Oh! Christmas Tree

Does it get any better? Maybe a fireplace somewhere in there to keep those tootsies warm, but this is pretty nice. It is even just as wonderful watching her enjoy it. Merry Christmas!

The 100 year snow!

I have witnessed the hundred year rain in St. George, Utah that sent houses plummeting into a river, taking out bridges, see people confined to their neighborhoods because all the roads were shut down and flooded to get in and out. Now in Maryland I am witnessing the hundred year snow. Yup! Here we are about to get more snow that they have seen since 1927.

Now before you all start worry about us and sending my family and I out in your prayers let me explain something about us Easterners or at least us Marylanders. We would be what you would consider a little snow-hyper. Meaning we see snow or forecast snow and freak out. Whether it be one flake of a thousand our immediate thought is what is going to be shut down or what should be. How many days will I have to hull up in my house and do I have enough food. Usually if it comes on a weekend our first question will be: So do we have to go to church this week? Usually our snow accumulation is not usually more than half a foot (usually less) and is gone within a day. So when they announced 14-20 inches of snow over a day and half everyone lost their heads here. It sort of reminded me of Y2K. Between the radio stations talking about it all day and the stores being jammed packed up until midnight last night it is craziness. So 14-20 inches here is almost like dooms day but to some of you it just might make you laugh. I'm sure you have seen much more.

Since coming here Chris and I have become a little snow-soft. Well actually Chris has always been snow-soft he grew up in St. George where one time when I was working down there as a waitress it started to snow and half...I'm not kidding....half the restaurant, including workers, emptied out to see the small drizzle of snowflakes coming down. But me, I grew up in North Ogden where the Greatest Snow on Earth was just over the mountain from me. I was never afraid to drive in it or afraid I might die in it or never make it to the grocery store again. That's why when yesterday morning Chris woke me up and told me he thought we should head to the store ASAP to get our grocery shopping done before everyone else did I didn't see the rush. So we head out to good old Wal-mart to find it packed-at eight in the morning. I am pretty sure it was packed all day until I returned again at 10 o'clock to pick up some gift wrap so I had something to do on my snow day. I thought it would die down by then so when I walked in and saw all the check out lines full with each line stacked with people reaching halfway to the back of the store I said "never mind" and left. I then remembered our first winter here and the first snow fall. I think it had only dusted the ground that time but I remembered watching the news and looking at all the school closures all over the different counties. I was shocked. As compared to living in Utah when I was in High School and there were almost blizzard conditions, sideways snow and everything, my sister, brother, and I watched the morning news anxiously waiting for our school to be called out to tell us we had a snow day. I thought there was no way they would make us go-it was ridiculous out there. It never came. Every other school was let out but good old Weber. And we braved that day in the snow making the trek up the big hill to school, freezing away as we made our way to seminary and finally home again.

It is a stark contrast to the feelings of panic that go out here. Today they were having all 4-wheel drive vehicles call in so they could arrange rides for all the doctors and hospital workers to make it to work. Crazy! So this morning I felt silly going out to the car to go on a little joy ride just to see the snow and relish in it, but I was also excited. Excited to build our first snow man with Kate and make a real snow angel. I have told her about them and we have pretended to make one before but now we get to actually do it. That was the first thing she asked me if we could do when I told her it was going to snow. Snow is cold and wet and makes me very irritable when I'm done with it because I am usually both of those. But some of my most fond childhood memories took place out in that frozen water. I feel sad to think my children won't get to experience nearly half as many as I did. Not to mention youth trips going tubing up at North Fork or on top of the Pass! Good times.

Now you can see how truly snow-soft we are. Yup! We swept off our front porch today. Not quite as effective mind you as a shovel. Usually our HOA has a company come out and do it for us but I guess they didn't want to go outside either. Happy snow day and stay warm!

That is what you get....

This is what you get when your brother is almost 24lbs and 11 months old. Baby confusion. When you want to still hold and love on him like he is a baby. You get awkward attempts at holding him and often enough someone ends up crying. Whether it is Carter crying because he is falling off, uncomfortable, or Kate starts to shove him off because he is getting heavy or Kate crying usually because she can't (or he won't let her) snuggle him like a real baby.

Kate asks me more now than she ever did when he was at a more practical age to hold Carter. She still says "Can I hold the baby?" BABY! What baby? All I see is a big baby boy trying to keep up with his sister. And at 24 lbs. he is doing a good job. But I just shrug my shoulders and say "Sure you can try but remember last time...."

She has mastered a few holds. Notice this one she manages to hold him down with her arm wrapped around his head. This way he CAN'T get up. She has accepted that instead of holding him like a real little baby she can just hold his head and not all of him. That is a whole lot of boy for one little girl.

We now however have settled for a relaxing laying hold. He just lays across her and I prop him up. This way he isn't too heavy for her and he's comfortable. Even still this is a compromise for Carter. He just doesn't like it. Poor Kate. She just going to have to settle for a fun little brother who adores all she does and loves to follow her around everywhere. Who will do and play almost anything with her that he can.

Just love 'em!

Create

This video is old, but every time I watch it I am moved. It runs so deep and touches on so many levels.

Click on Create

I have to be honest. Lately my kids have been breaking my heart. They are growing up so fast I don't feel like I can keep up with them.

Being back home is nice. We are getting back into the swing of things. Our days are now filled with joy school, teething, breathing treatments (still), Daddy time, tea parties, crawling practice (with a little bit of walking/standing), and enjoying the fall weather.

We are having some good days and some very apparent bad days but we love spending time together especially when dad is around. He is the center of our universe and nothing is complete until he walks in the door. We are so glad we have him!

What can I say?....

Yesterday Kate and Carter were playing together. Carter tried to sneak away Kate's toys as he laid on the ground while she played. She repeatedly tried to tell him "No this is my toy" after a few tries I walked in the room to try to help out with the problem when upon my arrival I see Kate smack Carter upside the head. He didn't cry but she still had to go to time out because that is what happens when we hit. She sat there and I was near by when the following conversation took place with Kate and herself:

Kate #1: Why are you on time out?

Kate #2: Because I hit Carter.

Kate #1: DO WE HIT?

Kate #2: No we don't hit Carter even if he takes toys.

Kate #1: That's right. You need to apologize....

She sure gave herself a good talking to. This is almost exactly how our conversations go when ever she is put in time out. I guess I can start letting her take over the time outs. She is so precious. She is always surprising me with her whit and brightness. Three is such a fun age!