BEST BROTHER EVER!!!!

So we sent my brother home after Christmas in our van. We had just had a bunch of work done on it before Thanksgiving when it quit running with the cold weather. Andrew replaced the battery before Christmas. BUT I just had this gut feeling that something was off with my van, nothing I could put words to, BUT... So we sent my brother home in my van and planned on traveling back to OH in the Pookiemobile (a newer minivan), just in case it did have issues that we wouldn't be broken down on the side of the road with 5 little kids in the van. So the alternator went out on it and Pete spent 4 hours replacing it tonight (did I mention he happens to be a mechanic????) Instead of doing his own stuff, he spent the whole night taking care of me and the boys while Andrew is unavailable. Thanks brother!!! I love you.

Snow.

This was the first good snow we had recently. The boys helped me shovel our drive and our neighbors. It warmed my heart seeing a forshadowing of things to come with them - helping others together. Now the snow piles are higher than the mailbox at the end of the drive and over my head on the corner. I love the extra light that the snow lends to wintertime. I admit I have been feeding the birds and bunnies. :o)! Come spring I know war will be on over my garden again. :o)

Walk through Bethlehem.

We got to visit Bethlehem before Christmas this year. They had a live camel outside - pretty cool. Then we got to see the animals, and have a lot of experiences that helped the kids learn about what life would have been like during the time when Jesus was born. It was a pretty amazing experience, but VERY crowded so I quickly gave up on trying to take a lot of pictures. We got to try foods, making baskets and bread, smelling spices (including frankincense and myhrr!), playing instruments. There were even Roman guards wandering around and a census being taken. :o) We look forward to going again next year and will probably try to go on a less busy night. No room at the inn - they had animals in a stable w/ a live baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph.

A bedouin story teller.

Making mosaics.

Christmas photo shoot.

Decorating the tree.

"Put your arms around each other." Someone didn't like this idea so much. :o)!

Let's be funny so Mommy can't get a decent picture in.

"Kiss each other!"

Life.

Playing in their boat.

Happy Birthday, Amber! :o) We had dinner, cake and a game night.

Making popcorn.

Gavin.

Gavin "eating." He fell asleep not eating two bites. So funny and cute. Here is Gavin's black eye that he got right before Thanksgiving at Daddy's hockey game by faceplanting running up the bleachers. It got really pretty colors and even discolored on the other side of his nose for a while. :o)! It has been a while since we had had a good shiner in this house. Boys!

Don't read this if you are easily grossed out.

So we are currently having child #4 puking. Sarah has had her own issues to deal with. My boys are down, hopefully for the night with no further incidents. I am tired, feel gross, and overwhelmed by the house and laundry that needs done. (Anna destroyed a couple of rooms while we were elsewhere occupied. Gotta love a healthy one year old in the mix.) So now I am the only one who hasn't had this thing. Thankfully it seems to be short lived if Anna is any indication, and we should be done in a few days for sure. I am glad to have my sense of humor still. Here are the best Seth quotes of the day:
"Mommy, why is my puke yellow?"
"Mommy, why don't we eat puke?"
Yup. That is all I have for today. I started posting pictures that went all the way back to just before Thanksgiving, but as you may have guessed, you are gonna have to wait for the rest of them. Love from snowed in NE!

Round 2.

Gavin's turn to share his insides with us. Snowing outside and supposed to be -20 below with windchill and up to 40 mph gusts. Staying home and watching movies.

Seth.

Seth likes to find things. He is loving the Where's Waldo books from the library. Speaking of which - I think we have one a month overdue and I have NO idea where it is. Ooops! Funny face boy!

Oh No!!!

Anna is sick. She was up fussy last night - Sarah had her till 3 and I had her after - she didn't fal asleep till 4:45 am, but no fever or symptoms (except maybe tugging at her ear?) besides being fussy and uncomfortable. This evening she started puking. Regularly. Thankfully we got A. off. Praying he doesn't have whatever bug this is and that the other 6 of us in the house do NOT get sick. Appreciate your prayers!

Date with Daddy

We decided to take the boys out before A. leaves on his next big trip. Skating - they had a family night special across town. We got there to find out that part of the roof was falling in? and it was cancelled. So we went to dinner at Olive Garden and then to the open skate at the rink where A. has been playing all his hockey games. The boys were VERY excited and it was my first time getting to skate with them. They had little carts (they look like mini walkers) they can push around the ice, and Seth was going to do it all by himself. Gavin wanted to be pushed or pulled around the rink, and periodically take breaks to sit in the penalty box and watch the action. They hung in there for close to two hours! I couldn't believe it. Towards the end I decided to see if Gavin would skate to me so I went about 4 feet ahead of him and called him to me. He climbs out from the cart and skates to me. Just like that. Turkey! I have been propelling you around the whole time and you can do it on your own???? Seth isn't as confident, but can do okay on his own for short stints. I think we are going to try and keep them off the carts next time. Hopefully soon. They have hockey in their blood. :o)!