First snow of 2016

Winter is officially here!  We have had our first and second snowfall of the year all in the last week.  First snow fall came on Tuesday January 19th.  We got the call from the kids school the evening before that school would be out.  So, Matt and I just waited to see what would come our way.  Would the roads be driveable to take the kids to the school snow care site or would we be working from home.  Well, it started out as freezing rain, then sleet and then large snowflakes started falling.  This was all by 8:00am.  When the precipitation changed to snow, Matt and I knew because Cassidy was overjoyed and started running through the house saying "It's snow time, It's snow time!"  I was working in my office but when she asked to go outside, Matt let her...no coat, no hat.  Gotta love dads.  All I got was a shout out from my husband that I was "missing it".  When I came into the room and looked out on our back porch I saw our cute little munchkin in complete awe and amazement of the snow falling all around her.  She was in LOVE!  Well by 11am it warmed up and what little snow that had fallen was gone.  We had 3 sad kiddos.  Little did we know that we had a snowfall coming unlike any they had ever seen in their lifetime.  The news Thursday promised 3-6 inches of the white stuff.  We got the call about school closing again that evening,  In anticipation of the weather coming there would be no school Friday.  We were prepared.  Matt had already prepared to work from home.  I had to be at the hospital.  I was on call that weekend and per our inclement weather policy I had to be at work.  So, I left the house at 6:30am and the snow was already falling in downtown Nashville.  Did we get our promised 3-6 inches.  No.  We got 6-10 inches depending on where in the Nashville area you lived.  It was terrible for driving, but so GOOD for sledding and all the fun snow activities like snow ball fights and building snowmen and snow forts.  Boy did those sleds from Grams and Grandpa come in handy!  To say the kids had a ball is a complete understatement.  Unfortunately we don't have many pictures but lots of great memories and a few fun videos.

This is Cassidy after her first adventure outside without her snow gear. snow in hair

Sisters!  Cassidy talked Ella Catherine into getting on her snow gear and heading out with her for a bit

LOVE this picture my neighbor sent me.  Fun in the snow building snowman with friends

LOVE this picture! Carter and some neighborhood friends and classmates enjoying some sledding and snowball fights

This little one could not get enough of the snow,  This was taken on Today when most of the snow had started to melt but we still had a big mound on our deck.  She came home from school and asked to put on her snow gear to go out and play in the snow.  She then proceeded to tell me as I was snapping this picture that she didn't know how to build a snowman.  Sister to the rescue.  She geared up and went out to help build her an olaf while I cooked dinner.

More Snow

Thanks to Grams & Grandpa for the sleds. Each of the Kids got their very own sled and enjoyed many hours of sledding during their time off.   In Nashville, we received about 18 inches of snow, which is considered a blizzard.  The fun only lasted a few days, after four days of no school the kids were ready to go back to school.  

Christmas 2015

Happy Holidays from Nolensville.  This year we are staying in town because Amy had to go into the hosptial on Christmas day.

Halloween 2015

We had a great time trick or treating with our friends and neighbors, the Rosenhagens, again this year.  This year Ella Catherine (8) was a bubble bee, Carter (6) was a Ninja and Cassidy (2) was princess Sophia.  This was the first year that Cassidy really got into it and wanted to walk to every house and say "Trick or Treat".  So much fun watching them have so much fun.

Ninja, Bumble Bee and Princess Sophia

Love these three!  Love trick or treating with them

"Trick or Treat"

Carter's field trip to Lucky Ladd Farms

Carter's class went on a field trip to Lucky Ladd Farm today and I was lucky enough to be able to take off work to go with them.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day!  We took a little tour of the farm where learned a lot about the animals and about how pumpkins grow.  They even told us which variety of pumpkins make the best pumpkin pies (the white pumpkins)  Then I believe the kids favorite part was the HUGE playground.  It was nice to be able to spend the morning with Carter and his friends.

Carter and his good friend, Clayton, ready to go into the farm

Entrance to Lucky Ladd

Carter's kindergarten class

Another photo op for the class at this cute pumpkin display.  Look in the pumpkin's right eye and you'll see my buddy.

Too Cute

Feeding the goats

This boy loves to climb

See Sawing

Big Bouncy Balls

At the very end they were given a bag and allowed to go into a reserved area and pick out a pumpkin to take home

looking for just the right pumpkin

Me and my buddy and his pumpkin selection.  Loved this mother son time

Girl Scout Pumpkin decorating

Ella Catherine's girl scouts troop, troop 2916 had a meeting tonight. Their craft was painting and decorating pumpkins.  She has a very small troop.  All the girls but her decided to paint their pumpkin black.  She had her own idea and I LOVE that she is unique and doesn't follow the crowd.  

Creative juices flowing

Almost finished

The girls and their pumpkins.  Love that Ella Catherine opted to follow her own style.

up close look at the finished product

Ella Catherine and her painted pumpkin creation

Soccer Saturday

We are in full soccer season.  For Sept and Oct all our Saturdays will be soccer Saturdays.  Luckily the kids were not playing at the same time today so Matt and I were able to watch both kids play their entire games.  Ella Catherine's game was first at 9am.  She was team captain today and started off playing offense.  However, the goalie on her team was hurt early on in the game and as a result she volunteered to play goalie the second half of the game.  I was super nervous for her but she didn't seem nervous a bit!  She played a shut out.  Unfortunately, her team lost but the other team did not score on her.  She SHUT EM OUT!!  Her coach was talking to Matt after the game and said, "I think I've found myself a new goalie." 

We had a bit of a break before Carter's game.  He played at 11:00.  It offered some time for Matt to kick around the soccer ball with the older kids.  Carter started the game also on offense.  He is really starting to be a bit more interactive in the game.  Following the ball well and getting in there to kick it. He also ended up playing goalie at the end of his game.  He had some great stops.  It was a great day to spend the morning at the soccer field.

All Smiles after the game.  She took about 20-30 minutes to chill out before eating and drinking her after game snacks,  Said she was so nervous she felt sick.  Would have never known she was nervous.  She looked cool as a cucumber when she was playing.  

Ella Catherine, Mikayla and Siri strategizing before the game started

Getting some instructions from coach Patel

Here they go!  First kick off of the game

Trying to turn the ball

Going for the ball 

Getting ready for the start of the game/ kick off

Carter kicking off