boys meet snow

Shanon and Jared (Jim's brother) invited us to come to her dad's cabin with them this weekend (thank you!).  We gladly accepted, anxious for a getaway and a chance to introduce the boys to snow.   

 
Aidan hadn't been around snow since Megan so rudely moved away from Flagstaff two years ago.  But I guess it's no surprise that he inately knew the full boy purpose of this white wonder.  The problem: this snow, sparse and far from fresh, was more like ice than powder. 

And no one likes being hit by ice. 

I suppose I should be glad Aidan & Abby didn't hone in on Davyn or Jake as target material.  Instead it was Jim.  And they went after him with full force. 

Do you see our sweet Abby Kay?
Looks can certainly be deceiving...check out her game face & form:

Snowballs in hand, this girl turns all business. 

And the face definitely merits a close-up. 

Like I said:  business. 

Well, after multiple upon multiple hits, Jim meant business, too.  Not really, but you'd think so seeing the next picture.  A's head turned at the wrong moment, leaving his face looking like this:

And I wonder...is it wrong that I love this picture?!  Such raw, tender pain in the boy I've "kissed better" thousands of times. 

And what was Boy #2 up to in the midst of the drama?

Peaceful play in a place called Davynland.  

He

is

quite

quite

easily

entertained. 

 
And surprisingly biddable when asked to pose with a non-eager Jake.  

Poor Jake. 

Is it wrong that I laughed as D chased him down?!

I say it's allowed because this boy is all kinds of tough.
And he reminds me that I truly want a redhead of my own.
Curse my overpowering genetics. 

Thank you Jared & Shanon for a fantastic trip! 

prelude to the holiday

I picked the preschoolers up today, and they looked like this:

 

 

Me:        So how was your Thanksgiving feast?

 

Them:    We had pizza.

 

Me:        Pizza?  That's interesting.

 

Sav:       But we pretended it was turkey. 

 

Me:        Well, what did you learn about Thanksgiving in class?

 

Aidan:    That I'm thankful for pizza.

 

Earlier this week the boys and I had been talking about gratitude.   We went in a circle, taking turns listing blessings.  My most gratifying moment was perhaps when their first responses were "Dad" (from A) and "Mom" (from D).  No big surprise that they topped my list as well. 

 

Other responses:

Davyn: beds, rocks, freeways (what does my 2-year-old know about freeways?!). 
 
Aidan: house, trucks, but mostly Jesus (my insert: "I Love Primary & FHE!").  
 
Me: moments of heaven-lent patience when I'm blessed to have these little conversations.

perhaps I'm partial

...but is there anything as disarmingly charming
as a little boy in Sunday best?

halloween album

 
who are these masked men? 

 

my half of the Justice League. 

As we trick-or-treated the neighborhood, I heard a few candy givers say to these four:  "thank you for keeping us safe."

What Aidan had to say:  "trick or treating is the BEST!"

Davyn?  Well, he was wobbling like a drunk after two streets.
No night vision for my bat. 

Earlier tonight, we enjoyed a visit from Grandma Kay, Papa and Grandma Hulsey:

 
there's one "grandma's boy" and one "papa's boy" among my two.  Any guesses? 

 and today Grandma Cyndee could easily claim both boys...

but, what boy wouldn't completely belong to a grandma witch adorned with all from shrunken head to slithering snake?  

Much earlier today we visited her at school, where she and two other teachers performed as the witches of Macbeth.  Three years ago it was me doing the part in British Lit, but it was fun to be on the viewing side with my littles this time. I loved this back shot of Davyn & London sharing a front seat in the classroom...two tiny heads in a sea of "big kids".  They were rightfully mesmerized.  

 

all in all...a full day.

Two ex-super heroes fell asleep quickly in this house tonight. 

dear mike & kay:

This is the photo I snapped as I fell from the rock into the flower bed on the north side of your front yard three weeks ago. 

Not a picture worthy of pain to knee, pride, or petals. 

Still.
I thought you should know.
In case you've wondered why one bed is a *bit* more perky than the other.