Hello snow....again

We woke up to this sight. More snow!

But when you are homeschooled.....you have to have school even if it's snowing outside. This is the girl's watching Live Lesson while they had breakfast.

Thought the pond looked so pretty.

This was our homemade sled. We went all over the place trying to find a sled but everybody was sold out. So, my husband just made one. This was a piece of vinyl siding with Rain X on the bottom. And it would fly!

The round bales of hay had snow on them in our covered shed. The snow was really coming down and blowing all over the place.

Hello, Lu-Lu. And Jesse I saw you too.

Furman is that you? Oh, it is! Wow, you really should think about a diet before the summer!

No, I do not have any food. Would you guys think about SOMETHING besides food. Your killing us because you ALWAYS want to eat! Is that all you do? Well, poop does not count.

Let's all look at Crank. He thinks I am trying to catch him. Jesse is looking to him for a sign to run like mad. One more step to him and he will take off. This is as close as you can get. Just look, don't touch.

Think about it. Thinking about it. Do I run? Or do I stay? What is that crazy lady with all the puffy  layers doing?

The best part about snow. It really tuckers them out!

Cozy fire. Warm blankets. Tired body. What a good snow day is all about!

Laci got a lot of free rides back up the hill. She would ride down any way with anybody, but you just had to drag her back up. Smart kid!! She is so much like her mom.

This is what you call, not enough sled to go around.

But they made it to the bottom. No injury's to report.

That about wraps up our snow days; frozen fingers and toes. Cold ears and nose. Lots of wet clothes, laundry in droves. Slip slidin' fun...now where is the sun???

Ready to go again, this is fun!

Oh, Sweetie Pie Lu-lu how we love you!!!

To say that we love our Lu-lu is an understatement! We love to watch her in the fields. We love to watch her run, buck, and show all those boys who's boss!

But mostly my girls love to laugh when I make up a voice for her. (I have this thing about talking for our animals.) So, when Lu-lu tries to jump the gap at the creek and pond...she first gets up her courage, "OH, I must do this! Here I go. I can do this! I can! I willllllll!!!" Then she does the most feminine leap, smooths out her long mane and walks away proud of herself.

 But when we are not watching her the girls sure do love riding her. So, for Christmas they got all new tack! And I must say, they were really proud to have a reason to ride more often!! Tack that fits insures a lot more time for riding!!

A new saddle must be tried out on the first thing available. Even if it is old couch cushions.
 

 Minutes after this picture was taken, little one lost her rubber boot and Lu-lu tried to wear it. Let's just say....it did not fit and she did not like that one bit! And in her romping and stomping she might have been a little hard to hold on too for a 2 year old. But this ain't your average 2 year old!! She rode it out, had a good cry, but in true cowgirl grit she was not going to get off!!!!

 After she made a lap or two, we adjusted her stirrups. She is no longer riding like a cutter!

 True love.

The End.

How to Prevail in 2011

One of my New Year resolutions is to blog my Sunday Sermon notes. I did this for a while in my journal and kept them for my study notes. I thought I would try blogging them since I am trying to keep up with my blog and write as often as I can.

Ways to prevail in 2011:

1. Clearly identify your goals

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.   ~1 Corinthians 9:24

2. Eliminate hindrances.Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

~ Hebrews 12:1

* God, help me to hate sin the way you hate sin!

 

3. When adversity comes, remain focused on your goal.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  ~ Hebrews 12:2-3

 

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  ~ Philippians 3:13-14

 

My 2 favorite winter loves

After Christmas and a good snow....(check), I get spring fever. I just want to say, "Good-bye!" to cold weather! I like to wear sweaters, and there is nothing better than some fuzzy socks, but let's be honest. Who wants to do anything when your fingers are numb? Or your toes? Even worse.

So, to encourage me to get threw these harsh conditions (giggle, giggle) here are my two loves:


Nothing is better than a roaring fire. And of course, a movie and a fire, a book and a fire, s'mores and a campfire, a blanket and fuzzy socks...well, you get the point.


And my most, most, most must have everyday (especially in winter!)...is coffee and creamer! I don't know when the love of coffee even happened I just know as far back as I can remember I have drank it. NOTHING like I do now. In fact, my husband says it's an addiction! I would agree. I set my coffee pot to go off an hour before my alarm clock because I love to smell it when I wake up. I can't wait to get my shower so I can get a warm cup of it!!! Every winter needs a cup of warmth.

Oh SNOW, has it been a year????

So much has happened this past year and it has all been a blur. I wish I had been better about blogging everything. I love my journal; the pen... the paper but there is something about blogging so you have that moment and pictures to go along with it. BUT, for my New Year resolution I have decided to go back to blogging. I recently read a friends blog who got her blog turned into a book! That did it for me....here we go....again?!

This was such a sweet and fun December. Even though, it really went by to fast. I remember telling myself at one point, "Slow down....please!" Jeremy and I were gone the first week of December to Las Vegas. Even though we were together (which was the best part) and we got to go to the NFR (the other best part), I am still so saddened by how lost that city is. On a happier note, they decorate unbelievable for Christmas! Here are a few of my favorites:

Made with all real roses!

Made with all carnations!

The rocking horse actually rocked!

Made with pecans!

So, when we got home we had to decorate our house for Christmas. With that done, I did lots of baking; I made some homemade peppermint hot chocolate, gingerbread (and gingerbread men), bakerella.com's cake balls, caramel cakes in a jar, cheesecake, and monkey munch. Seems like there was more....but does it really matter??? Here are a few of our gingerbread men (the girls had so much fun making these....and eating them!

Oh and SNOW!!!! Can't believe we got snow Christmas night! We had family here that night and as they were leaving it was really coming down. It snowed all night and when we got up the next morning, we went out about 8:30AM and finally came in about 12:45PM for lunch.

It was the best snow for so many reasons. It was great powder, it was really deep, and it none of us got freezing cold.

Our snowman was made with horse poop for the eyes and nose. Go figure.....country kids!!

As my brother-in-law says,"The world looks innocent when it snows." I agree.

What a good December. Can't wait to see what January 2011 has in store!!!

Books, Books, Books....

One thing about me....I LOVE to read. Here is what I am reading right now:

1) Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by: Teri Maxwell
www.Titus2.com
LOVE any and all of her books and her blog!!!

2) 101 simple & thoughtful ways to GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS AWAY by: Matthew West
We do an advent calender each year and the girls pull a card and get a treat or we do something for someone that day. I thought this might give us some really good idea's of other ways we can make Christmas about others and not focus so much on gifts and selfishness!!!

3) The Strong-Willed Child by: Dr. James Dobson
Can't say enough about Dr. Dobson. I just love this man!!

Week 8: Homeschooling & HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I could spend all day writing what I am thankful for! The Lord has been so good to me and my family this year!!

"Mm" was the letter of the week. I drew a big "M" on a sheet of paper and Lily covered it in glue then covered it with miniature marshmallows. We also made paper mittens that turned out so cute! We talked about 4 in math. And with spaghetti noodles we wrote the word "four" on our table. And we talked about vegetables all week. (I hoped this talk about fruits and veggies would "push" my picky-little-eater into TRYING something. Nope.) We ended our week with a VeggieTales movie.

We read:
Madeline Books by: Ludwig Bemeimans
Vegetables by: Susan Wake

Our scripture verse was:
Faith is being sure of what we hope for an certain of what we do not see.
~ Hebrews 11:1