Prayers please

I've just learned that some life long friends of my family, ones I've known for almost 30 years, lost their six month old son in his sleep yesterday. My heart breaks for them and I can't imagine their loss. I ask for prayers for their family and all who loved little Thomas.

Off kilter

I've been feeling especially off kilter this week. I had thought it was because it was a full, five day week, not only of school, but of having the extra little ones. I also thought it could be hormones, but today I'm still feeling it and I just don't know what to do. I'm bored, bored, bored, but at the same time there is nothing I want to be doing and I don't want to be around anyone. I'm trying so hard not to be grumpy to the rest of the family, because it isn't their fault that I'm feeling this way. I'm hoping I can find something to focus my energy on, because that's really what I feel like I have...nervous energy. Hopefully I can just enjoy the rest of the Olympics and wake up tomorrow with a refreshed and focused feeling!

Olympics

I am tired. I've been watching the Olympics for the last 12 days, and while I've enjoyed it, I'm tired. Summer Olympics are easier...there is no school the next day and I can sleep in after staying up so late to watch the prime time events that I just can't miss. And the 2006 Winter ones weren't so bad either. None of my kids went to school until the afternoon so our mornings were a little later and more relaxed, and I was really, really sick (think fever of 102.9) so I was watching lots in the middle of the night! Last night I just felt compelled to watch the Canadian figure skater who's mother had tragically passed away on Sunday. At first I felt badly, like I was going to watch a train wreck from which you can't turn your head. Instead, it was a wonderful, beautiful performance. I felt as though I was being supportive and respectful by watching and caring, and rooting for this young woman to succeed. These Olympics have had some ugly stories...but this one, last night for just a few minutes, was an absolutely beautiful one. And I'm glad I stayed awake long enough to watch.

Sports tidbits

Here are a few random thoughts about sports...

1) Spring training is underway! I LOVE baseball. My family is huge baseball fans, and I grew up when the Reds were really, really good. However, I miss Hal McCoy's coverage of the game more than can be imagined. Cincinnati papers are doing a decent job, but Hal McCoy is in the Hall of Fame. Those writers are not. Enough said.

2) Aaron Boone will be an analyst on Baseball Tonight on ESPN. Boone is one of my favorite all time baseball players. I can tell you exactly where I was when I heard he had been traded from the Reds to the Yankees in 2003. Unfortunately for my husband, I was driving on a rural road in eastern Ohio at the time and did not react well. Fortunately for us both, no accident actually occurred.

3) I saw in the paper this morning that the Browns are considering drafting a quarterback this year. That's a relief. I was afraid the controversy and chaos would end in Cleveland this year and they might actually get their act together.

Tooth fairy success

After three consecutive evenings of not getting the job done, the Tooth Fairy finally came through for us last night. Not sure how thrilled JC was to find it all in dimes, but it was there none-the-less!

All week?

We are optimistic that school will be held all five days this week. Really, everyday, Monday through Friday. There are some dustings of snow forecasted for a couple of mornings, but nothing that should amount to much. Of course, one of the joys of a rural school district is that even a dusting can wreak havoc!

Our weekend didn't quite go according to plan, but that is life with children. I learned a long time ago that going with the flow is the best plan! JC woke up vomiting at 3AM Saturday morning. Fortunately it was a fairly short bug and only lasted about four hours. She did spend the day in bed. My wonderful husband continued the plans we had with JR that evening. Yesterday we spent the afternoon sink shopping. We purchased new countertops two weeks ago and before they can be properly measured we needed to pick out a sink. That was a huge accomplishment for us yesterday! Then my mom & dad came down for dinner. It was really nice to spend a couple of hours with them. The kids loved showing off their latest accomplishments.

This is my last week of babysitting the girls. Even though I'm looking forward to having my freedom again to come and go as I please, I'm going to miss them terribly! On the upside, their parents are my friends so I'll still get to see them lots!

Cookie time!

Ah, the Girl Scout cookies have arrived. I'm in love, absolutely in love, with the thin mints. We bought several boxes of other varieties as well, but the thin mints seem to be the favorites of the family. And even though the prices are a little high, it's fun once a year to support the Girl Scouts!

Back to normal

Everything is back to normal for now, as far as school and the weather. Everyone is on a normal schedule today, and should be tomorrow as well. I really have to say that I can't complain too much about the kids and the unplanned togetherness at home. This week there were a couple more Monopoly games and Tuesday we ventured out to go sledding with another family. We all had a wonderful time. I also can't say that I missed the homework that wasn't assigned by not being in school. Next week might be our first full week in a while, but another storm is predicted for Monday. Too early to predict totals, and it could even be just rain...I hate to think about the flooding that would happen then!

Up on the roof

I just got off the roof. Seriously. We were getting ice dams forming along where the roof and house meet and they needed to be cleared. Although the kids are home from school AGAIN, my wonderful husband had to go to his school today. That left me to try to take care of the situation. Now, I have a pretty healthy fear (some might call it neurosis) of heights, and given the fact that the roofs are covered with a foot of snow, I was not too excited about this prospect. But it needed to be done, so I climbed through our daughter's bedroom window and out I went. Fortunately, it didn't require much moving around up there, but the two times I did slip caused my heart to skip a few beats! My daughter was posted by the window and given direct orders that if I fell off, she was to immediately dial 911. That would probably be overkill, as there is also at least a foot of snow on the ground to cushion my fall, but I was taking no chances! I seemed to have solved the problem for now, and I'm not looking forward to doing that again anytime soon!

What to do today?

Another snow day for our area. My husband's school was closed by 6 last evening, and the kids' school closed about an hour later. Even the districts that attempted to be optimistic and go on a 2 hour delay are closed...I don't think anyone is in school today. The kids are entertaining themselves with the Westminster Dog Show on TV because my little guy absolutely loves dogs. I think they are planning to line their stuffed animals up later on and have a show themselves. There might be sledding in our future, but we'll just see what happens. The kids did a great job of playing outside yesterday. Considering the amount of togetherness, things are going well, and I'm cautiously optimistic that everyone will be back in session tomorrow!

Deja Vu

We are currently under a winter storm warning. Uhm, let's see where have I heard this before? Yep, they are calling for 5 - 9 additional inches to fall today and tonight, to go along with the foot of snow that we already have on the ground. There was no school today anyway for President's Day, but I'm not too optimistic about tomorrow either. I just keep telling myself that it could be worse and it could be D.C. or Philly.

We had a very busy weekend. We spent Friday evening playing Monopoly (I think we are obsessed!) and watching the Opening Ceremonies. I loved sharing it with the kids. I have great memories of doing the same with my family when I was a child. Saturday I left around noon for a baby shower, and then we hung out with friends for dinner and into the evening. Yesterday morning was church. A moment to brag...JC cantored and read a petition during Mass and I was very proud. She did a great job! We were supposed to spend the afternoon and evening with my parents, but the impending storm changed our plans. I spent the afternoon restocking at the grocery. I hadn't gone at all last week and was very concerned about trying to get through another snow. We managed to make it to my parents' for the evening, but Mom had my sister at the e/r with what turned out to be a torn tendon. We did get to see Mom & sis for about 30 minutes before we came home, and I really had a wonderful, wonderful time up there. The kids fell asleep on their way home as it was the third consecutive night they'd been up late.

Not sure what today is going to hold. JR has a dentist appointment to which my wonderful husband is venturing out to take him. I'm sure they'll be lots of Olympic viewing, and maybe a game of Monopoly!

Just as I'd hoped

The last two days have had ups and downs. I was very grateful the kids were back in school today, as much for them as for me. I've never been good at playing entertainment director. Just ask my younger sister. I was a quiet child, and preferred the company of a good book to just about anything else. I'm not a loner really, and in fact many people refer to me as very outgoing. And I am in public, but at home I prefer the quieter life. I'm laughing to myself right now, because as a stay-at-home-mom to three children, the "quieter" life is just life at a lower decibel! Anyway, our older two have been lacking in their responsibilities lately, so there was a lot of unpleasant conversation involving that yesterday. Those were pretty much the downs. But on the upside, I was able to get some scrapbooking finished, and we had another successful day of not turning on the TV. I'm really glad that we can do things besides staring at the screen. Trust me, I'm not a saint because part of the day found the younger two staring at their DS screens, but a preschool teacher has assured me there is even education value in that in the form of hand eye coordination. Not sure I'm totally on board with that, but I use it as justification none-the-less! We have lots of fun things planned together with the family and a few friends this weekend, and I'm looking forward to that as well. All is well in our house overall!

And it continues another day

We are currently on our third consecutive snow day. Only this one means that we are officially out of calamity days for the year. This is one of the things that happens when living in a very rural district. I love the fact that when we go to the county fair, we know almost everyone there. And one of the other aspects of living in a town among the farms is that they can't plow the roads, especially when they are drifted shut, and there is no school. My wonderful husband is on his way in to his school at this point. If his district doesn't close within the next 10 minutes they aren't going to. We've been spending our days playing lots of Monopoly and Trouble and having lots of outdoor snow time. I was so excited that our TV never got turned on once yesterday except for me to check the weather. Today I'm hoping to spend the day making Valentine's cards for various family members and maybe even doing a little scrapbooking for me!

Snowed in

We received about 6 inches of snow Friday into Saturday. The timing of it really was more inconvenient than anything, so there were really no major problems. Today is another story though. They are calling for nearly an equal amount to arrive today, and frankly, our problems are the least of the worries in the area. When my wonderful husband's alarm went off at 5, I checked outside and instantly knew we were going to be home for the day. The calls came within the next hour. The kids are so excited about the snow day, but didn't feel the need to let Mom sleep in...lots of yelling, giggling, screaming, and crying (that is, after all, life with children). Everyone seems to be settling down with an activity, and I believe mine will be finishing our taxes!

Happy Anniversary...

...to my wonderful husband, my best friend. I'm so grateful to be able to share life with you everyday! Sorry dinner is only sloppy joe's!

Sunshine

There is actually a good amount of sunshine around here today. And it is especially bright with the snow on the ground. We have just about 6" here, but my parents about 30 miles north had a foot of snow. My in-laws over in western PA received 18", and were without power for about 44 hours. All seems to be well though, and we are moving forward...at least until tomorrow when there is another 6" due to arrive. Might actually get some snow days out of this one!

Let it Snow!

Sounds as though there is a doozy of a storm headed this way. The schools are in session, because it's just started freezing rain here. I wouldn't be surprised if there ended up being some early dismissals, but we'll just have to wait and see what the day brings. They are saying 8 - 10 inches when all is over tomorrow morning. The majority is supposed to fall during the night tonight...it will be fun to wake up to all that snow tomorrow!

So they really mean it!

Yep, when they say to add tuna to casserole, they actually mean it. It doesn't just show up by itself.

Sadly, I had a brain lapse when making dinner this evening. In my defense, I am seriously distracted. In addition to babysitting the extra little ones every day, my wonderful husband hasn't been home much this week. Monday and tonight arrival time is after the kids' bedtime, and last night was almost 6:30. Tomorrow he also has a meeting after work. So I've been soloing with the kids who have a lot of homework this week. Tuna casserole was a perfect meal because my wonderful husband can heat up the leftovers when he gets home and the kids (with the exception of picky little one) absolutely love it. I was multi-tasking, of course, while I was preparing dinner, and I kept having the nagging feeling that I had forgotten something. When the timer went off I took one look and instantly knew I had forgotten to add the tuna. Fortunately tuna can be eaten right out of the can! I put it back in to cook for about five more minutes and you'd never know the difference, but it sure shows how ditzy my brain has become...in fact I hope this makes sense when I read it later!

Groundhog Day

One of the joys of having young children is how easily they get excited about something. Today, being Groundhog Day, is no exception. They are so excited to find out whether or not Punxy Phil sees his shadow. The youngest wanted to start watching the news last night just in case Phil decided to show early!