Snow Days

 It's been flat COLD in the Ozarks lately!  My kiddos look stinkin' adorable all bundled up (Erin especially reminds me of the kid off "A Christmas Story") so I've had to take a few pics of them and their snow/ice antics!

 This was at Jack's birthday party.  Rob was showing Jack icicles, and of course Jack immediately wanted one.  Elise followed along, too.  They didn't hold them too long--those suckers were cold! 

 With 8 inches of snow, you kind of HAVE to go out an play in it.  Even if most of your cold weather clothing is still in storage and the storage unit has been locked up tight since snow started falling. 

(Bright move, Jacksons)

 Snow Angels were about the only thing to do in the powdery snow.  It wouldn't pack, so there were no snow balls or snowmen to be built. 

Cold weather brings on cold toes.  Luckily, Larry the Elf knew just what the girls would need to stay warm and toasty in the frigid temps!

Thanksgiving

Elise-age 4 (almost 5!), Link- age 3, Erin-age 16 mos, Mia-age 11 mos

 Stevens Thankgivings are packed full of babies again!  Between my 2, Lacy's and Nick's--and now one on the way for Micah to join us next year--we've got babies again.  Before Elise was born, Lydia was the baby.  Lydia turned 16 this year.  Craziness. 

 Speaking of craziness, I can remember how exciting and wonderful it was to pack Nan and Pop's house full of family each year at Thanksgiving.  It was such a great time of year--and Thanksgiving reigned as my favorite holiday for a very long time.  All the fun of family togetherness without all the stress of presents (this was of course my thought process as an adult--as a kid: bring on the presents :))

It is such a blessing to me to be able to show these little babies how much fun a big family can be!

Our kids are blessed with big families on both sides--the Jacksons are a huge family, too!  Their "main event" is at Christmas--and hopefully I'll remember to charge my camera (I meant to take pics at the Jackson Thanksgiving of Elise, Erin, Jack, and Claire this year, but the camera died!)