Hello 2011

Our Valentines Built An Igloo

We got a couple more days of snow here where it never snows. Not quite the sledding days that we had in January. But several inches that were fluffy and stuck for a few days. Kids were able to sled on the grass on the hills, but not on the roads. I think during one of the snowstorms that came through, there were the largest flakes I had ever personally seen. They were the size of half dollars and so numerous for about thirty minutes to an hour. It was a magical sight to these eyes not used to snowstorms! The kids worked many hours into the day and night constructing this igloo you see here in process. It has blocks formed from the red treehouse bucket as well as from an old full cambro pan from the stores. The door was created by Alex from what he found in the neighbors wheelbarrow. I am very impressed with the igloo's solid construction as well as the lighting and heat system that has been designed for it during indoor hours out of the cold. It has been a joy to watch these guys build their fantastic foxhole in the snow!

SnowDay!

Sledding down Bankhead.......

She Likes Shiny Things

As a mother of four kids, who are often all with me, and who like to go places, I am constantly given unfortunately unthoughtful commentary by complete strangers as we are out and about. Perhaps some of you get this sort of thing when you are out with a joyful child or not so joyful child, or maybe you remember this from when you had a young child long ago... You know, the grocery store chatter along the lines of, "Wow, you have your hands full!" or "Are all these kids yours?" or the favorite "I could never do what you are doing!" (shopping with kids, spending your day with your kids, have an energetic kid....not sure what they couldn't do?) I always think of the good one liners hours later, too late to make a difference and hard to remember for next time, because the insensitive quip is always different. I still haven't quite figured out what the intent is of these comments, anyone? I am always internally enraged at the audacity of someone to say such things to another person and to say something so deragotory about the tiny people with me within earshot! I am frozen in the moment but really quite incensed that they spoke so unkindly to these precious people with me! Owen, our little ambassador, never afraid to speak his thoughts and generous with information to all folks, especially strangers, gave me my one liner this evening. It fits all commentary and will give me such joy and peace to use it from now on. As we left Tae Kwon Do all coated up with bags and library books and movies, a lady in front of me said, "Oh, are all these kids yours, what a handful?!" Owen ran right up to her and exclaimed, "She likes shiny things!" So whether he understood her or not, he gave more insight than I have ever been able to verbalize in one sentence. Owen, I do like shiny things, and I love and cherish each shiny little person in my life wherever we are and whatever you all are doing. Thank you Alex, Emma, Owen and Inde for bringing shine to your mom and dad's life!

Happy New Year

it's sparkling cider despite the lovely cutting of the eyes....Happy New Year to All!