More Snow and Fun with Friends

This has been a fun-filled week! We've enjoyed being back to good health and made the most of it. The girls have had fun playing outside in the snow and we've been able to get together with friends. I'm so thankful how God reminds me every so often to be thankful for our health and not take that for granted. Waking up throughout the night to care for little ones, cleaning up "you know what", and running to the ER with troubled breathing has been our past month. I've been learning how to love sacrificially. It's pretty easy to love people when it's not messy and you feel well rested and loved in return; but it's a whole other ball game when life is challenging. I've been convicted of my need to die to self, take up my cross, and serve in the mundane with joy. Being a mom is teaching me so much. My Heavenly Father has been graciously showing me my moment by moment need for Him, need for forgiveness when I loose patience, and grace when I get frustrated because I'm getting nothing "accomplished". Ha! All the while, He is accomplishing His good work in me. I need to be refined and it's happening. 

Thank you, Lord.

So, on to the cute kids...

  Geneva loves having our picnic table in the house to stand on so she can see outside!

Snow day! Maddie was able to stay home from school one day this week.

 

So pretty. We went for a little walk in the yard and saw the fox, 3 deer, and 2 owls. Pretty cool.

This week we have officially lived in VA for 3 years. The Leaches were so kind to take us out to a delicious dinner to celebrate. Unfortunately, David is missing from the picture- he was kind enough to get the car for us! We are very thankful for all that God has done in our lives over that last 3 years. 

But, that's for another post.

Miss Penny came over one day and played in the snow with Savannah!

  

Snow angels!

I love you, Olaf!

One day we had the Foxes over for a play date. These two had a blast!

 

  Silly Savannah. Yup, she's eating snow in a wedding gown and rain boots. She couldn't help but run out to say goodbye to the Pinkstons as they left.

 Girls night at Chick Fil A!

 What a fun night with these ladies. They even got goodie bags with candy, necklaces, and free milk shakes. 

 See our photo bomb friend? This kid was hilarious!

More Snow Fun

 

 

We took a creek walk today in 18 degrees. Most of the little ponds are frozen. 

The girls had so much fun playing. 

Snow Day!

We had about 4-5 inches of snow last night, which means that school was canceled. I know our family in Massachusetts and Colorado and friends in places like Jackson Hole laugh at that, but here in NOVA, life stops when we get a few inches! We have so much fun on these days!

 Savannah and Cubbie Bear- we got him from her Cubbie class this week! Savannah put socks and a hat on him before taking him in the snow :)

Daddy! Help me.
Earlier in the morning when we were playing a rhyming matching game we spotted a fox in our backyard listening to the snow. We got to witness him bending down, listening, scooting over, putting his ear to the snow a gain, and then pouncing and covering his face in the snow. He came up with a mouse or some sort of little creature! It was the coolest thing to watch!! We feel so blessed to have this backyard!

 I don't think these flowers are going to make it until Spring.

 Our little pond and creek were frozen- so fun to explore.

 Cute buddies.

 Baby friends.

 Sister friends.

 Daddy had some fun between meetings today!

 Wee!

 We brought a thermos of hot chocolate out for the kids. 

Here they are having a little break from sledding.

 Geneva loved being pulled in the toboggan.

Maddie loved eating the snow!!

After sledding, one of our neighbors had all of us over for hot dogs. We have the best neighborhood!

Happy Day O Love!

Well, it's an understatement to say I love these guys. They are God's greatest earthly gift to me. It's a joy to spend time with these little people and their dad (of course). Jesse's a pretty fun guy to be around :) 

 The morning started out with Nutella French Toast and strawberries. We had a Bible story and conversation about how God first loved us before we were even able to love Him back. He chose us when we were wicked sinners, and showed sacrificial love by sending His Son to die on the cross to forgive us our sins. 

 After breakfast we played games, read stories, and made cards for one another. The girls thought of acts of service as gifts for our family. For example: Savannah's idea is to clean Daddy's shoes and Maddie's idea was to make Daddy breakfast Monday morning. 

After that, Jesse and I were the waiters at Puppy Love Cafe. We set up a table in the living room and served the girls heart shaped sandwiches. It was pretty cute. 

 Where's Geneva?

 Peek-A-Boo!

After lunch the girls played together and then watched a movie.

Jesse was able to visit our friends in the hospital yesterday afternoon. The girls really wanted to go visit sweet Clara, but children under 14 aren't allowed. So, we prayed for her. Thankfully, Clara's oxygen levels are improving.  

When Daddy got home, we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. 

Then it started snowing!!

We decorated some sugar cookies and just enjoyed a relaxing evening together. 

A Few Outings...

Well, the last few weeks we've spent a lot of time inside due to a whole bunch of sicknesses passing through the family. But, we have had a couples days of outings, which have been wonderful!

 Mimi and the fam drove to Luray Caverns for the day. Geneva got to be in the backpack.

 This place what pretty cool!

 Mads and Mimi.

 Papa flew in from his trip to Russia and stayed with us for about a week. 

Here we are at the Natural History Museum in D.C. 

 They have a beautiful butterfly exhibit you can walk through.

 There were butterflies and caterpillars! Savannah didn't like the smell inside there!

 Geneva caught a butterfly at one point. Don't know how well he flies now :(

 Maddie was so into this, but Savannah was ready to leave!

 So pretty!!

 Maddie was thrilled to have one on her!!

 Mimi had one land on her, too.

After our visit with the insects, we went on a beautiful walk and then out to dinner. It was a great way to have their visit come to a close. 

We will miss you Papa and Mimi! Thanks for all the ways you helped us out. Love you!