Ice and Other Bothers for my (mumble-mumble) Birthday

It is almost comedic how crazy this week has been. (I can say that now that I am through it.) I put in more than twice as many hours at work this week than normally, which means that my Mom put in more than twice as many hours teaching and caring for my kids. Since I view my main job right now as teacher and nurturer to my girls, and my vocation as "a little something extra", the added time was a bit stressful.

Wednesday, on my day off, the girls and I spent 3 hours in the van on the way to and from Pittsburgh to take J's violin to be repaired. We were given an estimate of $250. I guess that withholding J's allowance for a month won't quite cover that expense! Ah well...it's a good thing she didn't drop a piano, as the damages could have been much worse!

Last night, J was invited to her friend's birthday sleepover party. The plan was for her friend's little sister to come home with us and spend the night with L (the 2 of them are BFFs.) Little E began having second thoughts about sleeping over with out her big sis, so L ended up borrowing PJ's and a sleeping bag and sleeping over there.

JP and I had the unexpected pleasure of playing a good, Mennonite game of ROOK with our friends. We returned home, childless, through the beginnings of freezing rain. This morning, the house was quiet, and the driveway was as slick as snot. (That's pretty slick, right? I've always wanted to use that expression!) JP managed to get the chains on all four truck tires by noon, and get a practice run down and back up the driveway safely. Only then did he venture to town to bring our reluctant children back home.

The ice is beautiful while it is troublesome. The chickens hopped out of the coop when I brought their food, and slid right down the icy sides of the garden bed.



Right after breakfast this morning, I stripped the girls' beds and attempted to start a load of wash. The washer, however, after 12 years of faithful service, had quietly passed away between loads of wash. Guess what I'm getting for my birthday this year?

We were anticipating a date this evening with several of our good friends, but John became feverish, and developed some sort of GI illness. He encouraged me to go without him, and it was fun, although I wish he could have been there.

Tomorrow, my Mom has invited us over for my birthday dinner. I'm looking forward to it too, and the comfort food I remember from my childhood that Mom has promised. I think I may make it through the entire weekend without having to cook. That in itself is a WONDERFUL birthday gift!

Overshadowing this whole, crazy week, is the fact that my Grandpa is wasting away in his bed at the Nursing Home. I am very sad, even though this is not unexpected. He is the undisputed patriarch of my family, and (until I met JP) the most gentle man I knew. I wonder, at the passing of each hour, if it will be his last?

Sleep well, my friends. Tomorrow I turn (undecipherable gibberish here) years old. I'm glad to start a new year and a new week on the same lazy Sunday.

The Whole Kit & Kaboodle

It has been an action packed 24 hours!

Last night, J was doing pirouettes with her violin and dropped it on the wood floor. This is what it looks like now.



We found a place in Pittsburgh to have it repaired, but I work 4 days next week, and Sears is making a delivery on my only day "off", so I may not be able to get it there until next weekend. I can't imagine it will be cheap.

I baked and decorated a cake last night, while the rest of the family was watching "Holes", which was a pretty fun movie. This was for a belated Birthday party for these 2 little girls, whose Birthdays are buried in the midst of Christmas Vacation.



Since it was a joint party, I had help, which was wonderful! I believe all these younguns had a good time.



We had the older sisters to help keep everything under control downstairs in the playroom.



This afternoon, we journeyed to Sears to try out some elliptical exercise machines. We agreed on one, and were able to work out a pretty good deal. Sears is coming to install it on Wednesday. This is our belated 20th Anniversary gift to each other...to try to ensure at least 60 more years!

Now it's time to crash, eat popcorn, and watch Netflix. Here's hoping for less eventful next 24 hours.

Merry, Merry

Well, the deer are safe for another year - regular rifle season is over. I sat out again on Friday night, and saw the back end of a doe about 5 minutes before quitting time, waaaaay off down the hill. Now Kali and I can resume our morning walks...thank goodness! I took this picture of the garden and chickens from up in my parent's gazebo while I was hunting on Friday.



It was nippy last night, low of 15*! I worry about the chickens out there in the cold. They are so stupid, I'm certain they will forget how to get back into their coop and turn into hen-cicles. Their water was frozen, but they were fine...stupid as ever...couldn't figure out how to get out of their coop to where I temporarily put their food. We got a second waterer for them a month or so ago, so I can put fresh water out every day while the other one thaws.

The kitties, though, are staying toasty in their Kitty Kastle.



The girls finally wore me down with their begging for the Christmas tree, so we finally got it up and decorated this weekend. I already had the super glue out to fix a record number of 8 ornaments this morning. I'm hoping the casualties slow down in a couple of days after the novelty wears off a bit! The girls were busy downstairs with scissors, paper, glue and tape, and decorated the family room and their rooms with paper snowflakes and colorful paper chains. Now it is looking festive up here on the hill.



J's violin recital went without a hitch yesterday, and there was a good turnout to hear the 7 kids play. They all did great! The piece she played is called "Gavotte", written by J. B. Lully.




JP and I snuggled on the couch to watch "Love Actually" last night...one of our favorite movies with a Holiday theme...LOVE the beginning and ending footage of people hugging at an airport, it's lovely! That about sums up our weekend!

JP is currently out at the store, the girls are exploring in the woods, and I'm going to take this quiet opportunity to wrap a few gifts. I hope you all are starting to get into the Christmas Spirit too!