Southern Snow...

I was a doubter, when our school called on Monday, with school closings for Tuesday, I was like "you got to be kidding me."  It was 67 degrees at the time!

But by Tuesday night, we did get some bad sleet.  I wouldn't quite call it snow but it did accumulate and really shut things down here for days.  We don't have the equipment or manpower to deal with ice.  On top of that, to get anywhere here on the coast you have to cross a bridge over bayous.  Almost every bridge was closed down due to ice so everyone was pretty trapped.  

So school ended up being called off for three days!

The kids had fun playing in the sleet.

Getting daddy...

Revenge.  Look at that ice ball headed for my baby.

The best part of snow days, hot chocolate!

A little more birthday fun...

Addison's birthday fell on a Sunday so after church and Sunday School we headed to one of our favorite breakfast places for brunch.  The Neffs (Hayden and Mckenzie) came to celebrate with us.  

It was special to have Addison's birthday fall on a Sunday because she got to celebrate with our loving church family.  It was so neat to see her walk around the Sunday School hallway and get scooped up into birthday hugs everywhere she walked.  I got to tear up reminiscing with church members remembering her coming to church when she was four days old.  It is a special blessing to have so many people love and care for our kids and watch them grow up.  Watching her get birthday hugs from our pastors in the front of church just warms my heart.  

The next day, Addison got to carry on the party.  Grandpa Steve took Addison for a birthday lunch and shopping spree at the Disney store.  She got to be queen for the day.  (Although she pretty much rules the roost most days).

Thank you Grandpa Steve!  

Addison Kate is Five!

My baby girl turned five yesterday.  I cried, multiple times.  Five is a big girl, five is like almost moving out of the house.  I cannot stand it.  I immediately went to church and held all of the newborns that I could get my hands on and sniffed them and snuggled them and pretended they were mine.  

Then I got it together and it was time to party with the best partier in the world.  

I love this picture of Addison in front of her presents because she was doing her typical party pose but she needed to add the "I'm 5 fingers today!"

Pinkalicious big girl bike.  It is dripping in pink.  

Addison is our best poser for pictures.  She can be in the middle of doing anything and if we say, "Addison, smile" she will immediately look up and give you a face full of smile and then go right back to what she was doing or saying.  I am sure it is a side effect of a mom that blogs.

After Addison opened all of her presents, we told her we had one more surprise but she had to close her eyes.  

Addison had been asking for months for her very own pet.  So we surprised her with a Beta fish and her reaction was priceless.

Addison was overjoyed.  She cannot stop talking about her pet fish (she cannot decided on a name yet).  She tells everyone we run into that she has a pet fish.  I heard her talking to it last night and she said, "I hope you just adore your new home."  

She told us last night, "I was asking and asking but I didn't think you would really get me my own fish.  Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Addison was really excited!  

Pink cake with pink frosting.  Another sad creation by mommy.  Although yummy, not quite ready to grace the cover of Southern Living.  

This is while we were singing to Addison.  Look at that joy.  I wish I could bottle it.

I hope all of your wishes and dreams come true for you baby girl, this year and always.  You have continued to bring us laughter and joy since the second we met you and we love the little lady you are becoming.  Happy 5th Birthday Addison Kate!

Addison's 5th Birthday Party

We celebrated Addison's 5th Birthday a few days early by throwing her a party at Monkey Joe's.  We did not tell her about the birthday party until I picked her up from school and told her we were having her party that very day!  She was SO excited and kept telling me, "Mom, I love you SO, SO, SO much!"  Then she said, "I was wondering why all of the kids at school kept telling me Happy Birthday and it's not even my birthday yet."

Addison's classic "ready to party" move.

Even big bro and sis got to get checked out of school to hang out with baby sister.

Nothing is easier than showing up for a birthday party at one of these places.  We had the run of the place and the party planner kid took care of EVERYTHING.  Worth every penny.

Addison listening to the birthday song.

We love you sweet girl!  

Touchdowns, pucks, pins and donuts

Our post Christmas was filled with football, football, football.  We are a house divided and the road to the playoffs culminated with a Packers/Bears showdown!  

Amelia is truly a divided little soul, always the people pleaser she made a bracelet supporting both of her parents teams.

How did I fall for a Bears fan??  

He's so darn cute, I could look past that one flaw I guess.

Our Bears boys.  Gotta love them, despite their pathetic team of choice.

PACKERS WIN!!!!!

Sadly, our Packers, Bears and Saints all eventually became eliminated from the Super Bowl hunt so we had to find another family activity to occupy our time.  Hockey fit the bill!  This was the first Surge game we attended and it was a fun night.  Hockey is so fast paced that it really kept the kids attention.  Addison's dancing even made it up on the jumbo-tron!  I have a feeling that won't be the last time that girl is featured on the big screen.

Look at our little bruiser.  Tough girl got a shiner playing football with her brother.  

Jersey-courtesy of her father

Black eye-courtesy of her brother

Miss Thang Attitude-all her own

 (some might say courtesy of her mother but whatevs)

Another fun family night is bowling night!  Addison loved it and was super competitive, she would pump her arms up and down when she went to retrieve her ball saying, "COME ON, LET'S DO THIS!"

Amelia and Luke had some wonky bowling technique.  So wonky that I would find myself ducking thinking the ball was going to come flying BEHIND them.  It usually landed with a giant clunk on their lane.  At one point, Luke did throw his ball into the lane next to ours, whoops.  We are definitely better tennis players than bowlers.  

You know what makes bad bowling better?  Donuts at bedtime.  

Amelia's giant hair bow did a great job keeping her Krispy Kreme hat in place.