.reasons to smile.: snow, snow and more snow... finally!

We got about 7 inches of snow Friday into Saturday... and it was such a pretty snow!!! The snow actually stayed on the trees all day. It seems it usually blows off right away, but I think this stuff is stuck on the trees. It was so pretty I wanted to get some pictures of it - even though it always seems the pictures don't look nearly as cool as it looks in real life... and this was no exception. The pictures are okay.

I've been wanting to take a picture of our house during all seasons and frame... I think the one below will be the Winter picture. Seeing this picture brings back memories of when our house was for sale and I drove past this house and loved it so much! We went through it and I just fell in love with it - even with the disgusting carpeting, the extremely overgrown landscaping and other things inside that needed to be taken care of. The house was not loved and it needed love.

Our house finally sold about six months after we went through this house and it was still available. My guess is the gross carpet scared many potential buyers away, but I was able to see past that. I'm so happy to have our house sold and to be where we are. I think of others who have their house for sale and feel for them. I remember the feeling... and it just stinks. Every time I see a house with a for sale sign I think of how thankful I am to be done with that. I think sometimes you go through things and forget that they even happened and just take things for granted. I'm very thankful to be where we are and think about the time when our house was for sale and how much work that was... so happy things worked out. Even though at one point it felt it never would. For anyone who has a house for sale now ~ keep your head up... it will work out eventually.

The kids had fun playing outside all weekend. They never seem to get cold! Each time they came in we enjoyed some hot chocolate. Our new recipe includes reddi-whip and hershey chocolate syrup... yum! Here are some pictures of the kids outside.

[she didn't last long, but we did get her out. her and i went on the sled together... it was a tight fit, but we made it happen.]

[Rachel, Eli and Kate... and Nate inside in his bouncy seat]

[thanks for smiling Kate]

[the kids with Maggie]

[catching snowflakes]

[we watched the movie Dolphin Tale on Saturday night... all of us, even Nate watched part of it. what a great movie. Rachel got very emotional at the end... oh boy, she's going to be just like her mom.]

Goals I made for myself... NOT accomplished

I wanted so badly to do the following, but it didn't happen:

1) clean out my closet... just started tonight, but a lot to do yet

2) put printed pictures in albums... got as far as putting empty albums I have and pictures on the dining room table. guess it's a start!