Spring Free

Sunday, which was a warmish New Years wintry day, we set up our Christmas present, our spring free trampoline. It took several hours and a couple of rewind attempts in places, to get it right. I wanted to show you the different steps we took setting up this beast, and although I am not in the pictures, I helped every step of the way. So don't forget that.

 (Dae is smashing down the "springs" and locking them in place. Those where definitely the most difficult part.)

 And it's done!! Besides the basketball hoop we will add later.

 A new fun is now on the agenda...and hopefully a lot less electronics.

New Years Disc Golf and Snow Pictures

The guys were itching to play a game of disc golf today on their day off. It was a little bit warmer than the past week, even though it was snowing. I desperately wanted to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air so the kids and I went on a walk there while the guys played. And I took pictures along the way of course.

We met a lady with 2 cute dogs, one was a beagle like jack. We all were laughing at how Jack was so weird and jumpy around them.

Girls and boys. Cousins and friends.

 Jack in the forest enjoying FREEDOM.

(Kandus snapped a picture of me taking pictures.)

The kids found paint balls laying all over the ground while playing at the playground and were smashing them into the snow. For some reason it was absolutely thrilling to them watching the colors decorate the ground. I think Lucy loved it most.

 After a couple hours of being in the cold, we all agreed on a meal we knew would warm us up in no time. Vietnamese PHO. We tried a new place close to home and it was surprisingly really good! I was in heaven.

Damon and I had a good laugh over their menu...Read the caution part at the bottom.

 

Xin chào! (Means goodbye in Vietnamese)

The Chess Championship

On this day, we all decided to play chess. I don't really remember all of the rules to the battle, all I know it was pretty fun. This went on for at least 2 hours. We all sat down by the fire and had a sort of chess championship. Of course dad won, cuz he's da numba one at chess. I remember that we were listening to classical music some of the time. I also remember one of the songs that played was from Lord of the Rings. This picture is when I was going against dad, and when Lucy and Deac were playing each other. Also Jack was laying by the fire.

Family Outing On a Winter Night

The night started out as just a regular Saturday evening out, which meant we would enjoy some good food, that I didn't have to make. We decided on some authentic Ramen, which was a delicious choice. After that we drove around town looking at Christmas lights wondering where Dae would take us next. (He was in one of those driving crazy taking random turns kind of moods) Which brought us to the Riverwoods. At first Dae and I didn't want to get out, but the kids talked us into it. Although cold, the lights were magical and the ambience, serene. We warmed ourselves by the fire, took a few pictures, and then made our way to a little chocolate shop around the corner. After all that, we were just in time to make it to the 6:45 showing of Moana, the new Disney princess. It was such a fun night out with the family.

Just a Preview of Kandus's Perspective

Every time I clean, shower, or just sit around, I HAVE TO HAVE MUSIC. Sometimes I come out of the shower and everyone is saying, "Kandus, your music was really loud." And one time Lucy told me, "Sometimes I hear you singing in the shower Kandus." And in my mind I'm like, "Well, that's really embarrassing, I bet I sounded like a cow." Yet I still sing aloud anyway because it's so hard to hold it in. I just love music so much! This is a picture of me singing to my music while doing Sunday jobs.

Stuck Under My Snowman

Lucy and Deac spent a while a while making this together. At one point, Lucy came in to tell me that Deacon was stuck under it and she couldn't get him out. I guess he got his snow pants stuck under the biggest part of the body. I didn't believe her and told her they needed to figure it out. After coming in again a couple minutes later to tell me he was still stuck, I realized maybe he really was. But then they ended up figuring it out on their own. I made them come out in the cold for a picture after.

Deac eating his leftover hamburger for lunch.

Pho Please

 I have to give credit to Damon for expanding our horizons in the food corner. He has introduced our family to all kinds of fun and amazing, different kinds of food. Eating out on Saturday nights with the family, is one of the most fun traditions I can think of. We all love it. What he have here on the menu is a Vietnamese delight, called Pho. SO GOOD. Oh my...I love it so much.

What picky eaters? They ate nearly every last bite.

Out For A Wintertime Walk

Rudolf

An angry looking Rudolf

-Colored and drawn by Deacon for the second grade art wall.

Winter Rhyme and A Christmas Card

Winter

White, frosty, twirling, whirling,

All around me in the sky, I see a flurry.

I catch a snowflake in my hand,

And then another and another, they softly land.

In my eyelashes, on my nose,

From the tip of my hat down to my toes.

Together we make a man made of snow,

Complete with rocks for eyes and a carrot for a nose. 

Laughing together, what a day it has been,

Until tomorrow, when we do it all over again.

by Annie

Giants in the Sky

Today was a wonder of a day.

It was snowing hard and the snowflakes were so big that I found myself imagining.....

 There were giants in the sky and they were teasing us with giant sized snow shakers, making the snow look imaginary and surreal like puffs of fluffy white cotton. 

Like the world was on a big plate of snow and the giants were planning to eat us.

I can picture those giants now.....smirking at the world in their menacing ways, trying to scare us. 

Trying to keep us in. 

Everyone around us hid from the giants that day, inside the safety of their homes.

But unlike everyone else, we crept out..... 

The earth was quiet, except for the sounds of our voices.

Christmas break, Sunday December 22, 2013.

Snow People and Feeling Home Sick

 It's about time someone made a snowgirl along with a snowman and look at how cute she is!!!

Leave it to Lucy to add eyelashes. I never would have thought of that. I love how little they are. It reminds me of when Skipper was younger and did this.

*****

Last night we drove past our old house.....

Each time we do I have that same weird new feeling that is foreign to me. (Like...who are those strange people living in MY house? I don't like that they are in MY house. That is OUR house...) After all, that was our home for the kid's entire lives, and mine and Dae's for almost 15 years.

I heard Lucy say, "Here it comes, here it comes....there's THAT barn...there's Jazzy and Baylee's house...there it is!!"

Seconds later Deac was crying in the back seat, just like he does every time we pass by.

He misses his teacher Mrs. McCann.

He misses Noah and Sawyer living so close.
He misses his back yard...

I don't blame him. Hopefully he will learn to love where we are. Maybe even more.

The girls and I tried to console him on the way home, which was futile until Lucy said, "Deac...in our old house we could never sit in the middle of the road."

I guess she is right...

It always makes me feel a little sad driving by. Maybe not because I miss the house particularly, but because I miss having the feeling of "MY HOME". I guess I had grown pretty connected to that place. The first month after we moved I cried and cried. Sometimes not really knowing why. I felt so misplaced. Even though I did like our new home, it was a strange new place. Honestly, I am so grateful! I can't believe we've really moved!

I think we need to make a few more memories in this new home we've chosen first, before we REALLY feel at home.

"We will"...That's what I keep telling the kids..."I know it."

A Wonderland

Outside my window looks like a winter wonderland snow globe...white giant sized snowflakes swirling and falling like magic. Deac is alone out there, playing with the snowman the 3 of them just brought to life minutes ago. It is bright and sunny, and deceivingly it looks warm and comforting from inside my window. Life looks promising. Happy. Not at all the real wintertime cold that you feel once you step out into it....

Today is December 15, 2012, the day after the shooting in Connecticut. When terrible things like this happen, I can't help but put myself in the same situation. I feel numb with anger and sadness. Are there people in this world really that dark? Dark enough to take away what is most precious? I don't ever want to let any person or event "change" me that much. I want to believe there is still a way for people to embrace the simple happiness of life even after tragedies. Even though it may be marred and tainted with spots of sadness. Life is so wonderful. We are so lucky to be able to have this experience.

Mostly, I don't want to be afraid.