Snow Pictures

Snow/Ice Storm

We ended up with a total of about 1/2" ice and 7" of snow.  What is crazy is that the snow totals on average for our area is 10″ for the year.  This storm plus the previous one puts us already 4″ above the average for the entire year!

If you are friends with us on Facebook you will see that we got stuck in our driveway yesterday trying to go to church.  Before we left, Michael took the truck out to try and pack down the snow so that we could get out.  But, even with the van backed into the garage and trying to get speed, we didn't get further than 1/2 way down our 1/10 mile lane.  Michael got the truck and pulled us up to our neighbors.  Can you tell that we really wanted to go to church!!  Thank you Jesus for our church home!!!

With only 10" of snow all year, our local counties and cities do not invest in a lot of snow removal equipment.  Thus the roads are really bad.  I am very confident that there will be no school tomorrow.  Depending on how much melts on Monday, there easily could be no school on Tuesday as well!

Crazy winter we are having.  So much for global warming!

Snow/Ice Storm

The unofficial numbers are 1/2" ice with 3" of snow.  The way the radar is looking I think we will get at least 3 more inches.  It sure is pretty falling down.  Cole walks up to the window and says "snow, snow". 

Weather Update

After filling many gallons of water, preparing food and the house, I think we are out of the extreme danger.  It looks like we have about 1/4" ice.  No broken limbs.  Some limbs are touching the ground though.  But, electricity is on!  Praise the Lord!

Michael said the roads weren't too bad at 5:45 since there was sleet for traction but roads will deteriorate quickly once they get traffic on them.  It looks like sleet is falling now and we are to get more snow throughout the day.
As long as the electricity stays on, I will only be out the time I spent filling the water containers.  That's okay.  I would rather be prepared!

A Storms Abrewing?

The weather is not looking good for us.  The weather models are talking 1/3" to 3/4" of ice and then between 6.9" and 16.5" of snow.  And this is 2 days before the storm gets here.  The local weather man says he thinks it will be the the #2 or #3 storm of the last 20 years for this area. 

So, we are getting our home ready for ice and snow.  Thankfully we have heat and a gas stove.  We only lack water since we are on a well.  So, I am filling containers of water for drinking and to flush toilets.  Trying to make up food that can easily be eaten.  Getting laundry caught up and making a list for one last round to the grocery store. 

Thankfully Chad isn't in school yet because I am wondering if the school kids are going to get a summer at all!

Happy Birthday Uncle Heath

Happy 30th Birthday

To the Best Uncle and Brother!!

If you hang around us for even a little bit you will hear us talk about Uncle Heath.  The kids will talk about how Uncle Heath plays with them.  You will hear me talk about how Uncle Heath is amazing.   Whenever Cole walks by a picture of Heath, he yells "Hea, Hea".  Heath calls every week to see how the kids are doing and how things are going at our home.  He takes time to invest in our lives.  We are so thankful for the role Heath plays in our lives.

What is your favorite thing about Uncle Heath:

Chad:  Oh, I know.  I like to wrestle with him.  That's mine. 

Kaylee:  Play with his barn with him. 

Cole:  Hea, Hea!

What does Uncle Heath do for you:

Chad: He does stuff like...let's me play his Wii.

Kaylee:  Come to visit us.

Cole:  Hea, Hea!

Kaylee helped me pick out her favorite pictures of Uncle Heath.

Uncle, Aunt, & Cousin

If you haven't heard, I am going to be an Aunt, Michael is going to be an Uncle, and the kids are going to be a cousin!

We are so excited for Heath and Jen and look forward to meeting this new bundle of joy in August.  How exciting it will be to have another bundle of energy at Grams and Papa's.  It is all the kids can talk about.  I just pray that my kiddos can have the amazing relationship with this new cousin that we had with our cousins.  I praise God for the fun and memories we made growing up. 

Here are a few of the conversations around our house:

#1 - We have an old bed on the floor of the library and I told the kids that they can jump on it.

Chad: We can’t jump on Jennifer though.
Kaylee: No, she is going to have a baby.
Chad: We would hurt the baby.
Kaylee: Don’t want to hurt the baby.

#2 - Setting: Cole was to be setting in time out but he kept getting up.

Kaylee: Maybe Cole isn't sitting because he is excited.
Chad: Yeah, because Heath and Jennifer are having a baby.
Kaylee: Yeah, he can't sit still.

#3 - We told our neighbors that Uncle Heath and Aunt Jennifer are going to have a baby.

Kaylee:  Uncle Heath is going to be a Daddy.  Aunt Jennifer is going to be a Mommy.
Chad:  And I am going to be an Uncle!

Angel Biscuits & Parmesan Knots

This is a new recipe that I found online to make biscuits in your bread machine - and - it keeps in the refrigerator for a few days!!  I like to use this recipe to make Parmesan Knots.  They freeze very well and are great to give with a meal to a family in need. 

Bread Machine Angel Biscuits
2 cups lukewarm water
6 tablespoons buttermilk powder
3/4 cup Crisco Shortening
5 cups bread flour - divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons rapid rising yeast (I use Fermipan)

Place the ingredients in bread machine pan in this order:  2 cups lukewarm water, buttermilk powder, Crisco, 3 cups bread flour, soda, salt, baking powder, sugar, yeast, 2 cups of bread flour.

Turn machine onto 'dough' setting and let process.
NOTE: you will have to stay close by for the kneeding process as your dough will require a 'little' help mixing - once all ingredients are incorporated you can leave your machine to finish the cycle.

WARNING: remove dough from machine as soon as the dough cycle completes otherwise it will start rising and lift the lid off the machine! Once dough cycle has completed - spray Ziploc bag with Pam or other veggie spray - dump dough into bag, zip up and keep in fridge (it will rise in the bag).

From this point you can either make your rolls (as many as you want at one time - this is the beauty of this recipe - you don't have to make up the whole recipe at once and can put the unused dough back into the fridge) by rolling and cutting or make individual rolls in muffin tins by just pinching off a piece of dough, shape into a roll and put in muffin tin and bake at 400� for 12 minutes or until golden. (Can be made in muffin tins)

Store unused dough in the refrigerator. Dough keeps well for several days in the refrigerator.

Makes about 3 dozen biscuits.

Parmesan Knots 
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash pepper

3 (12 ounce) cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuits - I use the biscuit mix.

Directions
1.In a small bowl, combine oil, cheese, parsley, oregano, garlic powder and pepper; set aside.
2.Cut each biscuit in half. Roll each portion into a 6-in. rope; tie in a loose knot. Place on greased baking sheets.
3.Bake at 450 degrees F for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown; immediately brush with the Parmesan mixture. Serve warm or freeze for up to 2 months.

Update

I realized that it has been a few days since I updated!  Sorry about that.  We haven't been extremely busy.  Just have been working on other things!

Chad - Last week we took Chad to a new Vision Therapist to check his vision and see about vision therapy.  I have to say that the appointment was pretty frustrating (long story).  We are unsure about the vision therapy but are thrilled to say that his eyes continue to be wonderful.  Even the doctor was amazed considering how long Chad was on oxygen.  After talking to Chad's OT, we are trying to decide what to do about the vision therapy. 

Kaylee - I kid her about having just had a birthday.  This is because she has jumped to a new level of maturity - for a 3 1/2 year old.  The past few days she has been very helpful and pleasant.  Not a lot of sassy attitude.  We are working on the Fruit of the Spirit and character education during our school time.  I believe it is helping :)  Today she asked for something and I told her after I finished putting Cole's shoes on I would help her.  She told me, "That okay, Mommy...Mommy!  That was patience.  A fruit of the Spirit!"

Cole - Sigh.  What does Cole not touch, dump, put in his mouth, and step on in a day.  Cole continues to be our wild man.  At 18 months he really added the words.  At 19 months he is adding short sentences.  My favorite is "I no know" as he strugs his shoulders.  He loves to talk to Grams and Papa on the webcam each day.  He immediately ask for Papa and starts crying when Papa leaves.  When we first got the webcams, he wanted Papa to hold him.  Cole couldn't understand why Papa couldn't come through the computer screen.

Michael - Work isn't as stressful as it was before Christmas (PTL) but he still works from 6-4 everyday.  He was thrilled to get his treadmill back working after the belt wore out from overuse. 

Heidi - Sigh.  Have I told you how much I love our home?  I know you are sick of hearing it but we just love the space that God has blessed us with.  It is amazing how it has changed our family.  I am enjoying our daily "school" time.  The kids are enjoying it as well.  Kaylee is learning letters and numbers every day.  Chad is learning to read.  If we could just get Cole to sit still for a few minutes.  In my free time, I am working on my websites.  I am trying to get a hardcopy of my curriculum available by July.  Have had many request to purchase it.  Looking into an ebook.  Does the learning ever stop?

Think that brings you up to date. 

Kaylee Times Three

Kaylee has started sitting with her legs crossed.  She believe that this is a very grown up thing to do!

Family Sledding

We all got into the sledding fun!

Cole Sledding

Cole had a lot of fun in the snow.  We just wish that the temperatures would have been warmer so that he could have stayed out longer.  

Michael's Family

Here are pictures taken of Michael's family at Christmas.  The kids really enjoyed having Uncle Marc and Kuan here.

Kaylee Slides into 2010

Here are more of our sledding pictures featuring Kaylee!

Sledding into the New Year

While at Grams and Papa's we went sledding in Heath and Jen's driveway. We had so many great pictures so I decided to do a "person a post".