The Whitelaws

The snow started Friday, Feb. 20th in evening, but there wasn't much accumulation. We were able to get Jenna to her piano lesson Saturday morning and then we settled in to hibernate for the day as the snow increased. We cleaned the house and then rewarded ourselves. We watched a few hours of Anne of Avonlea interspersed with some of the KU game, some of Daddy playing video games, and a few rounds of UNO. I think this is the first time we've been able to play a game like this and Kellen could play too. He even won twice! It was really fun! We made broccoli cheese soup for dinner and then Kevin had to venture out to practice for Sunday worship service.
By Sunday morning, we had about 10 inches of snow. The first two services of church were cancelled, so we went to the 11 am service. Then we went to Papa and Mima's to take advantage of their great sledding hill.
It was cold! Somehow, Jenna and her cousins stayed out there for hours, though. They just couldn't get enough!
They made this tunnel. (I took this picture Monday when the sun came out.)
Kellen would have nothing to do with the snow and cold because he won't wear a coat or boots. Someday I hope this will change and he'll join in the fun. He was happy to be drinking hot chocolate and playing UNO with Mima and me, though!
After they'd had enough of the outside, there was more fun to be had inside. They decided to be husky dogs and pull each other around in this "sled." "Mush!"
Sunday afternoon, we got the notification of a snow day for Monday after an entire snow weekend. We ended up with about a foot of snow and icy roads. Monday was spent doing more sledding, drinking more hot chocolate, and playing more UNO and various other pretend games. Jenna and Grant built snow forts and had a snowball fight. Tuesday, there was a 2 hour delay and it looks like we're going to get more tonight (Wednesday) through next Wednesday! All this snow has melted off our deck now, so we're ready for more!

I've been reading the Anne of Green Gables series for the first time ever. I'm currently on the 8th book. Which got me wondering if perhaps it was time to watch the movies with Jenna. She had tried to start the first book over the summer, but they're still a little too advanced for her.

Wednesday, February 4th, I was debating with a very good friend and fellow Anne lover whether or not Jenna should read the books first or watch the movie first. The ever present book first or movie first debate. Usually a book first kind of person, I ultimately decided that with this one, movie first would be fine. After all, I saw the movie first and am just now reading the books.

The very next day, Thursday, February 5th, Jenna came home saying that her class was reading an easier version of Anne of Green Gables aloud together. Voila!! Issue resolved.

So, I immediately put the movie on hold at the library and it came in just in time for Jenna's 4 day weekend last weekend. We watched it off and on during the weekend and had the best time!

Yesterday, she came home excitedly telling me that she's the director of a few of her classmates acting out the story at recess and she's also playing the part of Anne - of course! She asked if I could be sure and braid her hair like Anne's everyday. She was also trying to figure out how she could make her hair green one day. Yikes!
We picked up Anne of Avonlea this afternoon. Just in time for a possible snow day on Monday. Predictions are coming in anywhere from 8 to 25 inches of snow between tonight and Monday!
It's been so much fun to share the Anne girl with our Jenna girl!

Friday, Feb. 13th, Kellen had his first Dentist visit. I should know not to ask him to look at the camera because I end up with silly poses like these. But, it's also good to capture the real boy.

He didn't like these glasses they gave him to shade his eyes from the light, they were off shortly after I snapped this photo. He did a great job! Jenna and I had appointments, too and the kids were really good. But, I still think I should get some kind of an award for having Jenna's, Kellen's, and my appointment all in the same day. It was a little chaotic. Gladly, the three of us have no cavities!

We started Valentine's Day or as Kellen says, "Valence-tines" Day a week early. On Saturday, February 7th, we took our little Valentines on dates.
Kevin took Jenna to a Daddy/Daughter ball. And Kellen and I had a "his choice" night.
Mima made Jenna and her cousin (who was also going to the ball) a fancy dress and one to match for their dolls.
Kevin had just arrived back in town from a trip with some of his band, so Jenna's horse & carriage for the ball was a school bus. She was thrilled!
We sent them off to the ball and then had an errand to run before our fun could start. His first choice was pizza in a restaurant, then he wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse, and then he changed his mind to pizza at home. But, when we got to our errand location, here's how I found him:
When he woke up, he ultimately decided on pizza at home while watching Ninjago.
Sunday, we had a fun family time at Garden of the Gods. On the balcony of the visitor center, Kellen found this "little slide for a mouse!" Which was really a drain spout, but we didn't tell him that.

Friday, February 13th, we celebrated our niece's birthday and the kids put on a play. Not a Valentine thing really, but it fits here chronologically. Left to right: Lazarus, Jesus, Martha, baby kitty cat, and Mary. It was a great play! Too bad the video is too long to fit here. Proud of our Valentine girl for her creativity & leadership in getting this play together.
Saturday, Feb. 14th, we got some mad money from my parents for Valentine's Day, so we decided to use it for entrance to Pikes Peak Highway.


We had kind of a funny lunch at the top. We tried to order chili, stew, & mac 'n cheese, then they said, "sorry, we don't have those today." So, then we ordered pizza and they said, "sorry we don't have that today." So, Kevin said, "what do you have today?" Turned out, they had everything else, just not those first things we wanted. We didn't really want the cheeseburger, hot dog, or chicken sandwich, but we ordered one of each and shared.
When we got home, the kids & Daddy played baseball while I rested a bit - another beautiful, warm, February day. After outside playtime - all on their own, they both curled up on the couch with books. I love that they love to read and do it voluntarily!

Friday, January 29th, was Kevin's 40th birthday. It was also the day his band was showcased at the annual CMEA conference at the Broadmoor. They had an incredible performance and lots of people, even strangers, flocked to offer congratulations afterward.
Kevin took on a new side job this year - All State Jazz Chair. Every year at the CMEA conference, is when All State Jazz takes place. Students audition from around the state in November and then come for two days of rehearsal and then perform at the conference on Saturday. Because there is so much work that goes on for All State Jazz during CMEA, the Chair gets a free room at the Broadmoor. Kevin got this room for Thursday and Friday night.
And because I'm the wife of the All State Jazz Chair and Papa and Mima kept the kids overnight Friday night, I got to stay, too. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I guess I got what struck me most: the chandelier, the curtained bath tub, and the wall sconce outside each room.
It was really nice to stay for free and the bed was so comfortable! Something we wouldn't be able to do otherwise since the two nights came to $583!
It was also interesting to me that there was an umbrella in our closet and these bins of umbrellas near almost every outside door. I don't feel like it rains that much around here, maybe people use them in the snow, too?
Saturday, after the Jazz concerts, we celebrated Kevin's birthday with the Whitelaws & Keetons. Kevin's request for dinner was Thanksgiving turkey dinner and M&M cookies for dessert. Mima had a great idea to try and get 40 email messages from family and friends to help him celebrate. We ended up with 53! He was surprised and really enjoyed hearing from people from all stages of his life.
Jenna made this hat for him to wear. He looks a little tired after all that work at the conference.
Jenna had a little concert at school this week, too! (She's in the grey dress, 3rd row, in front of the girl in the red dress.) I wonder if we'll see her at CMEA someday.