Mountain Goat

**orignally posted on 12/8/13 but it didn't post**

Here is little Kinley and her latest feat... Climbing onto the end table.

I mean, we didn't stop her because we wanted to see if she would figure it out and she did! Getting down?! That was a different story.

Since this, we have not let her climb onto the table.

PaL

This post was originally started weeks ago but just now being finished.

I’m not naïve. I knew this day would come but hoped it never would. I’ve always known he was a funny, sweet guy but it was further confirmed when people that have known him for 2 days are ready to snag him up and take him home.

He’s my PaL. #1 blog reader and best grandpa a girl could ask for. He always had such funny, silly, crazy things to say. When I tell friends of his shenanigans, they say, “”Oh Pa!”

He loves my Nandy to no end. At 85, he would still move mountains for her. It really is precious. He calls his girlfriend and wants nothing for himself but all for her.

Lately, he loves talking about Kinley, the new house and baby boy. He loves to comment on how sweet Kinley is, how big she getting or how smart he thinks she is. Mainly, he just loves doting on her. It is sweet to see how his eyes light up at new pictures of her or seeing her on Skype. He is definitely “proud as a peacock” as he would say. Even though he never met Brother Bear, he loved asking about him. After asking how we were, and after hearing me say we felt good, he would always ask, “Are you lying to me?”

If he had the chance, he would chat to you about where you were from and where you were going. Don’t tell him something about yourself if you don’t want it repeated to at least 2 family members. I can’t tell you the entire scoop he gave me on his nurses in the last 6 weeks because every time I talked to him he knew something new about them. His silly sense of humor and quick wit had the nursing home staff like putty in his hands.

Today, Christmas day has a new feel to it. While it is a day to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus, I now can’t help but to be sad about losing my PaL. He definitely wouldn’t want us to be sad but it is a natural thing in life. Though I lost him here with me, I know he is still with me. He is so busy catching up with his kids and happy to be with them. He is happy to have a healthy heart, good working kidneys and no breathing treatments. Heck, he is probably running laps just because he can without getting tired or short of breath.

Though it has been trying, I feel so blessed to have been able to spend the last 6 weeks with him. Since moving him and Nandy closer, I have gotten to see them and take Kinley to see them almost every day. If Kinley were older, she would have a fat head because of all the sweet things he said to her. I hope I can convey to her how much he loved her. 

one of my favorite pictures
funny guy, even at 8 pounds, he was so timid to hold her but once he got her hands on her,
the humming and songs never stopped!

Before our house was actually complete, we had brought my grandparents to visit. Pa really wanted to check out the upstairs but decided he may not be able to make the stairs. Later, he said, "Next time, I am dragging my fat ass up those stairs to see the view off the balcony. I don't care if I have to roll back down." Needless to say because of weather, he was never able to visit again but now he has the ultimate view off of our balcony. 

My dear PaL,

You are loved by so many.... Family that is privileged to call you Pa,  friends that you met along the your 85 year journey of life, friends of family that heard great stories about you, and even the various people that cared for you and Nandy the last 6 weeks. You loved your girlfriend with all your heart and more. She knows you did everything for her. The love you showed Nandy was absolutely unconditional. I pray that everyone sees that kind of love in their relationship. You had a way with words.... sometimes so witty and funny, others so blunt and honest but always humorous.  Though your life wasn't the simplest walk, you enjoyed it. Your love to learn new things was endearing. After school, you would always ask, "Did you learn something new today?" If the answer was no, you'd ask, "Well, what the hell did you go for then?!?" I hope to learn, and teach, something new everyday to make it worth while, just like you. 

Take joy in being with your kids again! You will be greatly missed! Enjoy the view!

Love,

Your Pal

Snowflake Part 2

Once we knew we were pregnant (and sharing the news with others), we wanted to give this little baby a nickname.

Do we call it Snowflake? I mean, this was used for Kinley so it may not seem as special to the second baby.

A Snowbunny? This would be cute because newborn pictures could have a little bunny hat since Kinley had a hat with snowflakes on it but it sounds kind of girly, what if it's a boy?

A Snowball? This could also be cute but only fitting if it is a boy because, well you know, girls don't have balls.

Wednesday, October 9^th, we found out if this baby would be a boy or a girl. As our ultra dry sonogram lady is looking around and snapping her pictures she tells us that Baby’s legs are closed up, which isn’t too surprising because Kinley played hard to get too. She continues to take her measurements that the doctor needs when she stops, makes and circle and says, “Those would be testicles and that’s a penis. You’re having a boy.”

Woohoo! We're breaking the mold with our group of friends that tend to have two of the same baby. My only concern is that Hubby is used to saying things about his "girls" so that phrase I will have to change. He also commented about all the 'cool' things the new house has that will be a temptation to a little boy, such as stairs, a laundry chute, a deck. He asked if it was too late to cancel those. However, Miss Kinley can be quite the spit fire and may enjoy those things as much... If not more than.. A little boy.

I will say, as I took a peek at bedding options, I became discouraged. I don't want monkeys, jungle or sports and those are the main selection choices. :( Maybe I should quit my day job and design some more exciting baby boy nursery decor. There isn't anything really wrong with those designs but they aren't very colorful and I feel like I see that anytime there is a boy.

Next to come... growing baby pictures!

Party time!

Now that I am able to post pictures (cross your fingers that it keeps working) I can post some from Kinley's first birthday. It was a lovely day with family and friends celebrating our little Snowflake. We truly are blessed to have so many people that love our little girl.

Of course she had the driveway chalked for her birthday!

Mmmm! Cake!
She wasn't totally sure about it but by the time it was cake time, she was hungry, overly tired and nervous about all the people that were there to celebrate her.

Aunt Priscilla, Uncle Ryan, and Grandma and Grandpa Snow with the birthday girl

Aunt Suzan and Grandpa O with the birthday girl

Pa and Nandy even made the trip to celebrate!

This was just a little snippet of the busy day that was had by all. Presents were opened. Hotdogs, chips, and cupcakes were eaten by all. Other than the hundred degree weather, we couldn't have asked for a better day to celebrate.

It's hard to believe that our little girl is already one!

Our Lips Are Sealed

Sunday, July 21st, we found out there was going to be a little more snow in March 2014! However, 3 days later we knew we were keeping this a secret a little longer than usual. That day is when my Brother-in-law called to tell us they were expecting! We decided we were not going to rain on their parade or steal any of the excitement away from them. We would just wait until after they announced their good news to share ours. Zzziiiiiipp! Our lips are sealed!

Life went on with us though... Sickness had set in and I just didn't feel right so I got the magic little pregnancy stick out. It seemed like as fast as I peed on it, it changed to two pink 'pregnant' lines. Fortunately, my morning sickness contains mostly a nauseous feeling and not actually much throwing up. i had cases of the sleepies too. We had our first doctor's appointment on August 9 and that is when we were given a March 6th due date. Our next appointment was September 5th. As usual, it took longer to get to the appointment than we were actually with the doctor. 

Saturday, September 14th, we were traveling to Enid for a friend's baby shower and my birthday lunch with the family. Little did they know we had a surprise for them!

Kinley doesn't look thrilled but secretly I think she is

With the hoopla of taking a cake picture it was a little chaotic and crazy for the family to also read Kinley's shirt (that happened to be the same shirt Tobie wore for her big news reveal). After Pa realized what was going on, he said, "Preston, what the hell have you been doing to my granddaughter?" That witty old man!

I told my principal the following Tuesday. He didn't believe until I said, "Yes, I'm having a baby. In March." He informed me he was no longer going to hire young teachers because all we do is have babies. I told him it was less stress to work for 3/4 of the school year so that's why we all keep having babies. His main concern was whether or not I would be returning to work in the fall.

My teacher friends found out at girls night on Thursday (9/19) and facebook and the world got the news that night.

"They say no two Snowflakes are alike. We'll find out in March when our second little Snowflake comes along."

See?! She is happy!

It is heart warming to have so many people (in the real world and via facebook) be excited for your expanding family. More to come on this little bundle of joy!

Building a New Chapter

Starting on May 24, 2013, we officially decided to build a new chapter to our life. Snow'd Inn will be relocating! According to the contract, we should be in by the end of November. 

Even though our new place will be not be far from our current home, it is a little bittersweet to be moving out of our first home. I am one of those sentimental people that would stay here forever if I could. I mean, I grew up in the same house my entire life. 

For me, it seemed like a fast thing. One day, we are looking around at lots; the next thing I know, Hubby has already talked to one of the builders in the neighborhood. What that sneaky little guy does on his lunch break while he is so close to home will always be a little bit of a mystery to me... until it surfaces. With another blink of my eyes, we have signed on the dotted line to start building. While I did not do a whole lot of research into what type of floor plan, how big to make the pieces of wood for the frame, etc, Hubby did! Thanks to pinterest, I see all of these fun ideas (hidey holes under the stairs, drawers as stairs, lofts in tall rooms, slides to get downstairs, the list could go on!) so it is probably best that he did all the leg work in that area or we may still be looking at floor plans.

When he asked me what kind of house I wanted to build I said, "It doesn't matter. I would live anywhere with you." That is the truth too. I'll go anywhere with my little family.

So... with the lack of pictures lately, we get to jump right on ahead to an almost complete house!

standing at our future front door (6/29/2013)

(8/12/2013)

(10/4/2013)

Lots to document

So much to catch up on... So little space (like none) to post pictures. I think I may break down and buy space so I can properly document our life. Seems silly but also like something that I like to be able to look back on and see.

I have been told by my Pa, "that the blog isn't worth shit anymore."

I am on my way to fixing that! Like I started a new post and it let me add a picture! We'll see if I can post it with the picture too!!! I just might do a happy little dance!

I'm going to test it now... hopefully this sweet little face can tide us all over....

Cross your fingers and toes, people!