The yearly snow bet

Each year, sometime around the beginning of November Bob and I make a bet. It's a simple one: will snow stick before or after December 15th? This year Bob took 'before' and I got 'after.' Of course, we got ONE random storm prior to the 15th....it rained the day before and it rained the day after, but that day the snow stuck -- and the girls even got to go have a bit of fun in it!

 So excited to have a shovel full of snow!

Look at mine, look at mine!

 Ahem. Yes, we are trying to train them early.....

Some of you might be wondering about that bet -- as in exactly what was the bet for? It varies each year, but this year the winner won $100 to spend completely guilt-free on anything they wanted. Just one other note -- Bob was out of town the week of this micro 'storm'......I had to remind him that he'd won!

Windy night....

Most of the time, I like the wind. At night however.....I am afraid of the wind. Guess what? It's windy tonight -- thus I cannot fall asleep. I am constantly plagued by fears that the trees will fall on top of us, or a branch will rip the power line off the house (again), or any lovely myriad of sleepy-time fears my brain invents. You might ask where Bob is when this happens to me. The answer is simple. Snoring. How it doesn't bother him, I have no idea. Therefore I will do what I have done for years when I am afraid at night: I will sing through all of the Sunday School songs I can remember from when I was little. I sing those same songs to my girls when they wake up afraid, or when they're sick, or when they just need some extra cuddle-time. So, starting with the 'A' songs.....

A certain man of whom we read

Who lived in days of old,

Though he was rich he felt his need 

Of something more than gold.

Oh, yes oh, yes there's something more,

Something more than gold!

To know your sins are all forgiven

Is something more than gold!......

(I will now try to continue, but from my bed. Good Night!)

Thanksgiving

Um....so....yeah, it's been a while. This is me trying to catch up a bit.

THANKSGIVING!!!!

We made our annual trek down to North Carolina for Thanksgiving again this year! We got to see Dan and Gretchen's house....nearly empty, as it's on the market. Tanner greeted us:

 

What a good doggie!

Aunt Gretchen wrapped the girls up for a movie...

 How cozy do they look?!

Then we drove out to Bill&Kate's house for the main event.

The girls danced....

 The kitchen was busy and smelled oh-so-wonderful....

The boys were boys....

 Did I mention the kitchen was busy?

And FINALLY it was time to EAT!!! 

The 'big' girls sat up at the bar...

 The kiddos sat at the kitchen table (yes, Gretchen and I were honorary kiddos)...

 And the big people sat in the dining room. The food was fabulous and a great time was had by all......until....

 ....then next morning Danielle, Ashley, and I were sick. The NEXT day Bob was sick with us. Poor Bill, Kate, and Harper -- we weren't very lively house guests.