Snow day

Little did I know on the last visit to my parents, the kids would have their own luge hill.

Took a quick picture of the icicles before we started breaking them off.

Though a lot of snow, it's the ice that's unbelievable. Dad spent two days on the roof after the last storm to break up the ice. They've got to have at least six inches of ice leaning on the downspouts.



The kids were more than happy to help break off the icicles.


Yep, I'm 'that mom' - go ahead and stand on the rail - I'll hold you... The pile in front of the railing is ice off the roof. Dad's ladder is stuck in the snow/ice.


The bruise gained from the experience of trying my son's snowboard is finally starting to fade.

Now I just have to wait for the bruise obtained from riding the mechanical bull Saturday to fade...

...

Passing the crazy along.

Growing up, one of two specific things would happen when we got together with my mom's family: there would be a game (or two) of Scrabble and there would be a puzzle put together. Sometimes both happened. Scrabble involved a dictionary, challenges, and quiet concentration. The puzzle involved at least 1,000 pieces, work late into the night, and quiet concentration.

Scrabble, I'm still not good and can be easily beat by my 10 year old. But puzzles? I love them.

Over winter break, it wasn't unusual to find one, two, or sometimes three puzzles going at once.

The younger two concentrate mainly on 60 - 100 piece puzzles. The nice thing about this is that it is hard to mix them up.



My oldest? She's moved on to 500 piece puzzles. It's on newspaper because we originally started at the kitchen table, but moved to the dining room because it was hard to eat and not mess up the pieces.

Me? I've finally figured out a good way to store a work in progress. I took a big moving box and opened it up. After cutting it in half, I was left with a piece I could fold in half and store under my couch. It's easy to pull out and work on, then put away when we're out of time.



As for passing the crazy along, when we get to a certain point in the puzzle, I am forced to start sorting pieces. And by a certain point I mean when we open the box. As I'm sorting out the edge pieces I'm making piles of likes. Toward the end it gets a little more severe - by color and shape all lined up.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this.

...

Snow...

I keep hearing about how unusual this winter is. Well, the snow. My husband says the last time he remembers it snowing the way it did was back in 1989. (Uphill to school both ways...)

My kids don't know much different. Neither do I . So, pending serious sub-zero temps, I send them out anyway. Yes, I know they're wearing sweatshirt. It wasn't that cold.

They called me out to show me something.


Very carefully they'd built a snowball. They wanted me to take a picture standing on it.



At the same time.



If at first you don't succeed...




Try, try again.

I do love their smiling faces.

...

Here's a link the cereal dispenser: Double Dry Food Dispenser. Mine is from Target, but it's black. At some point I'd like to move it to the pantry, but the kids like it where it is.

...

My eating wasn't great this weekend. It wasn't even good. It's like someone flipped a switch to 'carb load' and I went with it.

Today? Today I'm crawling back on the wagon. Again. If at first you don't succeed...

...

Kids are back at school today. Though reveling in the silence, I miss them a bit. Isn't that how it goes?

Much to accomplish today - this is my month to send out fabrics for a block swap. I was hoping to get it done last week, but the kids home threw a wrench in my plans! The envelopes are addressed. Now to cut and sort the fabric. Hopefully they'll be in the mail tomorrow.

For the most part, the house is back to rights, but again, not much cleaning wise was accomplished with the kids home.

Though I could have done much I needed to do with them home, instead I chose to spend the time with them.

Have a great day!

Friday, finally

It seems like summer break, but without being able to send the kids outside to play. Well, I do, but not as much. They love playing in the snow and as long as they're dresses appropriately, I'm ok with it. I did keep them in yesterday due to excessive wind.

So far, they've made good use of their Christmas presents, finger painted, played outside, had a sleepover, and maybe even found a bit of time to read.

Me? I'm finally in the swing of having them home and even got a little sewing done. Also, I'm back on the South Beach kick. I managed to keep 8 of the 10 pounds I lost after Christmas off. Better than nothing!

Finally - our new favorite movie is Swiss Family Robinson circa 1960. What could be better - living in a tree house with running water on a tropical island? Oh yea, there are pirates...

...

Now what...

No school again today. The threat of more snow on top of the ice was enough to cancel school.

I just received a text from the school district that they are cancelling classes both Thursday and Friday.

I can never remember missing four days of school in a row.

Weather

Hmm...

No school today. Inclement weather. Really... You see, it's currently sunny and 5 degrees. No real wind to speak of.

Kids are going crazy, as am I.

My Kindergartner cried this morning. When I asked her why... "I'm missing my friends, Mama."

Me too.

We're wiling away the day playing WII Fit. Maybe after lunch we'll head to the library.

It's supposed to snow 3" - 6" tomorrow night and be 0 degrees on Thursday, and in the single digits Friday.

Does that mean there will be school at all this week?

One can only hope...

All roads lead...

Starting Christmas Eve and ending sometime late Christmas night, Cow Town received the most snowfall on December 25th since 1897. Or something like that. It was one of those blips the Weatherman gave on the unending Weather station.

Christmas morning was a delightful affair. We spent the morning opening presents, eating baked french toast, and then opening more presents. Shortly after noon, we dress and went to the inlaws to open more presents and eat more. I was able to catch up on some tv, hiding away in the basement while my husband slept on the couch and the kids made the most of the new presents.

Finally, as the kids showed signs of wear, we packed up and loaded the Suburban while horizontal snow flew. For the most part, the roads weren't too bad. Perhaps after three Minnesota winters I have a slightly skewed view.

I should say they weren't too bad until we turned onto our street. My husband, being the funny man he is, put the truck back into 2 wheel drive and tried to make a go of it. Why? To make the kids (and me) squeal. An unending swath of white covered the road, and half of a minivan. The minivan was stuck going uphill in the middle of the street. I kindly requested he return the truck to 4 wheel drive. Sensing my apprehension, he did. Ha. As if. More likely I told him to cut it out and get me home. Laughing, he did.

We ended up cutting a path around a light pole, onto the curb and drove for a bit on the sidewalk. Retuning to the street, we made the last half of the block to our house. Upon arriving home, we noticed the neighbor's car stuck in our driveway. We called him, and he came over apologizing profusely. He'd only meant to deliver some Christmas cheer, when he overcompensated trying to get into our driveway and landed solidly in the drift that should have been our driveway. After attaching a tow strap between his car and our Suburban, my husband quickly pulled him out.

That was enough excitement for me. Though I must admit, I don't know as I've ever been more glad to have a vehicle with 4 wheel drive.

We stayed in Saturday and most of Sunday. The kids, of course, didn't. They have made the most of the snow, only coming in to eat and have me throw their snow pants in the dryer. I taught them the trick of putting plastic bags over their feet before stuffing them in wet boots. In my day, we used bread bags. Now, it's Target plastic sacks that provide a moisture barrier. By mid-day Sunday, the plow had come by. Not that we couldn't have gotten out, it just made more sense to stay off and let the road crews to their work. Well... Most of their work. Sunday we went out for pizza, and on the drive home we encountered this:

This is supposed to be the street too our house. Notice the little lights in the middle of the picture? That's where our house is. Apparently either the road crews couldn't handle it, or the just didn't do it knowing there was another way in. Either way, the kids thought it was pretty funny.Yesterday, we went to inspect it. On the left of the picture is the kids' school. They still haven't cleared it. Not sure what the hold up is.

Ah well. At least there's another way out.

Out the door

Looking out my front door:



This is after school the other day. Eight kids (that I can count) playing outside. No big deal, right? Sure, except I'd just seen the Oprah piece about overweight kids and how much TV they watch.

Do my kids watch TV? You bet.

Do they play outside with their friends for over an hour ever day the weather cooperates? You bet.

For those of you wondering, the temperature was hovering around 10 degrees. Plenty toasty for the kids.

Exhibit two - getting out the door.
**space cases. Wonder what they're looking at?

I've had a couple parents (of one) ask me how I get the kids ready in the morning.

For me, it's all a matter of planning. Their mittens and hats get hung to dry in the laundry room (from the outside play, see above picture) at night. Their book bags are packed and ready to go the night before. Their coats and snow pants get hung on hooks in the laundry room.

**oh, that's right. The TV. On days we're running late I turn it off. The Toddler is usually about 10 minutes behind the other two. That's OK, because she doesn't have to catch the bus.

Every morning I get up around 7:30ish. My oldest is usually already up, dressed and eating breakfast. The other two require a bit of prying.

By 7:45 they're downstairs eating breakfast. While they eat, I go and get their clothes for the day and throw them down the stairs. As they finish up and get dressed, I hang any necessary items, save the boots, on their chair.

By spreading their stuff to an individual chair, it alleviates the crowding by the door as they all try and get ready. By 8:25 my two older kids put on their boots and head out to the 8:35 bus pickup. My Toddler gets her coat and boots on while I stand at the bus stop. Her carpool pickup is at 8:40.

Planning and execution. Now, if I could just play outside for an hour...

...

-21

That's what the news said when I got up this morning - negative twenty one degrees. No telling what the windchill was.

Fortunately, the Suburban started right up and I drove the kids to school.

Yes. School.

Seems it takes more than double-digit-sub-zero temps to delay and or cancel school.

So rather than wait outside for the bus - could be five minutes, could be seven, would be frostbite - I've been driving them this week.

Does that mean I'm raising my kids to be pansies?


...

Last night I received some unfortunate news. Nothing I'm prepared to share yet, if ever, but neverless shook me to my core.

I'm spending today digesting the news and working on my Dear Jane squares. Rather than a big, fast project that allows my mind to wander, I need small things that require my utmost attention.

...

H-6 Pie Sale


G-9 Mary's Journey

F-8 Church Window

In case you're wondering...

It's cold! Sure, there are colder places, but -5 F (-20 C) is plenty cold for me! Fortunately, our furnace decided to have issues Monday, so we were able to resolve them before the little cold snap. It wouldn't be any fun if it was out today!

Yesterday was cold as well, and I managed to whip this up:

Another Curtain quilt. I love the back on this one the best. The green/blue fabric is a linen type and has a lovely soft texture.

Right now it's on the back of the sofa, but I don't expect it to stay there long. I'm sure one of the kids will find a use for it!

Not much else to report. A big thank you to all that commented on my de-lurker post! It's so fun to see new faces along with the usual suspects.

Only one more reason to venture outside today - the Toddler has dance class - then we're in for the night.

...

For the love of all...

Stop the madness!

This is a pretty clear representation of what it looked like yesterday - all day...

After they were all home from school, the snow beckoned them. See them? Behind the tree? The are building a giant snowman - or is it a fort?
I called them in at 7:45 pm. Still snowing.

The Boy was not very happy.



They were so wet, I told them to throw their coats in the washer. I got the coats washed last night, and realized 15 minutes before the bus came this morning I forgot to put them in the dryer. Fortunately, we have backups.

Today it's sunny, so hopefully some of it will melt off.

On the craft front, Crazy Mom Quilts is looking to finish up some projects this week. Me too!

Here's the first of hopefully many:
Loralee's March Madness Giveaway. Now, I just need to get to the post office...

I got nuthin...

Want to hear me whine about how I'm still sick? Better yet, about how the people responsible for NyQuil and Carmex should win some sort of a prize - or at least my undying devotion. Eh. Didn't think so.

Want to hear about how I put a couple more things on my Etsy site? Or about how I've puts some items on sale because I'm sick of looking at them? Plus, I'm getting the evil eye from my spouse about the condition of the dining room.

Want to hear about my running, or lack thereof? Every time I stand up I cough. If I stand for too long I get light headed. Fortunately, sitting at the computer with a box of tissues and a cup of hot tea watching Netflix on demand doesn't tax my system too much. Plus, the kids think I'm "working."

Well, except this one...

Now he's got 'it' too. See how he's nearly asleep, and still cradling the remote? I am truly raising a man. Heh.

Hopefully it's not due to the indentured servitude I force upon them every so often...
Well, at least every time it snows. It's not nearly as bad as it looks... Really. It took about 15 minutes. I even helped - this time...

Even the Toddler has her own shovel. Yes, it was the best $4.99 x 3 I ever spent.

He was just upset because I wasn't letting him get out the snowboard until the driveway was cleared.

I'm a hardass I tell you. Tote that barge, lift that bale...

What are some chores your kids do?

Letting Go.

This morning I had my first, of what will probably be many, mornings at the ice rink.

The Boy want to play Hockey. Hockey with a capital H.

I explained to him that he needs to learn to ice skate before donning the helmet, pads, and breezers (whatever those are). He took what I said to heart, and was duly excited for ice skating this morning.

This morning. 8 am. We are not morning people - especially on the weekend. There were 50 or so "Beginners." Most are five or six, some of the "Pre-Beginners" are starting as young as three. Don't tell my three year old, I told her she had to be four.

The lessons are well structured. It's a half hour class, half hour practice - or the reverse. The classes are staffed 10 kids to 3 instructors with a couple floaters thrown in. The practice is chaperoned by two staffers. There are plenty of people out there to help.

A couple times last year, I took the kids to the park and let them have a go. This year, the youngest is three and will be getting her skates - as promised last year.

For the most part, parents are a pretty good group. They sit and chat, watch their kids, have a cup of coffee. As I'm coming to realize, in every group there is One. One parent that 'knows better' than the instructors. One parent that finds it necessary to 'point things out' - usually distracting the child from the lesson.

Fifteen minutes into the practice session (the Boy practices first, then has the lesson) I had to bite my lip in order not to say something. He's busy yelling at his five year old, and the chaperone - something about 'using the outside of his skate' - through the glass. As a note, this kid can't stay up for more than fifteen seconds. Let's work on getting him upright first. Maybe.

What do I know?

There's a reason I'm paying someone else to teach my child to skate. It's not that I couldn't, it's just there are more qualified people out there. I wanted to tell this guy, "Hey, if you know so much, why don't you teach him during free skate and let the staffers do their job?" While the instructor is busy pandering to you, there are a bunch of other kids that could use her help.

And while I'm on the subject... There are the parents out there. On the ice with their child. Again... Why are you paying for lessons? Wait until the outdoor rinks freeze up, or come during free skate and help your kid.

I've found, at least with my kids, that if I'm there, they lean on me. Swimming? Why do I have to swim if Mom will hold me up? Ice Skating? Same thing. I know if I was on the ice, The Boy would be clinging to me not getting nearly as much out of the lesson. If they're not ready to be out there 'alone' - why not wait another year until they are?

Of course, if one of my kids finds themself learning to guard the low post or training for a 5K, I'll be all over that.

As it turns out, a year made a lot of difference for The Boy.

Last year, nearly every time he fell down, he'd get discouraged and want to quit. This year? Not so much. He fell and fell and got himself back up, dusted off and had another go. Couldn't get himself back up last year. Not only that, but as the lesson was coming to a close, he started running across the ice. There is no way he'd gottten that far if I was holding his hand.

It's hard to let go, but can be worth it.

Valhalla

Because this is what you do when it's January in Minnesota...

Thursday night, the big girl was invited to go ice skating at the park down the road. No skates? No problem - she borrowed some from the neighbor. It was love at first glide.

The next day she didn't have school. We went to the local "Play It Again Sports." Sixty three dollars and forty-eight cents later we walked out with two pair of skates. New figure skates for the girl, and a pair of beat up hockey (or hah-key) skates for the boy. The Toddler wanted some, but I told her she had to be three.

That's what they do here - have ice rinks at about every park. During the winter they flood them, set up a warming house, and put up lights. In the summer, they're used for either running dogs around or soccer. They also flood out a section of the park and set up a makeshift rink.
I tell you. These kids today. Friday afternoon we went out for about an hour and a half. The weather was nice - in the mid 20's. Went around and around. The ice was a little 'soft' - still ice, but there was just a little more give. Sunday it was much cooler - around 8 and breezy - and we only lasted about thirty minutes. The ice was as hard and a little pitted after the balmy weekend. After watching the kids go around and around the loop on Friday, though, I'd say the skates were a pretty good investment.

Good times, I tell you...

Just a little more...

Received a scant half inch of snow last night.

The kids are out between an hour and two every night.

I can barely get them in.

The temp is hovering in the twenties.

More snow is expected Saturday.

The pile in the cul-de-sac is coming along nicely.

If only for those pesky 4wd people that insist on trying to drive through it. Snicker.