sled riding fun

Here are a few shots of the fun we've been having out in the snow this winter...

Our sled riding hill is awesome this year.

I love this picture of how Letty has her eyes closed, screaming down the hill.  Pure Letty-drama fashion.

Only problem with our sled-riding hill is that it slides right out onto the road.  

Don't worry, there's always an adult on the road keeping watch!

I tried uploading a video of the kids sled-riding but Blogger wasn't cooperating.  Boo!  

(We'll just have to settle for the pictures.)

One thing the kids love is when Daddy's snowblowing, they love to get hit by the snow or try to get out of the way of the blowing snow's path...

 We have yet to get some really good snowman making snow.  But, that didn't stop our quite determined little one...she was going to make a snowman anyways.  She found some hardened snow/ice chunks and stacked them on top of each other.    

Then, she got to decorating the snowman.

I must say, Letty's little snowman is pretty cute.

Letty's first snowman that she made all by herself.

you never know what she'll say...

Letty has been saying so many funny things that I don't want to forget.  I'm so thankful that this here little blog is a spot that I can use to record things I just don't want to miss.

1.  When the kids and I were grocery shopping the other day, I grabbed a shopping cart.  As I got the cart and wheeled it toward us, I accidentally caught one of the wheels on Letty's little toe.  As I was repeatedly apologizing to Letty, she explained, "It's okay.  My toe's not crying."

2.  Letty was wearing a little belt around her waist that she was quite certain she wanted off.  In the process of trying to get it off, she remarked, "It's screaming to get off of me!"

3.  On a trip to Storyland (a local amusement park attraction), Letty was not a fan of any of the water-related rides like Dr. Geyser's Raft Ride, the Bamboo Chutes, and even the Oceans of Fun water playground.  While we were eating our PB&J's for lunch beside the Oceans of Fun playground, Ivy and Owen had finished their lunch and went off to get wet at the Oceans of Fun place while Letty stayed right near us and far enough away from the water and any potential of getting wet.  Noticing what Letty was doing, Daddy commented to her, "You aren't a water girl, are you?"  Letty responded, "No, I like juice boxes."

:-D 

Letty's sting and bandaid

Well, I'm so glad I have this here little blog to have a place to quickly jot down a few memories.  I have really missed blogging...I love writing about the kids and the things we do around here, but I just can't seem to fit it in.  I have no idea how the rest of these blogging mommies do it out there.  I must know the secret...please fill me in.

Anyways, I wanted to write a couple of things Letty has come up with around here.  (I know, you probably thought I was going to write about Letty's first bee sting....nope!)  Letty seems to be our little one who is emerging with the funniest quips. 

Tonight, after a long week of training and travelling around for work, Nathan wanted just a few minutes to sit on the porch swing and just be.  Well, our three who haven't seen their Daddy all day had different ideas, especially one little girl in particular.  While her Daddy was just trying to relax a little, Letty kept doing all sorts of things to the swing her was on to include hitting it, pushing it, getting in front of it, you name it and she was probably doing it.  Nathan, in his then agitated state, remarked, "You know, you are really starting to bug me, Letty."  Letty replied while pointing her finger and poking her Daddy in the leg, "Sting!"  :)  Needless to say, her Daddy couldn't stop laughing.  I guess she lowered his stress a little. 

Also, when Letty says that she wants to wrestle and hurt you, she always threatens her older siblings with, "I'm going to give you a Band-Aid!"

for mother's day

Although a day early (Saturday), for Mother's Day this year...

...we hopped in our car to escape the black flies and spend the day as a family.

...we went to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, a small town south of Portland, where you can go to Fort Williams Park to see sights like this...

the Portland Headlight Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

and take your shoes and socks off to walk in grass that feels like carpet! 

...we spent time at the playground where we enjoyed seeing the kids have a blast without shooing away those pesky black flies and where...

Ivy swung on the swings until she reached the clouds...

Letty discovered anything and everything there was to do there...

and Owen enjoyed being the captain of his pirate ship.

...we saw a "dog show," as Owen liked to call it.  (The dog show was a field where dogs were permitted to be off of their leashes...we saw a half a dozen dogs there as we walked from the playground.)

...we enjoyed a picnic right beside the ocean where you didn't have to swat at any black flies (can you tell how much we like black flies?)...

Doesn't Owen look like a miniature old man sitting there in his chair???

but we did have to watch out for the seagulls!

...we got to kick the ball around.  (There's no better sight for me than to see Daddy playing with his kids!) 

...we went on "adventures" but we had to hold on to our hats some as there was a nice breeze blowing, and we enjoyed watching the kites fly in the air.

...we stopped to pose for some pictures!

...and we enjoyed walks around the park looking at the lighthouse and all of the old fort remains.

Then, we left Fort Williams Park and headed to Kettle Cove, just a few miles away, where...

...Daddy surprised the kids with an ice cream treat on the way!  (oops!  forgot to take pictures!)  While we were there though, an older couple made a point to compliment us on how well behaved our kids were!  A great encouragement to us as parents and to the kids to receive such a great remark from perfect strangers!

...we got to explore the beach at Kettle Cove.

...but soon exploring turned into splashing around in the FREEZING COLD ocean water!

We drove home in a very quiet car as all of the kiddos fell asleep on the way home!

Once we got home, we got a pizza, had a family bike ride, got ready for bed, and watched a movie!

What a day - a day full of no real agendas - just spending quality time together as a family!

Who could ask for anything more????  I am so blessed to have a loving family and to be the Mommy to 3 beautiful and wonderful children.

BUT, there was more (if that's even possible!)...

The next day (Sunday), I got to enjoy a breakfast made by my wonderful husband with Ivy being my waitress, and this huge sign that Ivy worked so hard making...

together with some precious and adorable homemade cards by the kids!

 *************************************

Ivy, Owen and Letty,
I love being your Mommy!  You bring so much joy, love, fun, and happiness into my life!  You teach me so much more than I think I will ever teach you!  I simply cannot imagine living life without the three of you in my life!  Thank you for the patience, the love, and the grace you show to me day in and day out!  I love you!
Love, Mom

hiding

now you see her...

now you don't...

A certain little girl was helping herself to a snack today.  She wasn't sure if she should have been having one so she decided to hide from us.  Do you love how she hides?  (I guess she thought that if she couldn't see us, we couldn't see her!)  :)