SNOW SNOW SNOW and MORE SNOW

We had a huge winter storm this weekend. I think they officially called it a blizzard warning and our state was in a state of emergency. I believe we got around 21 inches of snow in a 24 hr time frame. The plows couldn't keep up and yesterday we got to dig ourselves out. Church was cancelled. Ry's work got cancelled today and they cancelled school for the rest of the week. We thought it was tons of fun and nothing compared to Utah but here it's a big deal. Here are some of our pictures from all of this snow.

These first ones are form Saturday during the day so before the snow had finished.

Ryan thought it was super fun to throw the kids in the snow. Javin did a snow angel. I think Ryan did a face plant but sadly I didn't get that picture I was up getting Cael nice and warm everyone ask papa if you can see it!!

By this point Javin was in tears because he was so cold. We don't have winter clothes.

Just one on the deck to see how much there is

Both boys were so cold after this. A Little bit later Ryan threw both the dog and the cat out there just to get a reaction. Needless to say they hated it.

Papa's car was totally buried.

The digging out of our car on Saturday. We had to run a few errands At this point it had only been snowing for a little while so it wasn't such hard digging.

Sunday the sun was shining and the day was beautiful. My camera died so I didn't get very many pictures to show just how much snow was on the cars. The entire neighborhood was out digging themselves out and enjoying the beautiful snowy weather.

Snow Fun!!

Who can believe Cael is actually 3. He is getting so stinking big. He was really funny because he thought that now that he was three he had to give up all of the toys that were his when he was two. I had to talk him into keeping all of his toys.

Cael wanted to help decorate so after his nap he helped me blow up balloons and cut crepe paper. Daddy came home early to put it all up. I think he did a great job!

Javin really got into the heavy heavy hang over tradition.

More decorations! I think it's the most we've ever had.

On Saturday we got up to SNOW!! YEAH!! IT's been quite a few years since we've lived where it snows. We went to get our Christmas tree in it. These are the kids roasting marshmallows at the tree lot.

The kids, especially Javin, were so excited to throw snowballs. Javin almost hit Santa with a snowball. I wonder if he would be getting Christmas this year if he'd actually hit him!?!

Even daddy had to get in on the snowball fight. This is me getting mine for trying to take a picture of him!!

This one is on our way to get the tree. I let the kids play for awhile first they were so excited.

We got our decorations up and have been enjoying that its Christmas time because of the snow.

This weekend we went to a Renaissance Fair in Maryland with the kids and Ryan's parents. We've been hearing about it and it was GREAT!! Can you believe they even had jousting?!?

These are the fair maids who gave us a map of the grounds. The one in the peach dress even helped us find a few places and helped in the knighting of our kids

No fair would be complete without face paint!

The knighting ceremony. The Lady Mary dubbed the children knights for doing a goodly deed. They were so excited!! Caellum even got up to do this without our help. They got certificates declaring them official knights of the realm. Javin is so excited to be a knight but Cael wondered where his outfit was.

At one of the children's plays they asked for volunteers. OF course Javin volunteered. They had all of the kids yell as loud as they could and then picked the loudest two girls and boys. Javin wasn't the loudest and was extremely sad, (of course crying) but the Hero of the show George, decided that he didn't want to rescue a princess so the crew member said he'd take the first hand he saw to be the replacement and to every ones excitement Javin is extremely fast. He got to be the HERO and he was amazing. The play masters even had to step in because Javin really knows how to fight with a sword and could have taken the dragon out. He did an excellent job and was super excited. This was the best part of the day for me. I love how excited Javin gets for everything and he loves to be the center of attention.

As always good things must come to an end but I have to say if we are still here next year this will definitely be a repeat event.

DC and Grandparents

Caellum seriously loved this huge tower. We kept trying to tell him it was a monument but that tower was just so huge

We made Javin run around and read every state. He got especially excited to find the ones that we had lived in.

Just a friendly game of swords.

I love that Ryan isn't going to give the ball up for anything.

Caellum could barely even hold his sword. He did a great job getting dad though

I was really proud of Javin for the way he was going after the ball. I'm sure the day is coming when he may actually beat his dad

Wouldn't it be fun to be little and get tossed around like this?

Anyway, we're having a great time here and enjoying the extra time we get to see Ryan. It's weird to actually have a weekend and get holidays off. But we sure do like it!!

UPDATE

WOW it feels like years since I have posted anything. We had a great summer complete with the trip to Utah for a month to bask in the love of cousins, grandparents, and friends. After getting home, Javin started school at the beginning of August and then two weeks later we moved. School here didn't start until after Labor day so he got an extra couple of weeks of summer. WE love Virginia but miss our friends in Augusta. Our ward here is going to be a good one but probably not the home that the Augusta ward was. Javin loves everything about being here and is making friends in school. One of the things that we like about moving, besides just a little more space to live, is that we are now close to grandma and grandpa Thompson who will be coming to visit on weekends. YEAH! Also, we took the kids to DC one day and rode the metro in. They were super excited and can't wait to go back. I still haven't found my camera yet. It is in a box somewhere but once I get it out I'll get pictures up here. I'm super excited about Javin's school he gets recess everyday and has Spanish twice a week. Schools here are excellent. We really like the area we're living in and can't wait to make more friends and memories in a new state.

Field Day

So, much has happened since the last blog!  We successfully got Javin out of his hand brace and now all he has is a band aid!!  Caellum has gone 3 days without and accident (I seriously thought this would never happen)  We had a great mothers day I was super proud of the job Javin did singing in church if he wasn't there I would have been doing a solo as only about 7 kids helped me out.  And he started wishing me happy mothers day on Friday and is still doing so.  We've been walking to school in the mornings and afternoons which is great because it means I get in 4 miles and Javin gets in 2 (which the kid needs because he has soooooooooooo much energy) and Cael loves riding in his blue stroller and picking dandelions along the way.  Javin finally got tested for the gifted program in school next year (cross your fingers) He told me he got them all right and I said how do you know and he said "I answered everything"  I guess if you answer it you automatically get it right, well this is kind of a true statement for him.  And amazingly Javin is up to 46 stickers and only has a week left of school. 

Cael and I went over to field day today and got some pictures.  

Javin in all his field day glory.  This has been his favorite pose for years!

They were split into teams and then had different events set up all over the place. In this one they had to race to the sand and get treasures and race back I think the ones with the most treasure win

He was really coordinated at this one, they had to hit the ball around obstacles and race back. Javin was super fast.

The stroller lasted about a whole 5 minutes!

This is Cael's version of field day!

Waiting in line is just too hard.  Here is Javin with friends playing in the pine needles making a fire while they waited for their turns.  There were a ton of events but Cael was only up for watching and not participating for about 45 min.  I'm so glad Javin is feeling better so that he could participate!! 

So, we started out to go get pictures for mothers day and this is what we ended up with instead!!  (The actual image of the finger is way to graphic to be displayed and it's a good thing Javin never saw what it really looked like)

He has to keep this soft cast on for a week and then he goes to see the hand surgeon again.

The other band aid is from where they put the iv for all of the drugs they were pumping him full of.  They gave him morphine to start and then some sedatives for when they actually reattached the finger.  And all of this started over that stupid dollar that the tooth fairy brought.

Here is a picture of Javin missing both top teeth.  He had just eaten spaghettio's and that's what's all over his mouth, gross.  Anyway, We went and talked to his teacher today and she says not to worry about homework because she knows Javin can do it and to take our time coming back to school.  We also went to the school that he was supposed to test at today to see if he gets into the gifted program and they are going to come to his school and let him make it up in a couple of weeks. So, Javin is doing better, his finger should heal completely and I am finally over the initial shock of it all.  It's really amazing that a door can cut off a finger but now I've actually seen it done.  Everyone watch your fingers!!  I'm so glad that Ryan and I were right there when it happened so that it didn't end up being any worse.  And saying prayers was about all that could calm Javin down initially.  I'm glad that we knew where to go and had good Dr's attending him and that all seems to be well now.  

Spring 2009

These are some of the pictures that I've been meaning to get on here.  They're totally out of order so sorry!

Javin's first official baseball game.  He's on the pirates this season!

I swear Cael always looks drunk in pictures because he says cheese and then starts to run away or do something and that's what the camera captures.

Javin lost his top tooth. Sorry about the gross wide open mouth

With his treasure box that he got from school.

This is the scene that happens everyday now when daddy wakes up in the afternoon.  There is usually lots of throwing around, tickling and sword fighting.

Javin's baseball team

Cael was really sad when I took this picture but getting his picture taken seemed to cheer him up.  He loves this Cat in the Hat and sleeps with it every night.  I have to tuck it in!

Cael wants so badly to be just like his older brother

Cael being a trooper.

Coloring Easter Eggs.