Monday, February 27, 2012

I Hate Winter....

I hate winter. 

Did anyone ever think they would hear me say that? 
Well, I do.  I hate THIS winter.  By February 4th we had gotten exactly 1.1 inch of snow.  Since then we have seen maybe...MAYBE, an additional inch but I might be stretching a bit. I am totally disgusted with winter, or rather the lack of winter! 

In early December I put up the beautiful paper snowflakes that Annah had made and I even used a spray snow on the corners of the windows to "pretend" there was drifting snow just outside my windows. You know, just until the real stuff showed up. Maybe that is what jinxed it.  At first I was encouraged by my snow flakes and fake snow -- that "fake it till you make it" adage -- but, what once encouraged me now mocked me! 


Last week there was talk of a "significant accumulation" storm rolling in and it was almost certain we would see some snow on the ground. Yup, I took down the snowflakes and cleaned off the fake snow all in anticipation of the real thing.  Again, winter mocked me.  Not one flake flew that day. 

I am so done with winter. I say let it be spring with lots of sunshine and warming temperatures.  Oh wait,I think we already have that since it hit 70 last week! :(

There is always next year and I am already hoping for white. Come on, winter!  Show me what you are made of! I will be rooting for you!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

18

Happy Birthday, Jacob!
Somehow 18 years have come and gone since Jacob made his way into our family and our hearts.  His arrival in the wee hours of that Monday morning changed our lives forever...in a good way, of course. :)

February 21st Jacob celebrated his 18th birthday. Three days later he took his driver's test and is now the newest licensed driver in the Valenta household! :) (He really has not been interested in driving much and as he thought about it he decided to wait until after he turned 18 so then he wouldn't be bound by the intermediate licence laws we have in Kentucky. That's Jacob, always thinking!)
 
Jacob at age 1

Jacob saluting and holding the Wee Sing America song book
(his favorite back then!)
 About age 6 

In 5th and 6th grade Jacob had an obsession with duck tape (okay his obsession went beyond just 5th and 6th grade!) and he made duck tape clothes. 
In 6th grade he wanted to challenge the dress code and wear his duct tape pants just to see what they would say since no where in the dress code did it nix clothes made out of duct tape.  No, we didn't let him do it but a teacher did ask him to bring them to an open house at the school because he wanted to see them!:) 


Hmmm, what is there to say about this one? :)

Jacob found watching a movie on a laptop while crocheting....
he is a boy of many talents!

A favorite picture of Jacob.....

Tim and Lisa's wedding August 2008

Those eyes.....love them!

Jacob's senior picture.  You can't tell in this picture that his eyes are still blue but trust me, they are!

Happy Birthday, Jacob!
We love you, man! :)