After School Fun

Big Kids Snow 013107
Originally uploaded by momjeeps.

The kids came bounding off the bus so excited. They came in and warmed up with some hot chocolate and then ran out for some fun in the snow.

Look at the view from our Porch Today!

View from front Porch Snow
Originally uploaded by momjeeps.

Its snowing! Our first snow! I'm sure I'll post pictures of the kids playing by tomorrow sometime. It is supposed to snow all night and tomorrow. Maybe the kids will get to make that snowman they were begging to make when we were stuck in Albequerque!

Here are some pictures of other parts of the yard.

Ryan's First Snow - Was it worth it?

Ryans first Snow 123006
Originally uploaded by momjeeps.

Many of you may have heard about my wonderful trip home from Arizona. As if traveling alone with four children wasn't challenging enough, I decided that going home the North route would be fun for the kids. They don't get to see much snow. I checked weather.com and decided it would be best to leave Saturday morning. I was WRONG!

In the Arizona mountains the kids got out and played in the snow. It was brief and fun.

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Where was Robbie's jacket? That mystery wouldn't be solved until we returned to Arkansas and had already purchased a new one.





We drove on... Into New Mexico. Beautiful snow covered red rock. Little did we know how long we'd be in New Mexico...



The original plan was to make it to Amarillo and get a room. However, I-40 was closed due to snow and ice from Albequerque to the Texas border. So we got a room in Albequerque. After we checked in to the motel we went to Wal-Mart and grabbed some dinner at Sonic. The Wal-Mart was closing at six because of the icy roads.

Here is a picture of a U-Haul that was parked at our motel. We took this picture for daddy.



Because of the icy roads and closure we stayed in our room after eating our breakfast until the last minute before checkout time. The continental breakfast at our motel left tons to be desired. So I spotted an open donut shop and stopped for donuts for lunch. The baker did not make it in that morning so we had day old donuts at half price.

So we got back on the road on the 31st. But we didn't get far... Only eight miles ALL DAY! Thanks to DVD Players, good children, various snacks and music we survived the long day.



These truckers are grilling ON THE FREEWAY! After Robbie took this picture they came over and gave us a rib. YUM!



When we finally made it back to the road closure it had been dark for sometime. I had gotten out of the van to get to the back and get Ryan's bottle for him and fell on the ice on the freeway. Anyway, just as we were getting to the closure they opened the freeway. But mom had already helped me get a room at the same motel for a second night and I wasn't too keen on driving at night on that freeway. So we went back that eight miles to the motel and stayed another night. They next day would be better. (A little).

Well for starters, the donut shop's baker showed up, so we got fresh donuts! Also the road was opened by 9:00 a.m. So we were back in business. But it was slow going. First there was a terrible accident on the freeway in Albequerque. Either a big rig slid over the back of a mini-van or the mini-van slid under the big rig. Once we got past that we got to the portion that had been closed. I was extremely glad I had decided not to try it the night before. This section of freeway would have been awful without ICE! There were grooves in the road where they had changed the lines.

We got through that only to again sit in stopped traffic. It seems there was road construction that took all these cars and trucks to one lane.





Well, once we got to Texas things started to go better. Mom and Dad wanted me to stop another night, but I was determined to get home. Ryan was really starting show his desire to be out of his seat after three days of this. So I drove all night and we got home Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. exactly 72 hours after leaving mom and dad's house. (The trip is supposed to take 25 hours or less.) I was not able to function mentally or otherwise, so Rob took the day off so that the children would have some supervision.

I have since recovered and I'm sure the kids and I will have fond memories of this time. But I'm glad its behind us.

Arizona Sunset

Arizona Sunset 122706
Originally uploaded by momjeeps.

Here is a sunset photo taken on the way back from the park to Uncle Curtis and Aunt Gennie's house.

Visiting Cousin Sailor

Ryan and Sailor Play 122706
Originally uploaded by momjeeps.

I think Ryan liked Sailor's house the best on our visit to Arizona. I don't know why?! Look at that pile of toys! What fun!

Aunt Gennie had games and misc for the big kids too. See below. And Uncle Curtis is the coolest! He gave Robbie his retired Playstation.

We also played at Sailor's Park a time or two. There was a little static electricity from sliding.

Dresses from Grandma

Girls in Gmas Dresses 122006
Originally uploaded by momjeeps.

Here are the girls back on December 20, 2006 in their dresses from Grandma.