More snow days...

Today is #2 in a row for this week.  And we've already received notice that the county called off school again tomorrow.  Even Chris got to spend the day at home (Fort Bragg is closed) and they just issued an announcement saying post will be closed again tomorrow as well.  Crazy, isn't it?

We've definitely gotten more snow this time around.  I'd say we've probably already received 6" of snow and it's still coming down!

Nicolas and James  

I got a bit of a work-out, shoveling the driveway and dragging Henry and Gabby up and down the big hill...

Peter refused to wear snow pants or water-proof gloves so he didn't stay outside for long.  I recently subscribed to the educational website "www.abcmouse.com" for the boys.  So far, the little boys have really enjoyed all of the cool learning activities and games…

Even if Chris has to spend some of the time he's at home working, it's still awesome getting this extra time with him before he leaves next week!

Happy snow storm!  

1/2 Way...

This morning is the big boys' 2nd 9-week awards ceremony (that's a bit of a tongue twister, isn't it?) at school.  My good friend, Meagan, is taking Peter to pre-school this morning so I can attend the two-hour ceremony alone.  Normally the elementary school breaks the ceremony into two different days, but this time they're having the grades back-to-back.  Can you imagine me trying to get Peter to sit still and quietly for 120 minutes?  Yeah… me either.

The big boys continue to enjoy school.  James is the only kid I know who sets an alarm clock (every.single.day) to wake up at 6am.  He's getting several awards today, including one in Art. (??? Chris and I-- and even James-- all just cocked our heads sideways with that "Huh?" expression when we found out.  ha ha.)

Henry brought this school work home last week…

In case you are having trouble reading it, he wrote: "My New Years goal for 2014 is to see the Estr bune."

Yup.  Love it.

I'll be back with pictures from the ceremony later!  Happy Monday!

The last few days...

Chris has been prepping and packing all of his gear to leave for Afghanistan.  Our spare bedroom looks like an Army surplus store threw up in it.

Chris's departure date has been pushed back a few days (around Feb 20th now) so that's good news.  We have this weekend and one more with Daddy to enjoy.  Next weekend Keith and Marta are coming to visit and Chris has planned a night away in Chapel Hill for just the two of us that we're really looking forward to.

Happy Saturday!

Just another day in The 'Ville...

So there's something about this crazy town I just love.  It's far from perfect-- but the people are friendly, the town is big enough to not feel cramped, and yet small enough to have a Southern, quaint feel to it.   What's funny is that the 82nd Airborne Division makes up a bunch of the town clientele, I suppose, but that's not who I see when I'm out and about.

I see locals (you thought I was going to say "dead people," didn't you?  ha ha).  And Army wives.  And I love both.

Behold Person-of-Interest #1 in front of Home Depot this morning…

Did you catch that??  That holster and GUN flapping about all willy-nilly on his right hip??  Because I did.  And I was quick enough to take a picture, even while looking for a parking spot.  Bonus points.

And these beauts.  Swear to goodness, this is only about a mile from our house and I have never seen them out and about before.  Those would be CHICKENS.  IN THE FRONT YARD.  Again… bonus points because you know I did a quick U-turn to take that picture.

 Betcha haven't seen one of these trucks before...

 …but I have!  Up in The Ville!

And what about this fierce combo?  A Discount Tobacco and Laundry Mat??  So you can smoke and fold at the same time...

And I know I've shared my boyfriend's picture before but I feel like he deserves a second showing since this post really is all about him…

HE LIVES IN OUR TOWN!  How many people get to say that??

To make you feel my love...

When Henry started kindergarten, he asked me if I could send him a picture in his lunch box every day.  So I do.  I am clearly no artist but I don't think he cares.

Here are a few of the ones I've sent...

(those were his spelling words on the right)

Bwah ha ha!
Gizmo loves you.  
I don't know why I wrote that but it makes me laugh.

I do it because it's an easy way for me to show him how very much I love him.  And because I think his little face makes a smile every time he opens his lunch box.  Or a weird face like this one… but a "face" nonetheless.  :)

And lest you think I forget James, I don't.  I started the year off with love letters and pictures for both of them until James told me that only "little kids" get those and to knock it off.  So sometimes he gets "big kid" love letters in his lunch box…

Believe it or not, most days I miss them when they're away at school.  And then most days they come off the bus and within an hour I wonder why we don't send them to boarding school.

Just kidding.
Sorta.

Sure wish she lived nearby!

I'm quite certain we'd become very good friends…

Yaaaay!!!

Chris made it home at 3:00am this morning!!

We might all break out singing this song...

Happy Saturday, friends!