Our cozy home in this wonderful snow! Everything looks so fresh and bright! We must have at least 10 inches already-and it is so light and powdery! Ella, Joshua and Gabriel were already sledding this afternoon, I hope they remember where they left the sleds because they are most certainly hidden.
And, a notice to all: Ella's cantata has been rescheduled for a very special day............... January the third! I think she will be excited to be singing on her birthday. I hope everyone can make it for a grand cELLAbration!

It was gingerbread house day here today! Much sugar was consumed by all before the morning was over. They even dug out the Halloween candy bag for an extra variety of supplies. Finally a use for all those smarties!

The snowmen peeps are just the cutest!
The three chillins with their respective houses:

Ella was extra proud of this Hershey bar wheelbarrow:

And the table set for two:

In our backyard

The melting snow and RAIN left our little section of creek roaring. This video is from yesterday morning; this morning we awoke to find one of our huge pines from the top of the hill fallen, the uppermost branches reaching all the way down into the creek. Ella and Joshua are pleased with their new fort and we now have plenty of fresh pine... Christmas greens anyone?

Scenes from 12.7

Sledding on the last bit of snow (with a sled salvaged from the neighbor's trash this summer!)

Watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Ella from whoville

Lexington Christmas Parade 2009!

Snow Snow Snow Snow Snow

We awoke to our first snow of the season! There was much hustle and bustle and finding of boots and snowpants, hats and gloves even before the hot chocolate was served this morning. The munsters were in and out, in and out as they got cold outside and then came in to warm up. I got a little weary (dare I say grumpy?) as mountains of coats and woolens were strewn about each in their own melting pool of snow. However, we put on Johnny Mathis, hung everything out to dry and did a bit more decorating.

In the afternoon we headed out to the George C. Marshall Museum at VMI, where Ella and Joshua made an ornament and card each to send to our troops overseas. Dear Joshua was worried that the soldiers wouldn't have a Christmas tree to hang his ornament on.

After supper and a traditional Saint Nicholas story, we put our shoes out on the doorstep. I hope they are filled with goodies in the morning!

I think Joshua was worried Saint Nick couldn't get through for the snow; he left this out with his shoes:

For Kathleen

This is classic holiday magic right here folks. Guaranteed to make you smile!

One more

I had to add this one of Joshua at 11 months! Look at that belly!Maybe this is why:

Or this:

A trip down memory lane

Tonight I started looking for a picture of Joshua in a certain shirt that he would have worn when he was about one. I didn't find it, but we had fun looking through the photos of when my "big kids" were "little kids". Ella had just turned three and Joshua had just turned a year.