Ice cream anyone?

In Orlando ice cream isn't a strange thing to enjoy in the middle of winter. Even most cold days are in the 60s there, but here in Maryland ice cream just doesn't seem right when it's near freezing outside.

Friday it was in the mid-50s here and I guess the taste of warmth just went right to our heads. After dinner Keith said, "Let's go get ice cream!" We started off for a Ben & Jerry's but then checked the GPS Keith got for Christmas and found a Bruester's closer. I reminded Keith that Bruester's don't usually have any indoor areas, but he said, "It's Maryland, they've got to have one." Well, it was about 7:30 by the time we got there and the temperature had to have dropped to at least 30 and there was nothing but the usual walk-up window. We ordered and sat on the very cold metal benches until I could no longer feel my fingers and then we moved to our warm car to eat our ice cream in January in Maryland :o)

Fun, fun, fun

I had the great joy of accompanying all the Pastors College wives in a special surprise for them this past Saturday. They were told to meet at the Sovereign Grace offices at 8 AM sharp and we then we whisked them away to fun-filled day of surprises. It was such a blessing to get this time with these precious women! Many encouraging conversations with no little ones to tear us away. I was so grateful to get to enjoy this time with them!

Well, my fun weekend didn't end there...I got to take my dear little Isaac out on our first date! We went to Krisy Kreme where he quickly picked out the doughnut with chocolate icing and sprinkles. And he ate every sprinkle he could find! We stopped at the train in Olde Towne and played on it for a few minutes too. It was so much fun to be with my little guy all by ourselves :o)

And then it snowed!! It began Monday morning and by lunch there was enough on the ground to go out and play. The best part was that Keith was off work so we all got to play together! The kids and I went sledding this morning, but the sun is quickly melting much of the snow away now.

Ninjas and princesses

Isaac and Samy have been busy playing with all their new toys and dress-up clothes! Here's Samy in a couple of her many pretty little dresses:

And here's Isaac in his "ninja" outfit (for lack of anything better to tell him it was):

Samy in particular loves wearing all our winter hats, scarves and gloves while pushing a stroller. Kind of reminds me of a bag lady :o)

Here's one of Isaac's favorite new things to do, choo-choo races on the new train table:

Back in the swing of things

After Thanksgiving and Christmas travels and a couple sick kids and trying to get the house back in order, we are finally back in the swing of things. The kids are enjoying all their new toys, but I think we're all going a bit stir crazy. It's been mighty cold and we haven't ventured out much. I took the kids to the playground on Monday (because it was going to be the warmest day of the week), we "crunched" the ice on the side walk on our way, and then Samy cried all the way home she was so cold. We woke up to a light dusting of snow yesterday morning, which was beautiful but the cold is just too much to bear to even go out to play in it. The wind chill today is 0 degrees. ZERO! It's not supposed to get that cold in Maryland is it??

Hope all you Florida folks are enjoying your warm winter! Pray for me that I wouldn't grumble in my first winter this far north (and you could pray for warmer weather too--ha ha!) :o)

New Family Photos

So, I know it's sad but up until a few weeks ago we only had two pictures of our little family all together. One from when Samy was only 5 months old and the other in our swimsuits. I am so very grateful to have professional, beautiful new pictures of our family! Thank you so much to Brittany Kauflin for taking them!!!