I love WINTER!

We had a snow storm the other day after having nice spring weather for a couple of days where we even got to see grass for the first time this winter.  It was exciting and nice and then the snow storm on Sunday.  We got about 5-6 inches of snow.  Brian got stuck going up a hill by our house on his way to work and had to walk home and get me to help him get out.  We bundled up the girls, put them in the jogging stroller, and headed to the car.  As we arrived at the hill there were at least three other cars that were stuck as well.  The plow hadn't gotten to this road yet and it had the 5-6 inches of snow.  We shoveled, pushed, poured down salt and was finally able to free Brian's car and send him off to work.  Then I got to help three other people who were stuck before heading home with my freezing girls.  They were such troopers and let me help one more person on the way home.  I brought them in and turned on the TV and went out to help one other person who was stuck.  It felt so good to serve people who couldn't help themselves.  They were stuck and spinning out and no matter how hard they pushed the accelerator they weren't going anywhere.  I found myself grateful for the snow and the opportunity to serve people I have never met.  I then shoveled some walkways and parking spaces.  I have been reading this book of ten strategies for being a mom and under the title it says:

"10 things I learned by accident because I had children on purpose" 

In it she talks about finding joy in the things we have to do.  It's so funny, positive, and uplifting.  She has a way with words and making light of what can at some times be breaking moments in a mom's life.  It has made me more grateful, frugal, laid back, and able to focus on what is most important.  I am able to laugh about situations and just move on knowing that in the future this will not be a big deal:-)

Rigged the Deck

Today for quiet time Madison got the Uno game ready and kept asking me to play with her.  Once I finally finished finances she had it all set up and I sat down to play at her little table.  As I picked up my deck, yes, a deck size hand and then looked at Madison's hand it was much smaller.  Then she began to lay out her cards hidden by a puzzle box standing on end.  Out to the sides I saw a lot of black...she had rigged the deck and had all the wild and draw four cards.  I then spread out my hand and saw only two colors...about ten of each.  I then told her that was cheating and with a huge smile spread across her face she said, "I know."  I told her I would play, but that was being dishonest if she was playing someone else.  She actually did win the game, but barely:-)  It was so fun playing about 10 rounds of Uno with her.  When she looses she just laughs and when she wins she does the same thing.  She is such a good sport and fun to play with.  Whenever I change the color she will say, "oh, that's perfect." and then look at her cards to see if she even has that color...if not she says, "but I don't have that so I will pick up."  She calls wild and draw four cards "goody" cards. I have loved spending time with her.  She loves playing games as of late and would rather play a game of UNO then get a book read to her at night.  Although we have gotten into story telling lately and so last night Brian told Madison and Abby the long version of Joseph and the coat of many colors.  This morning when Madison came into my room she asked me to tell her a story like how daddy did.  She then went on to tell me about Joseph and had so many of the details that I couldn't even remember off the top of my head.  Like what the dream the baker had...she remembered that he baked a pie for the Pharaoh and then birds came and ate it.  Brian grew up with his dad telling him Bible stories at night and is continuing the tradition with our family.  Thanks Rick for doing that!

We also just sat at the computer on Sunday night and looked at old posts on my blog way back to when Madison and Abby were born.  It was so fun.  Now the girls are always asking for stories about them when they were little and then repeat back to me other things I have told them too.  They love it!  What a fun family thing to do.  I have Brian to thank for that.  He is always telling the girls about when they were little and the funny things they did, random things about them, and what we did when they were little.  It makes me rededicate myself to blogging since Brian and the girls enjoy it so much!

Abby's workout

Since Brian and I go to the gym 3 times a week or so, Abby has become interested in working out and every once in a while she will do her "workout" as she calls it.  It consists of stretches mainly, but is so cute.  I was trying to read the scriptures and Abby was insistent on working out first.  I finally convinced her to read scriptures and then she can work out after.

Abby's Dance Moves

Abby loves to go and get her princess dress on and then dance to either "Girls just wanna have fun", "bubble gum", or "Living la Vida Loca".  She is so funny!  I love this girl.

Ice Rain...what do we do?

 We were about to go out and then realized there was ice rain so decided against it.  This is what we ended up doing for fun...

What are they doing?

 Madison is such a mom and whenever Abby is sad, Madison's solution is to tickle her back and hold her.  It seems to be a cure all in our home.  I came into the living room one day and Madison was holding Abby and tickling her back.  

Madison and Abby coloring with their babies.  Madison can color for hours...Abby lasts about 10-15 minutes max.  They have fun together.

Madison and Abby the Chefs

 Gotta love the goggles...it's must help with the mixing:-)

Madison is so proud of her oatmeal she made by herself (with a tiny bit of help).  She would have oatmeal every morning if I let her.  She loves the stuff.  One time I made extra and put it in the fridge so they could just go down and get it themselves.  Well, when I came down that morning they both had a spoon and were eating it cold out of the same tupperware.

Kalahari...America's Largest indoor water park!

 For Brian's last week off for this academic year we splurged and took the girls to Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, OH.  It's only two hours from our house and we got a room, access to the indoor water park, free breakfast, a percent off our dinner, and the life jackets and tubes are included!  It was so much fun and since it was during the week it wasn't crowded.  We plan to make this a yearly thing during the winter!  It was under $200 including gas, food, lodging, indoor play area, and access to the water park for two days!

 This is Brian, Abby, and Madison in the wave pool.  They loved it when the waves would come on and flip their tube.  Brian made it so much fun!  Madison said, "I loved the wave pool the best.  I liked it when the waves weren't going and daddy would chase us and be funny."  Madison also went with Brian on many of the slides.  Her favorite was the roller coaster one...

 Abby loved playing at the Giraffe spot (it was a kiddie area with two giraffes at the entrance).  She loved just playing in the water and doing whatever she wanted.  She wouldn't take off her green wrist band for 4 days after we got back home just in case she could go to the water park.

They had so much fun together and want to go again with Mesia and Anna:-)  Dan had the week after off...we missed you guys.

Madison and Abby in the Hotel Room...

The anticipation to go to the water park was overwhelming...they were so excited and just loved our new home, as they called it.

Brian's Mad Skills...