Favorite Pics of Us 2012...Post 2

Finally caught that elusive little "Flo-flo"

Mastering watercolor

Sweet sunshine girl

Always inquisitive

If she's not holding one of her chickens, she's babysitting them

First frog find of the year, with many more to follow

Favorite Pics of Us 2012...Post 1

The appropriate expression of guilt ;)

Sisters.

Sneaking the cold green beans before supper

Yes, that's the dog's collar and leash around her neck

Cue in THE most popular accessory again...

Appropriate expression for the current activity ;)

Cousins enjoying a late night birthday party

Snowy Weekend Mornings

When the snow is still coming down on those weekend mornings, it makes for the coziest family time.

Crafts and games, building and snuggling...there's just nothing like winter to make us slow down and enjoy quiet(ish) time together.

Thank You Daddy

Last year Shawn happened to hear of an available Kitty Cat (a small, child-sized snowmobile) for a very good price. 

Typically these sleds (northerner-speak for "snowmobile") are quite expensive, that is, IF you happen to find one for sale. 

The demand is high and the supply is low. 

It didn't run, and he didn't know if it ever would, but being the fabulous daddy he is, he wanted to give it try for his kiddos.

Little did he know all it needed was a carburetor cleaning, a new spark plug, and fresh gas. He said it was the best deal he'd ever gotten. :)

The kids LOVE it. 

I love it because it gives my children an experience I found to be one of my own favorites as a child.

I know I've told you already, many times, but thank you, honey.

Thank you for the time spent fixing it in the cold, wet garage on those cold, wet nights.

Thank you for all the times you had to take it apart and put it back together, 

with two impatient kids knocking the hood shut on your hands and losing the lock washers in the dirt.

Thank you for running down the looooong driveway countless times to help them out of the too-deep snow or dragging it back to the garage every time it quit.

Thank you a hundred times again.

An ever watchful eye on her "babies"

Yes, he even has to snowblow a path for the little sled, we have too much snow!

Keeping daddy company

I love how she concentrates :)

 

More Winter Fun

The snow has been a great medium for fun and visitors this year!

Hannah's first snowmobile ride (with Uncle Joel) :)

She was quite relieved where the ride was over lol!

Can't wait for my turn!

This guy couldn't go fast enough.

Poppy was worried each time the snowmobile took her "babies" too far away.

Patiently waiting her turn...and making sure no one got on before her. ;)

Snowball action

Tuck your head and GO!

Family

Time spent the last few days was wonderful, special, idyllic, and in every way...wanted to keep in memory. 

Our dear siblings and cousins opened their home and hearts and much fun was made together. 

Of course, my camera was forgotten in the flurry of last-minute packing, so I have nothing visual to share. 

But that's ok too. Because then I'm immersed in the flavor of the moments instead of recording them behind a box of technology. 

Anyways, we enjoyed good food and stories, great art and acting, delightful snow fun and speed, sprinkled with lots of laughs and messes and imagination.

Thank you, dear family. Thank you.

Here are a few pictures taken last summer of the gang...you can probably imagine the visionary sparks that fly when this group is together!

 

 

 

A New Years Blessing to You

The Darkling Thrush 

I leant upon a coppice gate 
    When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
    The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
    Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
    Had sought their household fires. 

The land's sharp features seemed to be
    The Century's corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
    The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
    Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
    Seemed fervourless as I.

At once a voice arose among
    The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
    Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
    In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
    Upon the growing gloom.

So little cause for carolings
    Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
    Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
    His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
    And I was unaware.

Thomas Hardy, 1900