Snow Night, Snow Day

The holiday season has been busy and bright and wonderful and I have much to share, but I wanted to start with these pictures and make my way backwards through the month. We have been dreading WINTER since we found out we were moving to Pitty. Everyone has reminded us about how much it snows and how cold it is. Well, in the last few days we have learned the reality of WINTER.

We have had several dustings, but nothing that really stuck. Until the day after Christmas. We had big plans for a day at the museum. Everyone was up and dressed and we were almost ready to walk out the door when some form of frozen precipitation started falling. That quickly turned to snow and quickly covered the yard and streets. We ditched our plans for the museum and instead made a list of fun things to do during the day. Aside from playing on the computer and Ipad, the coolest thing we did was make a volcano. Doodle was pretty interested in putting in the baking soda

And she was pretty excited to add the food coloring. She was excited to add the vinegar too.

Until.....

Even though it scared her a little bit, we played with the volcano for a good while. Only after the first time she would only watch the eruption from a safe distance.

 

 

Doodle spent the rest of the day checking the progress of the snow out of the window. She begged me to take her out to play. I did not have snow pants and wasn't really interested in going out until the snow stopped. So I made her wait it out until after her nap. It just so happened that it was dusk by the time she got out to play. I didn't have snow pants, and Bubbie didn't have snow boots, so we weren't really so fun! But Doodle didn't seem to mind!

The next day the roads were clear and we spent the morning at the mall. Bubbie and Zayde got snow boots (and I got a second pair). By the time we got home and Doodle took a nap, it was dusk once again. And although it was late, I had bought snowpants, and Bubbie and Zayde had boots so the snow was a little more fun. And because it was getting dark, it was a little more magical too!

Bubbie and Doodle had a snowball fight!

And Zayde made her a number 8 to walk around! She thought that was pretty cool. Also, please not the glow from the neighbor's holiday display!

We awoke this morning to a fresh 3 inches of snow. Jenny and Stephen (who arrived a couple of days ago) were dying to take Doodle out to play in the powder. We all got geared up and got the snow tube blown up, thanks to Stephen and Doodle!

 

We spent the next two hours out in the back yard doing all things snowy! I am not sure who had more fun. Just look at the smiles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen and Jenny tried to get Doodle to help them make a snowman. This is as much as she was interested. At one point I think she even said "you can make the snowman and I will come look at it later! I am going down the hill again!"

Group picture with Shawn White the snow man with a snowhawk!

And even though it has been very very cold. And we have had to shovel. And taking the trash out is slightly more complicated. I am trying hard to hold onto these memories we are making and hoping those warm fuzzies will pull me out of the doom and gloom of the gray winter sky!

 

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Cereal, Sisters, and Superman!

Aside from the quick trip to VA and Thanksgiving, not much super exciting went on in our house. Just the usual mundane 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 parents kind of things.

 

SJ started eating cereal and was a pro both at eating it and making a mess with is. She has to be turned around backwards from everyone because she is so social she won't eat if she can see anyone!

 

Doodle continues to be absolutely in love with her sister. As a mother, I thought I understood unconditional love, and I do. But seeing how Doodle immediately loved SJ from the second she met her has been incredible to watch. SJ can do no wrong in the eyes of her sister! A few weeks ago, Doodle was lying on the baby gym with SJ. Zoe decided to join them. So of course I tried to get a picture of all 3 of my girls together.

 

What surprised me about the picture when I looked at it was how much Doodle and SJ look alike from this angle. Since looking alike is great when you are 4 here is a picture of the girls in some "matches" given to us by a family friend.

 

In other SJ news, we continue to stunt our child's development. You see, I have very unhappy infants. They cry. A LOT!!!! And putting them on the belly for tummy time makes them cry even more. So, we give up rather quickly. I have been trying to be better about making SJ spend some time on her belly. On this particular day we started out great!

And then things started to go down hill very quickly!

And by the time all was said and done (3 minutes later), I had taken her out of the boppy and put her on the floor. And I was left with a screaming superman baby!

 

 

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Dirty Dishes

When I was a kid, my Grandma Mantle used to come and stay the winter with us in South GA. I am sure it wasn't always easy to have her there for 3 or 4 months, but it allowed my brother and I to have a relationship with her that we wouldn't have otherwise had. I have an odd memory bank, and really only remember snippits of her times with us. I can vividly remember her helping me hand stitch a turkey for a project in my gifted class. I remember how angry she was the time I let a stranger bring me home after a bike wreck. And I remember clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen when she was around. She would constantly fuss at us for stacking the dishes. "If you stack the dishes, you will have to wash the bottoms too!" was her constant chorus as my brother and I cleared dishes and loaded the dishwasher each night. Her advice was falling on deaf ears as we knew nothing about hand washing dishes!

My grandmother died the summer I turned 10. Maybe that is why my memories are so foggy. It has been a long time! I do remember sitting in her apartment and going around in a circle picking things of hers to keep. I also remember my mom showing me the china that she had left me. My cousin Debbie was the oldest and my grandma gave this as the reason for letting her choose a set of china first. (she had 2 full sets so that she could maintain a kosher kitchen). I don't know what the set that Debbie chose looks like. I only know that the set that was left is beautiful and timeless. It is trimmed in gold and covered in bright flowers. I LOVE it! Each time it is used I think of her. Until recently, I haven't ever used it in my own home. Bubbie and I used it for Passover at her house, but never in my own home. That all changed over Thanksgiving this year. I sat on the floor and opened the cracked and faded china bags and lovingly found all the pieces I needed for our meal. I combined my grandma's china with the pattern that My Favoritest and I registered for when we got married. I think I did a pretty good job of complimenting the old with the new.

 

I know you think I have just ramble on and on, but I really do have a point that joins these two stories. Ever since my grandma's death, when I find myself flipping a dish over to wash the food off the bottom, I take it as a sign that my grandma is watching over me. I usually will even look up and give her a little nod. My cousin Jodi has seen a medium and had contact with our grandma, but this little reminder will have to do for me! After Thanksgiving dinner, I stacked all the china by the sink so I could hand wash it.

 

And as I flipped the first plate over to wash it, you know what I found! Food on the bottom.

 

And I knew she was watching over us and I hope she is proud of the woman, wife, and mother I have become. (And I hope she missed the bacon in the marinated green beans in one of her kosher serving pieces)

 

 

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Table For 3 Plus 1

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I am a fat girl at heart, so you know it has a little to do with the food:) But more importantly it has to do with consistency. As a military brat, there weren't many things in our life that were celebrated the in the same place with the same people year after year after year. Thanksgiving was the exception to that. The first year we lived in Valdosta (when I was 4) we were invited to "The Farm". It is the family farm of our adopted family, and we have gathered there almost every year since! Since my Favoritest and I got married, we have swapped years between his family and mine. Last year we didn't go anywhere, our parents came to us. This year, we didn't go anywhere, and we didn't have anyone come to us. I will admit, I put on a brave face to my mom and told her we would be fine. I was secretly sad and dreading the loneliness that I knew would creep in. And even though we missed all of our family, I will be the first to admit it was a wonderful day!

The weather was fantastic.

 

The kids were happy.

 

We had lots of spin time as a family!

Doodle helped me make stuffing like her Granny does (even though she didn't eat more than her required 3 bites)

 

 

We put SJ to bed early and had a nice dinner. I busted out the china and crystal. Doodle ate from my grandmother's dishes and my heart smiled.

I even used the china soup bowls from my Aunt Reva.

 

Although I am sure kraft mac and cheese was not quite what she imagined me serving in them!

 

It was a far cry from Thanksgiving last year when I spent the entire weekend worried about SJ! We have so much to be thankful for!

 

 

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Misses and Makeups!

So, I am going to jump backwards a little bit and talk about our failed DC adventure. To put it mildly, it wasn't at all what I had hoped for! The entire trip was a suprise to Doodle. And that is the only part that actually did work out! Here is a video of her when she realized that Bubbie was at the hotel! (I can't figure out how to put the video directly in here, so I had to use a youtube link)

I can't even remember what night we arrived at the hotel, because we only stayed one night! Stupid Super Storm Sandy ruined our plans! We did manage to have dinner with my cousin Jodi and it was worth the trip just to see her and have her meet my girls! Here are a few pictures from our one night stand in DC!

We arrived home from DC safe, sound, and sorely disappointed. I perked up and celebrated Halloween, but all the while sad for our missed adventure to DC and the trip to VA that was supposed to follow. To make matters even more somber, My Favoritest was studying for his pediatric cardiology boards. Otherwise known as his "we paid a bazillion dollars for you to take this test and it is only offered one day every TWO years and you really need to pass so we have a job and it is causing unbelievable stress in our house boards". So after much discussion (about a 5 minute conversation) Sisterwife and I decided the only prudent thing to do was evacuate the premisis so My Favoritest could study.

When traveling with an infant, time revolves around feeding and sleeping. Anything else falls by the wayside. Because of SJ's schedule I knew we would be arriving in VA a little to early to head to Sisterwife's house (she had some previous plans). Since we were going to have a little time to kill, I sent a text message to my friend Julie and we sort of invited ourselves to her house for a quick visit. Julie was Doodle's teacher when she was two, and we both fell in love with her! If you want to know why read this. Julie and I developed a friendship that has grown as challenges have crept up for us both. When I sat in the hospital on mag and movers at my house, Julie came and kept me company. When she has been dealing with issues with her kids, I hope I have been a supportive ear. Julie has a beautiful home with a million billion dollar view. She lives down a road at the top of Afton Mountain. I often drove past the road and thought you'd have to be carzy to live down that road! Or have an awesome piece of property with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains that will make you look out your window each day and know that God exists! It is that beautiful! Anyway, I digress. We stopped for a visit with Julie and her family. She has twins (Cole and Maddie), who Doodle thinks are the coolest kids in the world. Lucky for Doodle, they think she is pretty cool too. Lucky for me that they are super sweet, generous, and responsible kids who took Doodle out to chase chickens and play on the swing set so Julie and I could visit. It was a great start to our trip and my only regret is that we forgot to take a picture of the kids!

We spent a lovely few days in VA. Upon our arrival, Trouble started running a fever. For some folks this might put a damper on the visit, but not us. All it did was force us to slow down and stay home! Jayburb and Doodle had the best time playing. They did nothing but play for 2 whole days! Doodle went with Sisterwife and Jayburb to vote. She may or may not have voted against her Zayde's ticket, but she had a very nice civics lesson and will make sure you know not to ask who people voted for! Anyway, long story short, we had a great visit and took home lots of memories and Trouble's bug that we still haven't gotten rid of!

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