"Blizzard" of 2014

Last Sunday morning it started to snow...and continued to do so until sometime late that night. We ended up getting over 14 inches of snow! Of course, we were snowed in for a couple of days...

 Taken from inside our warm house. :)

 Rissa spent Sunday afternoon at our house and ended up spending the night because the roads had gotten so bad. She was so much fun to have around during the snowstorm! 

 Making an igloo

 Snow princess

Buffalo Jed

Watching a movie on a cold winter's night. 

Candy Trees!

Advent nights are a Christmas tradition at our house. One night a week, during the month of December, we make a craft, eat a snack, and read part of the Christmas story. Last night's craft was...Candy Christmas trees!

 Jed was the only one cooperating for pictures...as you can see. :) 

The younger kids used wrapped hard candies to decorate this Styrofoam cone. It turned out great...they did an awesome job!

"The Best Christmas Tree Ever"

We say that every year...but it just might be true every year. :) As is tradition, we went to cut down our Christmas tree on Sunday.

 Jed and Sam on the wagon

 Grace and Rissa (Ben's girlfriend) were able to come with us this year!!!

(Grace and I)

We found it...the best Christmas tree ever. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving this year was filled with games, cousins, 

desserts, and lots and lots of FUN!

 Grace, Grandpa, Grandma, and Sam playing euchre

 "The guys"

 Abe and Elizabeth decorating a gingerbread house...

those kids are getting better every year!

The Brockers were able to come for part of the day, which was super fun.

Thanksgiving night, all 27 of us went to watch 

"Frozen" at the theater. If you haven't seen it yet...go see it. :)

What do you get when you cross homeschoolers with a simple, Thanksgiving craft like Native-American headbands? This.

Animation Mentor

Sam has officially begun Animation Mentor, an 18 month, online program that pairs you up with a mentor in the industry, teaching you all you need to know to become an animator. Sam's mentor, it turns out, used to work for Pixar on movies such as Toy Story 3, Wall-E, and Brave! Cool, huh?

On a side note...we're leaving for a month-long RV trip today. Your prayers are very much appreciated! 

The Grand Unveiling

     Wow! It's hard to believe that it's already mid-September. I apologize for my rather...inconsistent blogging over the past couple months, we've had a busy summer. 

     Anyway, for those of you who were hoping to see the reactions of certain family members when they got their first glimpse of the newly-renovated lake cottage...here you go! 

 Grace (cousin)...

 Jed...

 Cal...

and Grandpa. :) I think he was a little shocked, don't you? :)