The "S" Word

After days of weathermen filling our heads with talk of the "s" word, it finally happened! WE GOT SNOW!!!! Cole & I checked outside at 2:00 this morning & couldn't believe it! You could not see grass, dirt or mud anywhere. Nothing was untouched. It was beautiful! In our excitement we woke Ben up. We all sat there talking about how much fun our morning snowball fight would be. After a few more hours of sleep, we were up again at 6:45 to venture out in the snow. Unfortunately by this time it was raining & the snow was beginning to melt, but there was still fun to be had. Ben was on the receiving end of the first snowball. It was not quite what he expected & he wasn't very happy about it. (This was really his first ever snow--our last snow was the day after he was born.) I got pegged with a few myself! I was an easy target since I was viewing everything through the lense of the camera. I'm so glad those weathermen finally got it right & hopefully we won't have to wait 4 more years for a little of the "s" word!

No, No, Not That....

Of all the cooties out there, there is that one strain of germs that I always hope we can escape contamination. Yet, again this year we have failed making it to that goal. I got the call at 9:30 this morning, my first ever call from the school clinic to say that Cole was complaining of his stomach hurting. Poor thing, he must have waited until I got there because the minute we stepped outside he let it rip. Thirteen hours & 2 doses of Zofram later, we have finally made it 2 hours with no vomit. I'm just hoping that none of the rest of us get it, especially Ryan. He can handle other peoples vomit, just not his own very well.

Saving the best for last...

so often that's how God showers us with blessings just when you think the moment has passed. This weekend is the final weekend of deer season, so this week Ryan has been trying to cram in hunting wherever he can. Cole & Ben both got to go yesterday. Although they didn't see anything they are still talking about it. I am so blessed to have a husband who loves to spend time with his children! This post is really about an unexpected surprise in our backyard. As Ryan entered the kitchen Thursday morning, he told me to look outside at the buck just beyond the creek in our backyard. Not wanting to be gulliable, I refused to look out the window. As I caught of a glimpse of the size of Ryan's eyes I knew that he was not joking, for once. We quietly made our way through the house gathering up the binoculars & then Ryan, Ben & me gathered in the kitchen. (Cole was at school.) I don't know how hunters can spot--it only took me 10 minutes of staring through the binoculars to finally see it. As I tossed him the radio, he snuck out the back door. I felt like we were in the middle of some covert operation--camo, whispering in 2-way radios to drop things out of a window, binoculars. Long story short, after about 30 minutes of being bedded down, the buck finally raised his head just enough for one clean shot. The 10-pointer fell over dead! I must admit even I was excited. Here's to the end of a great hunting season!

How old am I?

Ryan & I have survived both of the boy's birthday parties! Cole had an Auburn football party on January 6th. His friends dressed in either their Auburn or Alabama gear & played football. Cole said it was his best party ever--makes me wonder why I've spent hundreds of dollars in past years on moonbounces & big slides. I guess you live & learn!

Ben's party was January 20th. He wanted a "campout" party, but I'm not sure how you pull that off in 30 degree weather, so we had a bonfire, cookout & hayride. Sorry to the Mom's still trying to get the mud out of clothes & shoes. Welcome to my world!

So back to my original question.....how can I possibly have a 7 year old & a baby who is no longer a baby at 4? I really can't be that old!!! Can I?

My Inspiration...

Although these pictures are quite old, it provides an explanation to what inspired my blog page title. We now live at the end of a 500 foot mud/gravel (MUCH more mud than gravel) driveway. And, our yard (all 8-1/2 acres) is not much better! This gives you an idea of what I see when I open the back door. Needless to say, all of our socks are beyond bleach-repair! I'm so glad it's winter & I can send the boys out in their hunting coveralls & rubber boots. I've come to love camo--it really does hide mud quite well!

Do you care....
what I have to say? Probably not, but for my out-of-town family & friends who say I don't send enough pictures (of my boys, that is), maybe I will do better if I can just post instead of sending a bunch of e-mails. I guess we'll see........