Winter Wonderland--- Rachel Style!

I am a quirky, slightly-nerdy, slightly-posh, black and white, and very intense person.  I love my coffee (or tea) and books.  I love my warm indoors.  But I also love that never-ending TV series that pours into the core of you.  And I also love getting outside and having so much fun that you just can't stay tidy. 

And my last weekend has been so many of my favorite things all heaped together. 

On Friday night, Andrew and I joined Jess, Nat, and my Dad to watch "The Desolation of Smaug" for the first time!

While I can be a huge snob when it comes to movies-matching-books (and this movie certainly did stray from the book), I found part two of The Hobbit to be rather amazing.  Maybe I was still on such a high from Catching Fire being such an incredible book-to-film adaption that I just didn't mind.  :-)

Seriously, if you haven't seen The Desolation of Smaug, you should (after you watch "An Unexpected Journey", of course).

Also enjoyed an incredibly gorgeous snowfall this weekend!  I'm not sure how many inches we got in total, but it has been SO beautiful here the last four days!!!

Snow was falling quite heavily when we left the theater.  My sisters were huddled in the car, screaming for me to get inside, while I was outside taking pictures.  I must admit, I got a serious case of the "shakes" all the way home.  Brrrrrr....

After spending the night at my parents' house, we did some shopping and then had a huge family sledding excursion!

I wore coveralls for the first time in years... and now am being super-brave by posting pictures on my blog!  ;-)  There is probably nothing less flattering to the female body than coveralls... but they were SO worth it.  I was hardly cold at all!

Thanks to my Mom for taking these pics of us!  And sorry about Andrew shaking the tree branch right afterwards and dousing you and Natalie in snow... and for laughing hysterically at how funny you both looked.  :-)

There is only one hill in the town where my parents live... it is surrounded by beautiful woods and we had the whole place to ourselves!!!

The Josh-man!  He was definitely ready to take on the hill!

Okay, so it is no mountain, but we certainly had a ton of fun!

I'm famous for taking "feet" pictures... but I don't know where my feet disappeared to in this shot!

My strong man carried me up the hill once... after throwing me down onto a sled and pushing me down the hill backwards... :-P

I think there was some kind of unspoken competition to see who Andrew could get the most snow-covered.  Natalie was one of his victims.

Oh, the family strikes back.  Hehehe...

After Sunday morning at church, we came home to celebrate Bekah's 4th birthday!

I can scarcely believe that my BABY SISTER is four.  I can still remember the day she was born so clearly. 

The rest of our afternoon was spent eating, napping, preparing for the Christmas Candlelight Service that evening, going to music practice, and then attending/playing music for/doing a couple of specials (Andrew did a solo "Joseph's Lullaby" and then we did a duet of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear") at the candlelight service.

And that is a Rachel-style beginning to the Christmas season!  Now it is time to prepare for our church's Christmas concert this coming Sunday morning.  I will be helping Andrew lead worship (playing piano and singing).  I will also be doing three different specials: one with my mom, sisters, and Andrew (Christmastime, by Michael W Smith), one duet with Andrew (Manger Throne), and one solo (Be Born in Me).  :-O  Please pray for us all to stay healthy, not get stressed, and to just be able to enjoy this time of year even with all of the responsibilities and craziness!

Hope you are all having a lovely week!

God bless!