Snow! (And some new pictures at the bottom!)

2 1/2 inches this morning around 9am

So, after just posting about the nice bike riding/beach day we had a few days ago, today we woke up to this:




Yes, it NEVER snows here, and they are expecting about 12 inches today! YOWZERS! This is the storm that will shut down Hampton Roads!

Jacob trying on his snow boots from Garrett--thanks Tracy for sending these just in the knick of time!!

**UPDATE**

I plan to update this post throughout the day with more pictures and readings from our snow ruler, so here is the first one:

We went outside for about an hour and a half today, and Jacob was a trooper! The snow is really powdery and light, so it's fun to dive and roll around in. The only problem with that is that the snow would get all on Jacob's face and he would cry because it was too cold. He kept saying, "Daddy, you were right, is was gonna be cold out here" because he didn't think he needed as many layers of clothes on as Jeff wanted to put on him. We just turned a little space heater on in the garage and would run him back in and shoot it on his face, warming him right back up, and then he would head back out! Here are some pictures:

Jacob and his horse outside (Kristi, please notice that Jacob is also wearing another of Matt's hand-me-downs)

Jacob knew how to make snow angels thanks to a game/song from Bible Study


Building a snow wall



Jeff and Jacob in the backyard

All of us in our snow gear!


5 inches now!


Jacob plans to camp out in the tent for his afternoon nap!

Some of the threatening icicles hanging around outside our house-Jeff pulled one inside on Monday morning and it was taller than Jacob!

A much prettier day outside (Sunday) than Saturday!


Jacob's BFF Bella came outside to play with him for a while

In case you were wondering how bundled up Jacob was--here you go.



Jacob and Daddy tackling, as usual, in the front yard. I am pretty sure it was a lot easier to tackle in the soft snow than on the usual hard ground!


When not outside in the snow, Jacob found creative ways to pass the time. Here he is competing in a solo-sack race through the living room.


I also found ways to pass the time--a new pillow! And how appropriate that it's called the "Snow Ruffle Pillow"

Updating

Just a few pictures from the last week that will serve to update you on our lives in Va Beach!

Jacob helped make sugar cookies one day this week, and boy have his cooking skills improved--even since his birthday just a month ago! He has always liked helping with things in the kitchen, he can "read the recipe" and tells me what ingredients I need, he adds the ingredients carefully (which is more than I can say for myself sometimes!), and then of course he is a champion stirrer! This time, he rolled out the dough with his new rolling pin, he cut out the cookies, and he decorated them. He stayed in the kitchen with me working on these cookies for 2 straight hours! That is a fantastic attention span!

You will notice that Jacob wore his Phantom of the Opera mask to "help him see better" while he was rolling!

Next up, we have Jacob modeling his sweet Clemson wind suit. Grandma and Pop Pop Williams got him that for Christmas, and I was thinking he wouldn't be able to wear that for a while--maybe even next fall, but, I tried it on him and it fits perfectly! No joke, I think he will be wearing a size 5 by the time we make it to spring weather!



We got to ride out to the beach the other day because it was such a nice day out--we played frisbee for a while and then headed back.


Daddy got Jacob his very own pair of scissors the other day, since he had been trying to use my little scrapbooking fancy cutting scissors and was having a bit of trouble! He was thrilled with the blue color Daddy chose--purple and blue are his favorite colors.

Can you spot Jacob?

Jacob enjoys spending Saturday mornings with "Mr. Bob Ross" ,as he calls him. (He is the painter on PBS, and a significant figure from my childhood!)

A couple of mid/late week pictures

Jacob trying on his Buzz Lightyear costume from Garrett-he knew just how to be a space cadet--and he hasn't even seen the movie!

Just wanted to show Kristi that Matt's clothes are being well used now--these camo overalls are so funny--Jacob thinks that when he wears them he is "Jack" the big-game hunter! BAHAHAHA

Kids Arts Palooza

This afternoon we went to a FREE event at the performing arts center down here that I found out about. The whole day was dedicated to kids and growing their appreciation for the arts (at least that was my take on it). Basically, different dance and theatre companies came in to promote what they had going on for kids, and they brought activities with them. At one theatre company's set up, Jacob decorated a Phantom of the Opera-esque mask with sequins, feathers, pom pom balls, etc. At another booth he made a "Where the Wild Things Are" paper bag puppet (Jacob's monster had a mustache, he said). There were also balloon animal people, face painters, singers, magicians, etc. One table was set up with different instruments that the kids could try. Jacob has been quite interested in the violins on different occasions, so I knew he would be all about trying one today. He was iffy about it (typical Jacob style), but reluctantly did it--and then we had to come back to do it again! We also got to see a performance of Hansel and Gretel (or Handsome and Bretel, as Jacob calls it) which was, I'm not gonna lie, pretty dissapointing and weird--it was a "twist" on the classic, which usually is a good sign that what you're about to see is going to be a disaster. I felt it was. For a day geared towards kids, it was way too all over the place and hard for kiddos to follow (again, I am just giving my take on it, I couldn't follow it). Jacob did enjoy most of it though-we sat on the third tier over on the sides so there were no others around us and he could stand and watch over the railing.

He wanted a bug, and when asked what type of bug, he said a bumble.

His balloon sword. When we stepped up, the man said, you look like a boy who needs a blue sword--that is literally, exactly what we were going to ask for!

In the playhouse that you can color!

Jacob bows like a wild man and attempts to poke my eye out while he's at it.

Feeding the Birds

Jacob and I have a heart for wild birds*. When I had seen them hopping around in our back yard trying to find something to eat, I figured, let's make them some feeders for the backyard. Jacob had collected some pine cones earlier in the fall, and we had them sitting around the house, so we did the old p-butter and bird seed trick. Jacob did a fabulous job spreading the peanut butter on the pine cone and then I rolled it in the seed. We hung them in the backyard, and are now just waiting for the birds to figure out that we have some tasty food hanging right before their very eyes!

Peanut butter time

On the ladder--I send Jacob up to do the scary work! (Just kidding, he just wanted to climb the ladder after I had already climbed up and hung them there)

Thought you may be interested to know what Jacob does when I say, "Hey, look over your shoulder and smile" --which was really my way of trying to get him to keep holding on with both hands to the ladder and smile at me at the same time). He was getting so sassy out there posing on the ladder.

His hand painted bird house in the background and one of his new pine cone feeders in the foreground.

I had also seen this tutorial on this clutch, and I REALLY wanted to try it, so today I got a placemat and a bit of fabric so I could make one. And, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! I will say, that although it was a simple idea, like it would require beginner sewing skills, it took me like an hour--not the 30 minutes that the gal had said!

Tadaaaaaaaaaa

*This may or may not be true.

Crafting the Night Away

You can call me the queen of stitchery if you'd like, and I think you will after you see what this post is all about! As well as being a housecleaning day, today also turned into a very successful craft day. Here is what I mean:

Project #1: Jacob-sized Snuggie

Ever since I received my Snuggie on Christmas, Jacob has been dying to have his own. Jeff suggested I try to make him one. Jacob specified that he either wanted pink polka dot or purple for his Snuggie. When we went to the store today to pick it out, the turquoise really caught his eye and that's what we went with. It was shockingly easy to make. It only took 1 hour! If anyone is interested in knowing how to do it, just post a comment and I will tell you what I did (hahaha, as if anyone actually posts comments!!--again, besides Rebecca), otherwise, I will save you the pain of reading about it!





Project #2: Window covering for front door

We are renting, so, conveniently enough, our house came equipped with a 500 year old sheer and stained valance for the front door. Until today, we had been living with the valance, trying not to notice the stains and overall grossness. But now, NO MORE! We have a fancy new valance in a neato print.





Project #3: Box Pleat Valance for Kitchen

I had saved a page from a Southern Living kitchen picture that I liked, in hopes that, again, one day when I had a sewing machine, I would be able to make a valance like the one in the kitchen. Well, today that dream became a reality (a monumental day was today!). This was also incredibly quick, the longest part was measuring precisely.



Project #4: Pajama Pants for Jacob

Jacob picked out some fabric (with much help from moi-if Jacob had gotten his way, we would have had the cowboy fabric and a pink and green polka dot print for a top) for some pj pants. We got a pattern, and VOILA! Here's what happened:

BAHAHAHAHA, this is literally the best picture we got of him in the pants, he evidently wasn't as impressed as we thought he would be.

Some things to make you laugh, and maybe something to make you cry

As a break in the monotony of your week, I wanted to throw out a post that is pretty entertaining. I have something to show you, and something to tell you to make you laugh, and then I have the sweetest thing ever. If there's time, as an added bonus I will include some of the tasty recipes I have found and made recently--I always like when I get recipe suggestions from other people because it means it's one less decision I have to make! Here we go:

1.) Jeff has been looking forward to souping up his sweet beach cruiser ride since we first inherited them from his parents, and after some Christmas money from my mom, he was able to make that dream a reality. Here is the before and after. I think you'll be pleased with the final product.

Look at those shiny new handlebars glistening in the sun.

Jeff looking good on the new and improved ride. I should also mention that the things that he improved on the bike were handlebars, grips, and a new cushy seat.

2.) A funny picture of Jacob: Just randomly being a cowboy.



3.) A funny story about Jacob. So, last night, Jacob and I were getting ready to take a shower, so I got him in there, closed the curtain, and did the mature and appropriate thing--went potty before I got in the shower. While I was using the potty, Jacob opened the curtain and said, "Here Mom", shoving one of his bath toy measuring cups out from behind the curtain filled with.....PEE!! Then he said, "Could you put this in the toilet for me?" BAHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAH! I guess because he knew he is not supposed to go to the bathroom in the shower/tub, he thought he would just pee in a cup and get rid of it that way! So, I just took it and flushed it down the toilet, as he had requested, telling him that he really should go to the bathroom in the potty and no where else. I left it at that because I was sure if we talked about it anymore the truth would come out that I thought it was HILARIOUS, and thus we would perpetuate the whole peeing in a measuring cup idea.

4.) We have been working with Jacob on praying before his meals. He knows a little rhymey one, but we would rather he prays for what is on his heart that day, instead of just repeating a prayer that may be empty in meaning--but anyway, not to get too deep---here is what his prayer sounded like today (I immediately went and got a piece of paper and wrote it down because it was too sweet not to be able to have it to remember!) :

"Thank you Jesus for our food and our day and that we got home safely and that we got to Bible study safely. And just thank you for creating us. And just thank you for all the stuff you do. Heal Luke (a friend in his Bible study who evidently spent some time in the hospital over Christmas) and heal doctors and give them wisdom (yes, that's right, he used the term "wisdom"). Help Daddy be happy and say, "Daddy I love you" and I don't know why the Easter bunny's leg came off (he has an Easter toy with a bunny riding a tricycle and his leg broke off last night so he can't pedal anymore). And make me happier with the food you have given me. (We had a chat pre-lunch about how we should be thankful for the food that is on our plates and not cry because it's not the food we wanted to have on our plates) Jesus name we pray, Amen. "

Oh man, he's cute! When he does things like this, it just makes me remember that for all of the hard days when discipline is the main/only issue, and it seems that all of the things I am trying to show and teach him are futile, there will be days like this when I am reminded that God is sovereign in my life as well as Jacob's and that we should not grow weary in the good work that we do because in due time we will reap if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Today was just a small bit of reaping for me, and I am very thankful for the encouragement that Jacob hears what Jeff and I are teaching, and listens to us when we are praying, whether we realize it or not.

Finally, some recipes that we have enjoyed recently:

Cheesey Turkey Meatloaf with Glaze

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard

Whisk all ingredients together and set aside.

Meatloaf:

• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 carrot, minced/shredded (optional--but a good way to throw in a veggie)
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 pound Colby cheese, shredded (any kind of cheese you want is fine)
  
• Glaze

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, mix the turkey, milk, bread crumbs,onions, garlic, carrot and eggs by hand. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese into the mixture. Transfer to a loaf pan, and top with 3/4 of the glaze.Reserve the rest of the glaze for serving time.
   
3. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).

(I combined a few recipes to make this one, so there are many different options for the meatloaf itself as well as a topping. We liked the glaze, but you don't necessarily need any topping if you are looking to health-it-up a bit)


Pasta Shells with Portobello Mushrooms and Asparagus in a Boursin Sauce

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound portobello mushrooms, stems removed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (5.2 ounce) package pepper Boursin cheese
• 3/4 pound uncooked pasta shells
• 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and heat the olive oil. Cut the mushroom caps in half, and slice 1/4 inch thick. Cook mushrooms in the skillet 8 minutes, or until tender and lightly browned. Season with salt. Stir in the chicken broth and Boursin cheese. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly, until well blended.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add shell pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Place the asparagus into the pot, and continue cooking 5 minutes, until the pasta is al dente and the asparagus is tender; drain. Toss with the mushroom sauce to serve.

This was great--we added chicken I think to ours so there was some meat for certain ones of us in the house.

Post Christmas Shenanigans

If you thought our Christmas posts were exciting and action packed, then just wait 'til you see what our after Christmas stuff entailed!

A couple days after Christmas, we packed our things and headed to Richmond, Charlottesville, and then Oak Grove, Va. This was our first year of not being with one set of grandparents (at their house that is!) on Christmas morning, so we decided to visit with my side of the family after the big day. It also happened to work out that my bff from high school, Maria, was getting married on New Year's Eve in Charlottesville, so the whole trip worked out splendidly!

We first exchanged gifts with Grammy in Richmond, with Jacob's favorite gift being the tricycle driving "St. Nicholas" who was hauling some candy. Our boy enjoys the finer things in life, what can we say? No, he probably would have liked the tee ball set a little more had it been warmer than like 30 degrees outside, and had we been able to play!





Then off to Charlottesville for Jeff and me, to begin the wedding festivities.

Rehearsal dinner dining

Bride and father of the bride

Perfect shot!!

Bridesmaid bouquet

Craig and Lorel-friends from high school--and look at how sassy they are looking for their New Year's evening!

The Boar's Head Inn - home of the "morning after" brunch (did I mention the whole wedding week was filled with some of the best food I have ever stuck in my mouth? ) Also, yes, that is dirty snow you see. Maria somehow forgot to mention that Charlottesville had gotten about 30 inches of snow, and a lot of it hadn't melted!!

Jacob made a special request while we were gone for some cupcakes he spotted in my new cupcake book--sharks. This was tedious, but they did turn out pretty cute! I will not be doing these again, except for maybe a birthday cake, but not just for any old day!

Shark attack! The things that look like beach balls are supposed to be lifesavers.

On our way out of town today, we stopped down by Geo. Washington's birthplace to check out the tundra swans from Canada that evidently "winter" in Oak Grove, VA! Look at those bourgeois ducks hobnobbing with those fancy swans!



What's a blog post without an update on new projects I've been working on?

scrap card

After sewing a few burp cloths, this was my next project on the sewing machine. I had found the tutorial on this blog a while back, and stored it in my mental file cabinet (which is overflowing currently) of projects to do once I owned a sewing machine. These are actually reusable grocery totes (or whatever kind of bag you want it to be) made out of plastic bags. You fuse about 8 layers of plastic bags together with the iron, and with your resulting "fabric sheets", cut the pieces for the bags. I tried a few things with stitches on my first bag (the "williams" one) and decided that I should use white stitches on Maria's bag. I also practiced the applique stitches with the letters. Although they were far from perfect, I LOVED them and thought they turned out really cool!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

It's a Snuggie!!!!!!!!!

Our Little Drummer Boy

sideways...oh well you get the point.

New sewing machine

The first fruits of my labor


Jeff can feel the rhythm--and you can see it in his face


New mini "claw" game


Big Game Hunter Wii game!


The big reveal---aka, his new horse

Christmas Eve at the Hunt Club

This morning we decided to strap on our boots and camo and hit the local Hunt Club...Hunt Club Farm that is!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

No, really there's this place in southern Va Beach, in a not quite so metropolitan area, that is a farm set up for Christmas! There were lots of animals, all of which you could pet, some playgrounds, a tractor thing, and a fabulous indoor winter wonderland type thing with animated animals, elves,etc. There was also a, what I call "semi-live" nativity, because the animals were real, but the manger scene players were just statues, which was hard for Jacob to understand! BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!! Afterward, they had some fire pits where we could roast marshmallows and hot dogs! BUT WAIT, THERE'S STILL MORE!! There was also a pony ride! AND JACOB DID IT!!!!! Let me just tell you that Jacob was able to get over so many fears today at the farm. He LOVES animals--from a distance--and can't stop talking about them once he's seen them, yet he always tends to shy away from when they are up close and personal. Well today, he pet all kinds of animals. He pet a giant mutant goat, and what felt like hundreds of little pigmy goats and their babies. He even pet a big dog and the horse! He was fearless!! It's a Christmas miracle!

Petting one of the many little goats which he just loved! He thought they were "so sweet"!

Cute, and cold, little buddy!

Jacob and Papa Steve on the tractor--Jacob didn't have to be coaxed at all to get on this tractor, in fact he was looking forward to it. Evidently things have changed since he was in Pageland and saw the tractor there!

Jeff and Jacob on the inside of the Winter Wonderland setup. It was really a spectacular job by the guys who designed the place!

Jacob REALLY wanted me to take a picture of Llama, Llama Red Pajama's baby llama and his Llama Mama

Jacob and Papa Steve by the Christmas tree garden

In the sleigh


Riding the pony!!


Still riding the pony!!


Look at how cute this pictures is!


Roasting marshmallows and/or hotdogs

In all seriousness, it was a great way to spend Christmas Eve, especially since we practically had the place to ourselves for the first couple hours! We were thinking we may even make this a Christmas Eve tradition. Tonight we are going to the candlelight service at church, and unfortunately, I won't be taking pictures there to share that experience. But, that's pretty much our Christmas Eve in a nutshell...or ten.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, remembering through all the stockings, gifts, and turkey that the greatest, most precious gift ever given to each of us was the gift of Jesus Christ--and that is why we can truly be joyful both tomorrow and each day throughout the year!