Life.

Last Saturday we woke up to snow!

Brielle and Braden played for a little while outside, eating the snow and throwing snowballs. Until they were so cold, Braden started crying desperately because his hands were frozen.

I don't know what it is about my kids and wanting to see what snow tastes like...

We came back indoors and I felt grateful that we are not homeless and that we have a warm, cozy home to come to when we are cold...and of course we HAD to have some hot cocoa with marshmallows.

By Tuesday, most of the snow had melted. We ventured outside on a walk (to keep everyone sane) :) and we decided that winter had finally arrived! It was cooooold!

I followed Brielle and Braden around and just let them do their thing...they LOVE being outside, even when it's cold...my feet were soooo cold...

Brielle was just enjoying herself, just chilling in the cold...coloring, meditating...what a silly girl!

"Cooome oooon!!! Leeet's gooooo!!!"

Apparently, I was walking too slow for Mr. Braden's liking...

Oh! Look what Mr. Braden found...what would you call it? Snow? Ice? or Slush?

Whatever it was...

He was in heaven!

Then, Brielle had the bright idea of getting our sand little shovel and rake to play in the snow.

Braden thought it was the coolest thing ever!

So much concentration...

The things children find entertaining...

I think by then, my toes were about to fall off...I was soooo cold...but look at how much fun these two were having!

I HAD to beg them to come back home...

while I was waiting for them...I found this...they are all over here in Virginia. Just beautiful!

They FINALLY, decided to come back home! By then, I couldn't feel my feet!!!:) But they had a blast!

Later in the week, Braden whacked Brielle with something and cracked Brielle's lip. She was bleeding. Braden got in trouble. Brielle put on a Dora band aid to make it all better.

Another day, I made delicious homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. It was delicious and Braden let me know it was delicious, which is VERY unusual for Mr. Braden. He is picky. If it were up to him he would eat ice cream, cupcakes, anything sweet the rest of his life.

So he liked the soup. He kept telling me: "Hmmm...mom this good mom." But he took his sweet time eating it. He'd eat a bite then contemplate, eat another bite, then contemplate...he's picky and a slow eater. But at least this time he WAS eating and not waiting for me or Scott to force him to finish his dinner. When he would start contemplating for too long, I'd remind him to keep eating. He'd tell me: "mom (with a tone), I'm just looking at Brielle's plate." or "I'm looking at yours plate." I tried to keep a straight face but it was way too cute to keep one.

This little girl can bring me the most joy and at the same time she can also make my days soooo complicated! She's been so sassy lately, having MAJOR selective hearing, and so incredibly whiny. Sometimes I just have to remind myself that she's only 3 years old. I often wish I were an EXPERT at parenting, I wish I knew exactly what to say, the perfect consequence to give, how to always keep a calm and poised voice, etc. as she is learning, I am too...

She looks so ANGELIC and beautiful in this picture.

She asked me to make her a "princess" pillowcase. I was going to save it to put in her Christmas stocking but I couldn't wait, we both went to pick out the fabric. Of course she wanted to get fabric with Disney Princesses but I refused! Glad I could convince her that it doesn't have to have Disney Princesses to be a "princess" pillowcase..and she actually is in LOVE with her new pillowcase!

These days, I think I'm more of a negotiator than a mom!