US Marshall

 So Matthew was pretty pumped that his Mamaw bought him this US Marshall set complete with holsters, 2 guns, badge, canteen, and spurs, but what happened at supper was WAY better...

Goodbye front teeth!  And he actually has it to put under his pillow.

Back to Back Snow Storms!

 Last Thursday, the 21st, we woke up to 8 inches of snow and it kept coming.  It was a snow day, no school!  Thank you Storm Q!

 We played outside and in alot.

 The sled that Matthew is pulling got it's first use again in years.  By researching it's name and number we discovered it's over 100 yrs old.  Don't bother trying to steal it, it isn't in the best shape!  It started out life as my Dad's cousin John's sled (and based on the age, probably 1 kid had it before him).  Then it became Dad's.  Then mine.  Now Matthew's.  Dad pulled us down the Headquarters driveway behind the truck on it.  It was soo much fun.  I wish I had photos.  As long as the family has owned it, it's only moved a mile in either direction.  Isn't that wild to think about?  Something wilder?  The building in the background is the one room school Dad and his cousins went to school at.

 The dogs got nearly drifted in.

 Friday was a snow day too!  We got enormous icicles, like when I was a kid.

 A shout out to my financial backer.

 Matthew's first snowman!

 He did it all on his own.

 We made a lot of snow angels. 

Once the driveway got cleared we did a lot of sliding.

 And there has been multiple snowball fights. I'm rather sick of them.

 Yesterday, after 4 days off (2 school days and a weekend) we went back to school.  Matthew's big tooth came out in his cinnamon roll.  He didn't know what it was so he threw it on the floor and left.  Seriously?  The other is halfway cracked off and he won't let us pull it.  Based on the last 2 teeth, I'm betting it falls out and he leaves it somewhere on the floor at school tomorrow.


As we went to bed we knew another storm was coming and we might have a snow day.

At the last minute they called it off.  The trees looked like this.

 I helped Matthew make a bigger snow man today.

And we decided to go on the trail.  Only humans to walk it since it snowed.  Beautiful and peaceful, until you notice the boy in the background sneaking up with snowballs.  Have I mentioned I'm tired of snowball fights?

Rainbow eye and Looking like Daddy

 Finally pictures that show off the little guys rainbow.

 He's looking much better this week, thank goodness!  Who knew school was so rough?

 Today is the 2nd Sunflower Showdown.  We decided to dress our part.  Matthew anxiously asked me, "Am I starting to looking like my Daddy?"  Yes, baby, 2 peas in a pod.

He had to have me take photos in and out to prove no matter where he is, he looks like Daddy.  He chirped, "I'm glad I'm finally starting to look like Daddy."

January aka The Adventure Month

At the end of Christmas break Matthew came up to me with this drawing he'd done for his teacher.  It's labeled just like the pictures they journal at school.

 We decorated his bedroom walls with some cool penguins and polar bear that my second grade teacher gave us.

 He discovered the windmill and climbed it...on a very windy day.

 A dog strayed in and Matthew fell in love with it.  This is Matthew and Buster.  After 2 weeks we found Buster's owners and he went home.

 It was an adventure on the trail with 4 dogs.  In fact we met some other people and dogs on the trail and 2 decided to stay after we left.  It was so embarrassing.

 A rabbit got trapped in my parents basement.  It stripped all the bark off my hibiscus and mowed it down to stubs.  I think it's dead.  It ate all my amaryllis bulbs and other various plants over wintering in the basement.  I'm heartbroken.

 Matthew announced one cold day that we were going to have an adventure.  He packed his backpack with water and applesauce for 3 and off we went to explore the creek bank.

 The water is so low that in places it's completely dried up and we can walk across.  We went up down and around.  A great workout I'm sure.

 Across the creek we found a deep ravine coming off the field.

 It had flamingo colored feathers in it to collect.

 And a tree that Matthew and I are sure trolls live in with their pet hedgehog, just like in the Jan Brett stories.

And then we found fungi.  I think it looks so cool.

All month he has had basketball clinic every Sunday afternoon.

At the end of the month he decided to do a project.

And give it to his teacher, of course.  She's getting all the best stuff.  I'm starting to get a little jealous.

The last day of January, picture day, he decided to dress like a cowboy.  He came down complete with curling ribbon whiskers, the real authentic cowboy look.  *Correction, after Matthew saw the picture, he reminded me that he was trying to be Sheriff Shadrack from the Animated Alphabet series.  And he decided the curling ribbon whiskers weren't really presenting the image he was trying to project.

Final December remarks

 Yes, I realize that we are now on to hearts and love and 2 months nearly past Christmas, but there were still a few things I want to share.  Matthew decorated these cookies all by himself at afterschool.

 My parents bought new Christmas lights and I hung them for them.

 Then December 20th was blowing snow, creating white outs, so we had our 1st snow day!!!

 I love watching him use my little snow shovel my Grandmom gave me.

 Gingerbread house made at ASP.  And 2 of the Christmas houses we built.

There wasn't enough snow for a snowman, but plenty for a snowball fight!  It was a lovely day at home.

Matthew decorated our sugar cookies.  He's real big on TONS of sprinkles.  To the point you have to shake them off to be able to eat the cookie.

 Last year I bought this gingerbread train and planned to have us decorate it, as we'd had so much fun doing the house in 2010, but I got all burned out and we never did.  So I saved it (it was wrapped in plastic) and we did it this year.  Matthew was totally bummed because he couldn't eat any of it.

After admiring it for a week (and begging to eat pieces off of it) I threw it out in the woods for the critters to enjoy and this critter seems to be the one who enjoyed it.

Ok, I'm finally done with Christmas.  Everyone cheer!