The Big Snow of January

I am not a snow person. I prefer warmer weather. But kids love snow. When Jon is working on a snow day I am the one left to entertain the children in the snow. I layered my clothes, as well as my gloves, and headed out. Remarkably, it wasn't that bad. We made a snowman, made snow angels and had a snowball fight. Ty wanted to make a snow fort, but I told him I will have to build up to that one!

The cute little hat Maggie is wearing was mine when I was her age. And Ty had been wanting a scarf, but I couldn't find one anywhere. So Grandmar knit him one, and he LOVES it!

When Jon got home from work, he treated us to something the kids and I had never had before - Snow Cream. Here he is preparing it, and the kids enjoying it.

New Year's Eve

We started a tradition in our house four years ago with Sarah Catherine. So this year was our 5th Annual New Year's Eve Indoor Campout. We actually had to do it on New Year's Day this year because the Honeybones invited us to ring in the New Year at their house. We set up the tent, ate s'mores and the kids got ready for some indoor camping. 

Bowling

We went bowling as a family while Sarah Catherine was here. We had a great time! Unfortunately, my camera died after taking these two pictures.

Opryland in December

Sarah Catherine came back to Murfreesboro for a few days after Christmas. We decided to spend an afternoon at Opryland in Nashville. First, we went to the Ice! exhibit. This year's theme was Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It was spectacular! They give you these giant parkas to wear, which we wore over our winter coats. Our faces were so cold that they were bright red. The kids slid down ice slides, which makes me cold even thinking about it now! The pictures aren't great since it was so dark in the exhibit.

Then, we walked over to the hotel to take a look around. It had only just reopened after the May floods. It was amazing! It's just so lush with all of the trees, plants and waterfalls. It was just beautiful!

Christmas Day

We celebrated Christmas in Chattanooga this year. We told our Elf on a Shelf Buddy to tell Santa that we would be at Grandmar and Granddad's house this year. Maggie made us a hand print angel dish towel at school, and Ty made me two beaded necklaces. So sweet! Ty's favorite presents this year were Ace the Bathound stuffed animal, Batman bedding and posters for his room, science experiment kits and a Leapster 2. Maggie's favorite presents were a stuffed sheep, a baby doll, mailbox and a Leapster 2.

After everyone got cleaned up, the rest of the Applebys and Bryants arrived for Christmas Dinner. Before dinner, Granddad had a captive audience for a book reading in the library. After dinner, Maggie was found reading the same book to herself, while the rest of the children were in the living room having fun with the iPads, none of which were Christmas presents!

After another fabulous meal prepared by Grandmar, it was time to open presents. We had all of the children over Thanksgiving make a hand print wreath on a plate to give to Grandmar. She loved it! Then, the kids got to open more presents.

This was the first White Christmas in Chattanooga since 1989 with 5 inches of snow. It was so beautiful and just seemed to make Christmas more special.