Time with Friends and Family

We hope that our family and friends are doing well!  The kids were so excited to be inching closer to winter break!!  Addie had a friend sleepover on Thursday night (to help a mom friend out while her husband and other daughter both had planned [but big] medical procedures within 3 days of each other).  Amy drove the kids to school Friday morning so that the friend would not have the 1 hour bus ride in the morning:) 

We had separate but fun weekends with Adam cutting firewood for Grandma Collene (for next winter) and Ayson went with him to help.  Meanwhile, Amy and Addie spent time with friends!

The mild weather has been great for early evening walks around the yard and gardens!

Run!

Ayson went on a walk in the orchard by himself on Tuesday and picked up cans (and 1 full can!).  While out on his walk, he sketched areas of interest.

Ayson's map - note the little squares in a row - the bee hives :)

Happy Valentine's Day!  Thank you for the cards, Grandma and Grandpa Roe!

Addie's spin top that she made in school.  She indicated that HER top spun the longest out of all 5th graders (2 minutes!)! 

On Friday evening, Amy and Addie hung out with Kate and Emilia while Kate's boys were in PA for a hockey tournament and our boys were at Grandma Collene's cutting firewood for Grandma for next winter.

Addie had fun teaching us a new game:  Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza :)    Apparently, she is also the best at this game in her class...she certainly beat us Friday night!!

 
Saturday morning started the sale of "Early Bird" Girl Scout cookies - Addie is hiding behind the sign.  IF you are in need of cookies and don't have a local Girl Scout, Amy can set up on line ordering so that you can get your cookie fix!

After her shift was over selling cookies, Addie and Leena played Saturday afternoon.  Leena is also a horse lover and ALL of the horse sets got set up - yay!

Gorgeous day to jump on the trampoline!!!

The girls checking out NEW mermaid fins and tails :)

A picture of Ayson and cousin Curran practicing how to shoot after working on firewood Saturday.

On Sunday, Amy and Addie went over to Kate's house to learn a new craft: water felting!  We made felt easter eggs :)

We also ate watermelon (thanks, Kate!) and then fed the rinds to the chickens!!

Kate managed to lure us in to another craft with wool - the needling method of making felt.  

Yay!  Thanks for the wonderful afternoon and evening, Kate!!!

Shadow was happy to see Ayson on Monday afternoon when the boys arrived home :)   Amy and Addie were glad to have the boys home too!!!

A gorgeous new bar of soap!

The Count Down is ON!

The days are flying by and the kids are counting down to winter break so that they can sleep IN!  

All is well with A^4, except we wish we had snow on the ground to play in (there is snow on the ski hills but that is it!).  We hope everyone is staying healthy and having a wonderful February!!

Just by Ayson's pose, can you guess the movie reference?!?!

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade! - Ayson made the "Holy Grail" in art class - the chalice that would grant eternal life.

On Friday afternoon, Ayson went skiing and we chatted with friends at the bar:)  Check out the smoked Old fashioned (that someone else ordered)

On Saturday, Addie went to her ice skating lesson while Adam and Ayson went galivanting.

The boys were done before Addie, so they came to watch Addie skate.

Ayson wanted to make a chocolate cake with oreo topping - so he did!!

Saturday afternoon was Winter Fest and the ice skating rink was actually frozen (well, the top few inches were frozen)!  Addie had fun on the rink - yay!  Ayson is on the right side of the picture in the black winter hat with orange stripe (Ayson did NOT want to wear a hat but Amy made him wear the hat...or there would be consequence! :)

She confidently skated around the bumpy ice!!!

No snow so now horse drawn sleigh rides BUT there was a carriage ride with horses!!!  Addie and her friends.

Addie confirming to Amy that the horses were side stepping as they navigated the corners.

There was a food truck and Adam bought a Philly cheese steak empanada :)

We ended the afternoon with fireworks at 6:30!

Ayson frosted his cake Saturday night and crushed up Oreo cookie wafers for the topping.

We had cake for our after breakfast treat!  Thanks for the yummy cake, Big Guy!!!

Ayson was very pleased with how his cake turned out!!

A Good Week

So far, the kids are loving February as school was cancelled on Friday and they had a long weekend! Addie had Girl Scouts this week - cookie tasting time!!  We spent time with Grandpa Chuck and Marie on Saturday and Mr Bob and Ms Annie on Sunday.  We hope all our family and friends are staying warm AND healthy!!

Ayson working on another paper mache master piece

Hi Thunder!

Thursday afternoon was a balmy 34 degrees so Amy went for a walk in the orchard - the kiddos did not want to join.  The kids had Friday off from school due to the super cold temps and wind chill that arrived Friday morning.  The kids used the day off "chilling" and catching up on sleep.

After Addie's ice skating lesson, Grandpa Chuck and Marie came over for a visit!  They were amazed at the progress Adam has made on the kitchen!

Addie showing Grandpa ALL of her horses.

For dessert, the boys made apple pie - yum!

On Sunday we all slept in and then helped cut wood and Mr Bob's and Ms Annie's house.  The temperature was a balmy 40 degrees!!!

Bob and Ayson taking a load of wood down the road to our house.

Addie wanted to pretend to be a sled dog and haul the sticks for kindling to Annie and Bob's house.

A tired Addie!

But of course after she had hot chocolate from Ms Annie, she found enough energy to roll down a hill.

Ah, a hot chocolate break!

Another load of wood to the house!

After the wood cutting, Mr Bob and Ms Annie invited us in for an impromptu visit complete with snacks, wine, and smores for the kiddos!  Thank you for the wood and a fun afternoon, Bob and Annie!!