It was quite exciting around here yesterday because this guy came for a visit.
In fact, this was the seventh visiting snowman in our yard.
It was all so beautiful.
Kids catching snowflakes on their tongues--giggling and frolicking under the large, fluffy flakes dropping from the sky.
And then...
The snowball fight ensued.
I'm thinking that Mikey may have started it with this close range (ouch) blast to Mary Kate.
The sibling justice team came back in force.
Jimmer got him with this one.
Kathleen's turn.
There. That should settle it.
After everyone had a sufficient number of welts on their bodies, the kids decided to tone it down. Then I said something like, "Hey kids, why don't you build a cute snowman while there's still snow."
And they obliged by building...
...this two-headed snow goon.
Inspired by none other than Calivn & Hobbes.
With her newly-fashioned wagon-siding snow board, Kathleen was lamenting our flat yard.
She got over it quickly, and all the kids started blazing dead-grass trails through the yard as they rolled their own snow boulders.
After grunting and heaving a bit, they ended up with this. 
A new frosty friend.
A very stout, frosty friend.
After building 6 more snowmen, 2 snow forts, playing snowball, and changing dripping wet clothes 3 times, the kids called it a day...in the snow.
Goodbye, our frosty, disco-y, winking friend. Sorry our 50 degree weather today didn't agree with you.
We'll remember you for another 6 years if we have to. That's how long we had to wait for you to come back. I dug up a photo from the last time you visited us...in 2004. 
The kids want me to ask you to not wait so long next time.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Snow in Texas
Friday, February 12, 2010
Ruler-hair-scissors :: V-Day giftie from MK
Yesterday, I asked MK what she wanted to do for Valentine's Day.
She said she wanted to cut off her hair...
...and give it away.
It was getting to be a pretty good crop after a couple of years.
When she was 7 years old, this is what she set out to do after all.
Warmer weather is coming soon.
Okay, that sealed it.
We checked out different places to make a donation and decided on either Locks of Love or Beautiful Lengths.
Today, I armed myself with "a" pair of scissors
and started chopping.
MK was so excited!
This is about where my trusty hair scissors broke.
So, Mikey found "b" pair of hair scissors so I could finish the job.
11 inches!
MK liked how the cut end felt--so thick, nice, and very soft.
For a second there, I started wondering how many excellent make up brushes this thatch could make. Oh, never mind. (I think they would be divine though...)
A thoughtful donation from a 9 year old.
A new 'do!
A sweet girl giving away a bit o' love!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Hearts
There's something coming up soon
that has inspired some of our little hands
to create
all things pink and red!
So many new creations that we had to make a new place to display them all.
Taking pruning snips to our magnolia tree did the job. The pot we made years ago with the kids' hand and foot angels also found a new purpose.
Jimmer will now share with you a memory lesson from his grammar book:
Hearts, like doors, will open with ease,
To very, very little keys.
And don't forget that two of these
Are "Thank you, sir" and "If you please!"
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Our neighbors on Oprah
Our neighbors, four Dominican sisters, will be on Oprah today. 
In this post, I wrote about how we welcomed eight of them to Austin last summer. Four of them live in our neighborhood and teach at our neighborhood Catholic grade school and high school.
Here's the article on the Oprah site.
Today is the 13th anniversary of the establishment of their order.
I'll be watching.
May this appearance be fruitful.
Amen.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Pre-game Show :: Kathleen's Violin Recital
Super Bowl Sunday
Around here this year, that meant
Second-born's (by sixty seconds) Suzuki Bowl Sunday--
an at-home violin recital.
Kathleen had a captive audience of 23 of her favorite local peeps--neighbors, friends, family, piano teacher, and fellow violinists. She ate it up looking quite relaxed among the living room filled 46 ears on tenterhooks. 
Although this was not her best performance for this particular song in her play list, it is one that I happened to catch on my little camera (read, easy upload).
Minuet 3 (Bach)
Her encore: Irish Medley, a trio of Swallow Tail, Soldier's Joy, and Devil's Dream. This is the last part, Devil's Dream.
Mary Kate also played her Twinkles today.
For the after party, we served Kathleen's treat requests (caramel morsel bars and lemon bars). Then everyone visited and played ping pong and foosball.
Kathleen was presented with this Suzuki Bowl Sunday trophy given by friends. 
It's now cheering up our home on this cloudy day.
