What I'm learning about snow - Part 2

After a night of 1-2 feet of snowfall...here's what else I've learned:

1. When dressing for snow, waterproof is key, boots are nice, snowpants are a world of difference from jeans, and only the stretchy $1 cotton mittens fit over an arm cast.

2. If you wear thick enough socks, you can wear your mom's sneakers when yours are all wet.

3. Shoveled snow is no longer a beautiful white

4. A sunny snow day requires sunglasses.

5. There is no safe place to stand at the bottom of a sledding hill. (no collisions but lots of watch outs!)

6. Kids with shovels and two feet of snow can do amazing things.

7. Wet shoes and gloves left in the garage overnight don't dry...they freeze!

8. Dogs love snow - running in it, eating it, digging in it, whatever!

9. Snow tastes good!10. If mom & dad can last longer than the kids, a peaceful stroll is all theirs!And finally...snow is really, really beautiful (it glitters!)This picture is taken from Alan & Marj's backyard.

What I'm learning about snow - Part 1

With a forecast of lots of rain in Georgia and lots of snow in Virginia...we decided very last minute to pack up and drive north for the weekend. So here we are at Andrew's brothers, snow everwhere and still steadily falling. This California girl is learning a lot is learning from the blizzard of 2010...

1. Snow is fun but cold so have lots of indoor activities for the kids

2. Snow is so very white...makes my white van look super dingy...but seriously, I could just stare at the fresh fields of white all day. It's beautiful!

3. Always pack way more socks than you think...we have wet socks everywhere...gloves, too

4. If you have a 4x4 pulling a sled...children all over will come and follow you...and end up in your house playing video games until their parents track them down

5. Dogs love the snow...especially when everyone is out there playing with them

Jason's Birthday!

We officially are on odd family now with Jason turning 7 last week (and the others being 5, 3, 1...ha, ha, get it?) So what did we do to celebrate? Well...read the previous post to learn all about the snow we were blessed with days before his birthday. Jason has always loved snow and this was a huge gift for him, thank you Jesus! Then on his actual birthday we made cupcakes for Wednesday night church. His cousins Mina and Cole came to visit the next day and got to enjoy the leftovers! Having family in town was a great excuse to enjoy all the activities Jason wanted to do for his birthday. We went to Pump it Up,

Chuck E. Cheese, and out to dinner where Jason got a huge yummy dessert and all the employees singing to him (those were his words :) We then threw him a party with family and friends on Sunday to finish up his week long celebration. It was a building party with Legos, Lincoln Logs, K'nex, and graham cracker houses. And Jason decorated his own Lego Winter Wonderland cake, yummy!It was a lot of fun and a perfect party for this happy builder.

Happy Birthday, Jason!

Snow Day!

All Jason wanted for his birthday was snow and 6 days early, God delivered! We didn't have to drive north or head to the mountains. Right here in our own yard we got snow. Snow fell yesterday (here are Jason and cousin Simeon catching snowflakes). And then it stuck overnight allowing for a morning of snow play. Now I know it's not much, just a dusting, but the kids had such an amazing time playing in what we do have. They made snow angels on the driveway!Beth even added her own artistic decorations to her angel.
They even managed to do a bit of sledding.Cocoa got in on the fun, too.Jill checked out the snow but preferred the indoors.
And here are some video clips of all the fun...

It's been a very, very good day, and a great beginning to Jason's birthday week!

Happy New Year!

Another year...another top 10 list :) So here are the Skelly family top 10 events (the good, bad, and otherwise) for 2009:

1. Our trip to California in March/April. This return home to visit family and friends was fabulous. We saw lots of people, enjoyed quality time just hanging out at the park, the beach, or in Great Grandma's living room, and Jocelyn happily survived flying with 4 children by herself! We hope to return in 2010 but only time will tell if that's gonna happen...

2. Jocelyn's Nana, Jeanne McCambridge, passed away. This meant a trip to Ohio on Mother's Day where we had a great time celebrating her life and being together.

3. The Elonen's moved to Georgia from Arizona. We thought it would be years before we'd get to see them again but surprise, surprise...wanting to be closer to both sides of their family, they moved to Georgia. It's so nice having family nearby. We spent the 4th of July, Halloween, and Christmas together (not to mention plenty of your everyday playdates just hanging out!)

4. We adopted Cocoa, a 3 month old puppy. We were told she was a black lab mix. We've since decided she's part horse. She's huge! She's becoming a great dog if only she would stop chewing up wooden toys and stuffed animals and any food related item she finds...

5. More travels...in August we drove to Erie, PA for a Skelly family gathering. We went to the Creation Museum, camped in Erie, spent a day at Niagara Falls, rode horses, picked zucchini, went to the lake, saw lots and lots of family. What a trip!

6. The Longs came for an extra long visit as they prepared for their big move to North Carolina. A year after moving to Georgia we get not one but two families relocated near us, woo hoo! Our kids couldn't be more thrilled to now have all 17 of their cousins living in the South.

7. School! We've continued homeschooling but this was the first year we had to tell the government about it! It's official - Jason's a 1st grader - and we are required to turn in monthly attendance records now. Despite this red tape, we're loving homeschooling and will continue indefinitely.

8. Andrew's company, in order to downsize, let him go. Just over a year since they relocated us across the country, they let him go. It was a shock but he's been ready for a change for awhile. We're excited for a new job, new challenges, and new experiences (we're just hoping with so much family now here that we don't have to leave the South for it!)

9. Loving having daddy home full-time, we opted to travel a bit :) We spent Jill's 1st birthday in NC, then took a trip to DC in early November, and finally spent an extra long Thanksgiving back in NC. We're feeling a bit spoiled to have so much freedom but taking advantage while we can!

10. And finally, at 14 months Jill started walking. It's amazing how that instantly ages them out of babyhood!

Really, all the kids had big advances this year. Jason and Beth both gave up training wheels while Adam perfected the tricycle and scooter. Jason's reading. Beth is learning to read quickly and becoming quite the artist. Adam - what a year - he gave up his pacifier, became potty trained and then took his first class this year at our homeschool co-op. I know it's cliche, but they grow up sooooo fast! Here's to savoring every moment in 2010!

And looking forward to sharing it all right here :)

GT Christmas Play

The kids performed their Christmas play last weekend. They've been rehearsing for weeks after church, and we've all been listening to the songs over and over (Andrew and I could understudy any role :) Fortunately, the songs are all scripture so if I have to get a song stuck in my head, at least it's the Word of God!
Jason was an ice cream salesman as the play was set at the mall. He loved selling "ice cream" to the big kids. Beth was part of the halo express choir and a sheep...see her there under the white cloth? No, me either... They did a great job, all the kids in the show. There was a lot of talent to be seen that night. Best part...Jill slept on my lap the entire time so I could relax, sit back, and enjoy the show!
I've uploaded a bunch of video excerpts to YouTube so I'd have them. Check them out:

The opening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KdgNGX7g3E

In the beginning was the Word: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRIEdT1S2CU

My favorite song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQVNOUYflUY

Kids losing steam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI3DzmcxOWw

The Wise Men song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6rXJlDO9uU

The finale song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaSKoraApto (Beth did such a great job at Away in the Manger - it was only the 4&5 year olds singing, and then there's Jason turned around...he told us he was tired :)

Real Princesses don't wear hats!

For Halloween Jill wore a princess outfit, a hand-me-down from cousin Talia. It's adorable and the best part is the tall pointed hat. One problem - Jill does not wear hats! We tried and tried and tried and tried. We finally gave up...