Sunday, February 25, 2007

Snowy Day Scenes

We've been experiencing some serious snow here in Minneapolis over the past couple of days. Here are some pictures of our day . . .

Poor Mr. had to work at 5AM, and therefore dig out his car at that time. These are his footprints as they appeared hours later.
Our neighbor's backyard swing -- not looking too inviting.
When Daddy came home, Miss got some play time in the snow.
She also helped Daddy with the shoveling.
After the shoveling was complete, Daddy demonstrated a snow angel. Miss decided that she would rather stay dry than attempt such a thing.
Master was restricted to the indoors, but enjoyed looking out and saying "Snoooooowwww" all day long.
He and I enjoyed staying warm together.

Monday, February 19, 2007

A Favorite Picture


Taken around Christmastime, this is one of my favorite pictures of Master. I thought that it was worth an entry, in and of itself.

In the midst of a stressful day, he just always makes me smile.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

On Valentine's Day . . .

Some of the things and people I love:

1. Grape Nuts. Those lovely, crunchy, teeny little nuggets are my #1 craving thus far in my pregnancy. OK, and chocolate. But, I'm trying to avoid the chocolate as much as possible, so I'm glad that my love for Grape Nuts is seeing me through.

2. My Community Bible Study class. The littles and I had a great time there today. Miss made some very cute Valentine crafts, and was super-thrilled by the opportunity to eat graham crackers covered with pink frosting. It is so wonderful to be able to attend a good, in-depth Bible study in a setting where the kids have such fun each week.

3. The little *BOY* growing inside of me. Mr. and I had a wonderful time seeing the little guy wiggle and spin around via ultrasound on Monday. It is so amazing to see his development at 12 weeks. We were thrilled to see that he is growing well, and we can't wait for August 28th!

4. Competent doctors. The testing that I experienced on Monday (in order to determine the genetic condition of our little guy) was made so much easier by doctors who clearly knew what they were doing. They were efficient, helpful, caring, and thorough. I love, love, love the doctors at the University of Minnesota hospital, and I would send them all Valentines with chocolates and flowers if I could afford such a thing.

5. Our extended family. We have received support in person and from far away this week, and that has made all the difference in making a stressful situation so much easier.

6. Of course, the littles. They amaze me every day. Whether that be because of a new concept Miss is discussing with me, because of a new word or phrase used by Master, or because they are laughing on the couch while blowing raspberries on each other's tummies. Never knew it would be so much fun to watch them grow.

7. And, my husband.

Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from it's green sheath.

-- L.M. Montgomery

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 02, 2007

Ready or Not

"Even hearty, winter-weather-loving Minnesotans may get into trouble this weekend; frostbite on unprotected skin is possible in less than 10 minutes."

These words from our favorite weatherman, Paul Douglas, in The Star-Tribune, greeted me this evening as I checked on the weather for tomorrow morning. You see, I am attending a women's book study meeting at our church tomorrow. I am excited to go, because the book is interesting, the women are interesting, and I am looking forward to a little time away from the house after many days of nursing the sick littles.

I am not, however, looking forward to wind chills of -30. Yup, you read it right. The *high* temperature tomorrow is supposed to be -2. In the face of this information, all that I can do is thank the Lord for modern heating systems in our home and in our cars. I can be thankful for my nifty Land's End parka that has been sitting in my closet unused for the last couple of months, but will now come in oh-so-handy. I am thankful for long underwear, thick socks, insulated shoes, and hot beverages. I am thankful that I do not have to leave the house very often in these frigid temperatures, unlike my husband, who must brave them everyday in order to go to work. (Thankfully, he does not mind the cold and actually volunteers to leave the house, in spite of these insane temperatures, quite frequently).

I am reading Little House on the Prairie aloud to Miss right now. I cannot imagine living without heat, and I especially cannot imagine living without heat and with an *outhouse* for bathroom accommodations. When I begin to complain about enduring the cold in order to run to my heated vehicle, I realize that I am truly blessed. And truly spoiled.

I will let you know if I survive the mad dash between the house, car, and church building. Without frostbite. Tune in tomorrow.