure seemed like 1,000 if it wasn't.  To say it was crazy is an understatement.  The Blues tried to organize it, but I think any way you tried with that many kids at one time it was sure to be crazy!  That sure didn't seem to matter to Sara Beth!

I think its funny that of all the places to park, Rebecca's family ended up parking directly next to mine!

Mary Catherine, Sara Beth, Katie

So sweet of Mr. Herring to come cheer on his school! 

At FPDS only 1st grade and up could run.  I know it made this cutie pie sad, but she had the best attitude (and the best seat)!

  SB fell a couple of times due to the mass number of kiddos, but that didn't slow her down much!

Caroline and Sara Beth all done!

It was a Catechism Sunday in our house!

This past Sunday was  big day in our house.  Sam memorized and said the first 14 catechism questions--that is what is encouraged in the 3 year old class and Sara Beth received her Bible for reciting all 145 questions in one sitting!  I am very proud of Sara Beth.  It took hours and hours of practice!  I wish I could say it was all happy practice and that I was always kind and encouraging to her, but unfortunately I can't.  However, it was completely worth it!  I have had a couple of conversations with friends during this process asking us why we were doing. The reason we did it with Sara Beth and will do it with our others is because it gives children words to what we believe. It is amazing to me how eye opening Catechism has been.    While we were memorizing it, we had so many good and deep conversations about the things she was learning.  I think that a few months ago, I wrote that Sam wouldn't get past the question about 3 persons in the 1 God. Well, he finally did! But, when Zeb was reading our devotional 2 weeks ago it was on when John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  He talked about how this was one of the times in Scripture that God in all three persons was mentioned at one time.  We were able to draw on what all three had already learned in catechism and have a fairly in-depth conversation about it. That's what its about!

Now, I am very thankful to have a two year break before I have to hit it heavy with Leigh!  Although, we will be doing it the summer before second grade instead of waiting until school starts!

If you are on the fence about whether or not to do it with your crew, do it!

It's official!  After almost of year of having a  "loose" tooth, in December she had her first real loose tooth!  Last night in the church bathroom, I pulled it!  To say she was excited is a bit of an understatement!  The tooth fairy came and she's a tad bit richer this morning!

Mrs. Kipp's bread is always the best way to start the morning, but especially when the wind chill is 6 and it's the first day back from Christmas break!

Due to the nation wide cold front, Rebecca's plane was cancelled on Friday so she ended up driving to Houston to catch a plane to Guatemala.  Because of that, we got to spend the afternoon with two really cute boys!  We went to the museum, which never fails to disappoint!

Frozen, the bank, and sisters--very random!

After being a homebody for three weeks not by choice, I found out I really like it.  Except for the fact that I have to hear, "Momma, where we going?" no less than 2, 356 times a day.  Yesterday we finally went somewhere!  We went to see Frozen!  It did not disappoint!  I will be in line to buy it when it comes out on DVD.  (Sam really liked it too--he just didn't want to pause for a picture near the fountain!)

 Leigh has been saving her pennies, nickels, and dimes for quite a while now!  She finally had the $25 (she actually had $26) that is needed to open her very own savings account.  The plan is for this to be money she can have access to when she's grown!  We want to show them how saving a little along the way will really add up.  Maybe it will be part of a down payment on a house one day--who knows??!!  Right now, our girls just get $2 a week--$1.50 they can save to spend on something they want to buy, 25 cents to church, and 25 cents to this savings account.  Of course, $2 a week won't always be enough--but for now its great!  In the 2 years or so we have been doing this she has saved her money to buy a guitar and an American girl doll.  She bought the doll back in August and hasn't come across anything in particular she is saving her money for!  You can tell she was one proud girly today!

I love the fact that these two are best friends.  They say they are "best sisters forever"!  I absolutely love that and pray that will be true!  I haven't even seen much of them since Christmas even though we have all been in one house because they have been playing American girls as well as other things!  I sure do love them!  On a side note, I have been buying them non-matching clothes so that they can be individuals and all they want to do is match--ahhh!

Happy New Year!!

Even though I hate the years going by so quickly, I love a new year-- a clean slate!  I don't really like resolutions, but I can't help but set a few goals for the year!  They are the same ones that everyone seems to have--we will see if I can make it until February keeping them! I do know, that I am going to do better  posting pictures and scrap booking on this blog.  I had so much fun scanning back over the past Christmases. I forget so much and it's so nice to be reminded of the sweet daily moments!  I have been thinking about a 2014 verse and I think the one for this year will be:  Psalm 86:11-12  "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.  I  give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever."

We had fun ringing in 2014 with sweet friends!  We went to the Goldman's and our friends from Hattiesburg came into town!  It was the first time our kids have ever done fireworks and it was definitely a hit with the girls!  I think we will be doing them regularly now!  I think the three big guys had a good bit of fun too!

 She was nervous with this one (her first), but that didn't last long!

Sam didn't exactly have the same liking to the fireworks!

This is Winston-isn't he the cutest!  He did like the fireworks!

The best of friends!  I love love love these two!

 me, Emily Gardner, and Rebecca Goldman

 It's easier to get silly pictures right now!

 After dinner we went out front to watch the men shoot some fireworks--Sam, Jake, and Graham liked their view from the house!

Rebecca had a "ball drop".  It was a blast and definitely will need to be a tradition!  Sadly, I only had my iphone so the pics are blurry.  However, they do catch the excitement!

Happy New Year!