Snow Day Sleepover

Due the anticipated winter conditions, Devyn spent the night with us Wednesday night so she wouldn't be on the roads Thursday morning. She loved her sleepover until a stomach bug hit her at five o'clock this morning. She had a rough day but appears to be fully recovered already this evening.

I spy with my little eye......

Kate asked me to text our neighbor lady to invite her twenty three year old daughter to build a fort together. Not only did Caitlin agree, but so did her mom! Those lovely ladies spent several hours outside working with Kate on her fort. She came in this evening, sunburned and beaming. She is clearly very proud of the fort and has plans to finish it tomorrow. Sadly, the sub-zero temperatures tomorrow will likely prevent that from happening even though school has already been cancelled for the day.

Happening Here

Talking with Ty about bad guys and strangers is done in vain. He is a superhero and can take them all. He earned an early bedtime one night last week. I told him he could choose bedtime stories. Ty NEVER wants me to read to him. He prefers to make up his own stories; however, at his early bedtime, he was suddenly interested in six stories and the bible. Ahem. Well played, son. How on earth was I supposed to refuse to read the bible?

I may be running out of indoor entertainment. Spring needs to arrive. Soon.

Kate is wiped out. Practicing for state testing is the sole focus of school these days. I wish Indiana had an opt-out policy. This will all wrap up in time for a much deserved spring break later this month. She's still taking gymnastics and art classes through a local community center. Both are excellent outlets for her.

Kate found this chunk of ice on the trampoline this weekend. Rumor has it she'll have another ice seeking opportunity again tomorrow.

Makenna is in the throws of another theater production. She is attending school from 7am -3pm and then going to tech from 5pm-11pm daily. Her weekends have been consumed by it as well. They will have seven performances of Mary Poppins over the course of the next two weekends. We are looking forward to the end. It's a lot of running, lack of sleep, poor diet and high stress program. Mom is not impressed.

Sometimes we just need a sleep over on Mom's floor

Lauren is finally on her extended campus plan for school which means she only attends classes for a few hours each week. She has entered the management training program with McDonald's and made some decisions about her future career path. We met with a substance abuse counselor last weekend to discuss possible positions serving that community. Lauren's personality will likely be better suited within the criminal justice system rather than social work. She and I are touring a college offering both criminal justice and substance abuse programs later this month. She is pretty excited and looking back, it's easy to see how this could be her calling in life.

Erin wrapped up her internship last week and started as a full time employee with Aspen Dental this week. She loves her job, co-workers and not smelling like Subway at the end of the day. We are thrilled to see a little more of her since she is no longer balancing both jobs and school. Her official graduation is in May but she has finished the program with a 4.0. She is proud of her accomplishments and looking to move out on her own soon.

Brutus had a check up in early February. The vet is pleased with our old boy. I decided to put him on a grain free diet a few months ago and believe it's helping.  He looks great. His energy has increased and he's navigating the stairs again. He has little bursts of puppy like behavior and we love every minute of it.

Oliver is rotten. Completely rotten. I woke up this morning before my alarm and surprised the cat who had climbed into the cabinet, ripped open the Doritos and indulged in a snack. I never used child locks for my kids but may need them for Oliver. In typical Greg humor, he asks what else can be cut off the cat to calm him down because neutering him clearly didn't work.

Newport Aquarium

A month ago I realized I wouldn't have extra kiddos on February 23. I talked with Kate's teacher and arranged a personal day for her so she could go with us to the Newport Aquarium. They were once again offering two free kids with one paid adult. I invited Kristin and Avry to meet us. Lauren figured out what surprise I had planned and harassed me and her teacher endlessly until she was also cleared to go. Lauren loves sharks. We are all glad we went. It was a great day.

upside down jelly fish were beautiful

The sharks were a bit timid with busy little fingers so the boys didn't get the experience Kate and Lauren did.

The girls spent a great deal of time in this location. They loved it and talked at length about the different species they saw today on the way home. Lauren dreams of swimming with sharks in South Africa someday. Her mother would rather not think about it.

 

Yellow Bunnies

The weekend held more relaxation and desperate attempts to entertain the family. We are a bit stir crazy at this point. A wii bowling tournament over popcorn and ice cream commenced Saturday night after we shoveled the driveway and back deck. Kate and Ty were finally able to get back outside for a bit since the freezing rain subsided and temperatures rose to freezing. Fresh air, no matter how cold is always a good idea.

Greg and I slipped away with our final Christmas gift card to Longhorn for lunch today. It was as delicious as usual. We've barely connected the last few weeks so the uninterrupted meal was more than appreciated.

Kate rode with me to drop Makenna off at a friend's house this afternoon. The next thing we knew, we were in Target. It's crazy how that happens. I now own a sweet little rabbit figurine. It's yellow. And happy. And says spring will arrive. I promise it was worth the $3. Maybe it's just me but the tulips will be adorning the front door before the week ends because I am tired of depressing browns. Spring will happen. Soon, I hope. 

Arresting Elsa

So we're knee deep in day number five of snowed in, too cold to play outside and "oh my God will you just be quiet for five minutes!" My house is a disaster. Mopping is done in vain at least once every day. I am finding humor in places I shouldn't. Come heck or high water, we have to get out of here if even for ANOTHER grocery run. The food consumption this week has been insane. Three more inches of ice are expected overnight. I might cry.

Rumor has it the Harlan, KY police department has issued a warrant for Elsa's arrest. I second that motion. I want spring wardrobes, tulips and green grass. I need to send my children out of the house, even if for a few hours. Spring. I need spring.

It hasn't been all bad, this blistering cold week. The sun has come out almost every day and the bright white snow has elevated it's effect. I have caught up on some of the reading the lovely people at Amazon gifted me. Some recent favorites The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle,  A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson, Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The first three reminding me of the blessing of friendship and marriage. The last was raw and difficult but full of redemption too.

We've played all the games. We've worked on some school projects. We've baked and eaten too much. At one point, Lauren and Kate were holding me hostage for a High School Musical marathon and I about lost my ever loving mind.The weekend promises more of the same. My kindle and I will be curled up in hiding somewhere. Fortunately my parents were here last weekend so I still have some chocolate. There is a strong chance we will all survive two more days of this. Please let it be only two more days.

In adorable news, Ty wishes he had the money for a ninja costume. Until that day he has decided red on red on red works quite nicely.

Snow Days....

Erin's best friend got engaged this weekend. She's asked Erin to be the maid of honor. The wedding is in September of 2016 so Erin immediately signed up for Pinterest and has started planning. Justin has known for a year and a half he will be the best man in his cousin's wedding this May. He has so far failed to make the first plan. Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce to you the difference between men and women.

I worked on the kids' scrapbooks. I have completed Kate's final pages. From now on, her books will be digital. I have mixed feelings about this.

I ended up at Meijer today. The main roads are passable but not pleasant. Four kids piled into the van, desperate to get out of the house. We should have not needed a grocery run this soon but seven people in the same house for 48 hours tend to clear out the food pretty quickly. More snow is expected tomorrow. I don't mind being snowed in a few days here and there but the truth of the matter is that I am desperate to see spring's arrival. I always am.

The Weekend Review

We keep Valentine's Day pretty simple around here. There aren't expectations beyond a treat for the kids to share. As Greg likes to boast, the last time we celebrated Valentine's Day, we ended up with Lauren. It's not that we don't love Lauren, but she was totally God's idea. Anyway, this year was no exception. Trying to navigate when to give the kids a treat was the tricky part. Everyone has opposing schedules. So I decided to set things out after everyone went to bed Friday night so as they all started their Valentine's Day, they'd be met with a sweet reminder of our love for them. Kenna called from a friend's house Friday night requesting she get to spend the night. I reminded her of our valentines and she told me she didn't want to hurt her friend's mom's feelings because they have the same idea in their house. It's nice to know where I stand in these situations.

They all looked so cute chatting together until I picked up the camera. Teenagers are the least cooperative people on the planet sometimes.

My parents spent the weekend with us. Mom and I sat down today to search rental properties for the St. Louis area and booked a villa for Spring Break. We are now seeking an itinerary for all things free in St. Louis to entertain three generations. I think we'll love it. 

The Louisville Slugger Museum made the cut for today's activity when we learned about the $5 admission for this month. Ty loved it and wants to return soon. Finding his name throughout the museum amused him. "My name is here and not yours because I am famous".  In a round-a-bout way, Ty was sort of named after Ty Cobb. Greg's maternal grandfather was given the name George at birth but was such a great ball player, the community referred to him as Ty after Ty Cobb. When we were seeking names for our Ty, that story kept popping into conversations. I wanted John David but Greg's brother has John as a middle name after their paternal grandfather and we didn't want to use the name Brad may one day want to pass down. So, Ty David it is. It is famous after all.