Family Matters

Cooney Mountain

The snow made it to South Carolina yesterday.

Julie sent me a couple of pictures yesterday and then a few more this morning.  I hope they have some groceries because I think their county only has one snow truck and it's hard telling how long it will be before it makes to the north end of the county.  ;-D

Here the snow is just starting to fall, you can see a dusting in the grass.  (This is enough to send most Carolinans into a panic... and don't think I'm kidding!)

Another photo from last night... Jae Laural going down Cooney Mountain!  (When they call for snow, Jace and Jason drag out the makin's of their "mountain".)

Julie sent the rest of the photos this morning:

The trees in their back yard. (I think...)

This is the yard on the north side of their house.

This is Cooney Mountain this morning!  Wow, they got quite a bit of snow and it looks like someone has made it down Cooney Mountain a few times this morning.

 

An afternoon sledding on the McKee's hill

Today after church I went over to the McKee's house.  I was in the mood to do a little sledding on their fabulous hill.  Karsten and I got to the house first and there was no talking him into sledding.  Wimp!  And would you believe that they hadn't been sledding at all yet with this snowfall?  Unbelievable.

So finally Kristie got home with Kaden and Kasen; they wanted to eat before they would go sledding.  So I waited around for them to eat lunch and then had to practically beg to get them outside with me.  What's up with these yahoos?

Kristie basically dressed the boys and after much arm twisting I got them outside.  It was AWESOME!  The snow was perfect and after we went down the hill a couple of times, the snow was packed and it made for some seriously FAST sledding.

The only downside... this 46 year old body doesn't recuperate from a backwards somersault downhill like it used to.  LOL... I was riding one of the boys' saucers cross legged and ended up going backwards down hill, the saucer dug into the snow and sent me tumbling downhill backwards.  Thank heavens for ibuprofen!  ;-D

In order to get the boys outside, I told them we'd only be out there for 15-20 minutes; just enough time to go down the hill two or three times.  While we sledding downhill, a car drove up the driveway.  It was Dina (Scott) Kricher and her family (husband, Dennis and kids - Kacey, Colton and Conner).  Dina is a former classmate of Kristie's.  She and her family saw the boys and I sledding and decided to stop and see if they could join the fun.  So our 20 minute outting turned into about an hour.  I don't know about the boys, but I had an absolute blast! 

Since I was sledding I didn't take too many photos, but I did capture a couple and I even convinced Kaden to take one of me.

Kasen going downhill standing up!

Kaden going downhill standing up, too. 

Yep, that's me heading down the hill and trying not to run over the photographer (Kaden)!

Here's to all you middle agers out there who refuse to act your age!  And feeling very grateful to God for giving me a healthy body so I can play with the kids in the snow.

XO
   

It truly is a small world

So if you are a Facebook fan you might have seen my status this morning.

Laura Umphenour is on the couch with some snacks, a diet root beer, laptop on and the TV tuned into the disaster movie marathon on SyFy... doesn't get much better than that! (I know that makes me a total geek.)

Okay, so I haven't been a complete slug today.  I did get out and shovel the snow off my sidewalk, go to the church and create the PowerPoint for tomorrow's service and stopped at Baker's for groceries - mostly snacks!  ;-D

During a commercial I decided to change the sheets and do some laundry.  (I figure I can fold and watch my disaster movies at the same time.)  When I took the fitted sheet out of the linen closest I looked for the tag to see if I had the right size and I noticed the tag had a "Springs" logo and further down on the tag it read "Springs Industries, Fort Mill SC". 

How cool is that?!  Same place the Cooney's live.  The "Springs" have stuff everywhere in Fort Mill including parks, houses, the greenway (great walking and biking paths), and a lot of other stuff.  But I had no idea I had one of their products in my house. 

Yeah, I know it's not earth shattering news... but I still think it's pretty cool!

Mollie and Canyon's Christmas Program

Last week was Mollie's Christmas program at Mound City Elementary School.  I have to say I was completely surprised - and thrilled - that the song selection was over-the-top Christian.

My favorite song was "Happy Birthday Jesus."  I found the lyrics online and copied them below. 

Happy Birthday To You
happy Birthday To You
happy Birthday Dear Jesus
happy Birthday To You.

happy Birthday Jesus
i'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Tinsel And Lights
and The Presents Are Nice
but The Real Gift Is You.

happy Birthday Jesus
i'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Carols And Bells
make The Holiday Swell
and it's All About You
happy Birthday Jesus
jesus I Love You!

Canyon is in Mollie's class so he was in the young choir, too.  I just never could get a good shot of Canyon.  He was stuck behind someone and I never got a good shot of his entire face.  (Think I'll nickname him "Wilson" after the neighbor on Home Improvement.  We never ever saw his entire face either.  Yeah, I know, most of you have no idea what I'm talking about.  LOL...)

 

(Click image to enlarge.)

500 Posts

Oh my gosh... my post about decorating the gingerbread house with Brena and Breck was post #500.  Hard to believe!

My new favorite website

I've been surfing the web a lot lately looking for holiday ideas - decorating, cooking, etc.

I came across "Our Best Bites" recently; click HERE and the website will open in a separate window.

I cannot wait to try some of the recipes on this website - like a Pie in a Jar or Stuff Bleu Cheese Potatoes.  And the cool thing is, they also have quite a few craft projects as well.

Merry Christmas!

Jace scores two goals today

I received a couple of ecstatic texts from Julie today (if text messages can be "ecstatic"... LOL).  Jace scored a goal in each of his two games today - that's TWO (2) goals in one day!

Julie even commented in one of her text messages (the first goal) that it was a pretty shot that went into the far right corner.  Jace kicks with his left foot and he has a wicked fast shot, so I know if he had a good shot on goal it would be nearly impossible to defend.

I think Julie's last text says it all "He had an awesome day!!!! We are so proud of him!!!!"

Congratulations, Jace.  I am so very proud of you, too! 

 
(This was a shot of Jace I took at one of his games in September when I was in South Carolina.)

Scooby-Doo Gang wins the Costume Contest in Prescott

Brena decided that she wanted her entire family to dress up as the Scooby-Doo gang this year.  So, that's what they did!  How cool!  Jed even shaved his face to look like his character.  They even won the costume contest (adult category) at Prescott.

Cast of Characters:
   Scooby-Doo......Breck
   Daphne...........Brena
   Velma.............Natalie
   Fred...............Stacy (aka Aunt PJ)
   Shaggy............Jed

Danielle dressed up as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

 

Breck placed third in her age category and Danielle placed second.

Molli Blou Photo Shoot

The day before Molli's birthday the weather was nearly perfect, so I set up a backdrop and started taking some photos of our beautiful little lady.

 
I'm so cute.

 
How long do I have to stand here?

 
Okay, I'm done.  I want to play.

 
Ah... what is this prickly stuff on my legs?

 
STAIRS!  I LOVE to climb!!!

 
More stairs... oh, I love stairs.

 
Yes, stairs... stairs... stairs!

 
Darn, I'm black on this blue thing again!

 
How do I get off of this thing?

 
Hmmm.... Mommy does something with her foot when she has this round thingy.

 
Quick run... Aunt Laura is fiddling with her camera.

 
Yuck... it's that prickly stuff again.  LOL...

 
Okay, I'll sit on my car... but just for a minute, Aunt Laura.

 
Here's a good one!

 
Yeah, I know, I'm cute!

 
Poppy, can you get me outta here?

 
Please... I'll give you kisses!

 
Seriously, Aunt Laura, I'm tired of this and putting Aunt Jae in here with me isn't going to help.

 
Get me Aunt Jae.

 
Grandma!  Why'd you knock me over?

 
Look, Aunt Laura, I have tonsils, too!

 
Not only am I a cutie pie, I'm pretty darn funny, too!

 
Ahh...

 
What?

 
So sweet...

 
Love this one.

 
Grandma your not supposed to talk when Aunt Laura is taking our picture... duh!

 
Grandma love.

 
How can one little girl have everyone wrapped around her itty bitty finger?

 
Where is Aunt Jae going and why isn't she watching me... I am so cute after all.

Sorry if you are tired of looking at Molli Blou photos... well, get over it.  I haven't even gotten to her birthday party photos yet!  LOL...

Jace is "legal" to drive

On October 16, Jace became the proud owner of a driver's license.

Is that some scary business or what?!!  I'm kinda glad I'm back in Kansas and not on the road anywhere close to him.  (LOL... just kidding Jace, I love ya bud.)

Congratulations Jace!

Wow... the Cooney household has had a couple of major developments in less than one week!