Midwestern Winter

We've settled into the doldrums of a Midwest winter.
While El Nino brought a very mild December, as promised, it is now beginning to fail us, as it has been up and then down, down, down, into the single digits and teens intermittently this month :(

It's time for a recap of what we've been up to the past month or so. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Hard to believe it's all past us already.

We are so grateful for two sets of grandparents/families with which to celebrate the Advent season. We enjoyed celebrating Christmas Eve with Mimi and Grampy in Milwaukee. The boys had fun using Mimi's tea set, playing with their new hotwheels, opening many gifts, and we even got to watch their cousins out in Seattle open their gifts from us (obviously not quite the same as being in person, but we do what we can).

Boys got dressed up for church and I insisted on a few family shots.

We were chagrined to realize that in the absence of childcare for his age-group, we would be graced with Will's presence throughout the entire service. After five napless days preceding (you know, excitement of Christmas and all that), it was a dicey affair. However, we all survived, and he had his first experience of a beautiful, candle-lit time of singing, praise, and celebration.

Christmas morning we headed to Oma and Opa's house for more celebration and merry family time.

Link's favorite present :)

I'll refrain from posting any family pics from Christmas morning since I think they would all seek revenge... 

This winter I have not often found myself searching for lost scarves and mitten clips, hanging up sopping, snow-soaked winter pants, or reaching for the marshmallows and hot cocoa for the post-snow romps...but we have had one or two small snows and opportunities to get some much-needed fresh air and winter sun.

Our huge, mature, wonderful ash trees met a common tragic demise this summer. We planted four new trees this fall and posed for some pictures with them on this snowy day. Need to remember how small they were! (both the kids and the trees I guess)

Something so invigorating about crunching across starched white snow that sparkles in blinding sunlight, gulping breaths of crisp clean winter air, pulse bounding, cheeks rosy..keeps you healthy.

Something so fun about watching your boys get a huge kick out of using their new sled on a half foot hill with a 10 degree slope in the backyard...keeps you young.

Something so heart-melting about watching from behind as your toddler excitedly sprints across the snowy year, head bouncing, knees pumping, little coat-engulfed arms swinging...keeps you having babies :)

Catching (and of course trying to eat) huge, gorgeous, intricate snowflakes, teaching my sons to appreciate the beautiful creation of our splendid Creator.

This blog is so therapeutic for me. I love having an outlet to share favorite photographs and recap exciting adventures or fun memories. But more importantly, I love that it forces me to dwell on the fun, precious, exciting, and great little moments of my life. I love that it causes me to edit, catalogue, and organize photos. But more importantly, I love that it forces me to sit back at the end of the day and reflect on just how blessed I really am.