Snow Day!

We totally got the snow day I had hoped for. It was only about 1.5" and the snow started to fall later than they predicted so the 3-hour early dismissal yesterday was for nothing (I was totally right to be skeptical of the larger predictions), but it was enough to cancel school today and plenty for the kids to enjoy. Safe to say Lorelai is a fan of her first real experience with snow, since the last time we got any real snowfall was when she was an infant.



Since we don't get snow very often, we don't have much snow gear, including a sled. Or a hill...so really the sled wouldn't have mattered much anyway. :)


Note that Lorelai is in a snow bib two sizes too small and one of the boys' old rain coats (because waterproof), and Aidan is wearing my Timberlands and my pants over his jeans. Make do with what you have, right?

While I was stuck inside on 3 hours worth of conference calls for work (although I popped outside a few times in between calls to crunch in the snow and snap some pics), they rummaged through the garage to find things to play with in the snow. Pool noodles, it is. It wasn't really good snowman snow and I was inside when they did snow angels (sad face), but they also cleaned off Adam's car and "shoveled" the driveway with those pool noodles. Needless to say, it's still covered in snow, which is even more packed down as a result of their work.


Not pictured: Adam, who was also inside working, and then traveling against my wishes over an hour away for work. :(

Eh, whatever. Because they had fun, just as I had hoped. It was magical to them, and they willingly came in as soon as their noses and fingers were numb (took over an hour though!) and they warmed up under blankets, sipping on hot chocolate, just like I had hoped.



It was a good day. Minus the whole numb fingers/can't get warm and having to work all day, of course. :)

Snow please?

I complain about cold weather a lot. Like a LOT. Because I hate to be cold. Because bundling kids up just to get out the door in the morning is a PITA. Because cold, dry weather makes my hands (and Logan's--holy whoa, his were bleeding the other day!) unbearably dry and cracked. Because of static hair everywhere.

But as much as I hate all of that, I really REALLY want to have a legit snow day. I'm not talking about a lame dusting like we had last week, I want multiple inches on the ground so we're snowed in. Forced to stay home under blankets on the couch sipping hot chocolate. Only going outside to throw snowballs and make snow angels until our noses and fingers get numb (but not a minute longer!).

Currently, we're in the 2-4" range but I wouldn't be mad at closer to 5". Although I'm even doubtful we'll get 2" given our track record...

Cold sucks, but snow is magical and beautiful. Especially if you live in a place where it's fairly rare. :) And especially when you have kids who haven't seen much of it. Experiencing snow through the eyes of my children makes me remember how giddy I always got at the prospect of a snow day when I was a kid.

Of course, snow days as an adult are completely different (the downside of being able to telecommute is that you don't really get a day off) but I can live vicariously.


January 2009. I think we got 4 or 5 inches?

But let's not be crazy--I'll be happy with one or two moderate snow storms a year. You northerners can keep your multiple feet of snow because we'd literally be snowed in for weeks if we got what you're getting. And then I'd be cold AND stir-crazy. No thanks! :)

Recommitting myself

From Halloween through Christmas is pretty much one big junk food grab fest for me. Combine that with lack of exercise due to time during the holidays and cold weather and voila: holiday weight gain. And I'm obviously not alone. So it's no wonder so many people make resolutions at the beginning of the year to start working out, get in better shape, yada yada. #duh

I haven't technically made any resolutions, but I have tried to recommit myself (not to the nut house, although I probably belong there sometimes) to better eating and fitness habits this year, and so far so good?



I'd say so. Considering that I haven't run at all in MONTHS, I impressed and surprised the heck out of myself with the run I had yesterday. It was a nice 50* sunny day so I figured I'd go out for a bit of a run. As I was headed out the door, I even told Adam that I didn't expect much, but I'd see what I could do. And what do you know, I ran 4.6 miles for 50 minutes straight. Sure, my pace wasn't the fastest (and even my best of 9:49/mi isn't all that fast) but I didn't stop or walk at all. And the best part? I know I could have kept going for at least a little while longer, but I had to stop because dinner was ready.

Honestly, I haven't been feeling that great about myself lately. My pants are tighter, which makes me uncomfortable and self-conscious about the extra pudge in my waist. Hopefully this running win is the motivation I need to keep at it.

In addition to that, I've been doing the plank challenge this month because my midsection is my worst trouble spot. Granted, not the full 30 days since I could already do a full 2min30 plank (basically started at day 17), but tonight I did my first 4 minute plank! I did NOT think it was possible to get past the already difficult 3m30, but mind over matter and I did it. The goal is to get to 5+ minutes, so I guess we'll see.

I've also been going to Zumba every Monday (clearly the cardio is paying off big time!), and there have been several Wii Just Dance sweat sessions since Christmas. A great way to get the whole family up and moving. :)

To top it all off, Adam and I are also seriously considering getting kettlebells to really help tone/firm. Anyone have experience or recommendations with those?!

Be Happy. Be Bright. Be You. I'm trying.

The Even Years

Coincidentally, it seems like almost all of the biggest and best things in my life happen in an even year.

In 1980 I was born.

In 1996 I got my first car and my driver's license.

In 1998 I graduated high school and started college.

In 2002 I got married.

In 2004 I had my first child. (I also lost my job at the beginning of that year, so it was a combination of the best/worst year. At least I ended on a high note.)

In 2006 I had my second child.

In 2010 I had my third child.


The biggest exception is 2001, when I turned 21 in May and graduated from college a semester early in December. And of course, the odd years when I conceived all of my children. :)


Even though we started the year off on January 1 with a sick little girl, I'm choosing to believe that's not an indicator of the year to come.


Lorelai had an unexplained high fever for a couple days and she was a pitiful little thing for a while there.


Fortunately, Adam is settling into his new job and I got very positive feedback on my annual review at work, so for the most part, we're starting off on the right foot.


And clearly the right foot means ridiculous and poor quality selfies at the stroke of midnight on NYE. Cheers to 2014!


I won't be having any babies or marriages this year, but I do have high hopes for 2014. Let's hope it doesn't disappoint!

Still in Christmas mode

I've decided that Christmas is kind of like a wedding--lots of planning, last-minute scrambling, and anticipation of the big day, then it's just...over. At least with a wedding, you usually have a honeymoon to enjoy afterwards. With Christmas, not so much.



Unless you're like me, and take vacation during the week between Christmas and New Years, stay hunkered down in full Christmas mode, spending as much time as you can with your family. I'm talking decorations still up, tree lights on, still watching Christmas movies in our PJs until the afternoon. Kind of like a Christmas honeymoon where you can still pretend like it's Christmas but all the stress is gone. I see so many people ready to get rid of all traces of Christmas the minute the last present is unwrapped, but not me.


The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause 2 and their new Skylanders Swap Force game were all enjoyed.


And when we got inevitably stir-crazy after sitting on the couch all day doing nothing, we headed out to Chili's with Christmas gift cards in hand. There were even still playing Christmas music on Saturday. :)



I don't go back to work until January 2, and I'm soaking in every moment of my time off, remembering all of the Christmas fun.


Eggnog and treats left for Santa, Twas the Night before Christmas in front of the tree.


And with that, I'll leave you with a big old photo dump of our wonderful Christmas, filled with family, fun and presents galore. But noticeably absent of any good (DSLR) photos or a single picture of the 5 of us together. It wasn't until we were packing up our stuff at the in-laws' and I grabbed my good camera that I realized I didn't use it at all and didn't get a picture of the cousins like my mother-in-law asked. I'm honestly bummed, but there's nothing I can do about it now except be grateful for the few photos I did get here and there during the day.

We started with a flurry of presents unwrapped at home.



Then we hit the road by 9am to spend the day with Adam's family. You want guaranteed chaos? Put 8 kids and 12 adults in a small room with a million presents. It's the best kind of chaos...if only we could have seen everyone's reaction when they opened all the presents we got them. But just try to tell those 8 kids to go one at a time. Yeah, not gonna happen. :)




Grandma Cheryl.


Cousins Luca and baby Piper. Lorelai was obsessed.



The kids played outside with some of their new toys.


Logan was so excited to try out his new hovercraft.

There was also eating, loom bands and plenty of lounging.



And look! I was even there, as proven by these ridiculous selfies. :)




Me and my boys. Missing my girl though, and a photo of the whole family.

By the end of the day, we were all beat and ready for a good night sleep. It was a simply great day.


Snuggle pile with Aunt Sarah, Luca, Lorelai and Scout.

Of course I'm sad it's over, but it'll be here again next year. And the anticipation until then is half the fun anyway. ;)

Wishing you love and cheer

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder




From our family to yours, Merry Christmas. Hope it's filled with love and cheer!

Enjoying the season

There have been way too many years that the Christmas season has passed me by in a flurry of stress. Where I'd been so behind on my holiday to do list that I barely had time to pause and truly appreciate the joy of the anticipation and the spirit of the season.



But I can honestly say that's not the case this year. Overall (aside from the whole job situation) I've felt the least stressed I've ever felt in the weeks leading up to Christmas that I can remember. Shopping wasn't a dreaded chore this year, thanks to online shopping and continuing the effort to pare down gifts for the kids. Presents are almost all wrapped, and I put together our Christmas card (digital only again, mailing cards one of the easiest things to drop off my to do list). We were also able to contribute to our local rescue mission's toy/book drive.



I did have a momentary freak out when I was trying to put together wish lists for me and the kids to give to family (why is it always so hard for me to come up with things I want??). But aside from that, there's been a lot of enjoying...

Driving around looking at Christmas lights.



Time off work (8 days!) to relax and spend time with family.



Making teacher treats.


No real baking this year. We did homemade white chocolate popcorn and 
pretzel hugs.


Daycare Christmas parties.



Watching Christmas movies.



Playing outside in spring-like weather.


Almost 80 a few days before Christmas?! I can't decide whether to be 
happy or sad. Or wishing for snow...

Finding Jack the elf every day.



Decorating my mom's tree, per a longstanding annual tradition of having a tree-trimming party.




All that's left on my to do list at this point (after we wrap the rest of the gifts today, of course) is to spend more time with family and wait for Santa to come. I can't wait...and I'm not the only one! :)