A Winter Wonderland

 

We awoke Saturday morning to this…

and this…

and this…

The above was taken after the windows were wiped off enough to back the truck up for plowing purposes.  Oh, did I mention that when we went to bed there was NO…I repeat, NO snow on this vehicle at all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had one rule to start the day.  The little kids had to be dressed first.  I didn’t want the older kids dressing quickly and rushing out before the younger ones even found their boots.  Besides, I knew these two wouldn’t last as long so I let them try out the fresh snow first.

When it snows all this girl can think about is sledding.  She was ready whether it was going anywhere or not.

Made it out the door.

Probably got snow in his boots.

At our house when it snows Joe gets the tractor out to plow the driveway.  Which inevitably means attaching the sleds to the back of the tractor and taking the kids for a ride.

Jackson fell of and Holland’s not too sympathetic.

Now she feels bad…not.

When I brought London in (she lost a boot and got a face full of snow) she was pouting at me and wouldn’t let me take her picture (notice the pouty lips, she’s a good actress).

Sorry but,

I couldn’t resist!

For those of you feeling bad, she was faking it all along!

Joe found this little guy, I’m sure he too was wondering where all this white stuff came from.  Harrison was searching frantically for a container to keep him in!  I made it quite clear that he was going right back out where they found him.

Marilyn was very curious, I’m sure she had herself a snack after the boys let him go in the snow!

Christmas

Ok, so it’s been awhile since I’ve updated this thing!!!!  Sorry about that friends, but I’m back:)  In part to my new Christmas present from my most wonderful husband….a new laptop, YIPPEEE!!!!!  Since opening my new present we have been down to celebrate Christmas day with Joe’s side of the family and then awoke the next morning to head out on a 24 hour drive to Austin, Texas to be with one of my 3 siblings and her family and my parents.  Much to my dismay, after looking at my pictures from Texas I do not have a SINGLE picture of my sister, her husband, or my parents!  Snapping pictures of kids requires so much less energy, I mean think about it.  We adults say, “wait, let me brush my hair”, “is there anything in my teeth”, “I spilled something on my shirt”, “I look thinner from this side” and so on.  Kids on the other hand have adorable smiles ready at a moment’s notice.  They don’t care how dirty they are, if their shirt’s on backwards, or what their hair looks like just as long as you let them see the picture after it’s taken.  Sooooo, I chose the easy route and photographed the kids.

The Colvin cousins at Great Mamaw and Papaw’s house…the couch picture is a tradition.  As you can see they need a bigger couch:)

Mamaw goes to great pains to prepare for this special day.  This is Joe’s mom with all the kids minus London.  She crashed and we weren’t waking her!  Thanks Mamaw for preparing the meal and planning for a special day!










This all would not be possible if it weren’t for these two special people.  These are Joe’s grandparents, affectionately known as Great Mamaw and Papaw.  We love them dearly and are so thankful for their presence in our lives!

I just love this picture.  This is my nephew Charlie.

This too is a personal favorite.  Sydney has been wanting a cowgirl hat and she got one from Mamaw and Grandad, boy is she sweet:)











The above photos were taken in the movie theater in Texas.  We all went to see the movie The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3D.  I strongly recommend this movie in any dimension.  Kudos to Disney for doing an excellent job of getting across the message that I believe C.S. Lewis intended!  A definite must see!

75 and sunny, yeah we were outside!  It was definitely a nice break from the frigid Indiana temps. 
 
The kids insisted on racing one another.  To make it fair my dad called out names and you ran when your name was called.  I had as much fun watching as they had racing.

My sister’s daughter Peyton (second in line) insisted on starting the races.  If any of you knew my sister as a child you are not surprised by this.  We humored her and let her have a moment in the limelight, as London didn’t stand a chance against her.
 
This one was for my dad.  He worked to get all the kids on this very climbing- friendly tree.   It only took 15-20 pictures to get everyone to look at me….at the same time!  Memorable nonetheless.  A definite keeper.


Just after we arrived home from the park we heard what sounded like a freight train, the floor seemed to shake and my sister yelled, “Look outside!  Daddy’s flying over!”  Stepped outside their front door, looked up and saw my brother-in-law doing a little fly over for us.  Thanks Ellis, definitely not something we see every day.
We had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a very busy 2011.  We’ll be heading east next week to be with the rest of my family.  Stay tuned for more on that! 

House on wheels

 

As you can see the house is moving!  If you look back at previous posts (or if you remember what our house used to look like) you’ll notice that the house is now on the opposite side of our driveway!  It was definitely strange to pull down our old driveway and see this. 

As you can see the house is literally on wheels.  It is sitting directly behind the new basement ready to be rolled onto it’s permanent home.

What’s left of the old basement. 

Should be interesting when it’s all done….stay tuned for the final move!

On the Move

 

Progress is being made at our old house even with the winter weather conditions!  Things are moving a little slower than expected, but they are moving nonetheless.  I snapped a few shots of the house as it sits about 5 ft up in the air on hydraulic jacks awaiting the perfect weather conditions to move it to it’s new “home” on the new basement about 10 feet from where it is now.

Not only will they be moving it but they also must turn it so that it faces the road.

I could have walked under it…I chose not to.

What’s left of the old basement after they busted holes in it in order to run their beams through.

The new basement, waterproofed yet full of snow:)

Well there you have it.  She needs to move from her current location to that mound of dirt on the right.  Will attempt to keep you posted as progress is made!

Sydney

 

11 years old, wow!  Where did the time go?  I am reminded of how quickly time flies when my children have a birthday.   I look at London now (age 2) and I can’t even hardly remember that Sydney was ever 2!  I look back at pictures, most of which were taken on film and are now pasted securely in a scrapbook, and I am reminded of her life.  Each stage brought new adventures for us, her parents, because she was our first child.  She got all of the attention for the first 2 1/2 years of her life, and we loved every minute of it. 

I thank God for Sydney’s spirit.  Her confidence in herself.  Her compassionate nature.  Her strength to lead.  Her servant’s heart.  I pray that as she continues to grow into a woman that she would hold fast to the gifts that God has given her.  That she would always seek His will and not her own.  That she would put others before herself.  That all she does would be to the glory of God!!!!

We love you Sydney, Happy Birthday!

Enjoy some reflections over Sydney’s last 11 years.  Most of my pictures start at age 1 as that is when I got my first digital camera.  Enjoy!

Sydney and her two best pals, prior to the birth of any siblings that is.