In the winter...

we close off part of our basement with sheets.  It's the most unclassy or pretty part of our house and yet it is often where you will find multiple members of our family at any given time.

When we first moved into this house the kids were scared of the basement.  They wouldn't go down there unless we were with them.  For many months it went unused.  But as they got used to the feel of the house and the space around them, they started to venture down.

For a few years now, after the weather turns, Jim has taken to hanging sheets over the doorways and what's left is a cozy little spot for kids to read, study, color or play.

See?

Well, and sleep too I guess.

Happy Monday.

Dipping down...

When I get down to the kitchen in the morning (if I remember) I check the temperature.  I usually do in the winter so the kids know what to expect when they head out for school.  This morning when I woke up it was 4 degrees.  Pretty cold but nothing we haven't seen before.  Then later in the morning I noticed it was getting just ever so slightly cooler.

Yikes!

Factor in the wind chill and you've got a mighty cold day ahead.

Good morning ella jane...

Hope your day is super.

It's go time...

It's another favorite time of the year for the Gunn's.  

and we've added two more skaters to our outings.  And a new location.

Two years to grow has made a big difference for Ella Jane on the ice.  She had a lot of confidence which helped her greatly.

I love watching kiddies get up from ice.  It's like new walkers all over again.  There is a moment in this series of pictures that I ADORE.  The moment where she's just about to take the risk to get up and balance.  To see if she can do it.  She's trusting, nervous and confident.  And oh are there so many life lessons that can be applied to these photos.

I love them.

The big kids were really helpful and kind with Sara.  She's been on the ice before but never by herself.  This was her first year going solo.  I was surprised by how well she took to it.  As Ella Jane described her yesterday..."she's one tough cookie!"

Thankful for winter, for our public ice rinks and kids who love skating.

We do it every year...

Our Gingerbread Compound has become a fun little tradition around here.  Right before our big blizzard hit in December, I stocked up on supplies for this little big project.

We spend a day or two at least just building the foundations.  Every child gets their own section and they can build however and whatever they want.  I love to see what they come up with.  Some years we have 'A' frames, other years we have people in beds and firewood.  This year Matthew made "a house that is messy".  It was clumped with tons of candy!

These pictures make me happy.  They are so colorful and represent our family well.  Something they look forward to every year and will perhaps (or perhaps not) carry on with their own families.  After about a month of our beautiful table display I let them have at it, and they spend a day picking out the different candy they still deem edible.

And that's the end of the compound for one more year.

I love the snow...

We finally got a substantial snowfall a few days ago.  It was way more than we expected coming in at 14 inches.  It makes everything around us white, white, white.  This 'ol girl forgot how hard it is to shovel snow.  It's hard but rewarding for me.  I love the time outside and I always play a little game with myself to see how much I can get shoveled in a short amount of time.  Except that I don't own a watch and an not keeping track of the minutes.  I'm my own worst enemy.

This picture is so sweet to me.   It says curiosity to me.  Sara had her Christmas program at school last week and during the refreshment time St. Nick comes to say hello.  My kids have never sat on Santa's lap.  They've never asked to, and it's just something we have never established as a family.  But when the pastor was telling us about St. Nick and how all the kids could line up to sit on his lap, well, mine jumped at the chance.  Actually, Matthew jumped at the chance and the rest followed suit.  I knew they wanted to too, but were never going to brave it without big brother.

 Sara's expression says so much to me here.  She's amazed I can tell that she's that close to Santa!

 I know they had a lot of fun and it was a unique experience for us.

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After I take the kids to school I come back and have coffee and hot chocolate with this little one.  Here she is wearing my hat.  I love this picture too.  I love everything in the background because it says so much about our daily life. 

Sara and I have been doing an advent scene for the month of December.  Each day adds a new character or animal or tree.  That little elf guy is usually by the front door but Sara wanted him to watch.  So funny.

And then here we are enjoying an early pretend lunch.  Sara was cooking of course.  It was very yummy.

The kids are all outside and it's snowing.  It's beautiful and I'm so grateful my kids are growing up here.  I've spent the day priming Ella Jane's bed because it will get a fresh coat of paint along with her walls.  Her room is a refreshing blue now.  Robins egg blue.  Beautiful blue.  It's peaceful right now.  The heater hums and I can hear the ticking of the clock.  I feel like I want to sit still so it will stay just a bit longer.  Alas, it's time to get up.  I think I'll go check on those kids!