Can you believe it?? Houston got snow twice this year! That's super amazing considering the last time we got snow down here it was 8 years ago on Sam's birthday before we were even dating. So obviously it was Atlas and Jane's first time to experience snow! Our first snow of the season was on December 7-8th.
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| She was so excited to see snow!! |
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| A few flakes on my hoodie |
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| Seeing our backyard white for the first time! |
The night before Sam took Jane outside right before bedtime to show her the snowflakes falling. She was so excited!! She's a big Frozen fan like every other little girl, so to get to see snow in person was pretty thrilling for her. Sam woke me up the next morning about 6:45am and told me, "I didn't want to wake you up, but I thought you would want to see that everything is white!" I was very glad he woke me up! I had to go wake the kids up so they could see and play in their first snow!!
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| First reaction to snow! |
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| Throwing snow at Mom! |
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| She has pretty good aim! |
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| Atlas wasn't sure at first. |
I got Jane up first and told her to look out the window. She said, "Snow!! Snow! Can I go outside??" I said, "Of course! But let me wake Atlas up first and we have to bundle up!" I woke up Atlas and he was kinda groggy. I took him to the window to see the snow and asked if he wanted to go outside and he said, "No, watch a show." He's a creature of habit. He doesn't like when routine is broken. He is very used to getting to watch a little bit of a show while he wakes up. So I put on a show for him then bundled up with Jane and went outside. She played with it between her fingers in awe for a couple minutes then climbed up on her slide to sink her hands in the deeper snow. I threw a snowball at her and she giggled and started throwing snow back at me. She got me good a few times! I kept checking in on Atlas and asking if he wanted to come outside. After about 20-30 minutes he finally said yes. He was much more tentative about it all. I didn't have gloves for his little hands, because, you know, it never snows! He wasn't sure about touching it at first.
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| He liked walking around in the snow on the trampoline |
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| Building a snowman! |
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| I love Atlas's face in this one! |
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| I made a snowman too! |
Atlas had fun for a little while walking around in the snow on the trampoline but then he was ready to go back inside. Jane and I stayed out for a little while longer until she just couldn't take the cold anymore. Her gloves aren't the best for snow. They got a little too wet and her hands felt frozen. I stayed out just a little longer after the kids and made my own snowman. I mean... I love the snow too! :) It's the only good part about freezing cold temperatures!
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| Jane tried to fix our melting snowman |
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| She was proud of it |
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| SNOW ANGEL! |
Jane and I went back out later on after most everything had melted completely except our snowmen. She had fun putting them back together. I think her favorite thing to do was to make snow angels on the trampoline. I had to take a screenshot of the video I took of her making a snow angel to get this picture. It was a really great first snow day at our house!
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| More snow!! |
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| Cambria LOVES the snow! |
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| Making footprints on the driveway |
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| Me and Xan on snow day! |
Our second snow day of the winter season was on January 16th! It actually snowed in the middle of the day and took two days for all the ice to melt. This snow was very different from our first snow. There was a layer of ice and sleet under it so it wasn't light and powdery. It didn't stick together enough to make a snowball or let alone a snowman. It was too hard to make a snow angel. But unlike the last snow which was in the middle of the night, we actually got to be outside playing while it was snowing!
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| Atlas was not a fan on this day. |
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| Making snow/ice piles |
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| Blinded by her hat. Haha! |
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| Catching snowflakes! |
Atlas said he wanted to go outside and play, but it only lasted 5 minutes. He got cold really fast. It probably was a little colder out there than last time since it was actually snowing at the time. Jane was unfazed. She was just as in love or more than the first time. Even though she couldn't make snowmen or snowballs she still found ways to play with it. She loved tasting icicles and catching snowflakes in her mouth.
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| Most of the ice/snow was still around the next day! |
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| The trampoline is their favorite |
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| Atlas was having fun finally! |
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| Jane worked so hard shoveling the snow. |
It stayed super cold through the night and we got to go play in the ice/snow again the next day! Because the sun was out and it was a little warmer, Atlas seemed to finally enjoy himself exploring the frozen backyard. He did slip on the ice a couple of times, but it didn't bother him that much. The trampoline was looking pretty weighted down in the middle from all the slush, so I asked Jane if she wanted to shovel it off. She took her job very seriously! About half way through her pants were super soaked and I asked her if she wanted to go in and change and she could come finish later. She said, "NO! I can't finish later! I have to finish now!" And she did! She really impressed me and she seemed to really enjoy it. It was really fun to have two snow days to experience with my kiddos, but I think two snow days in one winter was all I needed! I started looking forward to Spring after we had a week of super cold weather.
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| Car ride naps |
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| Granny Bea reading with Atlas |
In late January we took a trip to Dallas to visit Kokoo, Akuya and Uncle Joseph. We left Friday afternoon and made it up there around dinner time. Kokoo had made us chicken pot pie. It was delicious! Jane and Atlas only slept about an hour or so on the way up to Dallas, so I had a lot of entertaining to do, but we made it just fine. They're good little travelers. We are so grateful that my parents are close by and willing to take care of Cambria for us so we don't have to worry. She had a good time at her doggie grandparents house. ;) Atlas was completely enamored with all the new cars and trains to play with at Kokoo's house. We were so glad Granny Bea was able to make it down to Sandra and Charlie's to see us too! Atlas brought her lots of books to read. We all relaxed and talked that evening. The kids were super thrown off at bedtime for some reason. They normally do great when we travel and go right to sleep and sleep all night, but they both fought it really hard. Being pretty pregnant at that point I missed my own big comfy bed too. I had a tough time sleeping as well so I guess I can't blame them.
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| Making Biscuits with Kokoo |
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| Garbage Truck!! |
Saturday morning we got up slow and I put on some shows for the kiddos while no one else was awake yet. Once everyone was up Akuya brought out the kids Christmas presents. Atlas was super excited about his garbage truck!! Jane really enjoys her floor piano and sticker book too. They gave me a stainless steal pan which I was pretty excited about too. ;) Kokoo made us homemade biscuits with ham and homemade jam and Jane was happy to go and help! More good food!!
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| Walking around the pool |
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| Making music on the fire pit |
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| Pretending to take a nap in the hammock |
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| Checking out the playset |
After breakfast the kids and I decided to check out the backyard and run off some energy. They had fun running around the pool. It's one of their favorite activities at Marmee and Pappaw's backyard too when it's too cold to get in. It always makes me nervous though! They get so close to the side. I really don't want to have to dive in after them. They did fine. Jane really enjoyed the hammock too.
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| Brothers and a couple of kiddos. |
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| It's a guinea pig! |
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| Making Peach Cobbler |
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| YUM!! |
Saturday was a very chill day. The brothers played a lot of video games together. Atlas and Jane liked to watch. I took a nap with the kids that day since I didn't sleep very well the night before. It was nice to catch up on sleep a little. I had asked Sandra if she would teach me to make pie. So we made peach cobbler with pie crust since that was what everyone wanted for dessert! Jane helped make the crust too. I think she mostly liked the whipped cream on top. ;) The next morning Uncle Joseph got out his guinea pig to show Atlas and Jane. They both love animals and enjoyed watching him and petting him.
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| Cousins!! |
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| Everybody watching Sing together |
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| Jane asked for a picture with the beaver! |
Uncle Travis and cousin Holden came to visit with us that Sunday morning! Jane and Holden match each other's energy well. They had a good time running around the house together. We all watched some of the movie Sing together too. It was great to have some cousin time! Soon after lunch it was time to pack up, say our goodbyes and head home. Atlas and Jane had a great nap on the way home! They slept 2 1/2 hours until we stopped for a potty break at Buc-ee's. Jane saw the beaver statue and had to take a picture with it. :) It was so good to get to see our Dallas family for a whole weekend!
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| Urban Air! |
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| Atlas loves it here!! |
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| I think Pappaw had as much fun as the kids |
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| Jane loves it here too! |
It had been way to long since we had gone to Jumparoo at Urban Air! We made plans to go with our park friends and Marmee and Pappaw came with us since I felt like it would be pretty tough for me to keep up with both kiddos being 7 months pregnant. It was the first time we had been since Atlas could jump and he LOVED it! Jane of course loved it too, but I already knew that she did from previous visits. I ran into an old Tejas friend while we were there that I hadn't seen in 8 years! Such a small world. Whenever we go to Urban Air with friends it's actually really hard to get to visit or stay together because it's such a big place and the kids go in all different directions! But everyone had a great time. I'm excited to go back again hopefully in the fall when I can jump again!
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| Second generation friends! |
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| These girls are 4 months apart |
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| These two cuties are just a month and a half apart! |
Look at those cuties!! <3 These kiddos are second generation friends. It's the babyhoodies! We were missing a couple babyhoodies and a sisterhoodie from this get together, but for good reason since they live in China. ;) I try to have a playdate with my friends Mel and Katie as often as possible, but with living at least 45 minutes apart and having 5 (almost 6) kids between us and our busy schedules it doesn't happen as often as we would like. After a few months of sickness, holidays, busyness and unexpected events postponing our playdate, we were finally able to get together in early February. It was such a wonderful time of fellowship!
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| Brianna and Jane got the neck hold down |
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| Sweet little girls! |
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| So grateful for these beautiful ladies and their friendship over the last 14 years! |
It was funny because the three older girls were trying to run off and have special time to themselves half the time. The back of my car was one of their spots that the little ones couldn't get to. We tried to encourage them to make sure everyone was included. :) They all had a blast together. Jane did not want to leave!! Later Jane said, "Her's my best friend!" I asked who and she said, "Brianna!" (the closest babyhoodie to her age) So sweet! I hope they can all be good friends and we always find the time to get together and encourage and lift each other up.
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| Watching the train! |
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| Uncle Scott was giving Atlas a little extra in his kicks |
In mid February, we scheduled our last road trip before baby #3 arrives to visit Scott, Anna and Ellis in San Marcos. I'm not sure how we're going to get there after this next baby comes. I guess we'll have to take two cars until I find a van! We had a smooth trip there. We stopped for lunch at Dairy Queen on the way, Jane really enjoyed her ice cream cone that came with her kids meal. Once we got there we went straight outside to enjoy the backyard and the view! Atlas had a blast kicking the soccer ball around with Uncle Scott and getting to watch the train on his shoulders. He's a big fan of Uncle Scott. :) We took a walk down to the river and got sprinkled on a little on the way back. It felt good to get some walking in after a 3 hour drive. I think we have Mod Pizza just about every time we visit Scott and Anna. It's so yummy and everybody loves it. After the kids went to bed I asked everybody if they had heard of the paper challenge. I couldn't really try it being almost 8 months pregnant, but I had a lot of fun watching the rest of the family take a stab at it! Especially since they had all had a drink or two already. Haha! :D
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| Waiting for the Mardi Gras Parade to start |
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| Jane got quite a haul! |
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| I love that Scott caught this picture |
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| Super cool rescue vehicle! Atlas and Jane loved it. |
We all slept great and slept in a little. Once we were up my mom said she would take the kids with her through the McDonald's drive thru and pick up some breakfast. My mom is awesome like that. I hardly knew what to do with myself being awake in the morning without kids to chase around. After we finished our breakfast we headed to the San Marcos Mardi Gras Parade! It was most of our first time to attend Mardi Gras parade. Not my mom by a long shot though. She grew up in New Orleans and went to the big parade there many, many times. She told us the differences between the big New Orleans parade and this small town one. She said they needed more bands marching and of course bigger floats. They threw lots of candy and necklaces to Jane and Atlas. Jane loved the whole experience. Atlas really only cared about the trucks that rolled by. We headed to Zaxby's afterwards to grab some lunch. I had never been and it was really yummy!
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| Swimming in 40 degree weather |
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| Atlas loved it too! |
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| Neither of them wanted to get out. |
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| 2nd cousins! |
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| Roasting s'mores |
In the 10 minutes it took us to drive back from lunch it went from 70 degrees outside to 50 with a strong cold wind! We spent an hour back at the house before heading off to Austin to visit my cousin Stephanie and her family in their new house! Before we left Anna realized Ellis was being extra fussy and had a cough and a small fever. So Scott, Anna and Ellis had to stay home so she could get some good rest. When we arrived Stephanie and Steve took us on a tour of their beautiful house! It's very impressive and super cool. There is a beautiful view of the Austin skyline from almost every room! Once we finished the tour we all got in our swimsuits and ran from the door to the heated pool to swim. It was in the 40s outside by then with the wind still blowing, but the pool felt amazing! Atlas took a long time to convince to get in the pool because he was so in love with Dylan and Colin's toy trains. But once he finally did get in he didn't want to get out! ;) Atlas and I were the last ones in the pool. We got out just as dinner was coming off the grill. Steve grilled us a delicious meal and afterwards we headed to the beautiful fire pit to make some s'mores. It was getting late after a couple of s'mores, so we headed back to Scott and Anna's. It was a great night with family!
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| Great Papa Daugherty helping Atlas eat a twix |
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| Then he was teaching Jane how to bat! |
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| Love that smile Atlas is giving Great Papa Kearley. <3 |
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| Look at that smirk!! |
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| Sand box time! |
The kids got to play outside for a while longer after presents then our party guests had to leave. My parents and grandparents were able to stay and party with us for the rest of the afternoon. We all sat outside visiting together while Atlas and Jane spent the entire day in the sand box and on the trampoline. It felt like just the right party for a 2 year old that loves his trampoline. When I asked Atlas if he enjoyed his party I got a big "Yeah!" from him. :) As long as the birthday kid had fun I consider it a win for sure. Yay for another successful birthday party in the books! That's all for this Winter season. I am pretty sure we're going to have an eventful Spring with Baby #3 to make her entrance any day now!
Psalm 51:6-10
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
