Snow Day

We have had quite a winter around here this winter.  It's pretty cool.  Elaina has loved the snow days and no school.  This happened the week before last (just before Valentines Day) but I am just now getting a chance to blog about it.

We have had 2 pretty substantial snows.  The other "snow day/days off" were a fluke and I can't believe school was called off, but that is beside the point.  The first snow day back in January, I was down with a bad stomach bug (you don't want to hear about that) so didn't get a chance to play in the snow with Elaina - plus it was frigid so she didn't stay out much.  The second day, documented below, I was in Denver for a work trip so I missed it too. : (

But, thankfully, I have a super awesome neighbor (who happens to be my cousin) who sent me some sweet pictures while I was in Denver of Elaina playing with her cousin/friend in the snow...I love getting pics of my kiddo while I am away.  Thankful for technology.

I hate I missed it but love that Elaina got to play in what I hear was a great snow for playing in and building stuff....

such as this (Erik sent me this pic via phone):

Donned with ND gloves and a hat - nice work Erik and Elaina

Look at all that snow!!!  So pretty.

Pics from my cousin of my sweet girl :)  So, I love how Picasa does this affect thing on my pictures sometimes.  I don't know how but it just does it and I like it :)  With my Christmas tree it was sparkling lights...this one is snowfall.  

Elaina with neighbor friend, Grace, and her cousin, Brooklyn being pulled on the sled

That's my cousin, Andy, pulling the girls

What great pictures...!  And a great day.

More Christmas

The Saturday after Christmas we celebrated with all my sisters and my dad at our home.  We had so much fun getting to see everyone.  And, our newest addition, Sloane (aka Sloaney Baloney) was there.  Love babies - especially niece/cousin babies... :)

We played this ridiculously fun and entertaining (and at times violent) game.  I wrapped a present inside a box, inside a box, inside a box, inside a box......you get it.  I think it was like 5 or 6 boxes.  The first person rolled the dice and what ever number they rolled was the number the next person tried to get.  When you rolled that number you got the oven mitts and a turn to unwrap the present.  Once the next person rolled that number they took the gloves from the person who had them and started unwrapping... you get the picture.  So, the person who was unwrapping kept switching.  It was fun and like I said turned a bit violent (you have to know how competitive my family is) - especially towards the end.  Here are some pictures but video would have been ideal for this to get the hilarity of it all.  The best part is no one knew just how many boxes there were so each time a box was opened, everyone was in suspense as to how long this was going to take.  Okay, I've said enough.

Nell's turn

Dave's turn

Celia

Doug

Alexandra

Dave again

that is my dad ripping the gloves from Nell.  This was just after Nell tackled Celia for her turn.  

Dad ended up victorious...all for a blanket.  I should mention that my Dad is the most competitive of us all so I won't mention the violence he inflicted on his most precious children/grandchildren to get the prize.  Nell also put Celia's life in danger at one point at well.  Let's just say no on ended up at the emergency room so all is well :)  I kid.  I make it sound very violent.  It wasn't that bad but it was very very funny.  

Then we did a dirty Santa give exchange... Dave ended up with this hat.  Go Titans!

Nell got this great microphone that makes your voice sound like an elf.

Wait....maybe dad ended up with this hat.  I don't know - you know how the dirty Santa game is...don't get too attached to a gift.  It'll get stolen.

And....some pics of my precious niece, Sloane.  I just think she it too adorable for words.  I do.

Quentin got this head lamp which he loves..... :)  all the men were after that thing but Quentin ended up with it.

We started a tradition last year where rather then buy gifts for each other, we bring stuff to donate to a charity.  This year we picked Nurses for Newborns.  Since Sloane spent some time in the NICU, we donated them to this organization in her name.  We bought all sorts of stuff newborns need.

Sloane with all the loot 

Later that day, we went to see our Mammaw.  I just loves these pics...  Mammaw with her youngest great-grandchild

could you just eat her up?  I could.

Sunday, my cousin (and neighbor) stopped by to meet Sloane and their daughter, Brooklyn, played with the younger kids.  A fun time was had by all.

That rounds out Christmas at our house for 2013...  

Great time, good laughs.  That's about all you can ask for.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day...Santa came.....presents, presents, presents.  It was fun.  Good time with family and spending it in our new home was awesome.  In our new house she has to walk through the living room to get to our room so she came running in screaming "Santa came and he brought me a HUUUUUUUUGE Hello Kitty doll!!!"  That was fun to wake up to - even if it was early.

Just some photos of the day...

Underwear in the stocking..what kids doesn't love getting underwear for Christmas?

Hello Kitty slippers

Can you tell someone likes Hello Kitty in our house?

DS games....

The ever popular Rainbow Loom...she's been asking for this for months.

I love these open mouth surprised reactions....priceless.

She helped Erik and I open up our gifts, too

Later that morning, we headed over to Erik's parents.  All the little girls got matching set outfits for their American Girl dolls.  Elaina wore hers for at least 3 days straight after Christmas

Our nephew Zach got an Alabama chair....his thrown.  We still love him even though he claims to be an Alabama fan :)

That's all I got from Christmas Day.....