Once Inch of Snow

We FINALLY got our first snowfall of the season ... one inch! Hooray! "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" or at least until it melts. With current temperatures in the single digits, we might get to enjoy our one inch of snow a little longer. Kallie (below) could care less.

Family Photo 2010

The family photo ... we've never missed a year ... yet. We almost didn't make it this year! We had to run over to the local park on a chilly Sunday afternoon and snap one. Not professional, but still a good looking family photo nonetheless.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Ah ... the long, holiday weekend comes to a close. Five (5) days off of a work and school created a sometimes relaxing, sometimes busy weekend. More than anything, it was five (5) days of togetherness. Here's a rundown of the weekend:

• KU vs. some small school from Texas ... Rock Chalk Jayhawk from the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS
• Ping pong without a table or a net ... Ty has taken advantage of a basement without junk, clutter, and little storage to whack a small white ping pong around the cement enclosure. It's the little things that amuse us.
• Painting - nothing artistic ... mostly just trim work around every wall, door frame, and window. Ugh.
• Thanksgiving Dinner ... Paige at her best.
• 5K run in downtown Topeka on Saturday ... followed by BBQ with friends at Boss Hawg's.
• Finally, decorating the house and tree for Christmas ... while watching the Chiefs lay the hammer down on the Seahawks.
  

We have much to be grateful ... aside from long holiday weekends. We hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving as well.

Lowering the Ears

Our family has always been blessed to have Paige wear so many hats ... her chef hat, her gardening hat, her sewing hat, and even her mechanic and handyman hat. But one that we take for granted from time to time is her barber hat. Ty has never known another barber in his life and Cody's had his hair cut by Paige for the last 14 years with the same Wahl clippers. The only family rule is that you have to sweep up your own hair. Odd? Yes. But it's a small price to pay for a good ol' fashion hair cut. As for Paige ... she makes sporadic trips to the local community college for a trim and highlights (can you see her new highlights?).

Timber!

Oh sure ... why is it that all the cool "guy things" happen while Paige is home? Case in point ... how often does a big tractor come through the yard and tear out a couple of trees? Look at the pictures below ... how cool is that? But how cool of Paige to remember to take pictures to show the boys when they got home from school and work. As for the trees coming out next to the house? There's a new 12" water line going in down the side of our property and these trees were, well ... in the way. But they made for some good firewood for the Fletchers!

Another Year, Another Marathon

4 hours into the Kansas City Marathon and Cody wonders, "What in the world was I thinking?" ... followed by, "I am NOT doing this again next year." And yet here he was running the same marathon for the 2nd year in a row. This time the results were better, shaving almost 30 minutes off his time from 2009. That's not to say that it was easy or without pain, but it's still an accomplishment nonetheless. Question is ... will he run the race again in 2011?

Taking Dad out for BBQ

Dad flew in for the weekend ... and boy were his arms tired! He he he ... seriously though, we were glad that Dad could come out and hang out in Kansas for a few days. We laughed at his stories, talked till we were horse, and just enjoyed hanging out. Of course, any time we have a chance to drive out to Oskaloosa, KS for some authentic Midwest BBQ ... well, those are just the most excellent weekends. If you're going to share some pulled pork and brisket with a man from Idaho, there's no better place than Chunkie Dunkers. All in all, it was great having Dad in our home this past weekend.

4th Street Construction Update

Back in July we reported that the re-construction of 4th Street out in front of our house was finally going to begin. Progress was moving right along until they hit some snags with some bad soil and thus life along 4th Street has been confined to a dirt road since then. Of course, traffic hasn't really slowed down much, even if there is a good sized drop off from the pavement . Tyson likes it though ... great for riding his new bike. Hopefully it will all be done by winter ... but do you see that blue sky in the background? That's all we've had for the past couple of weeks. Nothing but blue skies and some of the most beautiful fall weather you could ask for.

KC Renaissance Festival

Last weekend, Paige and Cody went out on a magical date to a land far, far away to a time long, long ago. Ah ... the Renaissance Festival was in town and we had tickets to the Romanian themed weekend. Jousting ... oooh! Wenches ... aaah! Giant turkey legs ... eh. Hundreds of shops, performers, shows, and enough interesting people to keep the people watching in high gear! Good times - even the rain couldn't damper the fun. But oh how ominous the sky became at one point ...

Upgraded Transportation

We had to make some transportation upgrades this weekend for the boys in the family. Tyson hasn't a bike in a coon's age and Paige & Cody had wanted to buy him one "for no good reason really" for some time. So Friday Night's Date Night took them to WalMart where a new bike (and helmet!) were purchased. Cody took it for a test drive in the parking lot and it passed.

Date Night in Lawrence also took Paige and Cody over to Gary Gribbles for some new running shoes. It's not just old age that's wrecking havoc on Cody's hips, knees, shins, and feet. After logging 500 miles on his current shoes, it was time for a replacement, especially with the Kansas City Marathon just weeks away.

So on Saturday morning, Cody and Tyson got up at the crack of dawn and headed down to Johnson County to hit the trails. Tyson got to ride his new bike but Cody's new shoes weren't broke in yet - thus he had to wear his old shoes. 18.5 miles later, he was doing everything he could to convince Ty to let him ride the bike. No go.

Family Artwork

Seeing how we have no children in elementary school or in Primary at church, we have no cute drawings and artwork to stick under a magnet on the fridge. Instead, we've all graduated to the family art gallery where our latest works of art hang majestically in the hallway under the studio lights.

Each one of us had a canvas and three (3) rules to follow: The scene had to be one from the Midwest and each artist could only use 3 colors. From there, we were free to paint and create. No formal art show has been scheduled. Here are our masterpieces:

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Ah ... Labor Day. The bookend holiday of summer signifying the transition into fall. Oh how we love thee and thy 3-day weekend that takes the sting out of Monday!

Friday night started with Tonganoxie HS football and their home opener against Bishop Ward HS (Kansas City, KS). It was perfect weather for football too - and it was almost chilly! But the game was great but not even close, with a Tongie win ... 54 to 6.

Saturday started out with a long training run for Cody that included yet another entertaining dog story (one for another time).

We found that a lot of places around KC are closed on Mondays, but not the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, MO! Thus we were educated regarding the life and times of the 33rd President of the US. Our friends the Bradys came over to shoot a round of golf on the popular backyard golf course. A great way to wind up a busy (and tiring) weekend.

Backyard Golf Tournament

There are a few times over the course of the summer that one finds himself smiling while he's mowing the lawn. One would be the first mow of the summer and another, the last mow of the summer. But there's another time as well ... when one has the opportunity to mow 9 holes of golf in one's backyard.

Over the past four (4) weeks, the "Links at Tonganoxie Creek" has taken shape. The fairways and greens were carefully laid out and then manicured meticulously while the 'rough' grew in around them. A final trim was made on Saturday morning with the greens being mowed at an extra low blade setting. Holes were marked, flags were staked, and the scene was set for the Inaugural Tonganoxie Golf Tournament (also known as an Elders Quorum social in Cody's backyard).

Not only was the competition stiff and the course challenging, but there was smoked brisket and home-made root beer too! The weather was beautiful, the wiffle balls were flying well, and there was a great sense of brotherhood and friendship had by all. Now ... the rest of the yard needs mowing, and probably without the same enthusiasm.

4:40 video clip of the tournament can be viewed by clicking here as well.

The Course:


The Tournament:

It's Football Season!

The smell of tailgating. The intrigue of fantasy football. The gathering of friends. It must be football season! Friday night was a perfect night for nine (9) guys to get together to watch the Kansas City Chiefs taken on the Philadelphia Eagles at (new-and-improved) Arrowhead Stadium. There were exciting moments. There were some sobering moments (Sheffield's injury and the team prayer on the field). There were some disappointing moments (aka "another Chief's loss"). All in all it was a great night to introduce the football season.

A First Class Scout

After months of hard work and a week long summer camp back in June, Tyson earned his First Class Boy Scout Rank tonight at a Court of Honor. Hooray for Tyson! We're proud of him ... and he's already looking forward to working towards his next advancement. Oh, and he also earned his Aviation, Automotive Maintenance, Leatherworks, and Weather merit badges.

The Fair was Fair

We couldn't tell you the last time that we missed a fair. I guess you can say we're just fair-goin' people. Our own Leavenworth County Fair doesn't start till next week here in Tonganoxie, but tonight we took advantage of a beautiful Friday night and headed into Lawrence to the Douglas County Fair. That's one thing about living in a state with 105 counties ... they're small and they all have their own fairs. But that many fairs can sometimes lead to a fair that's only ... well ... fair. But one of these days we'll get up to the Iowa State Fair - the granddaddy of them all! Oh ... but tonight's fair did have something to offer that we haven't seen before: hail bale tossing competition! Who can toss a bale of hay the highest? See the video below (although you might want to mute the "fair" background noise) ...

Non-Traditional Camping

Camping in Utah may have awarded us with mountains, rivers, and scenic vistas ... but it never included a day at the beach and a production of Cinderella in the same trip!

On Saturday, the Edwards headed over to Shawnee Mission Park (about 30 minutes from home) to take part in the Great American Family Campout. At our check in, we were given our packet that included all-day passes to the beach. We plastered on the sun screen and sunk our toes into the sand as we enjoyed our escape from the brutal heat of summer. Suddenly, the humidity didn't seem so bad. Tyson dove for muscle shells (he called them clams) and Paige spent most of her time chilling with a book.

We opted to head over to Subway for dinner (a sure sign that this wasn't a typical camping trip). For entertainment, watch Tyson order a sandwich. Let's just say that he struggles with so many choices.

Back in the park, we walked from our tent over to the Theater in the Park to join thousands of others for a production of Cinderella. It was lovely.

While most of the other attendees headed for their cars when the show was over (around 11pm), we walked back to our tent. Despite the fact that the sun went down hours ago, the heat and humidity remained fully intact. No need for sleeping bags. No need to close the door. In fact, no need for the tent ... oh wait, bugs.

Church starts at 9am on Sunday mornings (always has, always will) ... which meant that we were up at the crack of dawn to head back home ... shower ... eat ... and yet we still made it to church on time. Yaaawwwwwwwwnnnn.

Forthcoming Improvements

After four (4) years of city council meetings, outcries from neighbors, and political negotiations, the city of Tonganoxie is finally ready to tear up 4th Street and make some improvements. Hooray! Sure, we'll be on a gravel road for awhile and maybe even have limited access to our driveway ... but in the end, we'll enjoy the following benefits:

• Curb and gutter!
• Sidewalk!
• A mailbox that's cemented in the ground!
• Wider road!
• And the removal of our culvert under the driveway that's threatening to erode our entire front yard ... well ... not really ... but close to it.

We're excited for these improvements. Perhaps one day we'll feel safe walking down 4th street again.

PS: For reference purposes In the picture above, our mailbox is the faded black one, the 3rd on the right.

As of Late ..

Summer has kept us on our toes! Just to let you know we're still alive, here's a quick run down from the past week or so ...

• Paige's garden is producing vegetables at an alarming rate! Zucchinis, squash, cucumbers, pickles, watermelon, and more! And as for the blackberries? We're up to 18 bottles of blackberry jam. Yum!
• Tyson has finally passed his BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Swim Test ... hooray! That was a long time coming but we're all relieved, especially Tyson.
• Cody recently appointed to the Tonganoxie Planning Commission by the city mayor. All in favor say "I" ...

Blackberries Abound!

Paige has always had a green thumb when it comes to gardening. But with this year's bumper crop of blackberries, that thumb may be turning a different shade of purple! A few years ago Cody found a wild herd of blackberries while mowing the west side of the property. Then another bush was found ... and then another. Knowing what to look for, the family started finding them all over the yard. In fact, this year Paige found a new outcropping down near the creek. After Kallie scouted out the best path to the berries, Tyson fired up the lawnmower and mowed a path through the weeds to give Paige better access to the harvest. The result? Tonight's fruit salad was divine. Here's to batches and batches of blackberry jam on the Edwards farm!

Fuel for the Next 51 Weeks

Cody and Paige enjoyed 5.5 days of solitary bliss while the boy was off at Scout camp this past week. It felt like Heaven. Really. It was relaxing, rejuvenating, and even energizing as the two refueled their parenting souls in anticipation for the next 51 weeks of life with Ty. There were all kinds of hopes and plans of what could be accomplished during that time ... but it really came down to a lot of R&R. Some of that R&R took place up in Nebraska City, NE at a local winery and bed-and-breakfast. Ahh ... The boy had a good time at Camp Nash too though. This year's camp was just shy of a week and was held nearby in Bonner Springs, KS. He earned 3 merit badges (automotive repair, weather, and leatherworks). Most importantly, there were no trips to the ER or urgent calls home to Mom and Dad (but there were a record number of text messages). Family night was Friday night at camp and Paige and Cody had an opportunity to see just how hot and humid Scout life could be. But boy did the A/C in the car feel good on the way home ... he he. Two major thunderstorms this week - one happened at camp when all the boys had to rush to the dining hall to take cover. The other rushed them out of camp ahead of schedule on Saturday morning. That was the same storm that hit just after Cody's first ever 5K trail race (read here for more info). With the family back together, life is good ... and with greater appreciation for one another.

Never Together

Our family is in the midst of a couple of weeks of upheaval. Cody just returned from a week in Charlotte, NC on business ... and now Ty is leaving for Scout Camp in the morning for the week. To make matters even more interesting, Cody has this next week off from work! Hooray for Paige (we think). We'll have a full recap next weekend ... stay tuned!

Show Me State Vacation

The 2010 edition of the Edwards family vacation took them to the Show Me State of Missouri, our neighbors to the east. Even though St. Louis is located a short 4-hours from Kansas City along I-70, this was our first trip to the city outside of church temple trips. We scaled back on our vacation this year and were only gone for 3 days (1 day too long for the dog we left behind) but it was a fun time, memory filled family vacation where we:

• were were educated through hands on exhibits at the St. Louis Science Center
• walked through acres of flowers and beautiful landscapes at the Missouri Botanical Gardens
• ascended 630 feet to the top of the St. Louis arch despite the anxieties of our 13 yr. old
• cooled off from the unseasonably warm temperatures in the KOA swimming pool
• learned about the history of Missouri at the state capital in Jefferson City
• enjoyed famous ice cream at Capital Dairy also in Jefferson City

So another state has been crossed off our list. Next we look forward to traveling to ...

Night at the Ballpark

It was the perfect night for a ballgame. The Kansas City Royals were in town for some interleague play against the Colorado Rockies. The temperature was a pleasant 72°, the humidity low, the smell of a 101 flavors of baseball could be smelled in all directions, and there was the promise of fireworks after the game. Jose Guillen hit a couple of home runs to help propel the Royals to a 9-2 victory and we were celebrating with the other 24,000+ fans in attendance. We had a great time and yes - the fireworks were spectacular too.

If A Tree Falls ...

So much for the excitement of living in "Tornado Alley" here in the Midwest. We can count on one hand the number of emergency trips we've needed to take to the basement due to a tornado that has Tonganoxie in its sights. Some people would say "better safe than sorry" but where's the excitement in that? Sigh. But on occasion we will get some good thunderstorms that will rumble through the area. Earlier this week we woke up from a night of storms (why must we sleep through them? WHY?) to find a fallen tree along the west side of our house. It was a dead hardwood (Osage Orange or "hedge apple") tree but the real exciting part is that it's enveloped with poison ivy! Leaves of three, let them be ...

Buffalo River Canoe Trip

Two years ago, Cody and his friend Nate Beyeler set out to canoe the Buffalo River in Northern Arkansas, only to have their trip ruined by thunderstorms, a capsized canoe, and missing gear. (Relive the memories here.) That left a score to settle and a river to conquer. So the two headed back to the river that got the best of them and this time, they came out on top! That is, the weather was beautiful, the scenery was incredible, and good times were had by all. They couldn't put in at Ponca like they did last time due to low water levels, but the scenery from Pruitt to Woolum was just as beautiful. Swimming holes and rope swings were plentiful, as was the wild life and the good times. For an entertaining video of the 2-day event, click here. A slide show below will also show some of the grandeur of the trip.

Auction & Racing

Today we were able to cross 2 more things off our list of things we've never done before. We first took in a county auction over at the fairground. Wow. And we thought that Tyson was a fast talker! We didn't come away with anything, but that was in part because we warned Tyson about raising his hand to ask a question.
Later in the afternoon, Tyson and Cody took a 15 minute drive over to the Kansas Speedway. On their way, they took a total of 2 left turns and 1 right turn. At the Road Runner 300 race featuring the finest of the Indy Racing League, they watched more left turns than they'll probably see in a lifetime. They had a great time and were educated, both on the sport and the culture. Click here to watch a short clip. Pictures are below.

Rain Brings Tadpoles

It can feel like feast or famine 'round these parts sometimes. We went two weeks without any rain and then all of a sudden ... BAM! Flash flooding and torrential downpours. Our hearts and prayers go out to those that were affected by the tornadoes and severe weather that affected Mississippi but at the same time, a little severe weather around tornado alley would be nice. Otherwise the weather starts to feel a little bland and boring. We did have a few storms pass by and say hi over the weekend, including the one pictured below, late Friday night. Oh ... and each time it rains it replenishes the rain in our pond, thus sustaining the backyard ecosystem we have ... namely tadpoles and frogs. Click here to watch a short two-minute video of Ty harvesting some tadpoles for his collection.

Busy Hands

We had busy hands this weekend. Ty spent the night up at Leavenworth (the military base, not the prison) with the Boy Scouts on Friday night. Then Saturday was spent in a day long service project with several other troops to help restore the landing area along the Missouri River where Lewis and Clark once landed by clearing out trees and brush. Cody and Paige also spent the day on Saturday clearing out trees and brush from the backyard. There was no historical significance of the area that they restored. It sure did look nice when it was all said and done! Who knew that there were actually trees growing under all those prickly bushes? There were no pictures taken of either event, but we do have pictures of the actual hands that did the work ... one of which apparently still needs to be washed.

Camping Weather

Spring camping weather in the Midwest can be hit-or-miss ... but this weekend's weather was a bulls-eye with blue skies, warm temps and a southern breeze. Thus we were off to the lake for some overnight rest and relaxation with our friends the Beyelers. It would have been nice had it only been our two families but we seemed to have attracted a few local party going folks that seemed to enjoy telling stories and playing loud music in the wee hours of the night. But the food was great and the time spent with friends and family was even better. You just can't go wrong with a camping trip to Leavenworth State Fishing Lake on a weekend with weather like that.

Wired and Amped

If Easter Eggs had circuitry, an on-and-off switch, or perhaps an LCD screen, then maybe Ty would have more interest in them. But as it is, his life revolves around a hot glue gun, a soldering iron, and a 12 volt lawn and garden battery - the latter two items coming from money he earned recently from pet sitting. As much as the rest of the family is tired of hearing about wattage, voltage and amps, it's better than hearing about how miserable his life is with his new braces.

The Nutrition Plan

The word "diet" brings up all kinds of evil thoughts and imagery. We like to call it a "nutrition plan" round these parts. Cody started the P90X routine again but this time armed with the nutrition plan that came with it. That meant a big change in the way that our family eats and the way Paige cooks. Phase 1 ("Fat Shredder") calls for a ton of protein, lots of fruits and veggies and all the other healthy stuff as well. In addition, for a 600 calorie workout like P90X, that means calories ... and lot's of them too! The portion sizes that Paige prepares are enough to feed a small army. Phase 2 will add the carbs back ... which are important for high energy events ... like running ... half marathons. Case in point: Cody's tank hit empty at the 9 mile mark of Saturday's Rock the Parkway race.

Addicted to The Office

You know that feeling you get when you discover something new and you just can't put it down or leave it alone? It stays on the mind and you can't help but think about it all the time? Such is the case in our house when we discovered two things at the same time: Streaming videos on Netflix and NBC's The Office starring Steve Carrell. The next thing you know we're eating dinner in front of the computer watching The Office. Paige & Cody will move the oversized chair over in front of the computer to stay up watching episode after episode into the wee hours of the night waiting to see what happens with Jim and Pam (NO spoilers PLEASE!) We've started at Season 1, Episode 1 and find ourselves nearing the end of Season 3. Tyson's engaged as well - having downloaded The Office theme song to his phone and putting up with his parent's social and personal relationship lessons following each episode. Now ... we just need to wait for the streaming service to come to Netflix so we can move our addiction from the computer to the TV.

Let's Go To Science City!

Spring Break 2010 didn't take us any place warm ... but it did take us to Science City at Union Station in Kansas City, MO! After all, isn't an educational field trip on a day off from work and school better than visiting a warm place under the sun? We got to walk through a blood vessel, experience optical illusions in the "Mister E" hotel, launch rockets, walk through a crime lab and experience science in a hands-on atmosphere! Looks like the rest of the greater Kansas City area was also taking advantage of the discounted admission price. What was even more amazing to Ty's parents were the fact that Ty is at that border line age where such places are almost too little for him. When it was all said and done, we dined at KC's original "Gates Bar-B-Q" where they're famous for saying: "HI! MAY I HELP YOU?!!!"

The Trail Left Behind

Paige's mom once said that you could always tell where she'd been in the house based on the trail that she left behind her. Tyson is no different. Take for instance the "little bathroom" that he uses. Who else would leave behind a Windows drawing on the shower wall?

Bucky, as he is now called, also had five (5) teeth pulled this week in preparation for his braces this summer. We've yet to see the tooth fairy since we've been out here. Perhaps the orthodontist bill scared her away.

Mrs. Fixit

After two weeks of work travel, Cody came home and parked the truck in the garage. Unfortunately, that's where the truck would stay for the rest of the week. You see, the parking brake was stuck and wouldn't disengage. But that's why we have a Paige in the house, the resident Mrs. Fixit. With the back of the truck jacked up, Paige jumped on the Internet to problem-solve the situation. The lil' grease monkey ended up taking the wheels off, removing the brake drum and then just like that ... problem solved and the truck was rollin' again. Now she's recommending that we replace the brake pads as well.

Snow All Winter

Sure, there are other places around the country that have more snow than Leavenworth County, Kansas ... but we actually HAVE snow on the ground and have had snow for much of the winter, something that doesn't normally happen round these parts. In fact, there's something about it that makes it feel more like the winters that Paige & Cody grew up in out West. Tyson (Ty) took the above picture. He's developing into a great little winter photographer. This upcoming weekend though he gets to go camping in it.

New addition to Cody's collection of Top-10 lists

Since Cody has a fascination with "lists" of most any kind, Saturday was a perfect opportunity for Paige to provide him with a Top-10 "late night" style list. I don't know that he was thrilled to be adding it to his collection of lists, but it's still great for a laugh.

Top ten things learned by having a flooded
laundry room/kitchen/basement:

(sorry, no pictures, unless Cody took some that I don't know about)

10-) I assume the washer/dryer must be "grounded" somewhere because no one got buzzed... (or worse...)

9-) Half of my kitchen floor no longer needs to be mopped!

8-) 40 gallons of water is MUCH more than it looks like when it's inside the washing machine.

7-) The "Cold" cycle has more benefits than those listed on the laundry soap bottle/box.

6-) A hamster can roll an exercise ball at least 5 - 8 feet through 1 inch of water (cold, not hot) with out drowning. (Neither did the dog who was closely following the hamster in the ball through the water...)

5-) Cats can't (or won't) walk on water, and though a wet towel offered a bridge to dry land, Tommy still sent plenty of water flying, flipping his paws with every little step. (I probably shouldn't have laughed.

4-) Wet/dry vacuums only suck up water when the hose isn't clogged.

3-) Clearly, the law of gravity is still fully functioning, evidenced by all the water that moved from the upstairs to the basement.

2-) I realize now that turning the basement into a swimming poor really isn't as good of an idea as it might sound, not that the idea was being entertained mind you. That said, the basement floor is the cleanest it has ever been since the house was built.

1-) Always change the water filter on the fridge before cleaning up the flood water from the floor. I'm still not sure exactly what happened, but after I replaced the filter for the fridge I tested the water, only it wouldn't turn back off... so, more water on the floor...

Maybe I should have left the water on the floor, bought some goldfish, and told everyone that the latest trends in interior design are "flooded-floor" ponds...

Do you think anyone would believe me?

Coming up next week: Top-10 reasons why sucking lint from the clogged "past due for a cleaning-my clothes are taking two hours to dry" dryer vent with the same wet/dry vac used to clean up the flood water is a bad idea...

Stuck on His Birthday

Any and all youth in the Edwards house have reached teenage status. Ty's birthday (yes, we're officially going by "Ty" now) was last week. What's the most exciting thing about being 13, according to Tyson ... er Ty ...? Being able to have a Facebook account! Hooray! He invited a few friends over to play some video games. The evening would have been uneventful had the Mitchell's made it out of our driveway on the first try. Instead, we spent almost two (2) hours in sub zero temperatures working to "unstuck" them and keep them from driving into the ditch. Ah ... memories! Ty loved all the excitement and activity surrounding his birthday. We've escaped the frigid -15° temperatures that kept us huddled around the fire, but now we can't see the end of the driveway due to dense fog. It is pretty though - as seen in this picture taken by Ty himself.

Cold Enough for a Snuggie

Now this feels like winter! Kansas City had the 3rd snowiest month of December including a doozy of a storm that dropped 12" over Christmas. Since then we've had snow on the ground every day! Why? Because it's been ridiculously cold with temperatures struggling to make it out of the single digits. And more cold air is on the way. Church has been canceled each of the past couple of Sundays and there are days we struggle to make it out of our driveway. The fireplace in the living room acts as an animal magnet drawing the cats, the dog and the two-legged creatures to its warm flames. Other rooms in the house aren't as warm, thus the need to pile on the blankets to watch a Kansas City Chiefs football game. With no arms in the blanket to use the remote control, a Snuggie seems to be in order.