Snow, Snow and Polar Vortex

This winter has been brutal. We've had 5 snow days but only one of them was from snow. The temperature has gotten below -40 degrees the other 4 times. Once as low as -65. When it hasn't be freezing cold we've had huge snow storms at one point  we had a 7 ft snow pile I our front yard. Good thing we had a good furnace and a snow plow ( I got it working after we came back from Texas). The kids have had a blast and have had only one full day of school all January and Feburary. That's the stuff kids dream are made of!

Kurt going out in -65 in shorts and flip flops.

Snow day morning cuddle time

Snow day movie night

Christmas 2013

Christmas and Christmas Eve were pretty low key this year since both Olivia and I weren't feeling the greatest. Kurt took the boys and Hazel to go see Santa and then Kurt went out to buy some last minute gifts :). We played games and the kids acted out the nativity on Christmas Eve in front of the TV Yule log while listening to carols. The kids were so excited Christmas morning that they got up at 5am. So we spent the morning slowly opening up gifts and playing. Josh got a rainbow loom, Lego, art supplies, and a safe. Michael got some DS games, Legos and art supplies. Hazel got Doc Mcstuffins dress ups, princess dolls and a doll house. Olivia got a carebear, dolls, beanie babies, and lots of balls. Kurt and I got a new washer and dryer since our old ones decided to die right before Christmas. I got Tires since mine went balled in the matter of a month and Kurt got a iPad mini. Christmas is a lot different as an adult! Later that morning Kurt took the kids over to my Parents house to spend time with my family while Olivia had a nap.

Christmas Eve-

Christmas Day-

Trimming the Tree

We didn't put up our Christmas tree till a week before Christmas this year because of our trip to Texas. So it made the week before Christmas really festive. We put on some Christmas carols and made a whole day of decorating, stoping to dance a few times along the way. Hazel got to put the star on the tree this year with a little help from Daddy. And Olivia started to get the gist of putting ornaments on the tree but was more than happy to just help daddy hand the out. 

Texas in December

We went down to Texas the first week in December for a adult only family reunion with Kurt's family. We went a few days before and after the trip so I could visit with my extended family in Dallas. The kids spent the week with my Parents. We left durning the first big snowstorm of the year and little did we know that it would follow us the entire time we were in Texas. The high while we're there never got above 40 degrees. It was still warmer than Minnesota which was in the -20's. Also Dalas got a 4 to 6 inch ice storm while we were in San Antionio, so it made our trip intresting since we weren't sure if we could get home flying out of Dallas, lucky the ice was mostly melted when we left. We did have a great time with Kurt's family especially the night we watched Chiawanna high school (our Nephew's high school) win the state championship football game. We also got to go to the Alamo, a Brazilian steakhouse, Sea world, and played a lot of games. While we were in Dallas Kurt got to meet all of my Texas cousins and had a good time. The biggest downside was the stomach flu was making it's way through our kids back home, our snowblower wouldn't start, and our pipes clogged in our sink so we came back to a mess. 

We did get coon skin hats for the boys at the Alamo

Thanksgiving

This year we had thanksgiving at our house with My Parents, Jake and Brittney, and our friends the Clark's. It was pretty low key, which was sooo nice. Me and the kids decided to make a turkey so we could write our blessing on the feathers. 

Wisconsin Dells

We found a awesome deal on a condo in the Wilderness Resort at Wisconsin Dells in May so we packed up the kids and set of on a road trip. Olivia was too little to enjoy it so she stayed with my Mom and Dad's which she probably liked better anyways. We also invited The Smiths since was had an extra room. The kids thought it was the best trip ever and we have to agree, we had a blast. The 4 indoor water parks were perfect for all the kids and most things Josh could go on himself, and Kurt and I divided up Michael and Hazel so they could do what they wanted too. Hazel was getting over a bad cold so she was pretty wiped out most days after only a few hours so we had some cuddle time in the water, don't mind if I do. We also went to the arcade and painted pottery in between swimming. The family favorite turned it to be the bumper boats with water cannons. Josh could duck down and spray everyone without getting hit and he was a force to be reconed with. We had so much fun we plan to go an gain this year.

On our way there

In the lobby

Hazel and Annabelle out on our deck

Leaf Jumping

As soon as Kurt started raking the leaves the kids had to join in. Instead of raking all the leaves into a big pile, Kurt made a few little piles so each of the kids had their own. Olivia was a little wary at first but Michael got her in the mood and soon she was having a blast. Josh played for a little while but I never got a shot of him.