Another snow post!

We have had our fair share of snow here in Knoxville this year...in fact, more snow than we have seen in our 11 yrs here. Right after we got back from Drill it snowed another big snow. My kids were so over the snow that they didn't ask to play in it once. Caleb and Madison did put on their rain boots and robes (you might be a redneck) and threw some moldy bread to the birds.



We, which really means me, collected snow and made snow cream..everyone liked it but Caleb!








He just wanted to eat the snow

The natives are restless!

We have been stuck at home most of the last 3 days and I was so happy to hear that the kids would be going back to school tomorrow (an hour late but I will take it). Our county has 8 snow days and today we used #6. That means we only have 2 more days to last us 3 more months of winter...makes me a little nervous! I don't need any days tacked on at the end since we just found out this past weekend that Matt will be leaving for Basic Training on March 22 and will graduate on May 20th. This means me and the kids will miss the last day and 1/2 of school. Luckily we have great teachers/bosses who totally understand.

I have spent the day searching airlines for tickets. Southwest seems to be my best bet (they offer good rates and nonstop flights)...I need Matt to check about the military discount though before I book. The kids are super excited about flying...it will be Caleb and Madison's first time.

My wonder MIL has already booked their timeshare for the weekend....we were so lucky that their timeshare had a resort there and had openings. Apparently, May is "peak" season for San Antonio. We are hoping to squeeze in a few fun things while there. Matt's parents will be traveling with us while my parents will not b/c my sister will have just had her baby.

The kids are handling Matt leaving really well. I think that they are as relieved as I am to know when he is leaving and when he is coming back. They were really excited that he would be coming home between Basic and Tech school as they won't be going to visit him while he is in CA but were a little bummed that he wouldn't be here for their birthdays...he won't even be able to talk with them on their birthdays :(

We just barely made it home!

This past weekend Matt and I headed off to Memphis...he had to report for drill and I was picking up my Grandmother to take her to her house for a couple of days. My Grandmother and I had a wonderful time visiting just the 2 of us. We took care of selling her car. We also had a chance to run by the cemetery and see my Grandfather's headstone which has been placed. It is a very pretty stone. I took a couple of picks since we don't get down there much but don't plan on posting them...just wanted to have them for me.

After carefully watching the weather we decided to go ahead and leave Memphis Sunday afternoon as soon as Matt was done with drill....it was a good thing. We left Memphis at 4:30 and the snow started about 6:00. We managed to get home and a couple of hours later the snow started. We are currently "snowed" in! The best part is my Grandmother is snowed in with us!!! We enjoyed doing nothing really today. The kids didn't even ask to play in the snow...I think they are tired of the snow plus our sled is at Nona's house. We did make some snow cream today....Caleb and Madison liked it while Taylor wasn't too impressed! Looks like we are in for more snow over the next few days...hoping it doesn't keep the kids home all week!

We were so happy to get Matt's leave date this weekend...he will be leaving for San Antonio, TX, on March 22. We are excited to have 2 more months of him home. We have a mini vacation planned in February and he will get to go with us. Also he will be here for the kids Spring Break. It does look like he will come home between Basic and Tech School. The kids and I will be going down for his graduation the end of May and they are excited that school will be out so maybe we can stay an extra day or two and sight-see :)

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we enjoyed one of the most beautiful snowfalls I have ever seen. It began snowing about 3:00 and just kept snowing. Sometimes the snowflakes would be huge. It snowed for about 4-5 hrs straight. Sometimes it would be snowing really hard and then would lighten up only to return to snowing hard. It was such a beautiful sight. And it totally caught me off guard. I didn't even know snow was in the forecast. I had been to work in my classroom that morning and then ran to a few stores and came out of Kroger to snow! Our church ended up canceling classes (though I had already decided not to go as our road was covered and for those who haven't seen our street we live at the top of a hill....not good when covered with snow). So we just sat inside watching the snow fall.

Taylor was praying it would stop b/c she was ready to go back to school and had a field trip on Friday that had been canceled and rescheduled due to the snow right before Christmas and has been canceled and rescheduled again due to this snow.

Caleb was praying it would keep snowing as he wasn't ready to have to get up early.

I was praying it would stop too (or at least not affect the roads) b/c Matt and I are leaving Friday morning for Memphis. He has drill and I am going to visit with my Grandmother who I haven't seen since my Granddaddy's funeral in October. I am going to take her to her house for a few days and then our plans are to go back to Memphis and pick Matt up and head back home Monday morning....bringing my Grandmother with us! She hasn't been here since I was pregnant with Taylor (11 yrs ago).

We ended up with 2 1/2 in of snow at our house and school was delayed an hour this morning and more snow is predicted for tonight (1-3 in). In fact snow is a possibility over the next few days here. As long as it stays off the roads I am ok with it b/c it was so beautiful! Snow is also in the forecast for Memphis Sunday night/Monday morning....praying it doesn't happen b/c I want to be able to come home Monday.

Here are some pictures of our backyard, front yard and side yards...it was beautiful! And this was only after about 2 hours.

Driving home..don't worry I was going really slow and there was nobody on the road but me


The view from our porch


Our backyard


Our walkway

Madison's New Hair-do

Madison got her hair cut today! She has been so excited about it and counting down the days. She (and me too) had gotten so tired of the tangles. The longer her hair gets the more tangles and the girl is so tender headed. It was causing everyone a ton of grief. She was very adamant that it be cut like Taylor's. We compromised with a short bob but no "stacking" in the back...too much maintanence. I love it and so does she! She keeps "poofing it up" which is hilarious!

Madison before



Madison after


I know it looks a little crooked here but it is b/c her head was tilted

New Years

For the past few years we have enjoyed spending New Years Eve at the Tomlinson's where we celebrate Christmas, December birthdays and New Years but sadly this year Matt had to work so we didn't go...just wouldn't have been the same without him! We decided to go over the next day and spend the night. We enjoyed eating sushi and hibachi followed by Amy and I getting a little shopping in without the kids (we hit up Joann's and Michael's and got some great deals on some Christmas stuff). The kids enjoyed opening presents when we got back before going to bed. Coy and Madison slept with Matt and I while Taylor and Caleb slept in the den and Clara slept with Amy and Aaron....needless to say this didn't result in much sleeping! Madison and Coy were the first ones asleep but the other 3 like to never went to sleep! Madison woke up 4 or 5 times. There wasn't much sleep going on in our room (well except for Coy who slept until 8:15...this is unheard of for her).

Madison got a playdough set


Coy got a cute singing puppy!


Caleb got Bop It


Coy playing with Clara's singing Penguin


Taylor got a cute purse and cross necklace


Amy, Aaron and Clara looking at their annual scrapbook album