Music to my ears!

It really is wonderful to have children who enjoy the same passions as I do! Kamberlynne has been singing and playing the piano for years, but just over the last year or so has really taken off! At only 12 years old, she is playing and singing stuff I couldn't till I was 16! OK, so this blog is totally bragging about my cute girl, and I know I am biased, but isn't she pretty good?!?!?

Here she is, making her World Wide Web debut, singing and playing "The Call" from the movie "Prince Caspian"....



Coming to a concert hall near you in the future, but for now, enjoy the preview!

She Speaks!!!

Oh, those first words are so darling!


Isn't that the sweetest little voice?!?!?

I love to hear children laugh!

Fighting the winter blues, eh?

It's just so exciting!

"Can you see anything different about me, today?" Briella asks. "Something extra adorable?"


"C'mon, look closer..."



"Ok, just a little closer...."

"Yep! There it is! My very first braid!"

"Isn't it just so exciting?!?!?"

"Golly, I'm so cute!"

We clean up pretty good, don't ya think?

Every now and then, Brian has a work dinner where we put on our Sunday best and get fancy free food. But Saturday was an extra fancy "Black Tie" Award Ceremony for Excellence in the Construction Industry, and I got to oggle over my husband in a Tux, which I haven't done since we were married over 13 years ago! He looks pretty amazing, if I do say so myself!

We were thrilled to find out that one of Brian's jobs he superintended from beginning to end when he still worked in the field won top honors for Construction Excellency. He has won three other "Merit" awards in past years, but has never gotten top honors for "Excellency" until now! And to add to the fun, The project manager on the team working with Brian was his Dad, so they got to share the honors together! Isn't that neat?

Since Brian was moved out of the field and into the office, he now is a project manager, like his Dad, so winning this award on the last project they worked on together was really special! And you know what else, this big banquet just announced the winners...the award ceremony is in April! Ooooh, maybe Brian will dress up in his Tux, again!?!? Ahhhhh, he's so handsome! And super talented, too! It makes an adoring wife's heart happy to see her husband's hard work, God-given gifts, and diligence recognized and appreciated by others. But always remember, my love, no one loves or appreciates you as much as I do! Congratulations, baby!

Go #22!! No, this isn't about the Super Bowl...

It's about our amazing superstar Dad!
With all the demands on the father of six, serving in the church, and providing for our family, Brian doesn't get to do many of the things he loves, so when basketball season rolls around, he digs out his shoes, pops a few ibuprophin, and it is GAME ON!

Going for the rebound!


Taking the ball down!

Making the shot!

Now alot of Dad's games are after the kids are in bed, but this past week, Brian had an early game, which means he had his own Cheering Section! Take a look at these adoring (and adorable) fans!

We were all pretty excited to see that in all honesty, our dad was the absolute BEST!! He made so many amazing plays, we were cheering and yelling so much, Briella finally had enough, and spent the last part of the game like this....!


Way to go, Dad! Thanks for the front row tickets to an amazing game! You are undeniably our MVP, both on and off the court!

Happy Happy Birthday Christian, Dear!

That was then.....

This is now!!!

It just doesn't seem possible that ELEVEN YEARS AGO today this darling boy joined our family... we immediately fell in love with him, and we could have never guessed the amount of smiles and joys he has brought to our faces and hearts! His pleasant nature and enthusiasm for the smallest pleasures continually reminds us that "through small and simple things, great things are brought to pass"! We know Father has great things in store for you, Christian, and we are blessed to be a part of them!

We hope your wishes always come true! Oh, and never forget....


no matter how big you are, you'll never be too big to snuggle with your momma! You'll always be my sweet little guy! Happy Birthday, Bucky! We love you forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and....

I know its not a big deal, but....

It's fine. It really is just fine. And it will grow. But this is why I only go to get my hair cut once every two years. And now it's going to be once every three years. Those people with the scissors don't know how to stop. They are very nice, and I am sure they don't do it on purpose, but they just don't know how to stop. And I told the lady this time, too. But it didn't work.


So I always donate 6 or so inches to Locks of Love, a wonderful charity that makes wigs for cancer patients. And todays lady said...."Oh, you have plenty of hair, it will still be long after you donate....". Perhaps I should have clarified. I want it long after YOU cut it.

SO DOES THIS LOOK LONG TO YOU!?!?!????

ME, NEITHER! AAAARRRRRRGGGHHHH!

I've ALWAYS had long hair...that is since the last time I cut it short on purpose when I was in the 10th grade. Not posting that picture. And you know how when you have your first baby so many momma's go for short hair. Not me. Why? No big reason...I just like long hair. Long, beautiful, curly, Anne of Green Gables hair. It goes with my "Little House on the Prairie" persona. And now I can't even braid it. You know, in years past, I have cried over hair cuts that were a good 4 inches longer than this one. I guess this is just the "new mommy look" I never had. You'll just have to ignore the gray.

Thanks for the therapy.

How to make it snow!!!

OK, we here in the Washburn Home are urging you all to follow these simple instructions to bring us a big humongous enormous gigantic snowstorm! All last winter it only snowed a few times with VERY LITTLE accumulation, maybe only 6-7 inches total if you combined all the teeny storms! So now, we're pulling out all the stops and hoping you will all join us!

Here we go!
According to some friends, this is the way to bring in the white stuff!

Step #1:

Wear your pajamas backwards! (And your princess crowns if you are wearing one!)



Allrighty....









Step # 2:


Throw an ice cube over your shoulder onto the front lawn.







Got it.......














Step # 3:

Take a spoon and.....
















...place it under your pillow.











Done.











Step # 4:

Pray. Fervently. Very fervently.









Accomplished...


Step # 5:
Dream of snowmen, snow angels, snow ball fights, sledding, hot chocolate, snow caves, etc.....



Currently in progress...

Step # 6:

Repeat process nightly until desired results are achieved!

So, who's with us?!?!?!?!?

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!

I'm off to check the forecast and turn around my pj's.....

Befuddled Tradition Part II

Now that it's January 10th, maybe I should finish up Christmas! I'll make it brief!

Remember those horrible uckies that prevented us from taking our "Sunday before Christmas family pictures"? Well, those uckies stuck around for days and days throughout Christmas week, but fortunately by the next Sunday, all was finally calm and bright! Here are the results!

Momma and the girls!

Daddy and the boys!


Our Christmas Lambies!


My Prince!

Well, that should do it, folks. The holidays are officially over, now, and all that's left is those extra pounds to work off by next Christmas!

We hope you are all enjoying a wonderful New Year promising many joys and blessings!