Snow

So, yeah - it snowed a lot here this year. Here's what we did. Sledding, hot chocolate, s'mores in the fireplace, movies, games, puzzles, baking. Sounds a LOT more fun now than it actually was. (Potty training Hopscotch in the snow probably had something to do with that.) Whew - those were some stir crazy weeks!

Best Friends

Kate was talking yesterday about all her best friends and all the people she loved (Daddy, Fletch, Hopscotch, Lydia). When she didn't list her sister I said, "What about Anneliese? You love her I know!"

Her response? - "I'm getting used to her."

Nice, Kate.

Hopscotch

Meet Hopscotch. The rescue place said she was an English Bulldog/Australian Shepherd mix. She. is. not. She's a cattle dog. Look it up. They're super high-energy, kind of crazy, smart dogs with really annoying barks. That's Hopscotch! And we love her (ish). Fletch likes her about as much as it looks like he does. He ALMOST played with her the other day. Poor old guy.

p.s. remind me to tell you the obedience school story. good times.

The Big Christmas Hit

3 days filled with opening hundreds of dollars worth of presents from all kinds of family and this; this, my friends, is what the girls fight over. (despite the fact that Anneliese looks like a slave laborer).

The $4 Little Tykes broom. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Shotwell Family Christmas

We headed down to Blake's parents' house around lunchtime on Christmas. With double the kids this year - we knew it would be a little crazy, but it was really fun. We did manage to get all the kids together for a picture. Proud cousin Kate was in charge of getting baby Collin to stop crying, and Anneliese got a turn feeding him. Kensleigh was in charge of being a perfect baby - and she did great as always. (seriously - she is one good baby!) And we even got a family picture in. Oh - and that ornament Anneliese is holding in the first picture? Yeah - she totally broke that about 30 seconds later. Nice Anneliese.

Christmas Day

The "big" gift this year was a train table. I know - 2 girls?, train table?, really? Yeah - I think that's what Kate was thinking when she saw it, too. (Did you see her face in that first picture?) But with the emphasis on the table part and not so much the train, it has quickly transformed into "dog carnival fair" - and they're loving it. Whew!

update: as it is now spring when I'm actually posting this, I'd like to add that it makes a fantastic caterpillar carnival fair, too. also - if you're coming over, watch out for caterpillars.

This is where I've been

I have all these (well, 2 at least) other posts almost ready to go, but I've been a little distracted lately. With what? - you may ask. Head on over to jakandjewel.blogspot.com to find out! See you soon(ish)!