More snow...

I must say I am enjoying the snow this year MUCH more than Snowmageddon last year, that's for sure! On Thursday, we went to Catonsville and spent the morning with our cousin Tori and got to play in the snow for awhile, build a snowman, and go sledding! And I hear more snow is in the forecast!

Snow days!

Ahhh, those wonderful words across the WBAL webpage "Baltimore City Schools Closed"...yesssss! We had Thursday and Friday off this week for the snow that hit Baltimore Wednesday evening! It was beautiful...a thick heavy snow that coated the branches of every tree and unfortunately pulled down power lines and limbs all over the place! It was also the perfect packing snow! Yesterday we went out front & had a blast building a snowman, throwing snowballs, and attempting to make a fort....which is still a work in progress.

Intense shoveling going on!

Frosty

Teamwork with the neighbors!

Our semi-completed fort

Recipes for Research

The cookbooks have arrived...all 21 boxes of them (660 cookbooks to be exact)!!! That poor UPS man! I have begun shipping them out...and I think the workers at the Timonium post office know me by name by now, ha ha. I have many left over so please let me know if you are interested in purchasing one! They are $15 each. Check out my sales and marketing ladies......Bailey and her friend Addison!...

Making a house a home...

...so we built an addition on our house last year...and I am finally putting some "homey" touches on the place...i.e. getting curtains! Some day I will get rid of the temporary paper curtains on all the upstairs windows! My friend Mary came over and put them up for me (I find window treatments extremely intimidating)...and whah-la!!! Had to put up a few Valentine's decorations too!

Cheesecake Factory........the tradition continues...

I love these girls. Kate. Sara. Katie. For years, we have gotten together right around the holidays to gather at the Cheesecake Factory to catch up on life, love, and friendship (and to devour that amazing brown bread they have)! This year was no different. Over the years we have experienced so much...high school, college, relationships, inside jokes, and on & on it goes. Ladies, I love you. Here's a quote I came across that sums it up:

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.”

Cure DBA!

Get 'em while they're hot.....

I know I know...every time I find the time to post...I go overboard and catch up. Some day I will update one post at a time...just not today.

Soooooooooo, I'm doing a fundraiser to raise money for DBA research! All proceeds will go to the DBA Foundation (www.dbafoundation.org). Each cookbook is 15$! Let me know if you are interested! Here is an order form if you are interested in purchasing one:http://issuu.com/bhivemom/docs/cookbook_order_form-pdf

Here's a sneak peek at the cover: http://issuu.com/bhivemom/docs/cookbook_cover

FORTS and a little static electricity...

Nothing like taking the couch apart and making a fort......

Snowflakes!

Winter means less time outside....and the endless search for fun crafts inside. Cause if I have to watch a Strawberry Shortcake DVD one more time...........!

A few weeks ago, Bailey's friend Ania spent the day with us and we made some snowflake ornaments.

Some time in the country...

On the way down to WV and then again on the way back, we stopped in Lexington, VA to visit my high school friend Jake and his wife Jessie & 6 month old baby June (who is a doll!). We just didn't get enough time to see them when we stopped for dinner on Thursday night so we made plans to swing back through in the daytime on Sunday and spend a few hours on their farm. Some pics aren't the greatest since I took a few on my cell phone. Bailey loved the chickens! A big thank you to Jake & Jessie for the homemade wine (rhubarb, peach, and honey)...we can't wait to try them! It was great seeing you guys and we hope to have one more visit to have a proper send-off party for Jake as he leaves for Afganistan for a year.

PS: Jessie is a talented writer and has a great blog: http://www.rurallyscrewed.com/. If you want some comic relief or some fun stories about life in the country, check out Rurally Screwed!

One last photo before we leave

Jake and Bails

On a little hike across their property (with her Ravens jersey---supporting her team...

who won their last reg season game before playoffs---go Ravens!)

Petting the friendliest of the bunch

This solidified it...we will be chicken owners at some time in our lives!

Jake and Jessie

Time for a little moonshine!

Meeting June for the first time

A Winter Visit to WV...

This past weekend, we celebrated the New Year in WV at my Grandma's house! I guess this could count as Christmas Part V since there were more gifts, more"Merry Christmas"es, and special time with family. We had a wonderful visit with Grandma, Aunt Linda, & Uncle David. A bonus was some snow on the ground to play in and build a snowman! I did my best to upload these pics in order, but somehow it didn't quite work!

Bailey and Frosty

Complete with carrot nose and peach pit eyes & buttons

Is there a scene any more peaceful? We love West Virginia!

"Come here horses!"

Baby dolls!...

...And tea parties....

Whoah baby...wasn't ready to see this big guy on the farm!

Grandma and Bailey holding Snowball

Musician in the making...signing her ABC Mary Had a Little Lamb

Twinkle Twinkel Little Star Remix!

Fun in the snow with Daddy

Yummy snow

A Birthday Party for Jesus

The week before Christmas, our friend Carrie had a bunch of friends over to have a birthday party for Jesus. It was a sweet reminder of the purpose of this season and a great time to teach the kids the meaning in a fun way. Plus, the moms got to hang out---always a bonus! Thanks Carrie!

"Happy Birthday to Jesus!"

Bailey playing pin the star above the manger

The stars!

The Hamilton boys listening to story of Jesus' birth

Carrie reading about the Christmas story