Giddy

Yesterday, I talked to my Dad and we finalized a plan to go to thier house for Christmas. I can't wait, Jen (my step-mom) has not seen Adrien since he was I think 4 or 5 months old. Isabella since she was 2 weeks... and I am not so sure I count that time because it was so hard for everyone. She loves babies and kids and I can't wait for them to start a relationship together. Also, my little sister, Heather. Whom I have not seen since Grandma's service as well. I can't wait to see her and to talk to her about upcoming Senior Project, which she has asked for my assistance with. I am excited to find out what creative ideas she has.

There is one hitch and I am sure you can guess what it is... the WEATHER. The SNOW, or chance of it. The RAIN. The ICE. All very bad words in my book right now. So we are keeping a close watch and hoping with all of our might that the storm rolling through tonight is much milder than they expect.

Here's hoping that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all around and to safe traveling for all!

below zero

Today we woke up and found that the house, despite keeping a radiator and a fire going all night was freezing. Not just "man, it's cold" but the kind of cold that makes you want to crawl into the fireplace and set up camp. Scott had to take a class in town today and when he started the car it said -6!! Yes, that's right, 6 below zero. That is insane. We are still cold... but gradually warming up. Hopefully it isn't that cold for everyone and hopefully it stops soon, we are going through so much firewood as I am sure so many others are too.

Loving right now

Things I'm loving right now

1. That my head aches are gone! Whoopee!!


2. These icicles on my roof... they are so beautiful but my camera does no justice.

3. My Husband!!

4. This little guy's love/hate relationship with the snow. He loves to play in it and eat it, but the second any of it touches his face he freaks out.


5. Sibling love... and maybe not so much love. Do you see the look on her face?!



6. How much these kids love their Daddy. They hold still to take a picture with him, but when we switch it's a whole other story.



7. Just how cute my daughter is.


8. Did I mention I love how cute my daughter is?



9. The tub toys that Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Jeff and Clover sent the kids for Christmas. We opened them early because I knew just how awesome they were going to be. The kids love them!


10. The fact that we are headed out to see my parents soon! I can't wait, I keep wishing away the storms so that when they're ready we can just hop in the car and go. Thankfully though, we have chains now and don't have to worry too much about the weather anymore.

better and deeper

I am feeling so much better today. It is amazing. I awoke this morning with some slight back pain and took a few ibuprofen and then have been out in the snow most of the morning stacking wood and building a "snow dude". The snow started again last night, probably around 1 or 2 am and has not let up since. Right now I think we are about at 2 to 2 1/2 feet. We have just started getting little breaks for a few minutes at a time so maybe it will stop sometime today. Either way, I love it. It is so peaceful and beautiful outside, I just wish it were a bit warmer.

Head case

New to the world of migraines? Me too. I have been getting them the past two months more and more frequently and worse in severity. Over the counter meds have stopped working and yesterday and last night were my worst since they started almost two years ago when I was pregnant with Isabella.

I went to the doctor today and have found that stress is probably the reason, along with not enough water and sleep. Stress, not enough sleep and water... now, how could that happen? I left with a prescription to try and ease the pain. After sitting at the pharmacists for an hour waiting, I came home and took my pill. Twenty minutes later I felt worse than I did before. Scott reigned the kids in as quietly as possible for an hour while I hid in our room attempting sleep and still. I emerged with a woozy stomach and aching back, but the pain in my head... finally! GONE. A bath and a small back rub later I felt almost better. I have had to take the evil pain relieving pill one more time tonight and am hoping that I do not have to take it again for quite some time. Scott has promised another back and neck rub for me in a few minutes and then I think I am headed to bed.

Many people in my family suffer from migraines and up until now I am have been so lucky to not be in that group. I have a whole new and deep appreciation for the strength it takes to look someone in the eye when you feel that badly.. or drive home, work, make dinner and raise 5 kids. How amazing and crazy you all must have been to even get out of bed in the morning.



p.s. Isabella's new thing is to sit on the couch and rub her head on some cushions for a minute or two until she gets this hair do going... I found it utterly appropriate for this posting.

Let it snow

Did I mention that it snowed last night?


It did...



About 6 inches worth altogether....




Momma's snow angel...

Adrien's attempt...



Snowed in Tricycle...

And this morning we went out again.



He was supposed to be helping Scott get wood but I knew that he wouldn't.


Five minutes later, he was gone... in the grass. He had to be carried back in kicking and screaming to put warm clothes on.


Then he discovered the joy of eating snow.




And these little bird feet were found on our deck this morning.

At last

At last Adrien is putting himself to sleep, it only took two years and two months but we made it through. He does still come into our bed sometimes but I am willing to deal with that. He is such a grown up little boy. We are starting the potty training process, inspired by Melody over at They Call Me Mama and her experience with Elliot. We did a few test runs with him to see if he was really ready for it and on Monday we are planning a whole day of it for him. I am hoping that he will be completely trained during the day by the time we get to Oma and Ompa's house for the holiday. I don't know what day we are leaving, but I know that it will be after Saturday next week and I think that if he can do it, he will. We have of course decided to take it pretty easy on him, he is just now 2. If he starts to show signs of unready and/or unwillingness I believe we will keep him in diapers a bit longer. So far though, he is stoked! He loves the "big boy" underwear and has already tried going pee standing up. He has always caught on to the physical side of life faster than the verbal so I have high hopes that this will go just as easily.

In the meantime, we are going to finish up some sugar and gingerbread cookies tonight. Tomorrow I will bring some to the nieghbors and then I am going to make some shortbread cookies. It is snowing and so I know we will be bundled up here for a few days so the worst of the storm will be spent knitting a few gifts, watching movies, making popcorn and hot cocoa. I have enchiladas in the oven and tomorrow it is chili and cornbread ( can you tell Scott is home? Much more "Man Food" on my menu lately, that's for sure. ) I think after that I am going to make some chicken soup and put some in the freezer.

We were gifted about half a cord of cedar today and just in time, too. We bought wood a few weeks ago and got jipped by about a third of a cord, which is incredibly frustrating. I didn't know, as I haven't actually seen a cord of wood before and was home alone with the kids when the wood was delivered, but that's life and we have chalcked it up to a learning lesson... expensive as it was.

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like winter here... makes me long for the summer.

holding hands

Scott and I have been a bit busy since he came back home. Well, not too busy. Just enjoying the company of each other, really. It is so nice to have someone to share the kids little moments with. For instance, today Adrien was holding Isabella's hand and walking her around the house. They were pointing to things and talking and laughing and yelling. Then when she wanted to walk by herself she got free and RAN for it. It was so sweet and then so hilarious. She was sprinting with her little belly out and making the funniest face... then she tripped and fell. But instead of watching this interesting event by myself it was shared with Scott and that made it all so much better.

Oh brother

Given the recent amount of girlish screams and brotherly growls amidst all the hitting, kicking, squashing, yelling, biting and sometimes head banging "play" that goes on around here I have had to adjust some of my rules.


For instance, Isabella now knows what a time out is. She loves to bite Adrien in self defense or maybe just because... She sits better than Adrien does, which is weird if you ask me.


Adrien in turn, has had to start giving his sister hugs and kisses after timeouts and say he's sorry. He is starting to like the time outs, I think it actually gives him some time to himself. In light of this, I have started to make them a little longer. Instead of a two minute time out, he now has a three minute time out. I have noticed that he starts to understand at about 2 1/2 minutes that it is a punishment not a trip to solo land.


On a brighter note though, he does seem to be listening to me much better. He tests, as every kid does and usually I have to say something three times to get it through. I feel like we are making progress with him though.

We'll see how it works out.