The Longest Winter

I am predicting that this will be the longest winter EVER. 

As you may or may not have noticed, I've been in hiding. For the last few weeks we have been assaulted with bitter temperatures with wind chills around -40. That would be bad enough but then there has also been mounds and mounds of snow. Schools have been closed day after day because of the cold and the kids are forced to sit inside the house staring at the piles of untouched snow.  

This past weekend we finally had a little (very little) reprieve from the torture.  

On Friday the kids had off of school (a planned day off this time for a teacher in service) and we decided to go up north for an extended weekend of skiing (if the weather decided to cooperate). 

Thursday I ran around getting all the skiing gear, packing bags, buying treats and food, and making sure everyone had extra warm clothing. Joey had a basketball game after school at 6 so we ate an early dinner, packed up the truck, and went to watch Joey play.  After the game we left directly from school and began the three hour ride up north. As the night wore on and we got closer to the cabin the temperature got colder and colder.  By the time we got to the cabin at around 10:30 the temperature settled at -17.  It looked as though our ski trip may be a bust.

The next morning when we woke up it was a balmy 4 degrees outside.  Slowly the temperature climbed all the way up to 12 degrees and we decided to hit the ski hill.  We quickly bundled the kids and headed over to the ski hill 20 minutes from our cabin. Needless to say, the kids were more than happy to brave the cold.

This year was the first time we had to pay for a lift ticket for Joey.  He was officially out of the "kids free" category and into the "junior" category.  I had a moment.

Once the kids were fitted for their boots, skis, and helmets we were ready to go.

Dare I say it, but it was the easiest time we have ever had skiing with our kids. The snow was thick and slow and the cold didn't feel nearly as bad as I thought it would. Not only that, but all three boys quickly found their ski legs and were ready to move on from the bunny hill to some green runs on the actual hill. Todd made sure they all remembered how to be safe on the ski lifts and then off he went with his three boys to explore the hill. 

Grace and I hung back on the bunny hill together. Todd and I had been taking Gracie down the hill between our legs the last two years and I figured it was time to see if she could ski on her own.  The first time down we held hands. When Grace got to the bottom she told me she was ready to do it all on her own. And sure enough, the girl can ski on her own. The rest of the day was spent working on getting down the hill and learning how to turn. The girl does not give up. I was so proud of her determination. 

It was a big day.  The first time Todd could just relax and ski next to his boys on the hill all day.  And it was a big day for Grace and I too. Not only did Grace ski by herself for the very first time but I actually got to teach her. Todd is normally our family's ski instructor but Grace and I made a good team and I was so proud to be able to teach her to ski.

It was a great day and a sign of good times still to come.  Many times I get emotional and weepy thinking of my sweet babies growing up so quickly and this was just the thing I needed to remind me that there are so many fun times ahead too.

The next day the temperatures took a dip back down to the negatives again so we didn't get to go back to the ski hill. Probably for the best since my legs were a bit sore anyway.  Instead the kids played outside in the woods while I read in front of the fire. The kids would come in every so often to warm themselves and dry their clothes and then out they'd go again.

At one point I had gone to check on the boys outside and all three of the boys were up on top of the shed shoveling off the snow. I have no idea how they got all the way up there (and helped their SIX year old brother get up there) and I don't want to know. Lately I have been trying to give the boys a little more freedom but that one really tested me. I sincerely don't know if I am going to make it to see my boys to adulthood without having a heart attack. Crazies. No one was hurt so it all turned out okay, I suppose.

It ended up being a pretty good weekend. One I'd like to repeat again and again.

Today the temps are record cold once again. The schools remained open today (surprisingly) although tomorrow's school day has already been cancelled (and I think today is colder than tomorrow is predicted to be).

I think it is going to be a very long winter.  As long as we can sneak in a fun weekend here and there I think we'll make it through.




Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

The Perfect Pair

"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Starting Out Cold

School has been cancelled today. And perhaps tomorrow as well.  It is cold here.  Very, very cold.

By now you've heard of the drastically cold temperatures making their way across the Midwest.  This morning it was -11 when I woke up. It is now -15 with the wind chill climbing it's way down to -45. Yep. That's cold people.

Luckily, we had fair warning that this cold was coming.  The last few days the grocery stores have been jam packed. Bumper to bumper shopping carts in every aisle. I'm glad I ventured out yesterday because I am more than happy to stay home today. I'd love to have a fire going but I honestly don't know if I even want to venture outside for the wood.

This boys are all rough housing in the basement. Grace is chilling out on the chair next to me, nursing herself back from a stomach bug (passed on to her from Joe, who had received it from Tommy- good times). The Christmas trees still stand in their spots, ornaments still in place.  I can't bring myself to take them down just yet.  I think I need the cheery lights to help me through this bleak weather.

The past week we finally saw the first Harry Potter movie, and then the second. Tonight the third is on tv and I will DVR it so that we can watch that one as well. Last year I attempted to get Joey to read the series. Never one for fantasy books he got 10 pages in and announced that he just couldn't do it. It bored him. After watching the first two movies all of the boys are itching to read the series. The books have been ordered (I am always more than happy to comply with reading requests) and will arrive shortly. I must say I'm excited to read them as well. I guess we are quite a bit behind the times, but better late than never.

Also in the past week we have had two appetizer parties for ourselves. One for the game we shall not speak of that occurred last night. And one on New Year's Eve. We even managed to get Todd's sis, her family, and Todd's mom over last minute to ring in the new year with us. We celebrated with too much food, a few drinks, and poker.

Good times.

I wasn't going to hop on the beginning of the year exercise fad but I got the itch to go running and joined in anyway. It had been two months since I ran and I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I got into it again. I am going to try and get back on the healthy eating track since I indulged far too much over the holidays, but I'm not going crazy with it. Healthy living is my motto.

Yes, life is chugging along in these parts. And other than a few stomach bugs (and subsequent late night vomit attacks and sheets/blanket washing) and hideously cold weather life is good.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to go put on another pair of socks and a second sweatshirt.

A New Year

The beginning of a new year. A new start. A fresh chance. A time to right your wrongs and begin again. A time to try harder, do better.

So many people use the new year to inspire change. To get on a better path. And that's wonderful. But we don't need to wait for a new year to begin.  Each day is a fresh start. Each hour. Each minute. Each moment is an opportunity to try again. To live better.  Be kinder. Love deeper. Every second is another opportunity to forgive past hurts, mend relationships, apologize for hurts, and to start again.

I hope 2014 sees more kindness, more compassion, more love, and more understanding in our world. And I hope we all take the opportunity each day provides to start fresh, try again, and be our best.

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Eve

The girl is running around the house singing, "You look like a lady!" I can't decide if this is a parenting victory or a parenting fail (the lyrics are wrong, after all, and yet the actual lyrics are not appropriate). Still, it is better than singing a Bieber song, I decide.  Parenting victory.

The boys are chasing each other around like maniacs, tackling instead of tagging. I guess everyone is finally feeling healthy again. Joey's appetite is back to normal.  Well, normal for a horse.  The kid is eating everything in sight. I guess he is trying to make up for lost time.

Even though I had cancelled our little New Years Eve party due to the sickies I think I may be able to pull something together last minute.  The kids get wind of this and the energy level in the house kicks up another notch.

Hors d'oeuvres are planned, games are picked out, and movies are rented.  I think we are ready for some fun.

As I begin making my hors d'oeuvres I find When Harry Met Sally on tv, followed by When A Man Loves a Woman.  Score! This just got fun.

My mind wanders as I'm busy in the kitchen. I reflect back on our year and think about the new year that is about to start.

I contemplate possible resolutions but once again find that I don't feel the need for resolutions. There are things to work on. Definitely. I could start running again. I could eat better. I must continue to work on my temper. On patience. On many things. But in the end I just don't believe in resolutions.

Instead I focus on each day.

I think of a word to focus on. One word that I will chant to myself when life gets overwhelming or stressful. A word that I will remind myself of when my temper flairs and my patience fails.

I toss around ideas.  Peace. Joy. Still. Love. See. Calm. Breathe. Peace. Pause. Quiet. Think. Heart. Serene. Silence. Listen.

Breathe.  Yes.  Breathe jumps out at me.

When life gets busy. Breathe. When my temper flares.  Breathe.  When life is full and good.  Breathe it in.  Appreciate each moment.  Breathe.

That's my word. In the new year I will breathe. I will pause. I will take it in.  I'm ready for the new year.

Whether you make resolutions, pick a word, go out and party, or stay at home, I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve and an even better New Year. I hope 2014 brings contentment, peace, love, happiness, and joy to you all.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Wrap Up

And just like that Christmas is over.  

All the preparations.  All the planning.  All the plotting and secret keeping. And blink! All done. 

Christmas Eve was spent at my mom's house. Food was eaten, games were played, laughs were had.  It was a lovely night. It was fun just sitting around spending time with family.

When we got home that night the kids quickly changed into their jammies and went off to bed so that Santa could make a swift delivery.  Later that night, as the kids lay sleeping in their beds, Santa did indeed make his visit.

The next day was your typical Christmas morning madness with just a little more craziness thrown in. The snowstorm that brought yet another few inches of snow made our morning more hectic.  And then Joey fainted at church (he hadn't been feeling good for a few days prior- stomach bug). That was a smidge stressful.

After a little rest at home we managed to make it over to Todd's mom's house for more food, more games, and more laughter.

Overall, it was a wonderful Christmas. Nevermind the snowstorm, the fainting Joey (or the puking Joey for that matter- the kid was a trooper).

The next day we all just sat around trying to recoup from all of the holiday craziness. Joey continued to recover from the stomach bug he had all week and the kids played with all their Christmas loot.

We had planned on going up north and going skiing for a few days but I just didn't think I had the energy for it and Joey was still regaining his strength.  Instead Todd went up north to attempt another go at getting a deer (this is the only year I can remember that Todd didn't get a deer) and the kids and I stayed home and relaxed.

As Joey got stronger the kids and I ventured out to the local sledding hill and took advantage of the warm weather.  The kids even got to spend some of their Christmas money at their favorite store and purchased a few more LEGO sets for their collection. We ended up having a really nice time together.

When the kids went to bed that night I really got into relaxation mode. I pulled out my Christmas gift (an extra large bean bag), started a fire, made myself a drink, and kicked my feet up.

It was just what I needed to unwind and reflect on our busy but blessed Christmas.

I hope your Christmas, busy and/or imperfect as it may have been, was filled with warm memories, love, and happiness.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Sending you all a big virtual hug and prayers for a holiday season filled with family, friends, love, and joy! God bless!