A snippet of Christmas

I know. It's strange to look back instead of forward, but some of my photos have to go somewhere lest these library trips spent organizing them go to waste. 

Our stockings and the Leons, haha

I blame some Girlfriends. You know who you are.

Nobody makes sugar cookies like Thing One. Still. Forever.

After a small misreading of dates on my part, we did all end up in church clothes and at the appropriate service at the right building at the right time and even on the right day.

 

However, as Aragorn declares, "that is not this day," as you can tell by the number of people in pajamas. My apologies to my more polished family members; I just didn't have the fight left in me to get everyone back into them when they weren't thrilled about their sacrifice in the first place. Can you hear me rolling my eyes? I hope so.

Anyway, we hope that you have managed to take some of the sparkle and magic and love (and not just the pounds) of the holidays into the New Year with you. 

If this year is hard, or you feel like you're at a breaking point, please let us know. We'd love to help. We have room, ears to listen and shoulders to lean on. 

And a new cookie jar. Thanks, Grandmama and PaPa! The Honey Bear knocked our cookie bear off the counter and polished off all the freshly made almond crescents. All of them. The cookie bear had been given to us by Lisa's Grammy way back during our baby shower for the firstborn. Got that kid into adulthood, so well done, good and faithful servant, but man, we will miss you and your distinctive opening sounds that were a dead giveway of sneakage to mom ears. Out with the old and in with the new. RIP Cookie Bear 2003-2022.

 

Miscellaneous March

I'm not quite sure how I'm always behind, but it is what it is. I realized close to the end of the month of March that I'd forgotten to take mid-month morning pictures, so I think these ones were from the third week or so...

March, in Ohio, is very fickle. It's chilly (if not downright cold) in the mornings and then often pleasant and sunny in afternoon. The kids figure this out quickly and begin to boycott coats, nevermind that they'll freeze their neverminds off in the morning. Truly, it was too cold to be in sandals this particular morning, but I wanted to enjoy my lavendar and violet pedicure that I did in honor of Grandma Barb, whose favorite color was purple.

Since the Cheeseballs are always begging me to, "take a picture of meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" I did. I love their bright eyes in the softness of the morning light.

And then there was spring break. Carrie discovered a crustacean (boy, is that ever a weird word to spell) next door and claimed the neighbor didn't want it/him/her in the pond. So she claimed him/her/it. 

Carrie, go put him in our pond.

No! He'll eat all the tadpoles!

Carrie, then go put him in the creek out back.

No! He'll eat the snails!

Carrie! He has to eat, too!

I'll put him in the hole...

***

Later on, when Hinrew and Muggin were here, Carrie excavated several more of the critters as well as some snails. Muggin has those pictures up on Facebook.

It was too cold when Sherri was here to play in the creek, but she's promised a raincheck on that activity as it's one of her favorites also! 

I am happy to report that no critters are still stuck in bins or buckets or nets. At least, as far as I can tell. Carrie could have an entire pet shop set up in the shed as I haven't been in there for a month... hmmm...

She also bakes and decorates sugar cookies. 

And he eats them.