Smiles

It has been gloomy around here on the weekends, so the kids have been getting creative in the house.  They love to build a fort/tent/store/school with blankets and chairs.  I snapped the bottom photo after they pulled the dining room chairs, blankets and pillows into the sun room and set up shop.  I love to see the kids smile.  They are growing up so fast it makes me a bit sad.  We sorted through the art kit tonight, at Maddison's request and she had me get rid of several coloring books because they were "for babies".  For many years Maddie and I would sit at the bar and color or draw.  It was one of our favorite things to do.  I hate to think that those days are gone now.  We have had fun playing card games and had a long game of Uno tonight and a brief game of Old Maid.  It is becoming a tradition to have the kids spend Friday night with us.  I really look forward to this weekly event!

Great Balls of Fun!

This weekend was my family's Christmas/Winter get together.  We rented a large home at the Lake of the Ozarks (yes it was cold!) and 25 of us ate, played games and visited.  The food was delicious (subs, soups, waffles,  cinnamon rolls, chocolate cake, blackberry cobbler and homemade cookies).  My girls and I put together two "tape balls", one for the adults and one for the children.  The idea is to make a ball out of tape and prizes and take turns unrolling the ball to get to the prizes.  One player begins the unravel while one rolls dice.  When the dice roller hits doubles, the ball moves on, but the player gets to keep all the prizes he has untaped.  It was lots of fun to play and make!
In the past we have done "minute to win it", presents and riddles, silly sock game, and personalized t-shirts.  The goal is to have as much fun planning the activity as playing it!
I have to hand it to my family. . .  we are a large, diverse group, but we all make the effort to support and stay in touch with each other.  Quite a legacy to our parents.

Come on Spring!

I love the natural beauty of our little farm.  I took this picture last spring on a walk around our farm.  I can't wait to see these cute little wildflowers again.  Even though I can't really complain about the winter so far, I am anxious for warmer days.  I have been taking walks lately on the path Randy kept mowed last summer for me.  The cold weather froze the earth so it is not a mud fest.  This morning it was 24 degrees when I walked but I still talked Maddison into bundling up and going with me.  Mason has been fighting a cold lately and coughed some in the wee hours of the morning.  He wasn't really interested in going outside, so I just let him be. 
We have company from Texas staying with us this week.  Randy's cousin and his family are in for a funeral, and they brought their 7 and 4 year old children.  The kids had a really good time playing together.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Summer Dreaming!

We are in the middle of a very cold spell here in Missouri.  It might hit 17 today, with a low close to zero tonight.  This isn't the coldest I remember, but my tolerance for cold weather is not nearly what it used to be.
I had to "call up" a picture from the summer to make me feel better.  This is a picture of our shelter house during construction.  We finally finished the project in late October, delayed due to the extreme heat and dryness of the summer.  I will post a finished picture when it isn't so cold and dreary out. 
But for now, I am left to relive the warm weather through pictures and my imagination!

Scoot

 

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jessica and Scott.  I have been reviewing my blog and found that Scott has been mysteriously absent in my photos.  I am beginning to think that he may be a little camera shy.  Scott is a student of chemistry and will graduate next year.  He is probably the most dedicated student I have ever known.  He takes his school work seriously and keeps a rigid study schedule.  Scott is so good with the kids and they love to call him "Uncle Scoot".  Scott and Jessica have been married for 2 and 1/2 years, and he has become an important member of our family.  Scott is a super guy and I love having him as part of our family! 

New Year's Eve Fun!

No words needed. . . . just some wholesome "white" fun!

And the Ugliest Outfit Goes To. . .

Quite uncharacteristically, my son challenged his wife to a Christmas contest of sorts.  In place of a traditional gift exchange, they would buy each other "the ugliest outfit" possible to be worn on Christmas Eve.  As you can see, they both succeeded!  It is still up in the air who won, but Josh wore his "light up, homemade, complete with jingle bell" sweater to the Agler Christmas Eve get together.  Amanda, on the other hand, (who, I might add is the unofficial family stylist) was very reluctant to keep her Goodwill, baggy shift and mismatched outfit on for more than a few minutes.  They both were good sports about it and gave us all a great laugh and lots of good memories.  Which outfit would you vote for as the "ugliest"?