Westward Ho!! in 2013 style

On December 17, 2013 at about 7:30 pm we started out on our quest to see the west. We left amid a wind and rain storm, but we really had no idea about what "Cold" meant in western terms. Traveling across the flat lands of mid west, we came to the conclusion that we have it pretty good in the Old Dominion.

We stopped at a rest stop in Minnesota. This area is fairly close to where the Mayo clinic is. We had been on the road for almost 15 hours and it was nice to take a break in this small play ground. I should point out though, that the subfreezing temperatures made the play date rather short. The temperatures were below zero, I believe around -5*.

I have to say that all the kids did great on the trip. But Brianne really did great. For her to be so little, she kept her self entertained most of the time. She was a real trooper.

This windy land is a really great place for a windmill farm....guess someone else thought of that too.

We had two  portable DVD players that became worth their weight in gold. Travelling across the prairie can be pretty boring. It makes me wonder what the children in the covered wagons did for a laugh.

These picture's blue appearance is due I think to the fact that Vicki took them through the wind shield.

V-  These signs remind me fondly of my dear Grandpa Grant.  He use to drive for Cenex.  I sure miss that guy!
Loved the sayings of the signs.....Next Rest Stop, Anyone Guess.    and    Gas now.  Or gas can later.

Roadside signs were the only thing that kept the drive through South Dakota amusing or interesting...there were soooo many of them!

Our first leg of the trip was about 22 hours in the car.  We found a place to stay in Chamberlain, South Dakota.  finding a hotel  with a swimming pool was our biggest desire...and we did.  It was a great way to relax and gear up for the next few days of traveling.

A Snowy Valentine's Day

After the wonderful cozy, warm, stay-at-home day on Thursday the kids were ready to get out and play with their friends.  Originally, we were suppose to have our next kick-off and Valentine's party today, but all we really wanted to do was PLAY in the Snow!!!......so that is what we did!!

Hello, it is Cailin. 

Yesterday (as in Valentine's Day) we went to the  Mattson's house with the Brame's to go sledding. It was awesome. We sledded for a little bit, but then someone (it was me) threw a snowball at Connor's head and the fight was on. At first there was an every-man-for-himself battle, then we decided to do it more organized with teams and snow forts. 

So we went down to the fire pit area where most of the snow was untouched to do this. The team captains were Beryl and Jared, but Connor pretty much took over Beryl's team captain-ship. On Beryl/Connor's team was Clarissa, Delaney, Beryl, Connor, and Liam. On Jared's team was Janet, Krystal, Jared, Amber, and me. The Beryl/Connor team was called the Yeti's and Jared's team was the Abominable Snowmen. Both teams had the idea to make one central fort at the back and two smaller snow forts off to the side. I did NOT steal Connor's idea, despite what Liam or Delaney or someone from that team might tell you. They just got started on their other forts first. 

Once our fortresses of ice and snow were ready, the Cold War began.

Snow was flying, people were getting hit in the face and in the stomach, forts were being taken--it was crazy awesome. 

After a long fight, the two armies called a truce and went back up to the house for lunch. 

The Cold War has paused, but not stopped... It is paused until the next snowfall, whenever that may be. 

Connor: Salvete (hello in Latin)! So we had a snow day, three actually. Wednesday was, at least for me, half school and half snow. Thursday, Cailin and I attempted to make a quick buck with snow shoveling, and succeeded too. We each made sixty dollars, so I'd have to say we made off like bandits. Friday came and we had exhausted all shoveling ventures so it was time to have fun before all the snow melted. We packed up and headed off to the Mattson's for sledding. I had also promised Liam a snowball fight which would be taken care of while we were there. After a bit of sledding, we moved up to an area to begin construction of a new track. While someone was working on this track, either I or Cailin dropped (by accident or with maliciousness, I do not recall) snow on the other. This was retaliated with pile of snow, which was replied with another, and another until actual snowballs were being hurled. People quickly were drawn into the conflict as the snow flew. People were slammed, alliances made, and backs stabbed. Finally, Jared turned to me and asked if I wanted to take the fight down to the bottom of the hill and begin a more organized fight. That was fine with me, I was without a single ally and therefore losing badly. So down we went, and that fight took place ultimately as Cailin depicted. We had to leave the fight (deemed the 'Cold War') as a draw. The team I was on was the more aggressive, leading several attacks into enemy territory, while they took advantage of our lesser numbers and assaulted our base while we were away.

 

Brianne also had fun.  By Friday afternoon, the temperature was quite warm for a snowy day (~45*) and so she played with the urns and took a round our two on the sled being pulled by Jen.

Team "Abominable Snowman"

Team "Yeti"  minus Delaney who had a boot problem and had to get it fixed.

Team Yeti and Team Abominable Snowman...ready for the next Cold War.

 

 As this day was also Valentine's Day they shared a few Valentine's and decorated cupcakes.

 To quote Delaney  "This was the best Valentine's Day ever!!"

Back home, for dinner, Barry and I shared our bottle of sparkling cider with the kids, using champagne classes and all, as we feasted on chili burgers.  This was one of our first meals while on a "date" when we both lived in the DC area before we were married....plus we had the ingredients on hand!  No need to purchase anything :)

"Snow is Falling All Around"

"Snow is falling all around,  On the housetops,  On the ground..... Snow is falling on my nose,   On my head, and hands and toes."

This is a favorite Primary song of Brianne's  and it's lyrics fit quite well for the day!
The weather forecast was predicting a big snow storm starting Wednesday with continued snow until Thursday evening.....and they got it right this time!    At 1:30 pm on Wednesday, I only remember because we were on our way home from a trip to the library (our homeschool family's way of buttoning down the hatches :)  and the hospital where Beulah is, when the snow came softly flowing down from the sky...and it stuck.....and the grass began to be covered and the streets became slippery....but all was well with us as we had our books and kerosene to keep us warm!  (Food too, but this is a food storage month for us, so we didn't need to hit the grocery store!)

The land transformed into that beautiful, peaceful, snow covered heaven, that I love so much about snow storms.  Liam couldn't wait to join his friends, Seth and Landon to play.  As Connor had promised to take Liam and Delaney sledding at the school, but had become over tired from the work he and Cailin did from shoveling neighbors driveways and walks, I asked Ryan to take them....and he did!

 

Ryan's thoughts:   Taking the younger ones out to go sledding was not my idea of a fun day. However I tried to be happy and fired many snowballs at the kids. The snow was just right for that sort of thing then. I just grumbled under my breath not really wanting to be there at all. I trudged through the cold freezing snow to the school with the others and I  watched them feebly trying to sled down the hill with their little sleds. I ended up having a snow ball fight with Seth and Landon, who are the next door neighbors kids. Liam and Delaney kept on trying to make the sled path so that they could sled. I just more or less watched them while snow balling Seth and Landon. I kept a watch on the time and made the others come back home after a time. As we came back home the next door neighbor was on top of his roof knocking the snow off and he called for Seth and Landon to go home.

Delaney's thoughts:  Ryan took us to the school to sled.  When we got there we went sledding.  Ryan, Landon, and Seth started a snowball fight, but I didn't want to, I just wanted to sled! Liam and I pretended that Seth and Landon's sleds were animals that we rode on."

Liams thoughts:  'It was fun!   We also had a fun time sledding.....f-u-n, that spells fun mom!"

As for me, I enjoyed a cup or two of herbal tea, some reading, sewing with Delaney (she's been wanting to make a dress for her doll) and I made eight loaves for bread  It's a food storage month for us and I've come to realize that the best way to not feel "poor" is to be prepared with "convenience' food.  I plan to make cookie dough and freezer meals to pack the freezer with for those nights when dinner wasn't planned (PCHS play practices are beginning) or the munchies hit.

Brianne enjoyed playing with the crawling tubes, playing with her siblings, and watching some Barney, currently her favorite TV show.


Cailin here:   Connor and I went snow shoveling. I earned $60--a lot of people wanted their driveways and/or walks shoveled out. I was really tired by the end of the day, but I have money now and that makes it all worth it.
Connor here:  Thursday, Cailin and I attempted to make a quick buck with snow shoveling, and succeeded too. We each made sixty dollars, so I'd have to say we made off like bandits.

A Chinese New Year....and a Missionary Opportunity.

It's the Year of the Horse!  We celebrated the Chinese New year with friends and great food.

The dragon mask is from a few years ago, but it's so cute and fun that Christine has the kids parade around using it every year...and they certainly don't object!

We've been attending this for a year or two and love the warm friendly fun with our dear friends.

Apparently fireworks are a HUGE deal in many of the Chinese celebrations.  I heard many stories of those who have lived there, namely the Mattson's but others too, who say that most nights for months on end you can hear in the distance fireworks going off.  It's either in celebration of a current, past or up-coming holiday.....needless to say fireworks are a BIG deal.
Christine has the brilliant idea to let the kids stomp on a package of bubble wrap in simulate the sound of the fireworks...it worked wonderfully...nice and LOUD!

In Chinese traditions, Grandma Beryl gives all the children a red envelope filled with a "treasure" (money--a gold dollar coin this year).  They have to say ___________ and thank-you in chinese to get the treasure.

Connor's looking quite nice.....here's why.....

On this particular Saturday, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with Brandon Kessinger. Brandon's family had gone inactive several years ago and he has now decided to take the lessons with the missionaries. On this night I was able to join them. We had an excellent lesson. I know I felt the spirit, and I'm fairly certain everyone else did too. Why was I in a suit for this? The missionaries wear suits, so I needed to as well.

All the kids....giving their best silly faces!