Bummer!

We were all eagerly anticipating last night's snow! It was even forecasted for the perfect time, to begin about 4AM! Sounded as though we would have at the very least a delay, and we were hopeful for school closings. Not to be though. In fact, the temps were higher than expected so we woke to nothing white but everything wet. What a bummer!

The temps are beginning their drastic change though. By Friday the high (yes, the "warm" part of the day) is supposed to be a balmy 7 degrees. I'm not letting the kids walk to and from school in those temps.

And I'd like to give a "shout out" to my friend Andy in Chicago, where they were under a blizzard watch last I heard. Hope you are staying warm and safe!

Busy weekend

Our family had a busy weekend. Saturday morning JR had his first basketball game. Because he's one of the older ones on the team, he's also the tallest. He had a really good game with several steals, and also scored the first points of the entire season for his team! We were so excited for him! That evening we attended a surprise birthday party for a friend. I was a nervous wreck because I've had really bad luck with surprise parties, and I was part of the plan of getting her there. It worked out wonderfully though, and she was very surprised. Yesterday morning was church, then last evening was the Steelers game. Our family was all dressed in our black & gold as we watched Pittsburgh advance to the AFC championship game! In between everything I attempted to get the Christmas decorations down, and also to organize the kids' rooms. We had some new shelves brought in on Thursday, and between that and the new Christmas presents everything is in total chaos! We also still have our little friends here this week. I didn't get everything finished that I wanted to this weekend, but I consider us lucky to have so many fun things to do!

Little things

It's amazing how something so seemingly insignificant can make you realize how blessed your life is. Lots of big things happen every day that make me realize how blessed our family is. I see or read something terrible on the news, or hear about a tragedy or terrible illness some family has suffered, and it makes me so grateful for the blessings we have. My children and my wonderful husband do things each day that make me so grateful for our lives together. But this opportunity to be grateful caught me off guard. I received a forwarded email from a cousin I nearly never hear from. She had received it as a forward from yet another cousin. It was one of those where you make a wish and then it has to be passed onto 10 people so it will come true. I'll be honest, I did forward it on, but mostly as an opportunity to say hello to some people and let them know I've thought of them today. It may not be the most personal method of communication, but I did it anyway. However, the wish part was challenging. Oh, of course there are many things I would love to have in life. Yet at the same time, for maybe the first time in my life, I realize that I'm truly content with life. As a child I'd always wanted to be married and be a mother. I have a wonderful husband and three beautiful children who amaze and amuse me every day (some days with a tear or two along the way!). While we had hoped to move and we could use a bigger house, I love this house, I love the location, and I love the neighbors. Not to mention that I'm grateful for a warm house and a roof over my head. Of course everyone would love to have more money, but my husband and I are very blessed, and between hard work, good choices, and savings, we don't have to worry about putting food on the table from week to week. I really didn't know what to wish for that I didn't already have! I hope that everyone finds an expected way to recognize the little blessings in their lives.

Snow!

We are getting some snow here! It's coming down at a pretty good clip, but I don't expect anything to really accumulate. It's so nice to see some white stuff after all of the awful ice we've had lately. We still have our two little extra friends here to play today. HT loves being the oldest and being "helpful". It's very cute to see him in that role! Other than the extra little ones, we have a pretty quiet day around here. Just the normal spelling, homework, reading, ballet lessons, etc. I love the fact that we can walk to ballet just around the corner! For a small town we have lots of wonderful activities for the kids. My wonderful husband also has to work late so it's just Mom tonight! I truly admire single parents everywhere and they have my prayers because I don't know how they do it every day!

Back to reality!

My wonderful husband and the kids have gone back to school. It was such a shock to the system waking to an alarm this morning! And although the kids are back to school, no quiet time for me. The sitter of some friends is on an extended vacation so I have two extra little people here. I love having toddlers in the house, but it also makes me appreciate HT, who at age 5, does not require constant supervision! HT loves having playdates all day, and the girls really are cute.

My wonderful husband had a birthday Saturday. Because of prior plans, we celebrated as a family yesterday. Lunch at Bravo was delicious, and the kids were very well behaved. It was very enjoyable.

My wonderful husband has bought an exercise bike and is trying to make an effort to ride it daily. He used to be an avid bike rider, but age and three children has changed that. He's really dedicated to it right now, and keeps telling us that this will help him get in shape. JC was so excited about his birthday this weekend, and my husband explained that someday she'll reach an age where she won't be so excited about turning another year older. She looked right at him and asked, "Is that when you get old and have to lose weight?" It's amazing what children think of, and what comes out of their mouths!

Random thoughts into the new year

I always find the new year so fascinating. For me it's not only a time of looking ahead, but also a time of reflection. I think back to this time last year, and our house was for sale. We were so convinced we would move during the year, but we just couldn't get our house sold. Strangely enough, as the school year started, the leaves began to change and the holidays came upon us, I was so grateful that we were still in this home. It felt so peaceful to be here. I know that we need more space, but I do love this house! There were lots and lots of medical issues in our family in 2008, but I'm so grateful that they all turned out to be fairly minor and manageable. I'm grateful my children are growing safe and healthy, but I wouldn't mind if they stayed young longer than they are supposed to. Time passes so quickly!

One thing I don't understand about children (although I was the same way myself as a child) is that kids refuse to sleep and fight it even when they can barely stay awake. I wish I could take naps and go to bed early, but that isn't the way adult life works! You would think that bedtime was a jail sentence around here, especially when there is no school the next day. I really had to laugh on New Year's Eve. We left our friends' house shortly after Midnight and arrived home about 12:30. HT fell asleep literally as we turned the corner onto our street. I carried him into the house which of course work him. I gave him a kiss told him he needed to get jammies on and he announced in an irritated tone that he wasn't tired and wanted to stay up! I have to be amused that someone who had just fallen asleep could think he wasn't tired!

This wonderful break has gone by so quickly. It's been a wonderful time shared with so many family & friends and we definitely stayed busy. On Monday my wonderful husband and the kids go back to school. There will be lots of homework again, as well as basketball, guitar lessons, ballet lessons, scout meetings and early mornings. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be home with my kids and see the little things I get to see each day, and I'm grateful that my husband has a job that he really likes that is stable. I'm grateful for our family and friends and for all of the blessings we receive each day.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2009 and I hope you look forward to it with excitement and anticipation. And I also hope that your 2008 was so wonderful and blessed that you are at least a little sad to see it go. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year last night in our traditional way, with friends we've had (in some cases) for decades now. My wonderful husband was sick last year and we couldn't join them, which made it all the more special this year. The kids enjoy playing together, and it's just a great time to catch up and hang out. In my opinion it was absolutely perfect!

I send out special greetings to my friends whom I don't get to see regularly...I think of you all often and miss you very much! And to everyone, may you have a safe, healthy, happy and blessed new year!