This is in my back yard. It's a little confusing because our neighbor decided to side their house the very same color as ours last summer. Your are looking at their house with the corner of ours from our back yard. See how high the snow is against our fence?

Now the back of our house.

After the storm dumped a foot of snow it changed over to rain and ice.

Wet snow means SNOWMAN TIME!!! Because it was raining so much we only made one this time. That snowball was HEAVY!! Jared and I mostly created it together for the base of our snowman. For a few good laughs here is the moment all the kids tried to help us out....

Papa stopped for a quick break from cleaning up the snow to help us put the second ball on and then the kids started to put on his eyes, arms, mouth, nose, hat and buttons.

Yeah! We finished Frosty!

We have since had another ice storm on top of this that closed down three exits on our highway. A neighbor up the road ended up sleeping over at our house after he couldn't get up his road upon returning from work. It was glare ice with rain coming down on top! What a crazy winter!! The good news is that Eric's snowblower and roof rake is now fixed and ready to go.

My house is buried!

The huge branches that are usually way up high above are now touching the roof.

One of my arborvitaes does not like this snow at all! I hope it will be okay by Spring. I go out and clear off the snow each day and try to get it to stand back up.

The beautiful maple tree that hangs over our driveway. A day time view! It's amazing how in the summer it's all green, then fall it's a combo of orange and yellow and now looks silver.

Can you believe how much snow can pile up on such tiny twigs?

 
My poor arborvitaes in my back yard! I am having to go out each day and keep them cleaned off as well. 

Molly stays inside as the snow is far too deep for her! lol I thought it was cute that she was watching me through the window as I was taking pics.

I loved the texture of the pine needles and the snow attached.

It is quite beautiful to stand under the big pine canopy. It's a lot of fun to go and pull the tip, bounce it and then let go and see all the sticky snow fall on top of you too! The kids and I did that to every branch we could reach. Sorry no pics as the snow was pummeling down on us! lol

How can one not believe in a creator with such beauty like this?!

My side yard, standing in the driveway, looking into the back yard. See Jared standing on top of the snow back there? They like that they can see over the fence now. Our neighbors dog actually walks right over their fence now!

Caleb peeking over the gate! Mini notice his mittens. My MIL knits mittens for the kids and Caleb LOVES them so much that he refuses to wear anything else even after his mittens are clearly wet through!

My Chloe girl peeking over the fence while standing on the snow bank behind it. I have no idea how her hair got out like that as it was so neatly tucked in the back of her coat and hood before going outdoors. Next time I will have to braid it or something. Since she tends to be my little ragga muffin anyway she didn't seem to mind.

The kids are actually on top of our picnic table that is completely buried. I know we are going to regret not getting it shoveled out. We never expected this much snow! It's too packed down now to even attempt it.

Hmm... there won't be any swinging or sliding for a looong time!

The kids' play block is completely encased in snow. The found a way to dig a tunnel through though. We let them play with their tunnel supervised, but I am afraid we will have to either fill it in or some how dig this thing out because it's really not safe for them to be alone with it as they can get stuck under the snow.

This is Jared lying down ready to slide underneath the snow to go out through the hole in the side of the block.

This is Caleb coming out of the hole! It was a tight fit. I love the snow on his nose! lol See his yellow scarf? His Grammy Dena made him that this year and again he has to have it on all the time like his mittens. It's funny to see a kid who's sensory integration issues were so bad as a toddler that he refused to have any blankets or stuffed animals any where near him to now being the child who LOVES hand knitted presents.

Phoebe was into doing snow angels in the fresh, fluffy snow covering.

Didn't she do a great job?

Back to my driveway.... Check out how tall the snow bank is in my front lawn!  
Jared, Chloe and Phoebe sitting in the snow bank on the side of the house while watching Papa clean off the camper roof which had a foot of heavy snow on it. They also were watching him as he had to repair the snow blower. Unfortunately, the snow blower has been broken for the last THREE storms. Thank the Lord for good neighbors who felt bad for us and allowed Eric to borrow theirs just to clean up the driveway. Unfortunately, we have more storms coming and cannot get the thing working yet. Not a good winter to have no way to remove the snow! (Caleb had already gotten cold and went inside by the time I took this pic.)

What do you do after playing outside for almost 2 hours? Have some yummy Hot chocolate with whip cream!

Yes, putting the cream on the nose is a silly tradition that got started because I did it to the boys one time when they were like 3 and 4 years old. They still want me to do it any time I get the whip cream can out! lol

We even took some out to Papa while he tried his hardest to get that snowblower working! He is such a trouper and never complains when things go wrong. I would have thrown that thing across the yard after not working for three storms and knowing there is more to come. Eric keeps patiently plodding along trying to figure it out.  Unfortunately, it may be time for a new one but we cannot afford it right now. Regardless, we are all enjoying the snow!

Our arborvitaes starting to droop over. Eric said they looked like men in white coats lined up. I think he was tired!  Can you find our picnic table?

Here's our picnic table. See how much snow we have gotten this winter! This is even after having rain that melted tons of it away. Our entire yard is under at least three feet of snow.

Lilac branches encased in snow.

Underneath our birch tree.

Our Forsythia looks like one big giant snowball!

Our neighbors maple tree that hangs over our driveway.

...and finally the happy couple after our walk around the yard! This time without having to say goodbye.

Sorry no kissin' pictures!

Last but not least.... proof that yes, indeed, I crawled out of bed as I am still in my pj's wearing my hubby's coat. Eric made me put this pic on! The kids were giggly and jealous to find out that Mama and Papa went out in the middle of the night to play in the snow.

He brings me so much JOY!!

"I am my beloved's and he is mine.... " Song of Solomon

One afternoon last week I was sitting at the dinner table and noticed something interesting at the other end of the table....

All of my men were in black! (In the pics Jared's looks a little more blue now....hmm) Anyway, not only were they wearing black but each one had their most passionate desire in life displayed on them. I could not help but chuckle and beg them for a pic after we were done with our meal.

If you could only choose one of these aspects of education *professionally* for your children which would it be? Why?

Piano (music)

Art

Back in the Garden of Eden. The deer are not a painting but rather life size.

Jared took this picture of us with Adam and Eve in the background.

Got to get another close up of Caleb's favorite dino -ankyloasaurus.

Caleb says this one was an Allosaurus.

Rocks always make picture moments! This was right across from Adam and Eve in the water.

I used my flash on this one so you could see the real water falls from above. I could have stayed in this section all  day as it was so peaceful.

Eve giving the forbidden fruit to Adam. There were grape like looking fruit in Eve's hands. Sorry for the flash in the window. I tried to take a pic w/out the flash but the atmosphere was dark in this room to give the contrast of the Garden of Eden and then sin.

Again this room was much darker than what appears here because I used my flash to get it. This was right after Adam and Eve sinned. A door represents sin separating us from God. See all the locks?

 

There were several images on each side of the walls in the dark hallway showing how sin has affected the world. IE: Starving children, animals eating each other, world disasters... As you can see Caleb really did not like this part. However, it was an amazing, visual, teaching tool for us to discuss with the kids. All of them expressed that they didn't like the feeling of being separated from God!

They did a great job of breaking up the intense moments with fun ones for the kids. We arrive at our favorite animated dino. I was hoping you would be able to see more of the girls on the left hand side of the video. I thought they both had run from the dino but later when we watched this we see that Chloe pushed Phoebe towards the dino as if she was feeding her sister to the dino! Then they both went running! lol I think it might be too dark and compressed for you to see it.

The curse is now on Adam and Eve. Adam must toil and work for his food. You can see Eve there in the back holding her pregnant tummy signifying pain during childbirth.

Animated Methuselah! We took a pic w/Jared because Methuselah was the oldest living man in the Bible but Enoch's son, Jared, in the Bible was the second oldest living. I believe Methuselah was Jared's Grandson.

The animated scoffers while Noah was building the ark.

The Ark being built.

Papa checks out a replica of what the ark really looked like. Notice it looks nothing like any of the common children's renditions? lol

The boys are each doing a puzzle on computers and the girls are trying the big one by hand. All about Noah's ark of course!

The inside of the Ark.

Short video picturing what it would be like to see the whole earth covered in water.

This part represented when God scattered the nations.

I didn't get a pic of this but there was a picture in this room of real twins who were born different skin colors --- one was black and one was white ---born to an African American couple! This was to scientifically prove there could be variations within genetics. It helped to explain the different races and how they all could be obtained through Noah's family. Very cool!!

If I remember this right from left to right was the Prophet Isaiah, Moses and the Ten Commandments and then King David with his harp.

New Testament--Apostle Paul writing his letters.

I think the graffiti says it all! I tried to take this w/out a flash to remember the wild lighting they had that made it feel like a real city alley.

Look how serious the kids' faces got again after seeing what happens when we live in sin.

This represented churches compromising scripture. Obviously, as you can see in this particular scene it was to show how churches will follow the world's view of things like evolution rather than the Biblical account of Creation.

The tour guy going into the next theater took this pic for us. The house represented scripture being compromised in the home. Very convicting for sure! Each window had something that took families' attentions away from God's word. Things like being too busy (*cough* cell phones, computer etc....) work, not training up your children etc... It showed a teenager's room and there was a quote that said only one in three teens will continue in church life after leaving home. Confirmed my calling to keep reaching out to University Students for sure!!

At the end of all the worldly sin we entered into this beautifully lit room so bright! It had pictures all lit up of God's creation. All the kids felt this sense of "Phew! I'm glad to be back in the light with Jesus again!" I repeat it was a great visual experience of God's word coming to life for them! The reason I am showing you this particular picture is because right here Phoebe said to me, "Mama when I grow up I will never leave God and will always believe and live for Him!" Nothing else like that can make a Mama's heart beam! THAT is the reason why I do these trips and homeschool my children so that they continually get a Biblical worldview rather than just a secular view. I say that in all the humility I have got because honestly I do not know how, such a wretched sinner like myself, can raise such wonderful children who love the Lord so deeply. It's all about the LORD!!!

Papa took some time to reflect and bask in the light of Christ too! Around those poles there were scriptures saying that no man is without excuse to know Christ.

Names of God! He's AWESOME!!!!! Look at those smiles!

A Christmas celebration our family will never forget.
 

We are thankful to the Lord for Answers In Genesis for providing such a wonderful atmosphere for families to grow closer to Him and to understand the truth of HIS word!

A Christmas that even Mama and Papa got to ride on a dinosaur! lol
The only question left... When can we go back?!