s'NO'w fun!!

The snow was still around today and Caleb and Amelia wanted to go out and play some more.  Since I played with them most of the day yesterday, I took the opportunity to sit (bundled up) in a camp chair and read, while making sure the kids were safe.

That was about the time Amelia, who was behind me so I couldn't see her, started screaming and holding her mouth.  She was playing with a pvc pipe - yes, I know, not a proper snow toy, but nevertheless - had somehow jabbed her mouth with it.  For some reason, cuts to the face tend to look like a horror movie, when in fact they're really not that bad.  

This was by far the worst cut, but she has two on the inside and another small one on the outside of the right side too.  I sent a couple of pictures to my friend Averi, who's a nurse, and she said I should go see the doctor.  We traveled out and two doctors determined it was a pretty clean, straight cut and using the purple glue or stitches might actually make it worse.  So, we'll watch it and make sure it doesn't get infected.  Caleb then drew a picture of Amelia, in pencil, with a giant red circle on her face for her boo boo :o).
I'm glad the doctor didn't need to take her clothes off of here…they'd probably think we were abusing her.  She decided to hang on the side of the cart at Lowe's the other day and pulled it over on top of her.  Her leg and hip has bruises on it.  
Poor thing! 

Check Up

Caleb and Amelia just had their 6 year old and 4 year old check ups.  Amelia is weighing in at a whopping 31.4 pounds and is 39.25 inches tall.  Caleb is 54 pounds and 48 inches tall.  

SNOW DAY!!!

They cancelled school last night because they were forecasting a dusting to an inch of snow.  By 9:00 this morning, still nothing.   But it's been coming down hard ever since.  After going to get our taxes done, we came home, changed into our snow gear and headed outside.

 Why not ride bikes in the snow?!

 Filling up her basket, then eating it :o)

 Putting him to work!

 Now we're enjoying some hot chocolate (and coffee) and waiting on the cookies in the oven to get done!

Perfect snow day!

HOLA!

Little feet, big hugs and gifts of cards and pictures and toys (from their rooms), were what got me out of bed at 6:15 this morning.  

I had a great trip and can't wait to put all the pictures together, with what we did each day, and share it with you.

Big Girl

Last week, after painting fingernails, Amelia tells me she's not going to suck her thumb anymore.

Ok, I say, because I've heard this many times before.

But, I'll have you know, this little girl, stubborn as can be, who's passed up bribes to stop sucking her thumb many times in the past, has - not - sucked - her - thumb once since that day.  Not at bedtime or watching tv.  Not when she's been sad or cuddly.  She's not accidentally forgotten.  Not once.  

I think it may be safe to say that this little girl has become, a big girl (in the thumb-sucking sense, that is).

Sunday Afternoon Walk in the Woods

Our church introduced and prayed for our missions team this morning in both services.  So, since we were there for the 1st service and only a few minutes for the 2nd service, we had the whole afternoon to get outside.  It is 68 degrees today!!  A little breezy, which makes it feel cooler, but there was no way we were staying in today.  I found a little park on a drive I took the other day, so that's where we headed.

Latham-Whitehurst Park

 Shawn told him to go over there and act like your hiding…..

And this is what he did.  I'm not sure about this kid sometimes!

 The trails are short, but it was a really nice park.  Our first trail took us to a boardwalk that lead to the river.

 They all decided to skip back down the boardwalk.

 Can you see me now?

 Bitty trying to beat Caleb for the lead.

 I really just took this picture because I thought it was funny how Caleb was wearing his sweatshirt.

We were all glad to have some nicer weather and to be able to spend time together outside! 

One Week Until Mexico

In one week, our team will be traveling to Mexico!

We had our final meeting this past Sunday to talk about any last minute items.  I packed all of my stuff - mostly to make sure it would all fit and I wasn't over weight - this past weekend too.  

Here's a map of where we'll be staying.  Playa del Carmen is about an hour drive from Cancun and from the town we can see Cozumel.  We'll be totally roughing it :o)

 There are no good maps of the Mayan village of Chan Chen, where we'll driving to everyday, mostly because it's out in the middle of no where.  We will be driving over 2 hours, there and back, each day.  Good news though, there is a real toilet (no digging of holes in the forest), but we will all have to use it, then dump water in it, before it flushes.  

We will have a free day on that Saturday and I've been told there are a lot of great things we can do and see.  The city of Tulum has a very cool ruins they've been to before.  There are things called cenotes, that sound very cool (Google them).  Shopping the local village.  So we'll just have to see what we all agree on doing.

And although the first map showing how close we are to "resort" towns, I should say, where we're staying is also very "resorty".  Here's just one picture of the town.  If that wasn't enough for you, then let me just say, there is also a WalMart and Sam's Club.  Seriously!

 We also learned that after everyone's money was tallied, after all of our travel expenses, we are over by $3,000!  That is $3,000 we will be able to give to the missionaries to help them in whatever way needed.  That is awesome!  Thank you again to all of you who donated!  I know they will appreciate it.

(www.playachurch.com)

I've also posted our itinerary below in case you'd like to track our flights.  This trip is completely new to me, so I feel like I'm kind of in the dark and don't know what to expect.  I'm looking forward to letting you all know what happens during this week.  I truly believe God is going to teach me so much and I'm excited to share it with you!

Date: 10 FEB 15 - TUESDAY Flight : American 1266 BOEING 737-800 Departure: RALEIGH DURHAM 1:20 PM TERMINAL 2 2HR 8MIN Arrival: MIAMI INTERNTNL 3:28 PM NON-STOP Date: 10 FEB 15 - TUESDAY Flight : American 158 BOEING 737-800 Departure: MIAMI INTERNTNL 5:20 PM 2HR 1MIN Arrival: CANCUN 7:21 PM TERMINAL 3 REF: XKGVAI NON-STOP Date: 18 FEB 15 - WEDNESDAY Flight : American 140 BOEING 737-800 Departure: CANCUN 9:51 AM TERMINAL 3 1HR 37MIN Arrival: MIAMI INTERNTNL 11:28 AM NON-STOP Date: 18 FEB 15 - WEDNESDAY Flight : American 1525 BOEING 737-800 Departure: MIAMI INTERNTNL 3:25 PM 2HR 10MIN Arrival: RALEIGH DURHAM 5:35 PM TERMINAL 2 REF: XKGVAI NON-STOP