Things You Don't See Every Day

Glowing snowmen



Kitty gifts



Being prepared (reserve buckets of water in the shower)




Decapitated flamingos



Poodles drip-drying in the shower



Hexagon shaped houses in the snow

Tag! You're It!

J is off at Public School today with her friend. I've already taught L to play solitaire, cut out the coupons from last Sunday's paper, helped L make a bead craft, and researched tractor cup holders on the internet.

This whole time, however, I can't get this silly song out of my head.



Now you've got it!

Deja Vu

I'm nervous. The last time it snowed this heavily for this long, our power was out for 8 days. I've already shovelled twice in front of the garage, and filled up the wood bin on the back porch.

JP couldn't make it up our driveway this evening (which has not yet been cleared), so Dad had to pull him up with the tractor. He is now putting chains on the truck, and asking about stocking up on water.

Our giant generator is still sitting in the barn in the original box...not hooked up and ready to roll.

I am going to go get a shower so that I don't miss the chance.

Ack!

A Week in Pictures

It has been another crazy week on the Ridge. Actually, it was one of the smoothest weeks we've had lately, I just felt a bit stressed, due to starting my new job while managing the homestead on my own!

Good news: Work was great, and JP made it home safely from TX Friday night!

We started the week with mist in the valley and ice every where else.

The girls were "skating" in front of the garage while still in their jammies.

The new work clothes I ordered arrived and were in perfect shape despite the way we found the box.



Later in the week we got 6-8 inches of snow overnight. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to shovel out in front of the garage, where snow had drifted to a foot deep in places. I ended up with this pile of snow, that came up to my waist. My Dad scooped it away with the tractor in about 2 minutes.



JP was initially unable to find his truck in the long term parking at the airport as it was completely buried in snow.

Yesterday, we enjoyed being together again as a family. We also went to Outback to celebrate my birthday with a big old chunk of beef and a bloomin' onion. John made this delicious cake, studded with an entire pound of crushed Heath bars!



JP and I have been trying to decide what to do with our mattress lately, as it is no longer comfortable, but only 7 years old. We finally decided to do surgery. We removed the pillow top from the combo mattress/box springs...



and replaced it with 2 - 2 /12 inch memory foam mattress toppers from Sam's Club. Ahhhhh!


Tonight the Steelers won the AFC championship and are Super Bowl bound...wooooo!

It ended up being a pretty good week after all

Missed the Munchkin's Birthday (again)

During the hustle and bustle of our crazy Christmas with my even crazier family, little L turned a whopping 5 years old! The day didn't pass by completely without celebration, as it does some years. (Usually Dec. 27th is the day we are travelling home from where ever we have been celebrating Christmas.) She got more Birthday wishes than normal, and we celebrated at Sarris Ice Cream Parlor with 2 of their "Sundaes for Four", which was more than enough for all 14 of us!

A couple of days later, Grandmom made a cake to celebrate birthdays for both L and her cousin, who turned 6 on the 31st.

It wasn't until the beginning of January that we went out for her Birthday meal (our family tradition is to go out to eat at the place of the Birthday Girl or Boy's choice) and had her special cake. She chose Golden Wok (our local average Chinese buffet) for dinner, and a pink poodle cake for later.



Now the munchkin is officially a big girl!

Missing My "Tweet"heart

I'm doing the single parent thing this week while JP is learning about Hyperbaric treatment down South. It hasn't been too bad, but I'm getting tired. Luckily, this week I started my job, so I have actually had interaction with adults and been away from my children for a few hours. It was much needed, let me tell you!

The thing I miss the most is the constant companionship. Since he's been home for the past 6 weeks, we've had micro-conversations all day long. Now he's in class from 7 AM to 5 PM or later, and we just get a short phone call at night when he tells the girls "goodnight" before he starts studying.

I'm not a Twitter person, but I can definitely understand the appeal it might have to some people. You can continue to have those micro-conversations all day long, even when you are at work, or even (if you must) in the bathroom.

We recently bought new cell phones which include a limited monthly texting plan. I hadn't ever texted before either, but it is a great way to get in touch with JP while he is far away. He knows we're thinking of him, and it's the next best thing to having him here.

Just a few of our notes:

Monday 8:52 AM
Conference to start soon. Have a GREAT day with Dr. P. Give my love to you and the girls. Welcome back to the adult centered work force (vs. Motherhood) :) Love, JP

Monday 10:32 AM
got it. luv u.

Monday 5:58 PM
girls r going to bed early tonite - 7:30 ur time. plz call early
(DESPIRATION)


Tuesday 8:28 AM
mornin babe! 32 & sunny here but ice everywhere. girls r skating in thr jammies

Tues 8:28 AM
Not much going on. Already in lectures. Way too early start. JP
(TIME DIFFERENCE 1 HOUR EARLIER IN TX)

Tues 11:51 AM
i love you daddy (heart)
that was from j
i love you daddy (heart) lam


Wednesday 9:14 AM
hope ur havin an ok AM.

Wednesday 10:00 AM
still waking up. JP

Wednesday 8:31 PM
i love you daddy good night (heart) j
lam i love daddy (heart)

Wednesday 10:35 PM
miss u. luv u. wish u were here. (heart)


Thursday 7:59 AM
didn't sleep well last nite. nerves?

Good morning. Class has started. JP

Thursday 12:31 PM
fun time in or! how r u?

Ok, but still in class. Glad OR went ok. JP


He's home tomorrow night, and I can hardly wait!

1-16-11

Got the last of the "Holiday Cards" sent out: Check.



Watered the plants on the high shelf with the help of the step ladder: Check.

Finished pile of mending: Check.

Ironed JP's shirts, helped him pack, and got him on the way to Houston: Check, check & check.

Ordered new clothes for work since the condition of the ones in the closet is pathetic: Check.



Sledding and snowball fights with the girls: Check.



Going to bed in preparation for re-joining the work force in the AM: Check.