Snow Day

Wow!  I can not remember seeing snow like we had today.  I think it was 5 inches, but I'm not sure-I just know it was a lot and it was beautiful.  Besides the actual snow, I think the most amazing part was the accuracy of the forecast.  The predictions were for the snow to start about 1:00 am, and I was up around 1:15 and saw the beginning of the snow.  I think we had nice snow a little longer than the original forecast said, but it turned into freezing rain in the morning, just as predicted.

We got outside pretty early, by about 8:30 probably, hoping to stay ahead of the sleet and to play in the powder.  I am 100% sure that Gil and I enjoyed it more than the boys, but they liked it at least a little.  We were trying to find something to use as a sled and couldn't really think of anything good.  We were talking to our neighbors and all came up with the idea of pulling a big piece of plastic behind a ride on lawnmower.  It worked perfectly!





The boys made it about 45 minutes the first time before getting too cold.  I think Ben's feet did him in.  Rainboots do not equal snowboots.  Gil got them settled inside with some Playhouse Disney and the two of us stayed outside for probably an hour more.  We all made it back out after some lunch and naps, and Ben and Gil made a snowman.  There had been a good amount of freezing rain by that point and there was a thin layer of ice over all of the snow, making it a little less powdery, but still very cool.  Also, if rain boots are your only option, duct tape some plastic grocery bags over the socks and under the boots-worked like a charm.

And the best part, Gil was off today and knows he has a delayed start tomorrow!

January 10, 2011

17

17-This is the number of times that I have tripped over my sweet, adorable, clingy 2 year old in the last 24 hours.  It's probably a much bigger number, but 17 will just have to do.  I have just been calling him BabyKoala for the past few days.  Nate climbs me like a tree and holds on for dear life.

We have the sickies, sneezies, and coughies over here-along with ear infections for both of the monsters.  So, we are as much fun as a bag o' glass.

The kids are actually getting tired of watching tv-never thought that would happen.

So we are off to have a snowball fight in Ben's room with all of the wrapping paper torn from our presents on Christmas morning.

Hope you are less snotty wherever you are!

2010 in Review

I know I won't possibly be able to truly paint a picture of the past year, but I thought I'd pick a few pictures from each month to sum it up.    We had a great year filled with travel (Canada to the Olympics, Minnesota to the Lake, and up and down the road to Charleston and Virginia)  going to the zoo, playing at the lake, hanging in our cul-de-sac-and wishing Daddy didn't have to go to work so he could hang out with us everyday-but someone has to finance our glamorous lifestyle!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

So, if you made it this far-you must be related to me-or a glutton for punishment.  I learned that even though I probably average 150 pictures per month (which means I took 11,150)-I just don't have a camera around enough.  And in the winter, forget it-I hardly take any pictures.  I need to step it up (and probably share less!)

Bring it on 2011!  We are ready for you!

Handmade gifts

I only made a few gifts this Christmas, but I thought I'd share, now that they are safely in the hand of the recipients.  I wanted to make the boys superhero capes, but time just ran out, (or I got lazy).  I'll save those for another day-maybe Valentine's Day?  Is that even a gift holiday???

For the boys' teachers, I made little half aprons.  The bottom is a hand towel so they have something absorbent to wipe hands on.

My sister and I got our mom a Kindle for Christmas, something we think she has wanted for a while-hope so Mom!  When it came in the mail, I was surprised at how thin it was.  It needed a little case to keep it in, so I followed a great tutorial and I think it came out pretty well (if you don't look too closely).

I need to make myself a list of things I would like to make next year, and do them throughout the year, but I don't see that happening.  Crazy December here I come!

Oh my yum

So, there is this thing I make, and everyone LOVES it.  It's not good for your body, but it's good for your soul.  I considered making it right now, so I could have some nice pictures, but I just can't do it.  But you should.  It will be making an appearance on Christmas morning, and again on New Year's morning, and maybe a few times in between.  Maybe-hopefully not. 

Oh my yum,

Cream Cheese Delight

(please someone think of a less stupid name for this)

Ingredients:

2 packages of soft cream cheese

2 packages of crescent rolls

1 cup of sugar

(topping)

¼ cup of sugar

1 tsp. of cinnamon

¾ stick of margarine

Take one pack of the crescent rolls, and put the entire piece in the bottom of a 9 x 10 pan.  You may need to pinch it together some.  Then, mix cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar.  Spread that mixture over the crescent rolls.  Next, put the other pack of crescent rolls in one piece on top of the cream cheese mixture, pinching again if necessary.  Melt ¾ stick of margarine, and pour over the top of the rolls.  Mix ¼ cup of sugar with the tsp. of cinnamon.  Sprinkle this mixture on top of the butter, and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

What are you waiting for, get to the store!

Brrrrr

My oh my is it cold here today.  Blah, Blah, Blah-I'm sure you are as tired of hearing that as I am.  But it is-and we aren't going outside.  It is almost 1:00 and we are all actually still in PJ's.  I spent most of the morning really cleaning the kitchen-because I have a huge to do list and that wasn't even on it, but it needs it.  Ironically, the cleaner the kitchen got, the messier the rest of the downstairs has become.  There are Batman guys and Trio blocks everywhere.  And let's ignore all of the play food scattered around the playroom.  That's my plan-ignore.

The boys got really quiet earlier and I heard Ben sneaking up the stairs.  I'm not sure why they were being so sneaky, but they ended up with costumes on over their pj's.  A Batman costume over feety pj's is pretty cute, I have to say. 

The green blanket was "gobbeldy gook" that Nate had to jump over. 

Nate and Santa hung out. I don't think Nate loves Santa for the presents as much as for the endless supply of candy he is providing.

Then they hung out by the tree for a little while.  That little advent house, which I love-has become the scene for many superhero adventures.  Invisible bad guys hide behind the doors and Batman has to save the day. 

Our elf, Woody, has been found in some very interesting places lately.  This morning he was hanging on the ceiling fan.  Luckily, nobody has turned it on or Woody might lose his elf magic.

And last, but not least, let's talk potties.  Is it wrong to scare your kid into going on the potty?  Nate is really too young, he hasn't hit 2 1/2 yet, but we are tired of diapers around here-buying them, and the stuff in them.  I wasn't in any rush with Ben, and frankly, it is easier to have little guys in diapers, but we are starting to think about it. 

Nate is very fascinated with and terrified of this guy...

He asks us to go see him at Target all the time, but then he won't get near him, especially now that we have done the little demo where the big guy smacks against the plexiglass trying to get out.  We can be sitting anywhere and you look over your shoulder and say, "Hi Bigfoot" and Nate scrambles into your lap as fast as he can.  When I was changing his diaper earlier, I told him that Bigfoot doesn't like diapers and maybe he should go on the potty.  How mean is that?  Better make a deposit into the future therapy account.

An idea

Nate has a new favorite expression (and it has nothing to do with Batman!)  He loves to say, "dis is a idea" or "this is an idea".  You can hear him saying it all the time.  Today he and Ben were playing and Nate got really excited over something and just kept yelling "Hey Ben-dis is a idea!!"   Or he will come up to Gil or I and say it.  It is sometimes in context, often he will really have an idea, sometimes it is just weird-but it is always cute.

He has also started saying he loves us all the time.  He has told us he "ubbs" us for a while-but lately, he tells all of us all the time.  I pick him up at the gym and he yells it across the room, or just around the house.  It is especially sweet when he tells Ben he ubbs him. 

And that Ben, he ubbs Nate right back.  I find those two attached at the hip all the time, playing or just sitting around talking to each other.  It warms a mama's heart.

Something else warming my heart today-  I am DONE with this semester of school.  It has been a little challenging and a lot annoying-but it is now OVER.  I'm sure I will quickly be complaining about my spring classes, but I am glad to close the books on this one!