Happy Snow Day

For Martin Luther King holiday we got about 3 inches of wonderful, beautiful snow. It was a good thing the schools were already off. Last night as we went to bed it looked like a winter wonderland with big, fat snowflakes gently falling from the sky. If you don't know already, I love snow!!! And I think my kids have caught the snow bug also. But then what kid doesn't like snow? Ashley was certainly thrilled to see the white stuff outside when she got up. Aidan was a little less exhuberant because he has a head cold/virus with a nasty cough. He was happy to be able to lay on the couch and watch cartoons for an extra day, though. So, Ashley and I braved the cold together to shovel off the driveway, make snow angels and do a little bit of sledding. By the time I took the last picture we both had cold, rosy cheeks and were ready to come in for some hot cocoa with Aidan.

Happy New Year from Ohio

Insect Invasion!!!!

Frankie & Mandy sent the kids insect masks and hats from Germany. They were a total hit!!! We are still playing with them. (I don't know how I evaded the camera, but thank goodness!)

Merry Christmas

December

Our biggest event in December, other than Christmas, was Aidan's adenoid surgery. The picture of him wrapped in a blanket was 3 days after the surgery. One week before Christmas Aidan had his adenoids removed and sinus surgery. He was a total trooper and even a little excited at first because he got to miss school and knew he could eat a ton of ice cream. After the surgery was a different matter, though. It took him about 5 days to get back to normal and the only complaint he had was that he never wanted to 'give his blood again!' (ie. have an IV in his arm) That was the only part he really remembered. After that we were in the home stretch for an awesome Christmas.

November in pictures

It has been a whirlwind of activity over the holidays. We had a wonderful time and saw so many good friends and family. We traveled to Gate City, VA for a great, but too short visit with Granny Linn Snapp. The kids loved running wild on her farm with the dogs, cats and horses. We met the Snapp and Smith families in Kingsport, TN for Grandma Snapp's 80th birthday party. (Shannon's mom's maiden name was Snapp).

Aidanham Lincoln

Aidan dressed up as Abraham Lincoln for his classroom Halloween character sketch. I have to say, I think he made the cutest little 'Aidanham'. The hat was about as tall as he is. I was surprised with his choice as first. But then he explained that he wanted to be a Lincoln like his friend and classroom partner, Lincoln Jeter.
In preparation, we read 2 small biographies and then wrote a simple 4 sentence little sketch giving clues about who he was and ending with "who am I?" Aidan even embellished a bit on stage by adding "I died when I was shot in the back". A fact which I had consciously omitted, being that these were 1-3rd graders. Aidan, of course, didn't leave out that very important morsel of information. As you can imagine, all the parents and students were easily able to guess his identity.
What a cute and most memorable way to celebrate Halloween!