Winter?

Yes. I have taken a ridiculously long hiatus from blogging. My life sometimes slips into a sort of zombie-notony. Get up tired. Go to work tired. Come home exhausted. Stay up too late getting things done. Then over and over. Doesn't that just sound negative?

But I think I've finally snapped out of the winter blues. Though who could complain about Kansas' winter weather this year? One snow. ONE SNOW!? Most days have been in the 45 to 60 degree range. We had no cabin fever and were never bundled up for more than a few days the whole winter.

So now it's March 1st and I am emerging from my mental hibernation. I'm back! With lots of pictures....these are all from January and February. Pretty much sums up Frick-tivities (told you I'm back) since New Years. Happy Spring!

Mom and Dad hosted 'winter birthday celebration' for Phil, Carissa, and Jon (December 21st, January 7th, and February 4th, respectively). She fixed something special for each of the honored. We were all together though and it was really special for everyone!

Sissy and Uncle Brad. And Chuck.

Field Trip: Grandpa Tracy takes Ev and Cam to see the trains every time they come down!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Wolf Lodge

Our annual pilgrimmage with the Kohnen's took place again in February!

This was Evan's first year and he had the BEST time!

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Lonely Snow

We made the very best of the one stinkin' snow shower we had. That evening it was relatively warm out with no wind. So..... we got Peaches from Jon and Taylor. Let me tell you, as a St. Bernard, she was in her ELEMENT!

And we did what any family with a plastic sled and a big dog would do....we hitched Peaches to our sled and prayed no one broke a limb! I could not stop laughing at the scene. The crew would all go flying through the yard, then Peaches would stop suddenly and turn around to jump on the sled and anyone in the way! It always ended in a big, hysterical mess. Like above....

Ethan's turn... with a little jump-start from the Big P

The best run of the night: Ethan takes off. Dog darts after Ethan. Sheridan goes screeching across the yard; and they all collapse in a big pile somewhere in the dark!

Evan HAD to have a turn, of course. Sher rode behind him and Phil tried to control Over-Excited Canine. Good, good times with my family!

Christmas Festivities

Here are several photos from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas Night. We got to see so many family members, and that was our favorite part!

Grammy and her boys on Christmas Eve

Grandma Virginia is laughing at Dad's smile :)

We got to see Brad and Carissa for Christmas! (And Chuck and Blair).

Me, Mommy, and Sissy

Sher, Jon, and sweet, sweet Peaches before bedtime Christmas Eve. Aaahhhh........

Santa came! What a miracle...

The best Christmas gifts I've ever received. Totally serious.

Christmas Day at Mom's. It looks snowy in the background. ?!?!?! We wished.

Coughenour/Kramer cousins - Jaylene, Jenny (due in April), me, and Carrie

Cammy and Carrie Christmas Morn.

Christmas Night at Christie and Todd's house for the Fricks' Christmas! What a way to end our day - the kids all had SO much fun together!

Precious cousins all opening gifts together.

Someone said, "A little of Amy and little of Phil".... get it?

Christmas Dinner - probably the best turkey I've ever had. Seriously.

Every year I grow more and more gracious for what our families and ourselves have. We 'adopt' 2 or 3 children every year that just want simple things like hair ribbons or games. I love teaching my children about being gracious and that it's far more important to give to others rather than receive for themselves. I think Sheridan really got it this year, and it's the first year Ethan has been able to understand it. Sher loved picking out things for other kids who were less fortunate. I love that my kids are getting old enough to grasp empathy and compassion for others. I think, hopefully, it will pave the way for more kind-hearted, selfless, sympathetic adults. We need a little more of that in this world.

Preschool Program

There is nothing cuter than watching preschoolers sing Christmas songs. Thank goodness the program was short and sweet (considering the average attention span was counted in seconds).

Walking in....

...lining up....

....beginning to sing....inserting hands under shirt to rub belly...

...spotted Mommy.....hands still rubbing belly....

Thrilled to be sitting on Santa's lap. :) Actually, he later on realized his blunder of refusing to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas and wanted to go back.

Merry Christmas everybody! The next posts will be of Christmas Day!

Candy Day at Deb's

I know you've all been dying to hear about candy day. Ha. OK, most of you don't even know we do it, but let me educate you. Grandma Bettye (the lovely lady on the left) started the tradition in 1966 - she did it by herself while her mother washed all the dishes. After several years the daughter and daughter-in-law got coerced (Mom and Aunt Debbie), then they had daughters (Amy, Carrie, and Jaylene) who were also coerced. Also the sons got married and now the sisters-in-law are involved by no choice of their own - the Queens apparently needed more Workers to slave over the tedious task of dipping. I digress. Now I have a daughter (Sheridan) who started helping last year. Fourth generation candy-makers! Move over Russell Stover!

Anyway, Aunt Debbie and Mom decided that a hierarchy was in order - she divided us into "Queen Bees" and "Worker Bees". Here's how it works: the Queen Bees (Grandma, Mom, and Deb) stand around and direct kitchen traffic, test consistency, and manage quality control. The Worker Bees do everything else. HA! That's how the Queens would like it but there are more Workers, and if we go on strike, they have to do the dipping....the lowliest job in the kitchen. By the way, gold trim on the apron labels you a Queen, red is Worker. I tried to switch this year, being the eldest grandchild, but got caught and was handed back the red. :)

This is WAY too long but fun to type at any rate. Here are pictures....

Cammy helping me crush pretzels for pretzel bark, one of my favorites this year.

Sheridan felt bad for Debbie's horses and gave them apples and horse cookies. I love her outfit!

Worker Bees dipping. The smiles are fake.

Mom and Deb gave in at the very end of the day and helped dip pretzels.

The children, boyfriends, and husbands just meander around all day, playing with toys, playing cards, and hoping to sneak several peanut butter balls when no one's watching.

Many Thanks

We had two Thanksgivings this year - one with my family the Sunday before, and the other with Judy and Phil on Thanksgiving Day. Let me tell you, I could not be luckier to have the families I do. I just happened to be born into a really awesome family, and then I married into another great family. I try to keep this in mind as I hear all the awful things that happen all around me. And I am truly thankful.

Here sit Taylor and my Mother, the Wild Huntress (inside joke). Mom fixed a brunch to die for. She brought and prepared all the food. All I had to do was host! It was SO good, Mom, thank you again for all you did!

Aunt Carrie singing Thomas the Train songs. Because I simply refuse to do it anymore. :)

.........Thanksgiving Day...........

Ethan and Sheridan were both a BIG help setting the table! Ethan said, "we have to do it proper 'cause Juju's here." Actually I was the one who told him it had to be proper!

It was a gorgeous afternoon, so after our Thanksgiving meal we went to the park for awhile.