A winter itch

What is it about a big snow that gives me the irresistible desire every single year to post excessive amounts of pictures of my kids in the winter wonderland?  It's like trying to ignore an itch (which I have a lot of practice doing from my years in marching band)...an itch I successfully resisted at Halloween costume time and during our double birthday week in the summer (for lack of profound or witty things to caption my deluge of pictures with).

But, apparently a little bout of insomnia and the sentimentality of assembling the Christmas tree with our kids during last night's blizzard in a Hallmark-like moment has weakened my resolve to be a "purist" blogger.  Whatever that is.

Without further ado, or disclaimers, may I present, the snow lovers.

Our little elf

All she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth and lots more snow and to not be made to wear the darling Christmas coat that Mom loves and she hates

I know it's blurry, but Lily's face is priceless.  As is the fact that they are sitting in snow on the trampoline.  Which, apparently, is a lot cooler than the snow on the ground.

Pure bliss: getting pulled in a sled around the yard by daddy

A close up

Sage's second round outside (note new, dry coat); she was throwing snow at the window at us

The beautiful sunrise

Lesson learned

As of this week, Sage isn't allowed to face paint without supervision anymore.  

Think that's harsh?  Take a peek at the rainbow she painted on Eliza's face.

It's hard to imagine a more excited subject, isn't it?

 

I'm still trying to understand how the black neck fits into the whole "rainbow" theme. 

Helping Others

In the past month Sage has written two "long" stories, both of which feature a protagonist named Heather (the name of my youngest sister!).  I had to include (below) the "talk" Sage wrote and typed by herself after listening to the Primary Program.  It took her about two hours to write the whole thing.  I just love how her little testimony of service morphs into a pep talk on recycling that is strongly reminiscent of last week's unit on Community Helpers in first grade.

To perform her talk, Sage conscripted our music stand to act as podium, and she constructed an adjustable microphone out of a bendy straw, a cotton ball and some masking tape.  She and Eliza have spent many hours "introducing" each other and then giving "talks" at this podium.

My talk is on helping. I like to help when people are sick or when people are hurt. I can help when we make a meal and when I am at school. I can help wash the dog. I can help buy the groceries. I can help my family in many ways. I can help the grass grow. I love to help and helping is a thing that god loves you to do. have you ever helped someone? I have helped lots of times. helping makes me happy. helping is one of my favorite things to do. I can help by going to church too. I am going to tell a story to you. once there was a little girl named heather and after she had done her jobs she went outside and then she heard something. she ran and ran till she got there. she saw a little boy lying on the ground. he was crying lots and lots and he was bleeding. heather helped the boy up and helped him find his mom. they found his mom and heather went home very happy. the end. when you help someone it gives you a warm feeling inside. a happy feeling. helping is a thing you can do any time. when you help you feel very happy. you can help the world by cleaning it and you can help the world by recycling too. you can help your community in many ways. can you help your school? Yes you can you can help your school in many different ways.