Shoveling Snow.

As all of my friends and neighbors know we were blessed with 6 inches of snow last week!  My boys couldn't have been happier.  My husband and I often joke about the fact the 1/4 inch of snow is enough for a Georgia boy to sled on so you can imagine how excited my boys were to be in snow up to their knees!  We made snow angels (6 inches is too much snow for snow angels but it was fun anyway), the boys sledded down our huge hill and nearly gave me a heart attack but they laughed the whole time.  Friends came over for hot chocolate.  We stayed in and had family movie day.  It was lots of fun, until Wednesday!

On Wednesday I decided that the driveway must be shoveled!  Now that is was less snow and more ice and the work was 10X harder I had to get it done!  I went outside and I shoveled for a while before I decided I wanted some company.  I didn't expect my boys to help but I wanted them outside enjoying the day with me.  Joel LOVES to help.  He grabbed a shovel and went straight to work.  About 15 minutes into our hard work I told Joel I was so proud of him for helping without  being asked and that I was going to pay him $5!  He was very excited, he shoveled harder than ever.  We worked for at least another hour and Joel stopped and looked at me and said "Mommy, this isn't even worth it!" and he put his shovel away and went inside.  I agree Joel!  But he did go out and help finish the job the next day.

Oh and Jackson helped too!  Of course his Daddy had to strongly recommend that Jackson help his mother and he only lasted about 20 minutes.  But help is help and I was happy to have the break!

Welcome 2011

A new year has begun and we are so excited!  We have lots of projects and lots of plans. Wonder how our lives will change in the next year, they are hardly recognizable from this time last year.  Small changes are already happening.  My sweet Jackson is about to lose his first tooth and officially start shedding his baby face.  Before the year is over my Joel E will be saying good-bye to Preschool and starting Kindergarten.  And my baby Jensen will probably be potty trained before the month is out.  Some changes are small but I feel certain that we will have some big changes on the horizon.  No matter what this year holds for the Tinsley family we are approaching it with a positive attitude.  Only good things in store for us this year!  And this year I am going to do the project 365 to show everyone what a happy year we have!  Day 4 and I am all over it!  Check out the photo below looks like Joel is already not in the mood to cooperate.  Well it is good to know that some things won't change!

It is nice that some things will remain the same.  I can count on my friends being there for me when I call.  I can count on my husband always being able to make me laugh and pull my hair out, sometimes at the same time.  I can count on Jackson having a million questions and then a million suggestions on how to make things better.  I can count on Joel doing things his own way, throwing a tantrum that ends up in a fit of laughter when I have the patience to give him my undivided attention.  I can count on Jensen giving me hugs and kisses and making everything better with his sweet smile.  I hope I can count on him being a momma's boy for at least one more year.  So many things that I can count on.  Guess I will recount this next year and see what has changed and what has and will always remain the same.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!