Christmas catch-up

Now that it is February, I finally feel like things have slowed down a bit.  And I just realized that next week is Winter Break, which means no school for one week.  We had very busy holidays this last year, but loved every minute of them.  Now it's time to refocus, and actually accomplish some things. Starting with some updates to the blogg. 

 Wyatt in his Patriots Hoody.
He was in heaven with all of his patriots gear.

 Two Very tired and happy parents

 Ruby cooking up a storm of playdough

Our Christmas tree

 Austyn wanted a porcelin doll, and santa delivered.

Sydnie unwrapping a new dance bag.

Fall Happenings

 Picking Pumpkins

 See the ones in the wagon, these are the ones we picked.

 Sydnie sliding into the leaves!

 Austyn, Sydniw and Ruby playing in the leaves.

 Ruby And Austyn

 The leaves were on her face just like this when she came up from the pile.

 Just some of the beautiful views that we get to enjoy living in Vermont. 

 Let the carving begin!

 Drawing the face just right.....

 Her face is going to be fancy, she said...

 He is working hard to get the face shapes in the pumpkin.

Here they are all carved and in their places.  Ruby's got carved for her while she was sleeping.

Summer is officially gone...............

So here is a recap of some of my favorite things that we did the summer of 2012.  
--P.S. it is kind of long, we were very busy. 

Adventures with Grandma and Grandpa Green.......

Saint Gaudens

Billings Farm

 

The Quechee Gorge

Adventures in our own back yard.......

 Homemade Ice Cream

 Gardening

Maddie, Alanah, & Sydnie

 Friends

 Corn Rows

 Pretend Play

Flowers

Our trip to Arizona.......

Sydnie, Angela & Austyn 

Mud fight

 Bowling with Grampy Larson

Ruby          &           Cindel

 Matching Dresses

 Riding the fire truck on the fourth of July

 Paintballing Jordan and Wyatt

Sydnie & Temberlie

Picnic on Mount Graham

 Getting sprayed by the fire truck on the 4th of July

 Cousins picture on the fire truck

 Uncle Jeremy's house

James, Jesse & Wyatt

Slip and Slide races ( Little boys)

 Jordan, Jeremy & Ben 

Slip and Slide races (big boys)

Wyatt and Grandpa Green's Horse Babe.

A Snapshot of Summer

Summer  Adventures 2012

We have had a busy summer!  These are some of the things that we have been up to.  Starting in the upper left corner, Ruby is enjoying some homemade ice cream.  Continuing across the top, camping, a picnic on Mount Graham, bowling with Grampy Larson.  Then Fouth of July on the Fire Truck, Paintballing, Delayed Again in the airport, Ruby and Cindel. The Tie invasion, Quechee Gorge, Strawberries, Renovations, Family Portraits, Mud Fight, St. Gaudens, Ruby eating Watermelon, AZ Sunset, St. Gaudens, Grandpa Green and Ruby.

Spring Break

 It had finally warmed up just in time for spring break.  The turtles even came out for some sun bathing. So K80 got a bright idea to take the kids to a stream to play and have a picnic.  The phone calls were made and everything was ready.  Off we went trekking into the woods.  It was a glorious day, the kids were happy to be outdoors with friends.  The weather was perfect.  One thing that was not thought out well, was that it was our first adventure, and we would not be in shape.  The next day all the adult members of the crew were feeling it.

                                     It is easier to walk up a hill, if you have a hand to hold.

                                                                    Stick Ninjas   

                             The whole gang! Yep, count them, 14 kids under 10 years old                                      Crazy!!!  Four adults as well, but only one made it into the picture. 

                               
                           The water was freezing, but kids played in it anyway.

These two little ladies have the best thunder thighs around.  This is not the best picture of the Thunderlisous thighs, so you will just have to take my word for it. Believe me, they are so cute and fat that you just want to eat them up!

A shout out to My Mom!

In my Capstone class we have to write an essay every week. This week's was about tools passed down from one generation to the next.........

The tool that I have learned to use is a sewing machine. Just this last weekend I put that skill to use, sewing new dresses for my daughters. I have a family tradition that has been passed down for generations. That tradition is getting a new dress on Easter. A homemade dress is preferred. Also if there are multiple girls, their dresses should match. I have four sisters and every year just before Easter my mom would be sewing dresses for me and my sisters. I was talking to my sister last Thursday and jokingly asked her if she had her sewing done for Easter. Followed by me saying that I didn’t think I was going to do it this year. That thought only lasted a day. The next day, Friday, I started cutting fabric to start sewing. It is as if I have to do it, no matter what.

This is a picture of a pattern piece, burned to pieces, because I had
to make dresses no matter what. I started on Friday, and finished
Saturday night, 3 Dresses. This happened late Saturday night while cutting the
piece out for the bottom ruffle. A candle was burning on the counter top,
and caught the pattern piece when I lifted up to find the scissors.

As a child I can remember playing at my mom’s feet as she would sew for hours making pretty things for me to wear. When I was tired or fussy, she would hold me in her lap and continue to sew. Telling me not to touch the needle, because it would bite me. The sewing machine was a tool that made pretty things, but not for children to touch. My mom told me stories of when she was a girl how she and her sisters would make their own dresses to wear to school. My mom learned to sew from her mother, my grandmother. My grandmother used to tell my mom, that she was born before her time, because she would create new patterns that would be in fashion the next year. When my sisters and I were leaving home, the one thing that my mom made sure we had was a sewing machine. It seems kind of a silly thing to send your daughters out into the world with. We have enjoyed having that skill, and having the tool to use that skill.

I have not passed it onto my daughters yet, because they are too little. I have found myself picking them up on my lap while I sew and telling them not to touch the needle because it will bite them.

The finished Beauties! Thanks Mom!

Easter

These are three cool kids!

Awesome Austyn

The whole gang!

Ruby Girl

Sassy Sydnie