There's nothing "static" about our nights at home. . .

. . .Well, maybe there is.

Five children, one fleece blanket.  The possibilities are endless.

We like the UPS truck. . .for different reasons

I like the brown packages they bring me; my kids like the packing material inside them.

Right before the sun goes down. . .

. . .there is a magical moment that occurs just outside our back door.  The sun is normally hidden behind our hill during this time in the winter, but for a few evenings each year it manages to break out and touch the surrounding hills with light just as it disappears below the horizon.  Our backyard is in shadow, the sky is falling into darkness, but the hills just beyond our property line are awash with light.  This is one of those achingly beautiful moments that puts me in awe of the world around me.

How do you like your eggs: scrambled, poached, or. . .frozen?

It's so cold right now (it was around -11F this morning) that when our chickens lay eggs, they freeze. When my husband picked these eggs up they had cracked, so he opened them up and dropped them into a bowl. . .in a solid chunk. They still taste yummy, though.

By the way, the chickens are fine.  We have a heat lamp on them where they roost, and they huddle together for warmth.  It's just the "abandoned" eggs that suffer.  If we don't collect them right away, this is how we find them.

Pictures?

Even children who like to have their photos taken will balk at doing so when the thermometer reads 15F--even if you only ask them to stand inside the doorway.

It's cold, Mommy!

Pulling in reinforcements.

I give up.  Just give me your silly faces.

Apparently, though, it doesn't keep them from taking photos of each other.

Now That's What I Call a Snowfall!

It doesn't get much better than this. . .

The view from our back door

These were pole bean towers in the summer.  Now they match the snow-covered trees.

You'd think our school district would declare a snow day when the teachers get stuck in their driveways and the buses can't run.  Nope!  The kids still went to school (It was optional, but they didn't want to miss their Christmas parties) with Daddy.

My youngest daughter wouldn't wait until the kids came home at noon.  She wanted the snow all to herself, even though it was almost deeper than she is tall!

This is hot chocolate weather, for sure!

A few days ago we had ugly, brown ground starting at us every time we looked out the window. The kids have been praying and praying for a white Christmas. I think their prayers were answered. . .abundantly!

Merry Christmas, 2010