Winter Wednesday..at last the snow falls!

We have been waiting for snow. Excited to catch fresh new inches of snow, waiting to measure how much snow measures and how much melts!! But, we were enticed with a sneak peak into spring. So instead of snowshoeing for a few days came bike riding, and wandering in the woods in nearly t-shirts!

The snow finally arrived Saturday and we were in it all day Sunday. Snowshoeing, catching snowflakes, measuring snow in a container. The boys loved all the adventures..as mom I was dying for them to see an individual flake, but I don't think there eyes saw one but millions!! They are so beautiful. Cedar enjoyed collecting snow in a mason jar and placing tape where he thought the snow would melt to water. As a 4 yr old logic said lots of snow = lots of water!! In the morning he was surprised to see such a little amount in the jar!
We also left a container out overnight to see how many inches fell while we slept. The container was filled to the brim, but unfortunately Truth got a hold of it before we stuck the measuring tape in it and began tipping and eating!! Luckily the container was full so we were still able to measure how much snow fell..4 inches!

So with the snow back we are back in the snowshoes, back tromping in the woods looking for signs of animals tracks and trolls!

Blooming with photos as well!!

 

Blooming in a time of darkness

While the winter temps bobble up and down. While the snow fall, melts and falls again it seems we get this attitude that all is dead, or in a time of waiting. But not at our house. It seems winter has come with the attitude that we are blooming. Cedar has become obsessed with riding his bike (without training wheels) all day long. He is ready to cruise hill, lake walk and anything in between, His friends are all in the same craze which make for some entertaining rides! Cedar has also found a love for snow shoeing. We headed to Brainerd lake last weekend and he walked for hours. Loving the high hills to climb.

Orien is simply blooming. He seems ever so comfortable in his skin! He has been shocking me with his change in attitude out in the snow. Our past experiences have left him crying, non-mobile. But now he is a wanderer. He loves the snow as well as his strider bike. He is such a sweet guy and seems to be so much more comfortable in his little toddler world. Full of smiles, laughter, and stepping outside of his comfort zone.

Truth is Truth, A laughing little one who has figured out this scoot around the house world. She is the ever so "adaptable" baby! Loves all weather, all activities and loves to snuggle tight next to mama all night long.

As a family we are blooming with changes..we are truly saving $ paying off vs, spending. In fact all we buy is our groceries and gas. It is showing us the power of a quick change. We have also become members of a dairy co-op allowing us to buy all rawmilk ...which means making our own cheese and yogurt..we are anxiously awaiting the yogurt maker!!!! We added 6 chicks to the coop, which did not go smoothly, unfortunately one did not make it though her fist day with the big girls..and so we changes the coop-/shed into all coop..separating the littles from the bigs and discuss adding more....I have a dream of selling eggs at the local farmers marker this summer..we'll see.

We are in the midst of adding goats as well..to keep the grass mowed down all summer and help us compost away all of our junk~!!!!! this spring we are going to start our first "green house' and get a garden going in the dry, mountains,.,which I think will take some TLC!
So in a time when so much is dead I feel fortunate to have such light and joy. We hope it snow soon so we can ge back outside for out Winter Wednesday adventures as well.

Wednesday Winter Wandering for Colors

We just got back from a wonderful day in the woods...our goal to find colors in the midst of grey day winters
And yes the kiddos were successful! We joined our friends Emmit and Guthrie and wandering in the magical fairy forest near out 'forest school'

we came apon yellow/green/orange lichen shining in the sun

beautiful bright red rose hips dazzling from old brown stems

the bright yellow sun and bluejay sky

purple/red leaves from a plant we need to explore the name of

juniper berries looking a mellow blue

and some trackings that have us all wondering what all wanderes in these cold snowy days?

we are excited to make our Wednesday Winter activities a weekly adventure!

to keep up with our goals or join the fun go here

Simplifying

Oriens first time on skis, at Copper Mountain
"I can do it all by myself!"

Jody and I out snowboarding at Copper Mountain

Cedar skiing at Copper Mountain, heading up the magic carpet

Truthy staying warm!! In vail

The boys with Mimi and Grandpa Rick eating sushi in Silverthorne

Simplifying is our statement for 2009. After leaving a Christmas, traveling up to the county with my family and returning in time to enjoy some cheesecake in 2008 ringing in the new year 2009! It seems only right to have some resolutions for 2009..start with a clean slate per say. And that is exactly what we have done. We are slowly but surely releasing ourselves from that feeling of having too much, wanting more, and learning what it looks like to do with less. To choose to do without, and enjoy the freedom that comes from not being owned by debt. Freeing ourselves from unhappiness associated with wants that can't be full filled. Instead we are filling ourselves with family, games, outside entertainment and friends of course!!

There are some many ideas funneling through our brains on where and what we want to do with our family. We still dream of traveling in a 5th wheel, having land (we own) with others, a garden, animals, living in the 5th wheel in both our travels and times of staying on the land. You could call it an intentional community. So 2009 starts with so many new beginnings. We have also decided to begin new segments of our homeschooling journey. We are beginning to follow another home schools moms blog leading us to new ideas and ways of entertaining the kids many questions and ideas while we are outside. check it out here have also began another session on rock climbing, dance, and forest school....and yes still visiting The Enchanted Circle school a couple mornings a week.

All in all I feel blessed to be entering this new year with my family. I am excited to watch all of out ideas unfold and become realities one step at a time. I look forward to keeping you all, my blog family, involved in our newest cycle of life.

To a year of simplifying and growing

2009