The Blakemore Family

The kids usually ask to wear one of their costumes every day.

Peter Pan returns

Minnie Mouse mid-twirl

We got a TON of snow over the last day and a half. I don't have a total of inches, since we got around 4-6 inches, then that got packed down with a big layer of sleet and freezing rain, then we got a whole bunch on top of that. I couldn't get Jon's tape measure through the heavy snow, as it kept bending.

This was first thing Saturday morning, before it snowed heavily all day.

I love how the snow clung to the netting of the trampoline.

Everyone kept talking about snow cream, so we found a recipes online and made some. We all thought it was pretty nasty.

So, not to disappoint the kids, we had snow cones. Literally, snow and cones. The kids thought it was great.

What a treat!
Tomorrow, we'll venture out to play in the snow.

When it's cold outside, and we're played out with snow, we get creative with getting energy out.

The kids found a great place to hide in the cabinets.

This has been quite the cold and snowy winter. We got about 3-4 more inches on Tuesday night, and are supposed to get another big storm ("Big" meaning 16-24inches!) this weekend.
The kids have been enjoying playing in the snow, and even Kate has ventured out for a bit.

She doesn't love playing in the snow, but really enjoys being outside. So when the driveway is clear and a few toys are dried out, she has a nice time, as long as she's bundled like the Michelin man.

Michael clears the snow off his sand box.

Michael in the snow, and Kate in the outskirts of the snow

It was around 40 degrees yesterday, so Michael thought it was really cool that the snow was melting on the trampoline and dripping down.

This picture was too cute not to share. #1) Kate is having an emotional breakdown because one of her "gwoves" came off. Drama! #2) Doesn't Michael look like he has no head? He actually has a black hat on and is looking down, but the illusion of headlessness looks pretty funny.

The kids have been waking up cold, and Michael has been waking up scared lately. I thought I would see how they would do in the same bed, and they have done very well. Michael usually falls asleep first (he doesn't nap any more), and Kate takes advantage if his unconsciousness to snuggle up to him.

It's February now, so that means it will soon be March, then April, then May! January said farewell by dumping 12 more inches of snow on us. Jon and Michael enjoyed the grand goodbye, but Katie and I are more than ready to be done with this weather! I'm very thankful for my winter-loving boys, who like to play and shovel and clear our driveway and walkways!

Thankfully, this was a light & fluffy snow, so much easier for the boys to shovel than that heavy, wet stuff last time.

We woke up this morning to more snowfall. It's still coming down steadily, and we are predicted to accumulate 6-10 inches. I'm thankful for a husband who enjoys the snow, doesn't mind shoveling, and has a fun time playing outside with Michael in the snow (while Kate and I are warm and toasty inside!)

Both my kids love to read, and Michael especially loves to make up imaginary stories that he thinks the picture are portraying. It's entertaining.

He hates pants, and asks to wear shorts all the time. So his latest thing is to pull his pants up high so they resemble shorts.

Katie has been a super snuggle-bug lately. She's not completely feeling 100% better, and just wants Mommy or Daddy all the time. Sweet girl!

We've had wacky January weather, fluctuating between balmy 60 degree days and snowy sub-freezing temperatures. Yesterday was in the high 50s. Tomorrow, we are supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow! May, come quickly!

Michael wields his sword to stave off the dragons and bad guys.

Apparently, he decided Kate was either a dragon or a bad guy.

So I informed him that he should conquer the beasts within the septic tank instead.

Katie found a puddle.

We love being outside!

Soon, all the kids will be wearing their pants on their heads as hats.

The kids have done such a great job playing together lately. Usually, that means Michael giving directions, and Katie blindly following them. For now, they seem to enjoy each others' friendship, and I will enjoy it while it lasts.

Posing for the camera

Jon brought out the step-stool to kill a spider way up high, and the kids confiscated it before he had time to put it away. We had to intervene, though, as the kids were trying to reach ceiling spider-height before long.

CHEESE! I love that boy!

We've been battling a nasty respiratory bug this past week. Michael seems to be better, Jon is fine, but it's hanging on till the end with both me and Kate. She went all day today without a fever, so hopefully she is on the up-swing!

This is her last paci. It has a finger-sized hole in it, and she still wants it in her mouth when she's going to sleep. Someday, we'll get rid of it for good, but she's holding tight to this poor worn and tattered paci until the end.

A baby at ~15 weeks, about 4.5inches (similar to our baby now)
Today is the anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision of 1973. In light of the babies who never even had a chance to make it this far, I thought it was so special that just in the last few days, I've begun to feel the first little flutters of our precious new life inside me. What a blessing to be given the opportunity to be used of God to bring a life- a new human being with emotions and personality and thoughts and opportunities- into this world!

^{Psalm 139:13-17}
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

I just purchased this new bench for the living room, and the kids find it to be the perfect place to snack and dream of spring.

We had a few warm days this week, up to the 50s, so we headed outside to enjoy them!

Michael found this big slab of ice that he claimed as his own and dubbed "The Volcano."

Kate enjoyed expending some energy on the trampoline.

Michael got to ride his bike, which he loves!

There was a big snow iceberg on the roller coaster, which the kids were remiss to clear before attempting to ride it. The big crash and subsequent snow removal mission was fun to watch.

The most fun part of eating banana smoothies is the creative making of mustaches.

Can you tell we have fun with our food?!

Get set...

GO!

The kids were racing around the house after dinner tonight and having a grand ol' time!

...so I checked on the kids in their room, and they had brought the lamp to the floor for better light to read by. Precious!

We love this guy!

My kids still love to play dress-up, and I finally got Michael something to dress-up in besides princess wear.

Here he is wearing his scrub jumpsuit (you'd be surprised what deals you can get on Craigslist after Halloween, when people just want to get rid of them).

Tinkerbell- her favorite!

What's with the sissy-looking guy dolls? Does this not look like "Gymnast Ken" or "What-Not-To-Wear Ken"? Michael helped him out by showing him his GI Joes and making him drive a bulldozer, but come on...

Katie is on a kissing kick lately. She randomly comes up to us and says, "Gimme a kiss!"

She has her daddy and brother smitten.

Sweet girlie!

We got even more snow last week- about 2 inches- and Daddy was kind enough to shovel the sidewalks, driveways, and even the trampoline so Michael could jump.

Luckily, this last snow was light and powdery.

Daddy helping Michael in to the trampoline.

Ridding himself of some little-boy energy.