Snugglebugs and Snow

It seems that this month has been a seesaw between snuggling inside to avoid the subzero temperatures of the latest cold wave of the week, and rushing to get outside to play or do something, anything, when the temperatures rise enough that you can just about manage (provided you have about 80 layers of clothes on all parts of your body). Here's a sampling from the snuggles, inside activities, and the fun in the snow.

All you need are some pillow and blankies to be cozy

Maintaining good oral hygiene while being snuggly

An emergency afternoon Sesame St. viewing

Captain Eli piloting the chair boat while first mate Evelyn looks on

 

Laying out their master plan on how to survive another day inside

 What to do when you can't play in the snow...make snow ice cream!

Mixing up the ingredients

A serious taste test

 

Evelyn signs "more" to the ice cream

 Happy girl

Yes! We made it outside!

All snowmen are built with screwdrivers, right?

My snowbabies with their new friend, Snowman Stan

Little lady does some digging

Surveying the snowman with snow tools at the ready

Swingsets are even better in the snow

Evelyn was happy she could still fit in the swing while wearing a big snowsuit

One More Blast of Merry

As I am still working to get all of the Christmas decor wrapped up and back into storage for the year (and hopefully in an organized fashion so my future self does not curse the post-holiday laziness of my current self), it seems only appropriate to include one last blast of merriment from this year's celebrations. After all, the tree is still up and glowing (I'm working on it...really...one or two more days...three tops...), so here's the wrap-up of the post-Christmas, Christmas celebration with the rest of the family.

Enjoying her new slide (thanks, Mimi & Pa!)

Cousin Isaac helps with some repairs

All the cousins (with some crowd control help from Eli)

Cousin snuggles

Ready to open presents!

The great-est, grand-est father of them all

Cousin Isaac knows how this present thing goes

Quite the crowd around the tree this year - how blessed we are to celebrate with everyone!

Teamwork required for opening this present

Papa reads good stories

Pa reads good stories, too

Everyone knows that the kids' table is the best place to be

Mimi and Evelyn enjoy a "table for two"

Ready for some serious reading

Don't be fooled by their sweet poker faces - these girls are card sharks!

Got my driving shoes on and I'm ready to cruise

Morning pajama party for the girls

Snacks and snuggles

A Very Brasel Christmas

Our Christmas this year was up north, and it was nice to have a stretch of a few days to spend with family, relaxing and sharing the joys of Christmas. Eli helped Grammy B and Mommy with Christmas Eve baking, enjoyed the candlelight singing of Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service, and had fun visiting with relatives (and cows and barn cats) at the farm on Christmas Day. Evelyn was on the go - exploring Grammy and Grampy's house, holding Mommy's hands to "walk" around during the Christmas Eve service, and quickly getting the hang of opening presents on Christmas morning. And as I have now set a new record for the number of times the word "Christmas" is used within one brief paragraph, here are a few pictures from our Christmas visit:

Ooh - hot cocoa for breakfast at Grampy's house!

Doing a little computing (and teeth brushing)

Helping Grampy with a project

Two versus one 

(and Grampy remembering when it was his two boys wrestling with him)

Storytime for all

Grampy B getting his turn

Two kids in Christmas clothes! In front of the tree! Looking at the camera with a happy-ish look on their faces! Success!

Just so. darn. cute.

My sweet, joyful boy

Eli's "silliest Christmas Eve face ever"

Little lady happily posing for a picture

Still happily posing for a picture

Eli was not-so-happily posing for a picture

Snackies after Christmas Eve service

 Leaving cookies and milk (and napkins) out for Santa and Rudolph

Cookies are set; time for bed!

Obligatory pose-with-stockings-before-opening begins picture

Santa ate our cookies and carrots! And left us a note!

Stockings fun

Evelyn explores her stocking

Christmas morning concert

Post-opening scene (still dark outside)

Eli and Daddy playing with Jake legos

Eli and Grammy working on puzzles

Skyping with the Oregon Brasels to view their present opening

Grampy gets a turn to put on a concert

A quick picture (with wiggly kids) before it is time to go