Mid-Winter

It's January 2016 Anno Domini.

And it's past the middle of the month already too which is a good thing since it's always such a frightfully long month of holiday and party-making-withdrawal.
Real life hits, such as school work, cold weather, short days (which are getting longer!) and many pairs of jeans with huge holes in the knees.  (I still can't decide if they are worth mending or not - factoring in time).
I'm not saying real life isn't good, cuz it is. During this winter season we have had some pretty fun and special times which makes me want to savour this season of life.  Not one of us has caught a bug yet this season (yay)! 
I found a saying from (would you believe it) Peter Pan that I put on canvas for Seth and Tristan's room because it pretty much sums up how I feel about my little boys getting bigger.

They are turning into such interesting and fun people to have around and I laugh at how I've morphed into a hockey-mom, mini-van driving, loaded cart-and-stroller-toting mom who goes thru Costco with four kids in tow.  I choose to be the person who smiles when someone asks if I'm busy and reply with "who wants to be bored?"

So far this winter we've been able to SLED!  

Enjoy the companionship of FRIENDS over dinner and coffees.

Play alot of HOCKEY!

Try out our new-to-us SKIIS, first on the bump beside the pond...

...then at Hidden Valley in Elk Water with three other families.

Abby could hardly move with the snowpants on - she was not impressed!

We got to enjoy love and cuddles, smiles and kisses from our little Lady who is teething, climbing, babbling and in general, keeping us all amused and on our toes.  The reason there are multiple pictures of her put together most of the time is because she does. not. sit. still. ever.  So it's pretty much impossible to get her to pose or even sit long enough in on position to get a good shot. Thus I combine two OK shots. She always makes a dive for the phone or camera when she sees it come out.  I usually take about 10 in one time hoping one or two will be clear enough to use.  She's such a mover it's no wonder she also is such an eater. I don't think my boys ever had such good appetites.

Abby also received her first hair cut... the mullet she had was terrible so I evened it out a little.

We got a used keyboard much to my happiness, only to find out my fingers are rusty and stiff.
The right hand is not so bad, but the left sure needs help! 

We had more days of fog this winter then we've had all together since moving here but the result has been a landscape covered in gorgeous hoarfrost.    It's been beautiful and makes the landscape clean and bright.

And today?  My kids experienced what I call the epitome of a homeschooled life.  They started school at 7:30am to be finished by 9:30am.  They played a game of scrabble while eating fresh hot cinnamon buns.
A bit before 11am Andy packed Seth and Tristan up and took them skiing for the rest of the day to Elk Water.  I get a nice quiet day with just the two youngest, while babysitting the barns for Andy.  I'm hoping they have a wonderful time.  Is it a good/blessed life they live? I think so!!