Oh, we have snow.

It wasn't too long ago when we were in DC and snow was a big ordeal. People would "prepare" for an inch of snow forecasted for Friday, by immediately stocking up on toilet paper and bread on Monday. Never really cared for all that hoopla. Plus, more often than not, it would never snow -- just some rain with ice.

With that said, I will openly admit that I like the winters in Central PA. We get snow. Everyday. Sometimes, we don't even know when or how much. Often we wake up, see it snowing and look at each other quizzically and say, "was it suppose to snow today?" I love it. It is FAR more fun to play in snow than rain and ice.

Sunday we got snow, again. While I enjoy a fast run on the sledding hill, the kids (as you can see) prefer to make snow angels and eat snow. Lots of eating of snow. I figure it must be good to hydrate after sweating under the copious layers of clothing!


Playing some chase in the snow.

Preparing for tandem-sledding. Ripley at the ready to chase them down the hill.


Alexander lending a hand with some shoveling. Isn't he such a great helper?


CJ attempting to catch snowflakes on her tongue.


Angel Alexander.

I'm an FBI AGENT, Dude.

Zack and I love this famous quote from Keanu Reeves in the classic movie, Point Break. Now Courtney will be able to say it for real. I certainly hope that she will use the last word too -- it makes such a statement!

As all of you know, I am extremely jealous of Courtney in her career path. I love my kids and doing my staying-home-mom-thing, but I think it would be TOTALLY cool to run around chasing bad guys with a gun and a badge. Knowing this information, Courtney was so thoughtful to send the family a great gift this past Christmas. Here is a photo we took as an ODE TO COURTNEY.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she finishes her training in Quantico and moves onto fight bad guys in March.

Thank you so much, Courtney. Can't wait to come down and visit you in February!!!!

Back to School

It's been 5,267 days (14 years and 5 months) since I've sat in a classroom for an actual academic for-credit class. But after much thought, and a little delay, I finally decided to enroll in a graduate level class this semester. My thinking is that I'll take a class at a time and at some point over the next year or so, decide if I want to actually enter a degree program and go for my Master's. So this semester, I am taking COMM 513, Constitutional Problems and the Media. Should be interesting -- at least I hope it will be. Wish me luck!

The Annual PA Farm Show

It only took two years in Pennsylvania for our family to make it to the much touted Farm Show. Held in Harrisburg, a mere 90 minutes away, Zack took the day off work to relive his childhood memories.

For those unfamiliar with the event, it is a huge complex of arenas filled with cattle, diary cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, alpacas, ducks, rabbits, a lone deer and (believe it not) a big ole bison. I am SURE that you can already smell the sweet scents that almost knocked us over upon entering.

The kids had fun running through the aisles of animals petting animals and mimicking their sounds as if to communicate with them. That was all fun and games until we got to the pigs. Trying to snort back at one particularly temperamental swine gave me a big breath of pig shit and almost made me toss the delicious pulled pork sandwich we just finished eating. (Wrong isn't it?)

This is CJ's new pose. Fits her personality of late very well. Miss Diva. Alexander may have a career in 4H in his very near future.


Crazy Rabbit. (Thanks Elmer Fudd!)


There were also countless farm tractors/equipment for the kids to play... er, I mean test drive. Here are some of their favorites.



After an exciting day of taking a shuttle bus (CJ's first ride in a yellow school bus), seeing animals, playing on large farm equipment, experiencing the largest butter sculpture in the whole world (because who else would think to do such a thing), riding the merry-go-round, eating chicken nuggets, french fries and a milkshake, we asked the kids what was the favorite part of the whole day.

Unanimously and quickly they responded:
"COTTON CANDY!!"



Well, but of course.

Just the Girls

On the heels of the last post, CJ has decided to give up on me. I just don't play dollies like she wants me to. She has figured out the alternative...



Poor Ripley. Doesn't her face just look like it is saying "help me!"?

Who is this Girl?

Most of you know that I am not a girly-girl. I hate pink. I don't even think I own a skirt. In fact, Zack was worried that I would wear a wedding pant-suit instead of a wedding dress.

When CJ popped into this world, it took a full day to "sink in" that I had a girl. A girl. A GIRL. That is what I would just keep saying. For the first two years of her life, I encouraged play with everything leftover from Alexander. She happily "rummed" trucks, played with Batman and kicked balls.

Then came Christmas 2008. You have seen the pictures of the princess gowns. She wore one every waking moment since opening it on Christmas morning. Two days ago, CJ was playing hide-n-seek in her closet. At this time she discovered her Easter dress from last year. Guess what? She hasn't taken that one off since that game. She calls it her "gown" and thankfully has allowed me to put some clothes on underneath.

WHO IS THIS GIRL? She can't possibly be a little Jean. She LOVES pink. She plays with Dollies. She WANTS to wear dresses and "tap" shoes. Although, she is adorable. Perhaps that is what she gets from me! ;-)

Aspirational Photography

Sitting at my desk today eating lunch, I surf the internet as usual, and it's amazing the things I stumble upon. While looking at an adventure blog, I clicked on to a link to some guy in Colorado who is a hiker and photographer. I probably spent 20 minutes clicking through his photos. Wow! To be able to make a living doing what he does makes me jealous.

Check it out for yourself: http://www.widerange.org/index.php

My Apologies

To all of the Penn State Football fans around the globe, I apologize. The Rose Bowl was an embarrassment. Was USC just a better team? Was the PSU coaching out-matched? Did the players have too much sun and fun before the game? What went wrong? I have the answer.

The loss was the sole fault of my brother. Yes, my brother.

For whatever cosmic reason, he changes things when he decides to root for them. For example, in the early 90s he suggested we buy some AOL stock. The technology stock was soaring -- it could do no wrong. It was at a "low" of $90 and headed up. Broke and trusting, Zack and I bought it on his advice. Several years later we took the tax break on the loss. This is pretty typical. In fact, I'm not sure, but if he bought a bunch of stock right before the recent stock market plunge, this recession could be his fault too. But I digress...

On New Year's Day, I got an email from my big bro. He had just painted his football statue to PSU colors in honor of the big game. This was the third painting of the season. He started the football season in Michigan colors (I know, I know) and then they started losing. He then moved on to the at-the-time-winning Redskins. Promptly after that conversion, the Skins started to suck big time. So what does he do? Yes, that's right... he goes for the Blue and White. ACK! On the day of the big game. What was he thinking?????

Again, my apologies fans.

Happy New Year!

Why is it that the Christmas season passes by faster and faster each year? What would be so wrong about it lingering for a few more days? Would everyone's merriment start to become grating? Would we get tired of hearing others wish us a "Merry Christmas"? Would the kids eventually give up on being "nice" and opt for just being "naughty"?

I just love watching the kids during Christmas. Everything is looked upon with such awe and anticipation, it's simply magical. Some of our highlights:

* Alexander at Christmas Eve service singing at top volume "Go Tell It on the Mountain". It gave Ann and I tears of joy.

* CJ on Christmas morning doing an adorable and giddy happy dance at the sight of presents from Santa.

* Alexander's amazement that Santa not only brought the one present he asked for, but also the present he was going to ask for next year. (The kid's got long term goals!)

* CJ's transformation into our Little Princess. Having avoided all the girlie-stuff for this long, the "aunts" took it upon themselves to give CJ tiaras, tutus, purses, and gowns. She hasn't taken them off since 12/25/2008 at 7:35am.

* Alexander's excitement to "give" gifts for the first time. Before going to visit the extended family, he was anxious to present his special gifts to his grandparents. For my woodworking father he gave a keychain with a level on it. For Zack's dad, he gave him a camoflauge beer cozy. Not sure what he is trying to say with that -- but it made us laugh.

Of course, here are some pictures...


The kids hand-picked every cookie for Santa and every carrot for the reindeer.


Christmas Morning. CJ in PJs, tiara, tutu, and "tap" shoes (because that is what Princesses wear, of course). Alexander holding up his most-wished-for game.



CJ and her cousin Sarah. They played dress-up the entire day. Can you see that CJ is holding her purse/clutch? Hilarious!!