Snow day!!!

Since I grew up in Northern Indiana, I am used to seeing A LOT of snow during the winter. So when it snowed 9 inches last night, we were excited! The kids couldn't believe all of the white "cakes" all over the place (snow on the patio tables, slide outside etc). So Tommy and I bundled up the kids (took about 20 minutes), made sure no one had to potty, got the kids outside, pulled them to the end of the neighborhood in their sleds, climbed the mountain of snow in the cul-de-sac and then back inside (about 30 minutes), into the bathtub, and then grilled cheese and warm soup for lunch! While one could question whether the effort (20 min of get-ready time) is worth the actual playtime (30 min today), I can assure you the squeals and laughter was worth it! A perfect snow day!

It never fails, in the middle of winter, I am thinking of summer, and in the middle of summer I am thinking of winter! So here is the wintry picture of our home, I can revisit this summer when it is 95 degrees with 100% humidity. Good thing I LOVE change, including the change of seasons!

I should have snapped a picture of Logan's "boots". Sadly we haven't purchased him any this winter. Since we don't get alot of snow, I think we just forgot. So we put baggies over his socks and some of Olivia shoes (since they were bigger). This momma could hold her own on Alaskan Survivor!!! :)

1001 Things it means to be a mom...(The good, the bad, and the smelly)

#452: Being a mom means using the TV to entertain your child while you make dinner - and then feeling guilty about it.

#475: Being a mom means going to bed in tears because you screamed at your child who screamed at you for two hours.

#491: Being a mom means having a toddler throw a temper tantrum in the mall and assuming everyone is judging you when they're actually feeling sorry for you.

#495: Being a mom means not forgetting the bread when you go see the ducks. Or - if you forget - stopping at McDonald's, buying a hamburger, throwing away the meat, and then heading to the park.

and my personal favorite:

#512: Being a mom means being overwhelmingly busy of stiflingly bored. Often in the same day.

(From the book by Harry H Harrison, Jr.)

Girls trip to Chicago!!!!

Jill, Jamie and I took the train to Chicago this weekend for some girl time! We had a nice lunch in South Bend, sat on the train and talked the entire time without interruption! It was fabulous! Then came the shopping, eating, more shopping, dancing, laughing, more shopping, eating and another train ride of talking (I still don't think we had enough talking time!). It was so much fun!

It was fun to talk about old high school and college memories, the kids, being a mom, and make some new memories too. We got to celebrate Jamie's birthday together and I can't wait to go next year! Love you girls!

I have to brag about my favorite purchase! I got these shoes at Ann Taylor for $8! I am so excited! (Don't tell Tommy, but that isn't Olivia in the shoes! :) )

Hugs, Kisses and I love you's

The # of times I swept the floors today - 2
The # of spills I wiped up - 3
The # of times I heard "Mommy!" while folding 1 load of laundry in the bedroom - 10
The # of times Olivia asked me for more pink milk - 6
The # of times I asked her to finish her breakfast, lunch or dinner first - 6
The # of times Logan took off his underwear and brought them to me - 6
The # of times Logan took off his underwear and I had to go look for them - 8
The # of times Logan pulled my hair accidentally -5
The # of times Olivia said "MOM! Logan is in trouble!" - 5
The # of markers missing their lids after coloring time - 12
The # of markers STILL missing their lids - 2
The # of times Logan lost "Big Jet" - 6
The # of times I stopped everything to find "Big Jet" - 6
The # of times I tried to go to the bathroom by myself - 4
The # of times I actually went to the bathroom by myself - 0

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The # of hugs and kisses from Logan - 13
The # of "I Love you mom"s from Olivia - 6

The hugs, kisses and 'I love you's' have it. It was a great day.

Communication - ever changing...

I have been thinking alot about communication lately, about how our generation is communicating in ways that are so foreign to our grandparent's generation. I have heard stories of 'back in the day' when friends and family would just 'stop by' - no phone call (no cell phones), perhaps they were just out and about and decided at the last minute to stop. I remember the days when my mom would be on the phone and have to STAY IN THE KITCHEN because the phone cord was only so long. I remember sweating on the way home, cutting curfew a little too close (if I would have had a cell phone, I could have called!).

Thanks to the cordless phone, I don't have to stay in the kitchen to talk on the phone. I am usually multi-tasking (thanks to either my cell or cordless phone). I can start dinner, help Olivia cut out a heart out of paper, check my email, and find a lost toy/cup for Logan all during a typical 20-minute phone conversation. And more often than not, my "conversations" with my friends and family are done without even talking! Due to email, blogs and now Facebook.

While it certainly is easier and much more efficient to have "conversations" this way, I can't help but wonder what my great, great grandparents would think. And while my generation relies very heavily on emails, Facebook and texting, I can only imagine how our kids and even their kids will be communicating in the future. Alot of the "facetime" has been removed (funny they chose to call it "Facebook", perhaps "Computerbook" would have suited it better).

I had 3 old-fashioned conversations today, on the phone. Mom - we covered her visit with Olivia; Jamie - we covered our trip to Chicago; and Dotty - we covered the peanut butter recall. (Just thought I would document this in the event that 30 years from now, we don't even use phones anymore). :)

All this to say, I am all for change. I LOVE email, blogs and Facebook. I LOVE my cell phone and feel helpless if I accidentally leave the house without it. I also LOVE to talk on the phone, but my kids seem to have radars and when I get on the phone, they suddenly need EVERYTHING, RIGHT NOW! I am excited about all of the old friends I am in contact with again via Facebook, and I love to document our lives via our blog. But I am exhausted just writing this. 30 years ago, my post would have simply said "I love our phone. The stuck-to-the-wall phone".

Dear Olivia,

Daddy and I are so proud of the big sister you have become to Logan. We pray that you two will be close forever. You often ask, first thing in the morning, when Logan will be awake so you can play. You are a big help to us now, helping him get dressed and undressed, teaching him colors and letters, letting us know if he has gotten into trouble. You know all of the ways to make him laugh. You let him tackle you with his BIG bear hugs. Thank you for not complaining too much when he accidentally knocks you down, I think you must know he really just loves you that much!

I have seen your love for Logan shown in a very special way this past week. When he gets into trouble and I ask him to sit against the wall, (at which point he really starts crying) you come rushing over and you sit with him. Thank you for being such a great big sister. You and Logan are our little angels.

Love,

Mommy

4-year-old logic

Olivia is constantly keeping us on our toes with some thought provoking questions and concepts...

We have been working with Olivia on greater than, and less than numbers. She is really grasping this concept, but is confused about God. In her class at church they sing a song "God is #1". She is confused because 1 is less than all of the other numbers.

Olivia: "Mom, if God was number #10 I bet he would be big enough to lift up our whole house!"
Me: "Actually, #1 is the best, biggest number for God, it means he is the MOST important"
Olivia: Blank stare, followed by "But 10 is bigger than 1"
Me: Sigh.
__________________________________________

Olivia: "Jesus is in my heart!"
Me: "You are so right Olivia! He is helping you be such a good girl!"
Olivia: "Was Mary sad when the bad men wanted to kill Jesus?"
Me: "Yes, it was a very sad time, but it ended up good!"
Olivia: "Mom, it can't be good, they were hurting him!"
Me: sigh.
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Olivia: "How can God and Jesus be the same person?"
Me: sigh. "It is really hard to understand..." followed by a winded explanation.... I am sure she started to tune me out.


I hope I am not failing this part of motherhood. Thank goodness God promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it, sometimes I just need it FAST! :)

Places to visit this year

I am compiling a list of places we would like to visit this year (either as a family or just with Tommy)...

1. The Creation Museum - Cincinnati
2. Wright Patterson Air Force Base - Dayton (Logan LOVES airplanes)
3. Indianapolis library (remodeled) - Downtown
4. Indianapolis Museum of Art - Date with Tommy
5. Easley vineyards - Southern Indiana
6. Cincinnati Zoo
7. Turkey Run State Park - The kids LOVE the trails!


I would like to add to this list, any ideas? Tommy and I have a trip to the Florida Keys planned in February (really looking forward to that!!!) I think I am really ready for spring, because I have been bit by the travel bug! Anyway, if you have any ideas, send them my way!

Hugs from Indy!

Also: please note our new email address

Winter pick-me-up

Winter blues got you down? Try this tropical expression to cure your depression!

In case you can't read the poster, it is:

Raggae Jam

1 tall glass of ice

3 parts Reggae Red wine

1 part coconut rum

garnish with an orange slice

Enjoy!

Raggae Passion

1 tall glass of ice

3 parts Raggae Blush wine

1 part pinapple run

garnish with a slice of line

Happy New Year!

My new year's resolution is something I have given alot of thought. Thought about how I can learn to appreciate and savor life's everyday, un-exciting (to others) moments. I want to learn to just sit back and watch as things unfold in our everyday life. For instance, when Olivia bursts into song, I want to sit and watch and listen and take mental pictures of the moment, instead of hurrying onto the next thing on my to do list. I want to stop stressing so much about the clutter (let's face it, when there are kids, there is clutter!) and just enjoy the fact that we have a nice home and lots of clutter to fill it, because the clutter is our clutter and somehow it makes the kids happy and I hope secure. And when the kids take their 45 minute baths, which is now part of our almost everyday routine not because they are so dirty but because it makes them happy, I want to savor their laughter instead of trying furiously to clean up all of the water. There are SO many moments in our days, that can be quickly over looked in our busyness. I don't want to be 20 years down the road and say that I can't remember what we used to do, or the sound of their laughter or the endless chatter, that I really do love but sometimes want to tune out. I will have plenty of time to enjoy a quiet house when the kids are grown, for now, I want to enjoy the wonderful, noisy, busy, blessings God has given me. Happy New Year, God Bless and hugs to all of my blog buddies.