Her Favorite Winter Extra Curricular Activity

Miss Greta gets to be a ball girl again this year for the OSU girls basketball team.. She was VERY very happy. She had a blast doing it last year and it makes me happy that she is in such a great environment with such good role models. 

 Her favorite part of being a ball girl is that she gets to shoot baskets at half time. It doesn't bother her, having a bunch of people watch each shot.. Here is Benny Beaver blocking Greta's shot and messing with her. 

 Running in.. She was telling us when the girls fall down hurt, there is sure alot of sweat to clean up!.. thanks for that Gret... 

 Benny blocking her shots again.. 

 shooting during the break(in the grey shirt)

 Fieldin doesn't get excited about Benny much these days, now that he's a big kid.... but Benny keeps trying. I asked him if he even noticed Benny sitting next to him for awhile and he said "yep..I noticed".  I just love this picture though. 

 Fieldin watching halftime show with the girls. (thats Greta with the ribbons in her hair)

 more cleaning... A seating host recognized her from last year and told us how entertaining Greta is to watch(she still dances with the broom and hops around and CHEERS). Greta says she loves to do it. She does pretty good running through the obstacle of cheerleader pom poms and not getting hit.. 

Being silly for the camera as usual.. I have to say I enjoy this too. I'm always up for a basketball game and the OSU girls are good. Jeff enjoys it and Fieldin doesn't complain especially when the coach gives him a ball kid treat. 

Around Here

Last Friday it snowed a little and there hasn't been school or work(for me) until today... It was a bit crazy. We were pretty much homebound because snow doesn't get cleaned off roads here and then it freezes. We pretty much were in the house except for a few escapes.. We did really well cooped up together. It wasn't until Wednesday that the cabin fever really set in. Nice to be back to life as usual. 

 The eldest decided she was going to write a letter to santa this year..after watching Polar Express... didn't I call it?! 

 Little crazies by the tree. If you look under it you may see some of Fieldin's presents he has wrapped to give to  us. He has been a very busy wrapper lately. He picks up things around the house and wraps them as gifts.. he had a little wrapping area set up. I made sure he wasn't wrapping food.. and Greta was upset when she thought he wrapped one of her books.. but luckily he hasn't wrapped anything we need... I did notice one of the packages is shaped like his lightsaber.. I am hoping that he's giving that one to me :) 

 While we hung around the house for seven days, we got quite a few art projects done and some holiday baking. We made some peppermint bark yesterday... and no the cat isn't supposed to be on the counter..he always has to be where the action is. 

 My nice neighbor took us out one day to hear Santa read a story (above) That's Fieldy on Gret's lap. The kids also got to see Frosty..

 Turns out the roads were better out of town so yesterday we went up to Salem to play on the carousel and watch them carve and paint new pieces.. then we had lunch and did some shopping. It was good for all of us to get out of town for a bit.. 

So now on to the weekend and ALOT of catch up from the last week to do. 

I've learned not to want a snow day around here anymore.. :) 

5 day Weekend

There wasn't school again today or yesterday. We were able to venture outside the neighborhood the last couple days which helped with the cabin fever. The excitement of sledding has faltered.. I think we are all ready to get back to schedules and get some stuff done! 

 As you can see, there has been resting, playing and art being done. It wasn't until the end of day 4 that they asked to play on electronics.. I was very impressed. They have kept very busy together which is nice. 

 This cat is ready for us all to leave for awhile... It has been a long 5 days for him :) 

8th Day Of Advent

We are on day 3 of being home bound and school is already cancelled for tomorrow. 

I am starting to get some major cabin fever. It will be nice to get outside the neighborhood tomorrow. We at least need to make a trip to the grocery store. 

 This cat has been enjoying watching the poor hummingbirds fighting these cold temps. A hummingbird got stuck to a feeder today and Jeff had to rescue it. It was o.k. luckily. 

These two went sledding on the neighborhood hills again today. We are lucky to have great sledding hills so close. They needed to burn off steam and it tired them out. Now they are cuddled on the couch together under a blanket and watching Jack Frost. 

These last few days have proven to me that I wouldn't do well living in a snowy area anymore. I love it when it comes but I also like it when it melts after a day.. I enjoy going to the mountains and playing in it and then returning home to dry roads. 

7th Day Of Advent

 We still have snow! So we were homebound again today which was just fine with us. 

We had a cat that wanted out in the snow and was causing mischief in this tree... 

 Drawing in the morning while we figured out the days plan.. Greta decorated some oranges with cloves and cut out some snowflakes..These two like to be busy, busy which is great but it is nice to fit in a cup of coffee before we start in on projects. 

Each year we do a gingerbread house so we finished that this morning. Our city is making/carving a carousel and the kids have loved seeing its progress since we moved so this year we also made a gingerbread carousel. 

 I think next year they may need to each make their own. They both REALLY get into this each year and I think they need one to call their own.. 

 The gingerbread carousel.. this was really hard to photograph.. it actually turned out pretty cute. I don't think the pics do it justice..you will just have to take my word for it. 

 finishing up the back of the house. We used ALOT of candy this year. 

 Gret's picture of Santa. Because of the weather, we didn't drive anywhere but originally we planned to take the kids to see Santa. When we asked them if they wanted to go they said they'd rather play at home or do something else.. Jeff was sad.. they don't love Santa as much as he does anymore... I told him it's o.k. They are growing up, these two.. poor Santa. The eldest hasn't written a letter this year..I think it's time to watch polar express! :) 

 The finished house. There is red licorice that looks like flames coming out of the chimney. A part of me really wants to try to make the pieces for gingerbread houses next year but I have heard it is tough.. I'm just crazy enough to try it. Let me know if any of you have any tips on making one. 

 Hot cocoa and popcorn after playing in the snow. We spent the afternoon snowshoeing and sledding around the neighborhood. It was fun but I am sore.. The snow still hasn't melted so maybe we will have one more day to play in the snow. Now it is time for more Christmas movies/shows... 

6th Day of Advent

 The 6th day of Advent brought us a snow day! No school for me and the kids! We were up in the dark, very early this morning(courtesy of Greta) watching the snow fall. I get as excited as the kids when the white stuff starts to fall... an early morning means extra time to play with their advent calendar toys. 

 early morning cat prints in the snow.. for some reason the cat wanted to be out in the snow and kept sneaking outside.. crazy cat. 

 Fieldin did a drawing of santa in his sleigh with Rudolph.. I love it. 

 We had time this morning to finally decorate the tree that has been sitting empty for a week. Every year our tree is different.. Just like every year itself is different. It is so fun to see the ornaments we have collected in our travels, the ones we have made, the ones that have been given to us and those we've inherited. It makes us all feel very blessed. 

The kids also decorated the little tree this year with German ornaments. I love it. 

 The Babbitt tree 2013. We have enough ornaments for two trees so we pick and choose each year. It is a mishmash but it all seems to come together and work just right. 

 We have a lot of old light ups around. Jeff loves these. 

 Snow.. Snow.. SNOW. 

 Sitting on the front porch. We inherited the decorations from Jeff's grandparents. His grandpa made the deer. We are running out of places to put all Jeff's decorations.. 

 Snow Angels in the front yard

 sledding on the hills above our house. 

We warmed up with soup and hot chocolate and now the kids want a movie day. It is still snowing here so that sounds like a good plan! 

5th Day of Advent

 We had a fun afternoon after school doing some art projects. The weather was COLD and a day that makes you want to bunker down inside. 

 The kids made nativity scenes and toilet paper roll angels. 

 we saw this hand print idea on line so Fieldin made his falling out of his sleigh. 

Opening the nightly Christmas book under the tree. They switch off everyday. Whomever doesn't do the advent calendar that morning, opens the book at night. 

Then we took the kids for a frosty and to listen to some Celtic Christmas music. Greta really got into it, Fieldin tried to stay awake.