12.12.12

How can I pass up a day like 12.12.12 and NOT write something?

We will never have this moment in time again, so thank you for sharing some part of it with me.

I'm going to try to not get all sentimental on you, but I make no promises because...

numbers and the seasons changing always causes my sentimental heart to reflect.

Of course the official first day of winter isn't until 12.22.12 but as the song goes, "It's beginning to look alot like Christmas"  you could also add Winter too. Around here it looks and feels like both Christmas and Winter have arrived, and that means the end of another year is right around the corner.

This year I have to say, first of all it went by SO fast! I mean it seems only yesterday I was welcoming my little niece "Last Minute Biscuit" onto planet earth and now she's almost ONE!

Would you look at those toophers!! SO darn cute!

When I look back on 2012 though,

It was a Good year for me and mine, but if it was as dark as winter for you, 

then I pray your heart is filled with Hope for the future.

Because like the quote from good ole' Anne with an  'E' goes,

"Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it."

"Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories"

An Affair To Remember

I have to admit, that Winter is not my favorite season. In fact I think it is my least favorite season.

 If it is yours, I would like to know why?

Like a true blue optimist though, I try to find the good in every season as it comes down the train of life.

But, I gotta say that really I just find it hard to celebrate the time of year that death and darkness are so prevalent. 

That being said,  

I can't help but think about you all as I sit here and tappa tappa tappa.

You fill my heart with such joy, and the days may be dark outside, but in my heart as I think of you there is such bright color.

 I'm a bit like Fredrick the field mouse in that way.

(BTW Fredrick is one of my all time favorites)

I know that not everyone can gather the colors of love like this and that sometimes where they "live"

is like the land of Narnia, where 

"It's always winter, and never Christmas."

So...

  In an effort to spread Christmas cheer and love with YOU beloved reader, and my neighbors,

I went about our property putting up spots of color and Christmas everywhere.

As I was hanging those ornaments on our driveway fence, a neighbor who spoke no English( I think she is from Japan) was on a walk with her husband, or at least I think it was her husband.

She stopped and watched me for a minute with a great big smile on her face, and then without a word she came along side me and started to hang up some Christmas Cheer for the rest of the neighborhood to enjoy.

“My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt
away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.”

If you are just passing by my blog today, like that neighbor who was out for a walk, then I hope your heart feels lighter after leaving here. I hope I have put up spots of color for you to enjoy before we head into the dark winter months.

Here is another spot of color to make you smile

I just can't get enough of my ADORABLE nieces. 

Because, although it may be dark and dismal in nature it does not need to be so in our hearts.

Keep in mind that as we head into the gloomy months of winter you are never alone.

You are never without a friend.

And the lover of your soul longs to bring you Christmas every day.

He is a good Winter friend.

"Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely speechless.
Filling the world, 
He lies in a manger...
He is both great in the nature of God,
and small in the form of a servant." Augustine

More Snow Pics

You didn't believe when I said, we were snowed in, did you?

Ok, well our doors were not actually closed shut due to snow, but we did have snow up to our shins at least.

Well, maybe not My Giants shin level, but surely mine and the Fab 4's.

Yeah, we had snow boarders actually up the hill. I was going to start charging a fee and calling it Scofield's Heavenly Ski Resort. It could have worked. The coffee snow ice cream alone would have beckoned them inside.

They were hardcore these snow boarders. Not that I know what a hardcore snow boarder looks like, but these two, they looked the part. I think they would have appreciated our snow ice cream. We should have had like a snow ice cream/hot cocoa stand out there. Next time.

The problem with the Scofield Ski Resort though is that it's not really resort-ish material this here lil cabin. I mean, I love it. But would if they did want to stay up the hill? Ya know, where would I have put them all?

Course, Barley was busy building igloos. That might have worked. Where there's a will there's a way.

Isaiah was not busy building igloos. He was busy saying..."I've fallen and I can't get up!"

See do you believe me now?
SNOW.
In PNW.
Crazy Talk!

I am now convinced that the Washingtonians who say, "Oh no it never snows here!" Are really just Californians who have wishful thinking.

Snow

On Saturday we experienced the first snow of the winter season here in Washington. It was reported that it was going to start snowing on Sunday, and well... it came a day early. The news media made it sound as though this would be the Snow to End all Snow, as another friend called it "The Snow Apocalypse". We probably got about 5 inches here in Redmond. There is supposed to be another storm today, but meanwhile I can't get out of my driveway, mostly because of the mud, not the snow. And so I sit here with you, and blog.

It started out weak and I laughed in it's face. It then got angry. Big flakes began to fall.
And now, here I sit with snow all around. Trapped inside. We live at the top of a hill. The cool thing about that is that everyone comes up here to go sledding. The not so cool thing about that is that cars like to go sledding too. Even as I am typing this there is a cute little Honda that bless it's owners heart keeps slipping and sliding down my street trying to make it's way to the top. "I think I can, I think I can, Whoa... Slide..."I maybe think I might, I really want to"

Needless to say, we have cabin fever. To entertain ourselves, the Fab 4 and I, we have made countless bowls of snow ice cream, and Solomon just decided to get a little fancy and add coffee to his snow... and we were like this is the greatest thing ever! "Do you think we could sell this?" says, my lil 10 year old inventor. Giggle. His sisters then got involved in this great invention and I think the last recipe involved maple syrup, coffee, and peppermint syrup. This ain't no poor kids snow ice cream! And not to worry I made sure the snow was being collected from the tops of tables, we do have 2 dogs after all! But this does go to show how bored we have become. Variations of Snow Ice Cream, who ever heard of such a thing?

We have made a total of 3 Snowmen, Countless snow balls for snow ball fights, And we are pondering building an igloo.
I told we were going crazy up in here!
We are running out of milk, creamer for my coffee, cereal, and butter. If the olives start getting low, I will be walking to the store. What would you be willing to walk to the grocery store for in a snow storm? I want to know.

Barley is out of control in the cold white stuff. The first time we let him out in it, he ran back and forth all over the property like he was a wild cheetah just let loose from it's pen at the zoo. Which, if you could see how big this doggy is now, in comparison to how small our lil cabin is... this could just be his normal behavior. Hmm.. maybe I just hadn't noticed ? Truly it was the greatest sight to behold. I only wish I had it on video because he was OUT OF CONTROL! So, now we know, Barley loves snow.

The Boy who won't be photographed, in the midst of all the excitement of the snow, has also lost another tooth. It can't be seen in the above photograph, but because he was so excited about his invention of coffee ice cream, I managed to capture it here.

Emma made these beauties. Peanut Butter Cookies. My favorite. Did I mention I have been off sugar? Well, I am off sugar. Except Stevia in my coffee. It wasn't a new years thing... it was a I hate exercise, I am grossly overweight, my pants are way too snug and I refuse to shop at the Lane Bryant store, kind of thing. In support of my decision, my family in the past few weeks has decided to make homemade cake pops, my favorite cookies, buy cake vodka, and well, I just can't get over how supportive they all are. No really, I am not bitter about my decision.

This is how Bella has been spending her snow days.

Curled up to her Teddy Bear Barley, or

Laying near the fire place, like a frog. Oh the life of a dog. I envy them.
And now for a little fun. Here is a game of where's Waldo, I mean Isaiah?