Blizzard of 2010-Parts 1 and 2

I never thought being snowed in could be so much fun!

This was the view out our computer room window at 6 this morning.

Hayden took this picture of us when we were sitting on the steps looking outside.

We had a delicious and nutritious family breakfast of oatmeal to get us geared up for some house work. After the whining and the work was done, we got down to business with a serious game of sock-er! I thought of the activity last night and thought it would be a good way to get in some exercise for kids who may get stir crazy.

It started out boys versus girls, but the teams kept changing as team members dropped out. Hayden and Connor won.

I think that's Mike's car under there!

The view out our bedroom window. After some more games, lunch and plain old lounging, we ventured outside and had a blast! It's so fun to see my kids so amazed at all this snow (more than they have ever seen), as am I. And you just can't hurt yourself with all this padding. After I came inside I looked out the window just as Mike was climbing on top of the fence and did a front flip into the snow! I wish I had my camera for that one.

The first time the kids have ever sled down the steps.

Our 4 ft. fence. Today was Serena's first time having hot chocolate. She dipped her spoon in once, then again, then dropped the spoon and started gulping! I'm sure she was thinking "Holy cow, why didn't anyone ever tell me about this liquid chocolate before, this stuff is awesome!"

Our Beloved Elmo

For those of you who don't know, Elmo was our guinea pig that we have had for over 4 years. He passed away yesterday from old age. Mike noticed that he was not doing well in his cage around 11, so we all sat around and held him and comforted him and basically said our good-byes.

We are all missing Elmo today. He was a good guinea pig. He never bit anyone and was always patient when the kids wanted to hold him. The kids in turn were very good at taking care of him, always willing to give him a treat of celery, carrots, lettuce, orange, or whatever else we had. And they always helped to clean his cage and feed him. It's sad to see an empty cage.

Serena is too young to understand and Hayden struggled a bit yesterday but is doing better today. Connor keeps talking about it and is trying to grasp the concept that he's not coming back. It's sad because I think Connor loved him the most. I'm just grateful that my kids first experience with death was with a pet and not a grandparent (mine are in their mid-80's).

The day got worse when I got the stomach flu and missed the Super Bowl cause I was in the bathroom. Yesterday was not a good day.

A New Year- 2010

Ahhh, a new year. A chance to start fresh with new goals, new hopes, and new toys! I do love this time of year because I love to make goals. I am very excited about the ones I have made for this year and have already started some. However, as far as our future in a new house is concerned, the road ahead is very foggy. We have signed the papers for our agent to sell our house and are hopeful to sell by April in order to take advantage of the tax credit. But the house we loved just went under contract yesterday, literally less than 24 hours since we signed the papers with our realtor. The house had been on the market for 6 months without any interest. Is it irony or is it Heavenly Father telling us he has something better out there for us. It's scary to have our house on the market and not know where we might go. Mike and I have stayed up late every night working on the kitchen, painting projects, bathroom, etc. and are very tired. All these little projects could have been done long ago, but we finally have the motivation to get them done for someone else. But after a really ruff day, I had to relax after work and watch some T.V. before going to bed early. I'm a little more hopeful today and getting back into work again, although I can't wait till everything is done!

My life these days

It seems that I can barely keep up with the things I need to do for each day, and wait till tomorrow for the next project or class to prepare for or activity to go to. About a week ago I was at the gym in the morning as I usually am and a friend in the same school district mentioned that her daughter was so excited for picture day. All of a sudden I went into panic mode as I realized I had ignored the two reminders I had posted and all of us forgot while getting ready this morning. I called the school and the secretary informed me that I had 10 min. until Hayden's class was going into the gym for pictures. I frantically drove home (luckily Connor and Serena could stay in child watch), grabbed his clothes and hair spray and drove up to the school. (Luckily it is only 2 miles from the Y, to my house, to Hayden's school.) I flew inside (with my sweaty, tight-fitting gym clothes on) and raced down the hall just as Hayden was walking to the gym. I pulled him out of line and took him into the bathroom to change and style his hair quick. We got in the gym just as it was his turn. I apologized to him over and over that day and hoped that it would never happen again. That was a nightmare! As I was working on the computer tonight after the kids were in bed, Serena woke up and wanted someone to hold her. I went in, wrapped her in a blanket and rocked with her for a long time as she fell asleep in my arms. I wanted to treasure the memory forever so I didn't want to let her go. Lately I have really been bothered by how much I have to be away from home in the evenings. I feel like I'm missing them grow up while I'm gone. I desperately want to quit my job at A.C. Moore (even though I enjoy custom framing) so that I will only be gone on Weds. evenings for YW activities. Oh yeah, for anyone not in our church ward, after 4 years, they kicked me out of Primary and called me as the 2nd counselor (over Beehives) in Young Womens. So after already feeling guilty about being gone 2 nights a week (Tues. and Saturday), now I'm gone Weds. and some Saturdays, plus some Thursdays for presidency meetings. It's just too much. We're hoping that I can quit A.C. Moore as soon as the holidays are over. I think I can survive till then. I don't know if Mike will though! He's such a good dad. On a positive note, things are going really well at the YMCA. I am currently teaching a Pilates and a Muscle Pump class, and am trained to be a personal trainer and a Silver Sneakers (over 65) instructor. I love what I am learning and I feel like my life has taken a turn for the better. I am learning a lot about myself and what I can do, and I just feel excited about ways that I can help enrich people's lives. Serena has really started talking lately and one of the cutest things she says is "oh." I'll have to try and catch it on video and post it. When she gets upset about something like maybe not getting the same food as her brother, I explain it to her and then she says "oh." Hayden is whizzing through 2nd grade. He loves social studies, science and math and he loves to read. And one of his favorite things to do is spend time with his family. He doesn't like it when we go through a whole week and only have a few nights together. I love that. That makes me not feel so bad that he's not in 3 different sports, theater, and lots of other things. He loves cub scouts though and he really wants to take more swimming lessons and start karate. Soon. To read a quick update on Connor, read the next entry. Thanks for reading!

Connor's trick

I have a lot of other blog posts to catch up on, but this one could not go untold! (Mike is the author of this one. I am not a good writer.) To Connor: Some stories are too good to be left untold. I remind you at the outset, little friend, that in this instance, you were at least as amused by your performance as was I. I’m very sorry all the same. Love, Dad. After last evening’s bath, Connor, in typical four-year-old fashion, was enjoying the liberty of roaming the upstairs hallway totally in the buff. After helping with his toothbrush, I suggested to Connor that he bring me a “flosser”—a small, single-use plastic handle with a short length of dental floss spanning one end. To my surprise, Connor returned quickly. His hands were behind his back. “Dad,” he said eagerly, “guess which hand my flosser is in!” He seemed to be favoring his left hand. I’m no fool. “This one,” I said, pointing to his right hand. “Nope!” He showed me. I guessed the other hand. “Nope!” I admit that I was stumped. Clearly, there was nothing up his sleeve. With that, Connor reached down between his bare knees, which I only then realized he’d kept pressed together as he’d waddled into the room. This time it was Connor who seemed surprised—there was nothing there, either! Aah, then he remembered: With a look both impish and self-satisfied, he withdrew the flosser from between his clenched butt cheeks. “Tuh-dah!!” he crowed, flourishing the bright orange contraption before my view. When I told Ang this story later, she asked between sniggering spells how I had kept from bursting with laughter. I guess I had been truly awed by the boy’s prodigious gift for sleight of hand! Going to bed last night, though (and also now), I could not refrain from recurring bouts of giggling. Although the story may be more memorable without such a disclaimer, I feel it is my duty to certify that Connor’s flosser was not used last night—other than as a tool of illusion. I took it gingerly from his hand and, with genuine approbation in my voice, suggested that we might just forgo flossing for the evening.

Virginia Beach 2009

Our annual trip to the beach started right after our long weekend with the North Carolina Brandts and including cousin Samuel this year. He is almost 10 so him and Hayden got along great. He was also very helpful and set a good example for our kids! We loved having him with us. The trip from their house to the beach started off early in the morning and to a slow start. For the first hour about every 20 min. someone announced they had to stop to use the bathroom. After that it was a quick trip and we were able to get into our cabin once we arrived. After eating a quick lunch we got ready and headed for the beach. With smiles on our faces and beach chairs in hand, we attempted to set foot on our first beach sand in a year, when the lifeguards whistled to everyone to get off the beach. The beach was closing due to a thunderstorm that was coming. Granted, I'm grateful for safety (especially after getting struck by lightning at our house!), but we couldn't have gotten any closer and yet denied our satisfaction. We fulfilled our desires later that day as it cleared up and we ate dinner on the beach. Actually, we had never been on the beach at that time of day before and we really enjoyed it. The lighting is great for pictures, it's not crowded, it's cooler, and we could be messy while eating our pizza!

Thankfully Connor was more accepting of the sand this year and didn't mind walking in it. Him and Serena weren't too fond of the water, but they had fun playing in the sand all week. In fact, Serena loved the sand so much she was rolling in it and buring herself in it!

Hayden and Samuel immedietely took to the waves.

We spent some time at the pool too.

Serena and Connor had fun playing in the water from our faucet outside our cabin. They kept themselves busy while Mike and I worked.

One night the waether was bad and we stayed in and watched a movie on the portable DVD player. I think the movie was Ice Age.

Samuel and Serena laughed a lot and Serena would hold her hands up by her mouth and giggle.

One of our traditions is to go out early one morning and look for treasures and enjot the sunrise. This year it was Mike, Hayden and Samuel.

We always fill our wagon to take onto the beach. Connor was lazy and wanted to ride, so he had to hold the bag on his lap. Can you find him!

Enjoying some light reading while basking in the sun.

A few minutes later...

We went to a Chinese restaurant one night for dinner. We had fun trying new things. Samuel thought the squid was "interesting."

We worked off our dinner by riding the family bike. Well, some of us worked!

It's always great weather to fly a kite at the beach.

Cute kids!

That's Mike riding the wave. I think Mike and I used Hayden's board more than he did!

Samuel found this hermit crab. He also found a seahorse which was one of his favorite parts of the trip.

Pretty huh?!

Another tradition is to stop and get ice cram just before leaving the beach to lift our spirits.

We met Julie and Nanny and kids in Richmond to trade Samuel for Nanny. Then a long drive home.

Visiting Brandts in NC

We're on our way to NC! We had a great long weekend visiting with Mike's brother Patrick, Julie and their 3 kids-Samuel, Sarah and Jed.

Playing in their pool

Playing in the sand box at their house.

We had fun taking Patrick and Julie's conoe out on a lake right by their house. We also rented 2 paddle boats so that we could all go out at once.

North Carolina has some wicked bugs that I would not want to get friendly with!

Connor achieved a swimming goal-he put his whole head underwater, thus earning himself a pair of goggles in which to see as he goes underwater again!