2014

Okay, I knew it was already 2014.  But it's already 2014!

It finally hit me when I went to upload pictures today and had to make a brand new folder for them.  

I've spent the majority of the past 4 days scanning in every piece of the boys' schoolwork or artwork that I've saved.  I had scanned some here and there but there was an overflowing 12x12 binder with stuff that still needed to be done.

See?  Not exaggerating.  And then there was another 3 inch binder with more sports pictures and memorabilia too.  It all started when I decided to organize the office.  I didn't get very far before I found these binders and decided I was motivated enough to take them on.  

I just finished tonight - woohoo!!  

Needless to say, though .... the rest of the office is still waiting for its turn at the organizing.

The boys have been on their own missions this week.

First, they set up a hot cocoa stand at the end of the drive with some friends.

I was pretty surprised that they actually made some money.

Two of them stood at the end of the street waving this sign like the oil change places do .

The rest of them manned the table.

Then came this on Sunday.

This was actually about an hour after I had shoveled the first time.  I keep seeing reports that our area only got 5.5 inches, but I'm here to tell you that it was more than that.  I feel like I shoveled 5 or 6 inches both times I was out there.  For sure the first time and then the second time it had started blowing so much that some areas were less, some more.  But really, it had to be 9 or 10 at least.

The good news is that shoveling snow burns 285 calories per hour, so I burned close to 600 calories counting the shoveling I had to do today.  Who needs the gym, right?

Ethan and one of our neighbors made a snow fort in the front yard - didn't last long though since it just kept filling up with snow.  They all had a great time though.

And all of the boys were awesome help in shoveling our drive. 

By evening it was getting pretty cold, so after dinner we made a fire.

Surprisingly, I'm not good at this.  I know, right?

But with some popsicle sticks, cardboard and clever maneuvering of the logs, we finally managed to get this loveliness.

And I had scooped up some snow earlier in the afternoon so that we could have snow ice cream.  The boys had had it before when they were much younger, but they were too young to remember.  Elliott had tasted it at the neighbors' house earlier that day, but this was Ethan's first taste and will be his last.  He did not like it one bit.  Oh well.

And today we woke to these temperatures.

Brrr.

The boys and I stuck our heads out the back door just to see what -31 degrees felt like.

It felt like -31 degrees.

We shut the door.

Since it's been so cold, we've been inside even more today.

Last night I remembered that I had pinned some loom bracelet designs, so I showed the boys and they have been busy making all kinds of bracelets today when they need a break from Minecraft or Clash of Clans or whatever.

I can't remember the names of all of these.  I think the one on the right is a Triple Single - only because he made me one and it looks like that.  Elliott even found a piano design that is really cool that I will have to photograph tomorrow.

Right now I'm going to bed.  Goodnight and stay warm my friends!