Do you want to build a snowman?

We really should have known.  This year we have had SO MUCH rain and it has been SO COLD, it was really just a matter of chance that everything would happen again at the same time for another set of snow days.  This one was known well in advance and everyone was completely freaked out by the time it actually happened.  There was no school on Tuesday, and yes, there was snow, but it stayed about freezing all day and nothing really stuck.  It started snowing again Wednesday morning and basically snowed continuously for 36 hours.  The "new tradition" I started two weeks ago was done again...Chocolate Snow Waffles.

Speaking of HUGE treats, Grandma got James and Andy sleds!  They were very confused when they first saw them.  "what is that, a boat?"

The neighborhood kids were very thankful!  We had some snowball fights, but less this time.  I think it was because of all the sledding.

We were really like sledding locust.  We would sled a hill until it was destroyed and then move on to the next one.  This is Ms. Becky. (+1)

Kwist boys!  Turns out all the hills in our neighborhood are great for sledding!

I also have to say I think this was the first time that Mark and I have ever been on a sled.  We had a great time!  Much butter than cookie sheets.

Of course we had to build a snowman!

As it got warmer and the kids got tired of the snow, we had some scavenger hunts.

So, it was fun, the snow melted, and then there was ANOTHER snow day.

The Call

Everyone knows the call.  The phone rings.  You recognized the number, and you don't want to answer, but you do.  They're coming home early...

At first, it isn't much.  They overreacted, AGAIN.  But then there is white stuff from the sky.  Well, that's fun.

The snow this time was really weird.  Very small, but it snowed somewhat heavily for a couple of hours.  If it had been normal sized flakes, I think it would have been a lot.  But I would say, we got about an inch.

This weird, one inch snow, immediately hit the roads, melted and the re-froze.  It didn't look like the roads were bad, but they were.  No one was surprised when the call came again.  But this time, it was fun.  SNOW DAY!!!

In celebration, I made chocolate snow waffles.  I topped mine with melted coconut butter.  I topped the kids with powdered sugar.

I asked Andy if he wanted me to make them, and he seemed excited.  When they were done, he changed his mind and burst into tears.  He now wanted regular waffles.

This is what I deal with.  After I forced him to choke down a bite, he left, only to eat like 3 of them later.  Now all he wants is chocolate waffles.

The snow melted, but there were a couple more snow ball fights.  We left for the evening to eat dinner at my parents.  It was a good day.

But then, the call came again!

World's Best Granola - UPDATE!!

I think everyone just kind of knows that I make the best granola.  Now, just because it is the BEST doesn't mean that I can't try to make it better.  I have posted my recipe before, but wanted to post an update.  I always have granola made and eat it for breakfast with a little almond coconut milk.  Picture above is how I packaged it for teacher gifts for Christmas.

Kerri's Granola

1/2 cup maple syrup

6T oil

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

4 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup almond meal

2T flaxseed

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 cup craisens

-       Heat oven to 275.

-       Lay parchment paper on a rimmed cookie sheet.

-       Combine syrup, oil, vanilla, and cinnamon in a small pot.  Heat until it starts boiling.

-       In a large bowl, combine the remainder of the ingredients except the craisens.

-       Pour syrup mixture over dry mixture and stir well.

-       Turn mixture onto cookie sheet and spread out.

-       Bake for 30 minutes at 275.

-       Add craisens and stir.

-       Bake for another 30 minutes.

-       Allow to cool then store in an airtight container.

Here is my previous version.

Christmas comes to town

Not to be outdone, James had to have his own video.  To be honest, James was cute in his own right.  We would be making cookies and playing the "Kids Christmas" station on Pandora (the only way to go) and "christmas comes to town" from Polar Express would come up and the kids would sing every work in their own little worlds.  James was particularly sweet and really brought tears to my eyes.  However, this production was a little bit more staged...

Let it Go!

Over Thanksgiving, I took the boys to see Frozen.  I liked it.  I think they were a little underwhelmed.  They both said they thought it was scary, but that was pretty much all.  Afterwards, I don't know how we started talking about Let It Go from the movie, but James indicated that he didn't like it and so Andy of course decided that he did.  ;)

So, I downloaded it from iTunes and put it on a Christmas mix for the boys.  Andy would disappear into his room and just listed to this song over and over and you could hear him sing along.  What?  When did he turn into a teenage girl.  Well, his rendition was just too cute and luckily, he let me record it.  

It is broken into 2 videos (because Ms. Juliet called me in the middle of the song) and of course James makes his appearance, but I know he is my kid, but he is just super cute, right?

Fall Fun

So, 6 months into this and I get behind again.  Oh well.  Here are some pictures from the fall.  One day the boys just had a blast riding bikes.  Now, our neighborhood is pretty hill with no sidewalks, but the hill in front of Henry's house is not to steep.  They line up at the top and just fly down.  

Whee!!

Halloween is always a big deal.  James was a Werewolf, Andy was Chop Chop (a skylander), and Mark was Sheldon Cooper.

Best Pumpkin Ever!

In a true moment of luck and brilliance, I decided that we needed to take family pictures in our pullovers.  This is thanks to the self timer and became our Christmas card.

Then the kids played in the leaves.  Look at the look of pure joy on James's face.  Then there is Andy...

Blog Time

Everyone reading the blog books...