Today is Presidents Day and we have no school in honor of this holiday. Hmmm... the concept of no school has become VERY interesting. When we moved back to the midwest three years ago we looked forward to the opportunity of some winter snow days that would allow us to stay home from school. Our first year here we had no snow days. Last year we had a few. This year...whew, we have had a lot!! We love each and every one of them! It is unexpected, quality time that we get to spend together and we love it!
Here is our most recent weather summary:
-about a week ago we experienced extreme cold temperatures of -10 degrees which felt like -25 with wind chill. Friday (Valentine's Day) school was cancelled and we got about 6 inches of snow. Saturday we got about 3 more inches. No precipitation Sunday. Ice/sleet this morning and now it is snowing and we could get 2-4 more inches this afternoon. Wow...it seems never-ending. Our temps are supposed to rise into the 40s for the rest of the week - which will result in a slushy, sloppy mess.
I am finally catching up on pictures and blogging. In order to get the blog updated successfully and pain free for my readers I have created many photo collages that help to shorten my posts.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Christmas 2013 trip
We drove cross-country for Christmas to visit friends in Las Vegas and family in Reno, NV. We love to travel! I know this sounds crazy to many people, but we especially love to (over) pack the car and drive to our destinations. We have always enjoyed driving long distances - it is such a fun adventure. We find that once we cover some miles it is so awesome to detach from everything else and just enjoy one another!
We loved seeing the mountains when we got to Colorado. However, driving through the Rockies at rush hour was not so amazing. Scott has told this story a million times...Most flat interstates have a 75mph speed limit. Well so does I-70 through the Rockies with a 7% down grade. Hmmm...all of the locals drive this with no problem (in their audi, volvo, subaru, etc). It was a harrowing experience for Scott (in our ford expedition filled to the max with family and luggage). Still a fun and memorable part of our journey. We also really enjoyed scenic Utah. Absolutely breathtaking!
Our trip consisted of lots of singing, ispy games, Starbucks, jokes, reading, movies, & some napping.
We loved seeing the mountains when we got to Colorado. However, driving through the Rockies at rush hour was not so amazing. Scott has told this story a million times...Most flat interstates have a 75mph speed limit. Well so does I-70 through the Rockies with a 7% down grade. Hmmm...all of the locals drive this with no problem (in their audi, volvo, subaru, etc). It was a harrowing experience for Scott (in our ford expedition filled to the max with family and luggage). Still a fun and memorable part of our journey. We also really enjoyed scenic Utah. Absolutely breathtaking!
Our trip consisted of lots of singing, ispy games, Starbucks, jokes, reading, movies, & some napping.
Las Vegas
We spent two nights in Vegas with some amazing friends! This was such a quick visit. We are so grateful to friends who hosted us and organized get-togethers for us.
We stayed with our friends the McGills the first night we were there. The kids enjoyed playing and having a sleep over. They hosted a lunch gathering with friends from Snyder where I taught when we lived in Las Vegas. We saw many dear friends and I even got to see two previous students!
Next up we went to the Huggins' residence for an evening of fun with long time friends. Scott was roommates with these guys and we miss spending time with them. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and their families. Mack enjoyed time with the big boys - it was nice enough for them to camp outside in December! (We did move the kids inside later in the night.) Such a great visit!
We were able to attend service at the Champion Center before we left town. It was awesome to see our "old" church family. We stopped and had lunch with Scott's coaching friend and his family and then began our drive to Reno. What a full and busy visit we had in such a short time. We are so thankful to see these dear friends!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for everyone's hospitality and generosity! We love you guys!
We stayed with our friends the McGills the first night we were there. The kids enjoyed playing and having a sleep over. They hosted a lunch gathering with friends from Snyder where I taught when we lived in Las Vegas. We saw many dear friends and I even got to see two previous students!
Next up we went to the Huggins' residence for an evening of fun with long time friends. Scott was roommates with these guys and we miss spending time with them. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and their families. Mack enjoyed time with the big boys - it was nice enough for them to camp outside in December! (We did move the kids inside later in the night.) Such a great visit!
We were able to attend service at the Champion Center before we left town. It was awesome to see our "old" church family. We stopped and had lunch with Scott's coaching friend and his family and then began our drive to Reno. What a full and busy visit we had in such a short time. We are so thankful to see these dear friends!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for everyone's hospitality and generosity! We love you guys!
Christmas in Reno
We were all glad to get to Reno. This was the part of our trip where we would get to slow down and relax and enjoy time with family.
Mack was SO excited to go to Grandma Laura and Loren's house! Just getting there was so exciting for him!
We had so many great experiences while we were there and created so many wonderful memories.
Christmas Eve included a visit to Santa, last minute shopping, wrapping, and waiting.
Christmas Day was a blast of course!
We opened gifts in the morning...
...and then enjoyed a large family dinner in the afternoon. Mack enjoyed time with his aunts and cousins!
Mack was SO excited to go to Grandma Laura and Loren's house! Just getting there was so exciting for him!
We had so many great experiences while we were there and created so many wonderful memories.
Christmas Eve included a visit to Santa, last minute shopping, wrapping, and waiting.
Christmas Day was a blast of course!
We opened gifts in the morning...
...and then enjoyed a large family dinner in the afternoon. Mack enjoyed time with his aunts and cousins!
snowboarding
Scott and I were able to go snowboarding at Heavenly Resort in Lake Tahoe. This was such a great day for both of us. We had a fun, silly, and much needed day together...it was absolutely HEAVENLY!
more fun in Reno
We enjoyed nice weather that allowed us to play outside. We enjoyed going out to eat and playing at Chuck E. Cheese's. Moon ended up with a sore paw so we spent some time at the local vet as well.
poor Moon...
family fun @ Chuck E. Cheese's...
poor Moon...
family fun @ Chuck E. Cheese's...
Graves family Christmas
We had Christmas with my family when we returned from our trip. Fun, Fun, Fun!
Mack turns 5!
Mack turned five on January 9. Unbelievable! He is 48 inches tall and weighs 56 pounds. He is smart, funny, sweet, confident, enlightening, and just all around amazing!
We celebrated his birthday with him the morning of...
Then we had a football themed party
with family & friends...
We celebrated his birthday with him the morning of...
Then we had a football themed party
with family & friends...
basketball
Mack is playing in a 4-6 year old basketball league. I love watching him learn, persevere, and improve each time he plays. He really enjoys playing basketball with his friends and takes it very seriously.
*At practice the coaches split the kids up to scrimmage. Shirts vs. Skins...all these little boys want to be skins!...what is it about taking their shirts off??! lol.
*At practice the coaches split the kids up to scrimmage. Shirts vs. Skins...all these little boys want to be skins!...what is it about taking their shirts off??! lol.
skating
Mack was invited to a friend's birthday party at our local skating rink. He had a blast! At first he refused to put the skates on. Then he decided he would try the training skates and he did really well. This brought back many memories of my Aunt Bonnie taking us skating when we were young. Pizza and skating - what great memories!
He even joined in the limbo.
How low can you go?
lower...
He even joined in the limbo.
How low can you go?
snow days
We feel like we have been hibernating in our cave. With all of our snow days we have enjoyed a lot of quality family time. We usually enjoy french toast and eggs for breakfast. I LOVE making (& eating) french toast. I always wanted my mom to make french toast for breakfast. It was the first thing I learned how to cook on the stove. Still my favorite!
We have enjoyed fun in the snow.
Getting ready takes time...
We have enjoyed fun in the snow.
Getting ready takes time...
Scott and Mack have put in some major hours playing, sledding, & digging in the snow.
Soxy and Moon also love playing in the snow!
Rosy cheeks...
We have enjoyed playing cards, puzzles, knights, trains, reading, dancing, crafting, and loving on these snow days.
Playing cards...
Rosy cheeks...
Playing cards...
These days really allow us to enjoy Mack and the child that he is. We am not rushing to do other things, we just get to watch and observe and absorb this boy.
tmurdock photography
Many of you know that I love taking pictures. I always have and hopefully always will be able to enjoy photography. I really wish to expand on this hobby of mine. I will at least put in some serious practice so that in my next life I can be a talented professional portrait photographer. Right now it is obviously something I have to squeeze into my spare time. I love all aspects - learning to manipulate lighting, angles, composition, editing and fine-tuning photos, all of it! Currently, I am trying to learn to edit using photoshop elements 11. Maybe sometime this hobby of mine will become more than just a hobby.
On one of our many snow days I found a portable back drop design made out of PVC pipe. So I got some PVC pipe and fittings and built my on-the-go back drop stand. Works like a charm!
Of course, I love practicing with Mack. He is very tolerant of my need to photograph him...most of the time. Here are some pics I took using my back drop stand in our living room.
I have had the joy of photographing one of my very dear friend's family. She asked me to take photos to celebrate her son's first birthday This was a very fun photo shoot! Little B was animated and excited and was a great sport!
On one of our many snow days I found a portable back drop design made out of PVC pipe. So I got some PVC pipe and fittings and built my on-the-go back drop stand. Works like a charm!
Of course, I love practicing with Mack. He is very tolerant of my need to photograph him...most of the time. Here are some pics I took using my back drop stand in our living room.
I have had the joy of photographing one of my very dear friend's family. She asked me to take photos to celebrate her son's first birthday This was a very fun photo shoot! Little B was animated and excited and was a great sport!
jokes
Mack loves to hear and tell jokes. This has become a really fun development in our house. Here are my two favorites that he tells. Enjoy. :)
blueberry joke:
banana joke:
blueberry joke:
banana joke:
Happy Valentine's Day
We enjoyed our snow day on Valentine's Day.
We played in the snow, baked brownies, and had a nice steak dinner.
Mack enjoyed helping with the brownies...
What a LOVELY day!
We played in the snow, baked brownies, and had a nice steak dinner.
Mack enjoyed helping with the brownies...
What a LOVELY day!
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