Bunkin Party at the Cabin

Daddy William and two of his best friends, Will and Tim, went to the cabin last weekend and took some of the kids. Only the "big" ones got to go...our William, Nate and Zac, and Parker. They had sooooo much fun. When they got home, little William was so tired, he couldn't even tell me about it. Plus, since no girls are allowed on these trips, he probably thought he was violating some sort of boy code or something. :) Oh, to have been a fly on the wall (or tree) when these boys were together. I know that if these boys lived in the same town, they would be the best of friends, just like their daddies were (and still are)!

What a crew! William, Will, Zac, William, Parker, Nate, and Tim.

love it.

Unexpected guests in the snow!

Normally, when the weather people call for snow and we all get prepared to get snowed in, it doesn't happen and vice versa. Well, not this time! They forecasted between 2-4 inches and we got nearly 5. It started snowing around 2:00 on Sunday afternoon. William was outside faster than you can blink to catch some flakes on his tongue. Then, we came in to let it accumulate for a bit. In the meantime, Will and Kacee and their boys were on their way back to NWA from Mississippi and got stuck here. We had a great big bunking party and a good ole time.

Charlie's first trip out....I woke him up early from his nap so he'd have plenty of time to soak it up before dark.

I had to let Shep see his very first snow, but it was coming down so hard that he didn't last long. He never cried about it, but his little face was cold as ice!

Just a little excited....

The two Charlies...if one was in Kacee's lap, they both had to be. I don't know how she managed to eat her dinner, but she did. :)

If looks could kill, you'd be dead.

Charlie Tate and Parker had the cutest little camo sleeping bags that the boys rode around like they were horses. Giddyup.

Once again both in her lap....

And the next day, snow ice cream and hot cocoa with marshmallows. If you've never made snow ice cream, do, because it really is so good and easy as pie...even if you aren't a cook! I put a bowl outside to collect snow when it first started coming down (or you can scoop clean snow on the ground if you need to, I've done that before). For about a half gallon of snow, add a 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 or 1 tsp vanilla, and then enough whole milk to get it to the right consistency. It melts quickly, so eat it right away!

The snow wasn't the good kind for making snowmen, so Daddy got out a bucket and made a snow fort. I think he had more fun than the boys did. :)

It's been fun, but this Momma is snowed out!

Happy New Year!

It seems to be coming a tradition for us to spend New Years in Mount Ida. Quite frankly, I've always thought the celebration was overrated, so to be in the quiet country just suits my fancy! And, since our first trip with all 3 boys went so well over Thanksgiving weekend, we thought we'd give it another try. Our luck wasn't quite as good this time, but minus some sleep deprivation and a handful of bad moods, we survived and had a good time.

Horsies coming to greet us...

It was pretty frigid all weekend. Every time sweet baby Shep went out, he was attached to me and zipped up under my coat. :)

It's funny to me that whoever is getting attention from Mom or Dad, then the others have to join suit. I was playing with Shep while he was kicking around on the floor, so Charlie and William had to do the same...."do that to me, Mom, do that to me!"

3 little bugs in a rug!

Charlie's little face just melts me, those big ol brown eyes and long eyelashes. I love his age, even though it is also one of the hardest.

2010 was filled with lots of things for me....the joy of giving birth to another little boy, the craziness of raising 3 children, the joy of watching them learn and grow, the sadness that it's going by too quickly, the heartache that my precious Dad isn't here to see them and I miss him like crazy, the blessing that my Mom and in-laws are getting to see it, and mostly the richness of a happy family, because we certainly are one. I wouldn't trade in a one of 'em, my cup runneth over. Here's to 2011!