As mentioned in previous posts, this winter has been a crazy snowy one. We've been forced to stay inside a lot, and although it has had its challenges, I am grateful for all of the time we've spent together in our home.
I feel God has been using the difficulties of this winter to teach me how to be a mom, and I also have a strong awareness that this short season with the kids will pass quickly. We may not have a winter like this ever again...with all of us being together all day, and so I am treasuring it for the gift that it is, challenges and all!
So, as it snows again this morning, I thought I would post a collection of short videos that paint a picture of this memorable season. Winter 2014. (And when I mentioned that God is teaching me how to be a mom, I mostly meant that in terms of matters of the heart. That's my disclaimer for the half-dressed, disheveled children in sometimes dangerous situations in these videos!)
Our own little Winter Olympics
And speaking of the Winter Olympics, here is one last video. The other night Ellis and I were watching the finals for the slopestyle ski event, and one competitor took the opportunity to share something important with the world:
Yep, Wutang is for the children. Ever since we saw that, when things get completely ridiculous around here in our cabin fever, one of us will look at the other with a serious face and say, "Honey, it's okay...Wutang is for the children." Suddenly we are laughing and able to see the humor in it all.
So, I guess whether the day turns out to be a terrible, discouraging challenge, or a surprisingly enjoyable time, God is kindly teaching us to make this verse our banner and theme:
Wednesday morning I debated whether or not to try and bundle all of the kids up to go to the store. I wondered, "how long can we really last without milk?" Then I got a text from a friend: "We are getting ready to go grocery shopping before the storm hits! What are you guys up to?"
What? Another winter storm?! My friend said she heard it was going to be 10-14 inches, and that just sounded ridiculous to me. It was a little hard to believe that we could be getting snow again,but it did seem like we should go to the store. Unfortunately, it was one of those mornings when it was just impossible to get out the door. Just as we were about to load up in the car, Mac and Corrie came running down the hall, laughing and saying, "Davey has a mustache! Ha Ha!"
Apparently, Davey got into some markers while I was helping Mac and Corrie get their coats on. Even worse: it appeared Mac and Corrie had decided they wanted "mustaches" just like Davey's. At that point, I just threw up my hands and loaded them into the car, mustaches and all. I thought, "At least we are in Front Royal." If we end up having to move, I am really going to miss having a WalMart in town with such low personal hygiene standards.
(It should be a crime to take such a beautiful little girl out in public like this. I am guilty!)
When we got to WalMart, there was no bread on the shelves (typical for Front Royal even when there is not a snow storm) and it was crowded. I ran into a lady from our church, and in the course of our small talk she couldn't hold back her shock when I told her I had just found out about the big storm. Then she looked at the kids, mustaches and all, and a look of understanding came across her face.
The shopping adventure was actually totally fine, and I had a sweet view of little "Mustache D" as I pushed him around in his carseat/stroller.
That night and all day Thursday we had tons of snow! At least 2 feet of it. One thing about having that much snow is that you can just plop your 1-year-old down in it and leave him there in his own personal "snow seat."
Ellis had worked through the night in the hospital on Wednesday, and he was able to make it safely home Thursday afternoon. It was wonderful for us all to enjoy the snowy afternoon and evening together.
Ellis taught Mac how to shovel snow, and Mac loved it. Corrie enjoyed sitting in her little "bird sled" and Davey just sat in his "snow seat."
Although the "bird sled" is actually an infant sled, we managed to squeeze both Corrie and Davey in there for a family walk. They were cozy, contorted, and surprisingly content!
While Corrie and Davey rode in the "sled," Mac decided to shovel the whole neighborhood. We definitely had some curious looks from neighbors as we trudged around the block. For me, it went by way too fast. The setting sun with the snow falling all around the pine trees was so beautiful, and I loved it very much.
We decided to keep going past our house for a little longer walk. Davey sang us all a sweet little song :)
The next day the weather really warmed up. I put Davey inside for a nap and I was surprised to see that Mac and Corrie had devised their own snowball throwing machine!
Yesterday morning we decided it would be fun to bike into town for hot chocolate and coffee. The kids loved it. I liked it too, for the most part. But I was definitely close to losing my lunch after trying to pull Mac up all of the hills on the way home. I had actually ordered a bowl of corn chowder at the coffee house. It looked so good in the picture on the menu! But I was definitely regretting that one about three pedals into the ride on the way home.
All in all, it was freezing cold bike ride, for mommy and daddy, at least (the kids were warm and snuggled in their bike trailers). But it sure was memorable! And Davey had his first taste of real hot chocolate. Pretty sweet :)
We've had a couple significant haircuts around here recently.
Daddy shaved his big beard.
And Davey finally got a reasonable looking hair style.
Davey has always seemed so old for his age. Now that he has a big guy haircut, he seems even more like a little man than ever. He loves climbing and generally destroying things, and he is really strong. If he has a toy that Mac or Corrie want, neither of them is able to pull it out of his manly grasp!
He loves being the middle of chaos. The crazier the better! Here we are trying to think of an activity to do inside during this crazy winter we are having.
I don't remember what this video is, but I think it has something to do with Davey.
And this is one that I took today, just because it was such a nice moment. I was preparing dinner and I noticed that Mac and Corrie had started playing legos together. Mac was teaching Corrie how to build a "pretend planet destroyer," and their conversation was such a sweet background to overhear. They played so nicely for at least 15-20 minutes while I cooked and did the dishes. I treasure moments like these!
Saturday seemed like a great day for a family hike. It was warmer and the snow was pretty much all melted...but of course, we live in the valley, and we didn't think about the fact the the mountains would be much colder and still very snowy!
Needless to say, we didn't didn't exactly plan or dress appropriately...any of us (Ellis was in sandals, no one had gloves or boots, etc.). But hey, it just wouldn't be the same without some kind of devastating surprise along the way. And it sure was beautiful!
In short, it was a pretty typical Johns' Family outing. And we will always remember Ellis saving the day by carrying Mac and Corrie back to the car while 6 inches of snow filled his sandals!
