Violin practice

While Sophie was practicing her violin downstairs...
Mackenzie was "practicing her violin" upstairs in room time...

I think these eyes are because Sophie started playing and Mackenzie thought she was making the music on her violin.

One Thousand Gifts:

Many, many times in conversation I have mentioned the blog A Holy Experience
My sister has done a great job introducing the book that has resulted from this blog. I have devoured the first several chapters and it is amazing perhaps even life changing. My sister has linked the book club info and video intro to her site and it is truly amazing. Take a few minutes and jump over here

I'm a Bit Nervous About This Book...

It will be well worth your time- I promise!! (At least watch the video:)

"Weekend Ed-Venture"

This weekend Mark had a meeting in Columbia. The four of us gals tagged along to make a weekend out of it. Once we got there Mark headed to his meeting, and the girls and I enjoyed dinner and a dip in the hot tub.

Once Mark was done with his meeting it was time for "Angry Birds" a new favorite past time.

Way too late the girls sacked out.
Meetings ended, lunch was eaten, and now the big event,
The Ed-Venture Children's Museum.

Once we got home Mark surprised the girls with an extra treat to end the this "sweet" weekend.

Trip To The Dentist!

Wednesday was dentist day. Sophie and Haleigh are old pros at check-ups.

It was a first for Mackenzie.
At the restaurant that evening Mackenzie told our waiter, "I went to the dentist today and I didn't move at all!"

They all did GREAT, no cavities
(and due to fluoride treatments got to skip brushing that night- I was surprised how excited this made them :)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!

Monday morning we woke up to a thick blanket of snow and excited girls ready to play!

Poor little southern girl insisted on using her mower!
(no matter how many times I have rotated this pic it won't stay upright)

As we set out in search of a good sledding hill the options were not looking good. Mackenzie decided she was too cold and wanted to go inside. Haleigh and Sophie wanted to go on a snow adventure through the woods.

After our "great woods adventure" we found an amazing hill for sledding and some neighbors to share the fun with.

After a break for hot chocolate, lunch, and heat we all 5 headed back to the hill to show off our tricks to Daddy.

Unfortunately, we had freezing rain during our break and that made the sledding path even more fun, but somewhat dangerous (especially because there was a pond at the bottom of the hill.)
It wasn't long before we headed back in to warm up by the fire.
It was a sweet day to be snowed in all together!!

Winter Wonderland!!

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,

In the lane, snow is glistening

A beautiful sight,

We're HAPPY tonight,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,

Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,

Though your nose gets a chilling

We'll frolic and play,

the Eskimo way

Walking in a winter wonderland.

(Thanks G :)

Moments From Christmas At Home

We traveled back from Grandma and Poppy's house on Christmas Day. Although we had one sick passenger and really bad roads, we made it safely all the way home- not without many prayers!! After a bit of unwinding everyone went to bed in time for me to set up for the next morning.

The squeals and excitement of unwrapping were fun,
but the best part was playing the rest of the day!

Jewelry was made, hours of Wii played, Lego kits constructed, puzzles put together...

The following day another round of Christmas fun was celebrated with Gran and Meeps.

Through out the rest of our Christmas break there were many special moments (some capture with the camera, many fixed in my mind.)

• Impromptu visits with friends.
• Stolen moments with the girls one on one.
• A family date to Whole Food Cafe followed by a trip to Yogurt Mountain.
• A few dates with my guy.
• Many days of PJs (mostly the ones Granny gave the girls for Christmas:)
• Catching up with many folks across the miles by way of Christmas card pictures.

• 

• The girls wanting so badly for the decorations to actually work as nut crackers.

• Finding the girls playing, just being little girls and playing!
• Realizing this year I want to slow down, soak in my girls, laugh even more with my husband, love friends and family better, and know Him more.