Happy New Year 2024! Welcome to WINTER!

You guys!  Happy New Year!!!  

Well, when I said I was thankful to have four 'true' seasons, I lied.  It was a downright lie.  I miss a mild winter.  Actually, that's not accurate.  I miss a SHORT winter.  I like getting snow and I even like being snowed in for over a week (or two).  But now I am done and ready for a long spring.  I really feel it's not too much to ask.  

Before I really begin, I am going to let you all know that I am going to post some gruesome photos in this post.  Two injuries happened this month to two different people in our household and it's included.  

January started off wonderfully.  We didn't shoot off fireworks this year because we were too cold but we did play games and watched movies.  The month started off with all things equine.  Lily's lessons are moving along and Buttercup seems to enjoy going.  I love watching her do her jumps and show off.  She's a natural.  Nolan got to go for a ride on Aurora (at home) and Missy is never far behind.  You can follow the ranch where Lily works on FB if you're interested.  I don't have a FB account so I don't really know how to tell you to do so.  It's Diamond J Ranch TN.  

Well, we certainly have had our dose of winter in just a short time.  The forecast was wicked.  I am working on tolerating colder temps but I have to admit, it's not my favorite.  

As I mentioned in a previous post, we had been snowed in for two weeks.  Personally, I love it.  That's only because we are in a position to love it.  Neither Eric or myself have to leave daily for a job, most of the kids are homeschooled and the two who aren't had no school for the duration as East TN isn't exactly used to the weather we have been getting and... I grocery shop like a hoarder.  The snow has been awesome and as much as I dislike winter, I do love snow.  I do not like ice, however.  I almost typed "We had the best time in the snow" but let's be honest, THE KIDS had the best time in the snow and I had the best time watching them from the warmth of the inside of my comfy, cozy home.  

We are very lucky because we are over-prepared for the snow.  Everyone has plenty of gear, boots, hats, scarves and all of the things they need to thoroughly enjoy the cold weather.  I ended up staying in for THREE WEEKS!  It was awesome but I was going a tad stir-crazy by the last two days.  I flew to CA the day after I left the house for the first time but the weather seemed to follow me.  Emery, Ivy and Scott came over on the first day of snow and stayed for a bit so I put out a buffet and we made hot cocoa.  I missed snapping photos but Scott sledded with the kids and stuck around until it really started dumping on us then we all figured he'd better drive home or plan to move in for the week.  They live approximately 14 minutes from us but that day it took him well over an hour to get home.  I am just thankful they made it safely because it just dumped on us.  

Harlan is showing off his Spider-Man moves in my snow boots...  

Let me tell you, when we got Hank last August, we had NO CLUE that his true love would be snow.  We could NOT get that dog inside much at all throughout the duration of the storm.  He loved it and he loved playing with the kids.  

The day Eric pulled the tractor out to clear the driveway, the ice was so thick that it was difficult to walk around.  I was outside with the kids while they were sledding down the driveway.  We were slipping and sliding all over.  Our road had about four inches of ice all over.  The nice thing was how quiet it was outside because of the snow cover AND very few vehicles out and about.  I love when there is a mandatory slow-down for people.  It's like a refresh button from Mother Nature. Anyway, Harlan wanted to sled down the driveway and I offered to go with him.  At first he really wanted me to but then decided he was brave enough to go alone.  So he jumped in the sled and bombed down the hill head-first.  He ran straight into this pile of wire and t-posts we had pulled out of the burn pile a few weeks prior to the snowfall.  One of the wires stabbed straight into his face under (THANK YOU GOD) his eye.  It was VERY deep and bled so flippin' much.  I ran as fast as I could down to him and helped him up the driveway.  We went to Grandpas to the first aid kit and he bandaged it the best he could until Eric and I decided on how we'd get him to the hospital in the ice.  Well, Harlan really helped decide because he flat refused to go get stitches.  I went through our first aid closet and found glue and steri-strips.  That did the trick.  First I cleansed it with some surgical iodine which was quite difficult because he constantly thought I was giving him stitches.  then I glued it which did NOT go over very well and stung like crazy because of how deep the cut was.  Anyway, it has healed very nicely but he's definitely going to have a scar.  

While the twins' school was cancelled for snow, we still had them doing school work at least for a little while a few of the days.  We continued homeschool as usual.  We also rearranged the classroom because Eric built Tristan a new desk and it took up the whole walkway.  

The second injury that happened was actually the first one and was on the second day of the new year.  Gramps was on his way over to our place for supper and tripped on the edge of the driveway and fell so stinkin' hard that he smashed his face, his ribs, his knee and his hands.  He bled so badly.  He came in the back door and I happened to be standing there and was like "What in the heck happened to you?!"  He couldn't answer me at first I think because of pain and shock so a million things went through my head, none of them being that he tripped over the driveway and fell.  Finally he was able to tell me.  I could tell he hit his nose and broke it but he cracked it back into place himself.  He refused to go to the hospital so he hung out in the kitchen with a warm rag covering his face while I finished dinner.  When Eric got home from jiu jitsu a few minutes later, he doctored Gramps up and walked him back to his place with a plate of food.  He healed remarkably well.  I took him to the doctor the following Tuesday and told them what happened and Gramps finally admitted that he couldn't see out of one eye.  The doctor sent an ASAP to the VA eye center and he has surgery scheduled for the first week of March.  

This was about a week after the fall.

I found some alphabet noodles that I had in the pantry for a very long time (I'm not even going to say how long I actually have had them even though I know).  One night I made the kids homemade alphabet and veggie soup.  They loved it so much and sat and made words for almost an hour.  I'm not sure where Tristan was but he came in a bit later and ate soup.  He did not make words and didn't even notice that the noodles were letters.  

I also made a bunch of banana bread and froze some for later.  The kids love banana bread so each kid also got their own mini loaf.  

Nico and his legos.  This kid loves to build legos.  The twins got lego kits for gifts last Christmas but they just do not have the ability to build them right now.  Nico asked them and they said it was okay for Nico to build their kits for them.  He also built a Batman motorcycle that he got as a gift for Christmas.  

Right before we got our big storm, Gramps ordered the kids a new rectangle trampoline for their combined birthdays for the year.  We loved the idea of just covering them all at once.  It was delivered the following day from Sam's Club and we promptly set it up.  Their old trampoline from Grandma and Papa had broken and the kids were devastated.  They spend hours at a time on the trampoline.   Nico assisted in the set up and it was finished in no time.  It was the perfect day for it too because it was sunny and kind of warm.  

During one of the snow days, Nico really wanted to bake.  I had bought a bunch of mixes from Sam's Club and pulled out a peanut butter cookie mix for him to do. I figured he could handle that on his own and he did well.  

We set up a bunch of trail cameras on the property to monitor wildlife.  We are trying to better protect the chickens but are also curious about who visits.  So far the only thing we've managed to capture is a Bear Bear.   I actually need to check them today because it's been well over a month!  

Random animal and kid photos...   Some of these dog photos are because we wanted to see what my phone labeled each dog.  June (who is a registered Border Collie) came up as a Brittany Spaniel.  Bear came up as Dog.  Sadie came up as Great Dane.  Hank (who is also a registered Border Collie) came up as Australian Shepherd.  Missy came up as a German Shepherd.  

Miss Kitty.  She loves the new cat trees we put up on each side of the mirror upstairs.  Actually, they all love them.  

Eric gives the dogs pork rinds as treats.  Sadie and June especially LOVE them.  

Hank is ON TOP of the Blackstone trying to lick bacon grease. 

Carl and Missy

Missy and Sadie are pretty close.  They sometimes share a crate at night too.  Sadie has a huge crate and Missy often goes in before Sadie so she's forced to share.  She is gracious but it's obvious she doesn't love it.  

Nolan found out that I had bought him some hair gel so he went in after school and styled his hair.  He came outside to play and I noticed immediately.  He was so proud.  

While I was typing one of the catch-up blog posts, updating my yearly calendar, and making up the table for the week, I decided to get cozy and make myself a cappuccino and light some candles.  Eric was upstairs teaching and I was just hanging out alone so I figured it was the perfect opportunity.  I drank about three sips of the cappuccino before I was too jittery to finish, but it looked pretty.  I am a coffee waster but I don't want to be.  

Random photos...  

We had a couple of gloomy but warm days late in the month so I opened up all of the curtains to let some MUCH NEEDED light into the house.  

Nico has a connect 4 card game and brought it out one night after supper.  Eric agreed to play with him. They both lost interest after about 30 minutes.  

This is not green for East TN but man did the snow and rain help take some of the gray away!  Thank God.  

He was excited to discover a shirt with a hood on it in his dresser.  It used to be Nico's, maybe even Tristan's. 

Nolan drew me a picture and used about 375 push pins to attach it to the wall in my room.  As much as it kills me, I have left it there and look at it every day when I walk out of the room.  He is such a sweetheart.  

Since we did have some nice days after the storm, we all took great advantage and rode our bikes around the property.  Even Eric hopped on his.  I really am irritated to admit but he beat me in a race up the driveway.  We all had fun for hours.  It was the perfect way to thaw out!  

The twins insisted on having a sleepover with Lily.  Nolan lasted two nights (Friday night and Saturday night).  Harlan lasted five minutes.  Lol.  

Tristan is very close with one of our elderly neighbors.  Her name is Granny K to all.  She is such a sweet lady and is very good to Tristan.  He met her while volunteering at the food pantry about 18 months ago (she volunteers there as well).  Well, she had a major back and neck surgery on the 31st of January so we agreed to babysit her puppy, Mia.  Mia is a three month old Mini-Aussie and Border Collie mix (supposedly).  I do think it's possible one of her parents are that combo but I would put good money on the other one being a Pomeranian or something similar.  Anyway, she is precious and we loved having her for the week.  The dogs were all so good with her too which was a HUGE relief because she is itty bitty.  Missy immediately took on the role of mama and protector which was sweet but unnecessary.  

That sums up our January!  We are off to a fantastic start to 2024, overall.  I am currently working on February's blog post and there is a lot there because I traveled out of state twice in February and regular life happened.  We also have another guest here (currently).  We are soooooooooo looking forward to an early spring and cannot wait to start spending more time outside, less bundled up.  

Happy birthday to all of our January peeps!!!  

Andrea!!!  We love you and hope you had the best day!  We can't wait to get together and celebrate you soon!  

Clarisse!!!  Happiest of birthdays!  I hope it was as awesome as you are.  One day we hope to celebrate in the same town or even time-zone!!!  Lol.  Love you.  

Uncle Doug...  One of our favorite people in the entire world.  You are so special to us and we love you beyond measure.  Thank you for being so much more than an Uncle and Great Uncle to us all.  You are such a treasure to us.  

Steve S...  Another one of my favorites.  Even though we don't see one another any longer, you were such a huge positive influence on me during a very important time in my life.  You will be a treasure to me forever.  

Scott!!  My cousin-in-law!  I am so glad you are here in our little corner of the world with us and we all love spending time with you all.  You are such a great uncle to the kids and they are lucky to have you in their lives!  

Nancy!  The kids' aunt and Eric's sister.  Happiest of birthdays!  We hope your day was awesome!  Come visit soon, the kids all miss you all.  We are so thankful to have you in our life!  

McKenna J.!!  You sweet, precious little thing!  We love you and hope your day was magical.  

Phoenix N.!  What a smart, curious and adventurous boy you are!  I wish we lived closer so you and Nico could buddy-up more.  Actually, on second thought, would the world be able to handle that...??  Lol.  Happy birthday!  

Take care y'all!!!  Stay in touch!