It's A Winter Wonderland!

We have snow!!!!! I know, I know -- for all you northerners reading this, you're wondering, "Hey! What's the big deal?" Snow is a really big deal for us here on the south side of Atlanta, because it rarely happens. This is the first, real snow that we've had since we've lived here in Georgia (5 years). It's hard to believe that we had 80 degree temps a few weeks ago!

**UPDATE**
I have been corrected by the children (whose minds are younger and sharper than their old mother's) that they had a romp in a significant amount of snow four years ago when we were visiting our friends, the Hibbs, in New Jersey. So the picture below is not of Sarah making her first snow ball. I didn't mean to make statements that weren't true! I claim senility!!!

The view out of our front door

Buddy, our very grumpy geriatric dog who walked out and didn't like what he saw and felt on his paws, so he came right back in! The other two bichons were quite a different story -- they had a ball in the white stuff!

Our front walk way

Andrew with the first snowballs he's made in many years.

Sarah playing in snow for the first time that she can remember. She was only 2 when we moved from Michigan to Florida . . .

Christian with his giant snowball.

This is the first snowball that Sarah has ever made!

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Science Fair

Last fall, Bryan Anderson asked Christian if he would partner up with him to present a project at the local science fair. Christian agreed, and they spent time over the past few months preparing and experimenting.

There were approximately 30 projects that were entered covering a very wide range of topics. I saw one project in which a girl experimented to see if her mascara grew bacteria at 20 days, 30, and 40 days. Another project was presented in which the student performed experimentation to determine whether or not the anti-bacterial wipes that stores offer their customers for the purpose of cleaning shopping cart handles was effective. A very interesting experiment (and a prize winner, I believe) that I viewed was by two boys who set out to find which agent cleaned stained carpet the best -- isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, baking soda, and carpet cleaner. I was truly amazed at the creativity and wide range of subjects that were represented!

I am pleased to report that the experiment that Bryan and Christian presented won third place in the high school division! Congratulations boys!



Posing with their project entitled "Can a Robot that Distinguishes Between Acids and Bases be Easily Created?"

Now, it's off to Regional competition!

Our New Furry Friends

The past couple of years, we have seen about five different cats around our property from time to time. They appear to be very feral, as they have never allowed us to get near them. A few months ago, Sarah asked if she could put out some food for them (she is so much like her mother at the same age!). We allowed her to do so, and she has been rewarded with a couple of new, furry friends.

This is Reese's. Her name was inspired by the color of her fur, which is a dark brown, with lighter patches mixed in -- kind of like chocolate and peanut butter in a peanut butter cup! Her true color is difficult to see in this picture since I had to take it through a tinted window. She is very affectionate with Sarah when she wants to be, but if she sees any of the rest of the family, she runs away. In this picture Reese's is keeping guard of her food, which is just a few feet in front of her. In this rare instance, she has allowed one of the other cats to have a little bit of it. Usually, she chases any of the other cats away who try to sneak a nibble.

This is Tiger whom we see about once a week. She is always trying to get some food, but Reese's usually chases her away. Reese's is sitting just a few feet behind Tiger, and right after this picture was taken, Reese's let her know that she had enough and chased her into the woods!

Sarah has been putting food out for about two months now, and it's just been within the last week or two that Reese's will allow her to touch her. Sarah is thrilled to be the only one to get near her, and I am thrilled that the kitty lives outside and can take care of herself!

Sarah and Andrew at Riding Lessons

They had a chilly ride today -- temps were in the high 30's!

Happy New Year Everyone!

New Year's Eve, the kids and I went to the Hawkin's house to ring in the New year with the folks from church. Tom had to work (30th - 2nd), so I got to watch everyone else kiss their sweetie at midnight, while I could only dream of mine, as he was sound asleep in a hotel in Albuquerque. I tried to sneek a smooch with one of my kiddos, but none would oblige me . . . .

We had two guests staying with us New Year's Eve (actually New Year's Day, since it was very late ((or early!)) when we arrived home), Michael Howland and Kristin Hawkins. Here they are enjoying their first breakfast of the new year -- pancakes!