Ice Storm, Death Trap, Sledding and a Snowman

 On January 25, 2013, there was an ice storm.  It covered everything in a layer of ice.  It happens regularly in the mid-west, but it's the first time I remember experiencing it.

Can you see our car is encased in ice?

This shows the outside and then inside of our car windshield. 

 We were crazy enough to go to the church and play.  You can see the slippery ice.  It's also foggy.  There are homes across the street, but you can barely make anything out with the fog.

 A few days later there was piles of snow.  The road was slick because of the previous ice storm.

Basically for months we had a "death trap" walkway.  I am hoping to get a south-facing driveway when we eventually move. 

 There was so much snow that the plows didn't have anywhere to put it.  They pushed it into enormous mountains that remained for weeks.  Parker and his friend Braxton loved climbing all over it.

 February 1st was one of Brad's CPA exams in Salt Lake.  We decided to come with him and hang out at Grandma Aldous'.  Jackie and Isaac came over and later on we watched cousin Kade too.  The kids loved sledding down the little hill.

 Isaac is a maniac, ha, ha!

Liesel was nervous about going alone.

She enjoyed it much more with her mommy!

Jackie cruised down too.  It's a pretty tiny hill, though, ha, ha! 

 Parker stuck his face in the snow so he could eat it better, ha, ha!

They built this little snowman "Tickle Person".

 Then Jackie, Liesel, Elise, Kade and Jason came inside and Isaac and Parker stayed outside laughing forever.

I love that my siblings and in-laws love my babies almost as much as I do!

Gifts of Love

Throughout December we worked on our gifts for family for Christmas.

Parker made these boondoggle key chains.

I made some knight costumes for the boys.

I used the our own ancestors' family crests.  

I made these in the evenings, so they hadn't known I was making them, but they have enjoyed them (and not injured themselves or others).  Success!

Family Fun Night

A week ago Brad took one of his CPA exams.  Each one is brutal.  He studies for months and then has four hours to take each section.  The test is weighted, and you don't find out if you pass for six weeks.  Super Lame!  It's also too bad he isn't done taking them.  He's taking his next one in January, so even though it's only been a week, he's already back to studying.  

We decided to try to make the late afternoon/early evening fun to take his mind off the stress.  We picked up food from Del Taco and watched "Brave".  It was so much fun!  I'm pretty sure my kids ate their weight in tacos, fries, churros and soda.  It's a good thing it doesn't happen every day, but we really enjoyed it!

Gak

 We made some Gak the other day.  It's slightly my pliable than Silly Putty and so much fun!

Here is the recipe:

1. Empty an entire 8 ounce bottle of Elmer's glue into a mixing bowl. Fill the empty bottle with warm water and shake (okay, put the lid on first and then shake). Pour the glue-water mixture into the mixing bowl and use the spoon to mix well. 

2. Add a drop or two of food coloring. 

3. Measure 1/2 cup of warm water into the plastic cup and add a teaspoon of Borax powder to the water. Stir the solution – don’t worry if all of the powder dissolves. This Borax solution is the secret linking agent that causes the Elmer’s Glue molecules to turn into slime. 

4. While stirring the glue in the mixing bowl, slowly add a little of the Borax solution. Immediately you’ll feel the long strands of molecules starting to connect. It’s time to abandon the spoon and use your hands to do the serious mixing. Keep adding the Borax solution to the glue mixture (don’t stop mixing) until you get a perfect batch of Elmer’s slime. You might like your slime more stringy while others like firm slime. Hey, you’re the head slime mixologist – do it your way! 

5. When you’re finished playing with your Elmer’s slime, seal it up in a zipper-lock bag for safe keeping.

Snow!

On the 10th of November there was a snowstorm in Utah.  Salt Lake got a foot or two of snow, but this was all we got.  The kids were excited and played in it anyway.

Jason's snow angel:

 It was very powdery, so I took out a spray bottle with water.  I had to dampen the snow so Parker could pack it.  This tiny little snowman represents a lot of persistence on Parker's part! 

Liesel mostly just likes eating snow!

 Since the snowman was so tiny, I picked it up and put it in front of our garage.  Parker did a little dance to show his excitement, ha, ha!

Fall Leaves

A few weeks ago we went on a drive and then walked along the Ogden River Parkway to see the fall leaves.  I love this photo!  The kids are running, their laughter echoing, while Brad and I walked together behind pushing Elise.  The sun was shining through the trees and the fall air smelled of fall leaves.

 I asked the kids to run back to this bench so I could get a photo.  They started climbing all over the bench, ha, ha!  I did finally get them to hold still and look in my direction.

 We let the kids play for a few minutes while Brad and I talked on the bench.

 

 I love how thrilled Liesel was about her leaves!

 It was a perfect family time!

Backyard S'mores

A little while ago we decided to make s'mores on our grill.  We removed the grate and let the kids roast their own marshmallows.

 Liesel just ate graham crackers.

Sticky yumminess!

"Sircus"

We checked out Dr. Seuss's If I Ran the Circus a few weeks ago and Parker decided to create his own at home.  He made these tickets to give out to Mom and Dad.

 He started out performing some of his magic tricks.

 I love his expression every time he magically does something.

 Then he had some stuffed animals do acrobatics.

 At the end all of the kids joined in doing their own acrobatics, ha, ha!

  (Jason has been potty training, so ignore his indecency.) 

 They were grinning and laughing hysterically during most of their tricks!  Love it!