Vacation Week & A Certain Someone's Tango With a Porcupine

This has been a brutally cold winter here in NH, and here we are knocking on April's door with continued threats of snow and more freezing temps. I think I'm getting too old for this.  ;)

I can hardly believe that Caleb has been home with me for a whole month now. I truly love having him around, the special moments we get at random times throughout the day to reconnect, share a joke, have him read me a story, bake cookies together- I love it all! We had school vacation right after his last official week - we didn't venture very far (we'd been waiting on three different potential adoptive matches, each due around that time, which obviously means that we were not chosen) but we sure had fun.

One of our very limited nicer days this year- off to a new trail in Candia. We soon discovered that this is mostly a snowmobiling trail, but they had actually packed it down quite nicely so it was easier to walk on than slushy, shifty snow.

How did this boy get so big?

Impossible to capture the amazing depth and height of this area - sure made us feel small!

This is just so typical of everyone doing their own thing.  =)

And then this.
Poor, poor baby.
After several frantic phone calls to our vet, local ER places (because we were out of town), we settled on one in Manchester, and they were great. All things considered. Thankfully, no quills inside the mouth or in his eye.

After a very long 4+ hour wait (which may have included an impromptu pizza picnic in the waiting room while we watched the Olympics), we were finally on our way home, with a very groggy, confused little pup. Ethan had to carry him to the car because he kept bumping into walls and tripping over his own feet. If it weren't so sad it would be kind of funny. Okay, so it was a little funny.

We watched the Lego movie at Smitty's with Slushies and nachos in hand...

We had yummy snacks at Panera. FYI, their hot cocoa is different now, and it is fully loaded. HA Soooo good. Of course my children prefer the watery packaged stuff, but hey. I tried.

We painted and played games and read stories...

Ha, you can tell the bitter cold has returned! I don't think I mentioned that Caleb's Christmas fish, Captain Jack Sparrow, sadly left us. Meet Hulk, the new fish that took us a zillion hours to decide upon. Watching your fish slowly, and what looks to be rather uncomfortably, perish is really, really awful. At one point I considered secretly flushing the poor guy to end our his misery, but the eternal optimist in me that was convinced he just might turn the corner wouldn't allow it. He hung on for days and days and I was relieved to see the little guy finally at peace. Yeah, I know, it's a fish. But I'll tell you, he mattered to Caleb and so he mattered to me, and we both cried real tears for that fish.

Cuddling up with my little ninja snowboarder at Pat's Peak one afternoon. We braved the winds and took everyone boarding and tubing- it never ceases to amaze me at how truly excited I become when watching one of my children master something. They did great, and listening to them laugh as they sped down the hill on tubes was so much fun!

Just look at this adorable snow bunny! Can't even stand it.

So this is kind of random but I always want to remember the fun they have had in our backyard here - we never had anything like this at our old home. Many, many afternoons out there, and I love watching them and hearing their laughter. From the inside with my hot cup of tea, that is.  =)

Ok, so two last things: I have actually included some iphone pics! That is totally high-tech crazy for me, folks. I'm so proud.

And secondly, Hulk is still with us. He has a fun little personality and loves to eat, so this one might actually stand a chance!

Oh wait, a third thing: Ryder has completely recovered and is his usual happy self. 

Have a great day!

Summer Surprise #1!

Summer is in full swing and we've been spending lots of time here....

...which I luuuuuuuuuve!

But TODAY we're gearing up for a full day of water slides, wading pools & splash park FUN! I am so excited...this trip has been on our summer list for three years' running now, and this year I get to cross it off! Hooray!

Of course, Lukey went MIA last night so I hardly slept a wink because I was so worried. Poor Sneakers just roamed the house meowing and crying- he missed Luke so much! At 3 AM, I couldn't just lay there any longer and puttered around downstairs making sandwiches, going around our yard calling for the little rascal, and working on a summer tunic/swimsuit cover-up.

Well...Luke appeared on the porch steps at 4:13, lunch is all set, AND I finished the tunic and it actually fits! Score! Plus, I even like it! Double score! I think it's going to be a fantastic day! 

As if on cue, Caleb just wrapped his little arms around my neck and told me how much he loves our big surprise for the day! Fantastic day!

Seaside

 This is really MARCH? ? ?

In New Hampshire? ? ?

 Not once in my whole lifetime have I ever gone to play on the beach in March...in an actual bathing suit!

I pulled Ethan from school - don't report me!- and we had a surprise "early summer" day. I hope one day he'll look back and remember the fun stuff we did together.

We discovered that Ryder is a big baby when it comes to waves, ha!

I didn't take a picture of the whole beach, but it was more crowded than it is on some days in summer! None of us have been complaining, either!

Caleb's First Basketball Game!

This morning we headed out bright and early to the first basketball game of the season! Well, some of us did...Ethan and Isabelle were fast asleep so I let them stay put (we'd talked to E about this earlier, and he is a pro- he knows just what to do!). Bill and Caleb had left by ten after eight, so Mr. Metal, ahem Jonah, and I headed up to check things out a little later.

The game had just started as we were walking in, and I saw Caleb score! Wow! Then a few minutes later, he grabbed that ball again and without even thinking tossed it up...and SWOOSH!

everyone's waiting to see the fate of the throw...sank it!

I really love watching my children play different sports! Caleb's cheeks were so SO red- he was getting quite a workout! While he is definitely athletic, sometimes his size keeps him from being as agile as he wants to be, like he needs a little more time to grow into those long arms and legs!

Poor Jonah said his mouth was hurting him. =(

But he has been such a trooper this week, even with the emergency trip in to repair a popped wire that had rubbed the inside of his cheek completely raw.

Right now as I type this, we've got someone outside cleaning the car, Jonah is in here vacuuming the stairs with one of the funky attachments, Ryder is...uh-oh- I'm learning that not knowing the whereabouts of Ryder doesn't generally end well, for me anyway. Gotta go!

He's worth it, though!  :)

Happy Saturday!

Our Christmas Celebrations

This whole month has just flown by! It seems like just yesterday we were walking down the road in search of our family tree...and there it was!

I sold our wagon since I thought we were moving, so this year we mixed it up a bit and did some extra running back and forth because the thought of hauling the tree home on our shoulders wasn't all that appealing, ha!

There were visits to Santa, lots of goodies to try from my Pinterest board (most were a hit, awesome!), and special things I hoped would be meaningful to our family. I was really hoping that all these little things would show everyone how much I love them and want them to feel cherished.

And of course there was this extra special Christmas surprise...

This is how our tree looked on Christmas morning, before anyone else was awake...well, technically, before I let Caleb come downstairs...everything looked shimmery from the all the candles, and I thought it looked so magical and beautiful.

When Caleb and I {finally} roused everyone, we raced downstairs and checked out the empty plate and coffee mug and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus...

some look more awake than others, huh?  =)

The kiddos have been thanking us all week for Ryder- they walk around saying, "I still can't believe we have a dog!" I love it!

 We went to my parent's church and the children were called down front to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and then they served birthday cake to the entire congregation! I thought that was so neat!

I was ultra organized with some things, but not with others, like Christmas dinner. I know, I know! I made due but it was nothing spectacular. The drinks and treats on the other hand were really great!  =)

 so fun and festive!

and a great way to use up leftover decorating gel & candy canes!

 the official taste-tester gave these a thumbs up!

 doesn't that look gorgeous!?!

 This was so much fun too! I was thrilled it actually worked! (ignore the weird lighting and color- my camera was yet again in the wrong mode and I just didn't realize until later, as in, when the cake was all gone.) The red and green were SO vibrant and pretty! The recipe called for white and green frosting, but we wanted some chocolate so I made a quick glaze and sprinkled snowflake candies all over. Thank you Pinterest!

We have had a wonderful week, going on hikes with Ryder, special dinners out, a little night swimming and ice cream sundaes for lunch! I must say it took a couple of days for me to get used to having a dog in the house, but he is a sweet, sweet boy! So far, Jonah has fallen asleep on him (yes, ON him) twice, he cuddles so nicely, and he doesn't run off or pull hard on the leash. He is the perfect dog for us and I'm so thankful I gave in and said yes!
There is one thing, though.

 

The kitties aren't quite convinced yet.

But I'm sure they'll be good friends in time!

Our Christmas SURPRISE!!!

From our family to yours...

Merry Christmas!!!