The Weekend Lens....Jan 11

 this weekend, Mama had to work late Friday so we decided the Early Morning Saturday departure for the Boston swim meet would be just a T and Dad affair (they had no plans to stay overnight ahead of time but ended up staying all weekend as T made the finals and they had to get a hotel close to the pool to go back and forth.  the hotel was free due to J's traveling points anyway....yay!)

 The pool was just massive, What an opportunity!  Since it was T's first New England meet (and they had 2 weeks off practice for Christmas vacation), I encouraged T to go into the meet with no expectations for times or placing.  T totally rocked his times , ended up with 5 new PR's inching closer to the state cut times for 13/14 (which are so hard to make!).  He even ended up in the finals for a few events.  Plus a weekend in Boston with Just his Dad and no siblings....a win-win. 

 The rest of stuck close to home on this rainy and blustery weekend.  B and L went to the play it again sports store and got L some new iceskates that we promplty wore to the rink for like 2 hours before the rain started.  With a stop for hot chocolate and a muffin on the way home...that was the extent of our getting out over the weekend.  Coupled with a "no electronics for not listening to your mother's requests Sunday (well except football playoff games)" made for one cranky little Boy.  Let's just say we were not best friends by the end of the weekend.  He did pull out some chocolate-chocolate chip cookies all on his own (exept for the oven part). And created a model death star out of Magna tiles.  At one point we lost power and Mama got the generator moved outside all set up and running in the pouring rain.  Yep, flexed muscles after that one.  And now the snow is almost gone....boo!

2 June

 The weekend lens.....Saturday the weather was amazingly beautiful for the games.  The boys all lined up and had their names called out before the game started.  Probably won't happen again until High school.

 The little boy had a practice scrimmage also.  The sprinklers were going off on the side of the field, so this group spent a while playing in them.  They are having fun.

 His famous "celly"

 wanted to play goalie for some reason.

 The team cheer.

 T finished his "Ranger Challenge" 8 miles run, 800 passes completed 800 ground balls, 400 sit ups ans 400 push ups.  Something tells me I should have been doing it with him...sigh.

 pooltime!  It's up to 81 degrees, I even went in and it's not even June yet.

Saturday last minute date night thanks to our awesome live in babysitter.  It's sipping (just one) cold and refreshing drink outside on the patio at a cozy local restaurant time. 
Love that.  We won't talk about the rainy and cold Sunday.....and Monday...and Tuesday (or the fact that we had our fire going in June!) now will we :)

26 January

 The weekend lens....... we got just a little bit of snow.  (around here business as usual for  6 inches or less...)

 L thought up some great ideas for the kids (always thinking up creative and fun things for the kids to do.) We decorated for valentine's day this year....:)

 We sledded.....

 We played legos.....

We started our new linen closet in the laundry room.  I dream up the ideas and he builds them.  That's how we roll.

Love winter running.

 We finally skied! 

 Love them.....

 He was surprisingly unsure for the first time out....next time we're doing lessons.

 Although he insisted on riding the lift alone, every time.

 Love her....she's getting so great a turning now.

 Love the view.....

 and the company....

 Didn't see them all day (sigh...)

 Love the goggles....

 Friends.....

 The sun peeking over the mountain in the late afternoon was spectacular.

It was cold.....we wrapped it up around three and headed home for a hot tub and some hot soup (Thank God we thought of making soup the night before!)

 WE made the lunches....notice the dream child in the background all eager to help.

 Their weekly routine is gathering up the trash and rolling it down to the end of the driveway.  She always takes the recycling.  Again....She's so excited to help.  Love this (And I've meant to blog about it for like ever.).

and now.....we're bracing for  the Blizzard of 2015!  Hope your weekend was great, stay safe and warm!

15 December

The weekend lens.......

There was the church fair, the one where J gets to BBQ all day and the kids get to shop without adults.  Some little elves made gifts for all their teachers and friends in front of the tree on a snowy afternoon (with a little help from Mom).  There was shopping and wrapping as a family or our adopt-a-family.   There was a little cookie making and delivering.  There was an impromptu date night.  there was reading (to each other)!  There was squabbling, and wrestling.  There was family, and love and a weekend at home together.  Just soaking up all the blessings that make up the merry and the joy right now.  Love this life. 

21 October

 The weekend lens.....

Charlie brown and orange lights....it's the simple things that make me happy.

 At the end of last week, B had her "friend" birthday party.  She invited her two best friends to an afternoon of getting nails done, getting her ears pierced, then back home for make their own pizza and cupcakes.  One of the girls was a new friends so naturally I was nervous.  It was amazing.  The girls laughed and talked and whispered secrets in the back of the van.  There was nothing different about her.  Mamas, don't ever take the sound of laughter and sweet girl giggles and whispers from the back seat for granted.  Ever. I know I won't.

 Went grocery shopping with my boy on Sunday, which looked a little like this.  He didn't make a peep even though he was totally covered by the end.  He said he loved it.  We picked up lots of stuff to send our soldier overseas.  I can't wait till he opens it.

Saturday was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new school. We missed it cause we had to get those fence posts in the ground, but we have So much gratitude to all the parents and people who did the work to make this finally happen for our kids.  It's an amazing place to learn.

More orange lights....

 Saturday night J and I went out to a local adults only fundraiser event for the school.  A really fun time, talking with neighbors and friends.    T has been babysitting some when we go out close by and for just a few hours.  He is doing an awesome job and it's really doing wonders for us to be able to get out a bit more.

Fall is amazing.  So grateful we live here.