Assembling a Christmas Present

After six nights of work in the basement, one full day, thirty total hours, and what seemed like 6,000 total pieces, I put this up in the backyard. 

To be fair on the full day, I had help from my friend, Jeff and from Jeremy.  The day started overcast and it appeared like it was going to pour before we even started, but then the sun came out and we went to work.  However, that was short-lived.  The sun gave way to a drizzle and the drizzle turned into a down pour.  We pressed on and took shelter under the deck and eventually the garage.  I'm sure several people driving by thought what are those fools doing building in the rain.  The goal was to get it finished before the girls returned.  I was close to it, only having to stake it down, attach the swings and the slide.  I was slightly afraid it would end up like this Lowe's commercial...

But for now I think we did okay...so feel free and stop by and swing and slide with the girls, I am sure they would love to share with all their friends.

Drea playing with plastic from the chains

The slide was one of the things I was worried about most.
However, it went together quite easily and mounted with no
problems.

I told Drea, I would try not to be so bossy about how they could play on it...try being the key word

Charlotte turns 5!

That's it.  I have no pictures.  I left my camera at home.  I dropped the ball.  I blew it.  But you know what, she doesn't know.  Frankly, if it wasn't for this post she wouldn't even remember that Daddy forgot his camera on her fifth birthday.

What she will remember is she went roller skating.  It was hard and eventually she took off the skates because it is much easier to walk around then to skate around.  She will remember that we listened to music as she was skating.  More specifically, she listened to the Frozen soundtrack.  After all, that was the theme.  You can't have a party without a theme.  She will remember that she danced around the rink like she was Anna and Elsa.  She will remember she had cake and ice cream with all the fixings she could ever dream of.  She will remember the piñata with all the treats inside.  She will remember the presents.  The clothes and toys with all the things that she enjoys.  She will remember that her friends from school were there and how excited she was to see them outside of school, at a party just for her.  She will remember that her family was there.  And she will remember that she is loved.

I know others took pictures, so they can be seen.  And even if they can't, it doesn't matter because those memories are there for her and for me.  What I will remember is my baby is getting bigger.  I will remember that the days, are becoming weeks, and the weeks are becoming months, and the months are becoming years, but I won't forget her party or the fact that she is growing up.  So Happy Birthday, Charlotte, Daddy loves you...even though I forgot the camera. 

Melt-ageddon

We continue to survive the winter weather here in WV.  The weeks continue to bring cold temperatures and more snow days and delays.  We went the entire month of January without going for one full week.  In February it has been much of the same with only one more week left, it is possible to have gone for two months without a full week of school (year around school anyone?) However, after having snow in the yard for over almost two months, the weather began to warm up over the last few days.  With the warm up and some rain, we had quite the puddle in the backyard. 

I don't think you can tell, but the water is moving quickly in this picture

Notice my neighbor's shed...he has it stacked on two cinderblocks
and that is not even the deepest part

Does anyone have an Ark?

After playing on the deck for 30 minutes, the water was just too tempting

It didn't take long for them to realize that the water was really cold...
 

Snow + No School = Sledding

Finally.  This is the year where the girls have finally started to love sledding.  It excites me like when I was finally able to throw them around the pool.  It just makes playing in the snow that much better.  After this past summer, I knew it would not take much to get Charlotte on a sled.  When we were at the beach she loved the log ride, so I figured going down a hill on a sled would be no problem.  She did not disappoint. 

I knew it might take a little work to get Drea on the sled.  However, before this last round of winter storms, she kept wanting to get the sleds out and try sledding down the small hill next to the house.  I thought just maybe if we could find the right hill she might try it.  As luck would have it, we found one.  To be honest with you, I don't know how I didn't realize it was there before.  I guess it took my neighbors moving for me to realize it.  Either way it is a perfect hill for the girls and it is a 20 second walk out our front door.  So when the temperature hasn't been below zero we have been able to go sledding.  We have already been five times and with another snow day tomorrow we will be hitting the slopes again. 

This is from one of the first times we went sledding two weeks ago

Notice the road in the background...this was not an issue until
the snow got really packed down, then the road became an issue, I
built a wall of snow to prevent going into the road and so far so good

Drea just finishing her first run of the day

Charlotte getting ready for her turn

Both girls at the top of the mountain

Finishing another run

 I have noticed as the snow gets packed down the less and less the girls want to go.  It gets really fast.  I have managed to go several times as well and it is really a lot of fun for me too.  The funny thing is when we went for the first time two weeks ago, I couldn't figure out why my body hurt so much one morning.  Then I remembered, we were sledding.  The next step is to take them to WISP for tubing, but for now, we will enjoy our little hill and our 20 second walk.

 

This first clip is only like 10 seconds of Drea coming down the hill

 

 

This video is about 1 minute of both of the girls

IT is well with my Soul

We sang this old hymn last Sunday at church.  It made me think.  I have been though a lot in the last couple of years.  And those that know me and know my story...well, know.  I don't know what it was about it, but it sunk in.  Maybe it was the small crowd and the intimate feel because of the bad weather.  Maybe it was just time.  Or maybe, just maybe it was God.  But it hit me that day at church.  Smack dab in the face.  IT is well with my Soul.  That's it.  Nothing more than that.  IT is well with my Soul.

Sunday also marked the last trip for the girls and I at HealthPlex.  Well, HealthPlus, now.  Anyway, I was able to join though my health insurance for the last two years at a discounted rate of $20 a month.  The program was only a two year program and my two years are up on Friday.  So for awhile, that was our last family swim.  Perhaps, I'll join the gym again, but maybe, just maybe that was it.  I know this might sound corny, but as the girls jumped and played and our time was winding down, I thought about the last two years and how much fun we have had there.  Drea really learned to swim there.  She started swimming a little bit before we went, but before you know it she was swimming like a fish.  Charlotte is now right at that point.  She is constantly wanting to take off her puddle jumper and swim around.  So as I watched the final minutes tick away, I got a little emotional because that chapter is closing.  But IT too is well with my Soul. 

As I move forward with the next chapter in my story, I encourage you to press on and focus on God.  Whatever IT is that you are dealing or struggling with, let IT be well with your Soul.  God is there and is listening, just start talking. 

Snow Tub

A couple of people asked me what the heck is snow tub from my last post.  Well, without any further ado...

Today's snow tub was food themed

Drea said, why are you taking a picture like that?

The girls dug two holes to sit and stand in

Winter Break Extended

We have been bombarded with snow and cold temperatures here in north central West Virginia.  The last day we were at school was January 17th.  We had off Monday for MLK Day and have had snow days the rest of the week with another one coming tomorrow.  The outlook doesn't look good for the beginning of next week either.  Even with the cold and snow we have managed to stay busy. 

On Monday we made a trip to Walmart because I didn't have any food in the house.  I am thankful we did because we basically have been stuck in the house since then.  I usually like to take the girls out and play in the snow, but with the cold temperatures I thought it probably wasn't a good idea.  We did sneak out to Mountain Creative to finish a pottery project that Drea started a couple weeks ago.  The rest of the week we have stayed indoors.

In no particular order this is what we have done.  Polly pockets, monster high dolls, TV shows, movies, board games, card games, snow tub (this was a lot of fun, how could it not be, a tub filled with snow!), arts & crafts, indoor picnic, parties, playing the ipad, tablets, and computer.  On top of all of that, plenty of eating.

The neat thing about most of this stuff is the girls planned it on their own.  On Tuesday night when Drea learned we were not going to have school on Wednesday she decided Charlotte and her were going to have a picnic.  I wasn't invited :(  Drea and Charlotte both planned parties with snacks and presents.  I have told them repeatedly, how proud I am of them both for getting along so well.  I can not think of a time that I had to referee a fight or punish either one of them.  I really think they have enjoyed just relaxing and playing.

Tomorrow's plan is baking cookies and decorating them with homemade icing.  Then a little Wii dancing to work off the cookies.  Barring a cancellation, they have dancing in the evening and we will follow it up with movie night and popcorn.  We will round out our weekend with swimming at Healthplus and hopefully a fresh start to a full week of school.  But if not I am sure we can find something to do.