T-i-r-e-d of the C-O-L-D

I am about done with this cold weather! Day after day of freezing cold temps with a little wind is wearing me out. There just isn't something right about getting excited about the idea of the high for the day reaching 36. I don't mind the snow of winter (unless it gets in the way of my travel plans :)). I would rather see the white stuff then brown, matted down grass and yuck mud. And kids, coats & car seats. Uugh. I so love summer! Bring on the humidity!

And how about that poor man in Michigan who froze to death in his own home because the power company turned off his power. He had ice cycles hanging off of him when they found him! That is just plain wrong. I need to get in touch with my mom. I haven't talked to her for a while and I need to make sure she isn't frozen. Since they live in the country and have to buy their own fuel oil, they keep the temp at 59 in their house during the day when no one is home and maybe bump it up to 64 in the evenings. Usually if I call her shortly after she has gotten home she is sitting with her coat still on trying to warm up! I just read on Facebook this morning (that thing IS good for something) that you can buy those Snuggies at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I think I am going to get my mom one to replace the PJ's I bought her for Christmas that didn't fit and were returned.

Stay warm everyone!

Advice for the Coach

I have had several things running through my mind that I could share on this BLOG (don't worry it's not more poop). :) But real quick before I take Shelby to school I wanted to post a funny. As Nate was leaving this morning she said to him, "Bye daddy. Remember, if you don't land it, keep on swinging it". He asked her where she heard that. She said from her baseball movie (Everyone's Hero). A little piece of advice for the baseball coach. It's important to keep learning new things you know. After Nate was gone she went to the drawer and pulled out an index card and pen. As she pretended like she was writing she said out loud, "Dear players. If you don't land it, keep on swinging it. From Shelby". And it's amazing how the ideas spread. Next thing you know here comes Morgs out of the toy room with a baseball that she throws across the kitchen floor!

A Reason To Be Proud

Morgan has mastered potty training. She now only wears a diaper to bed and a pull-up for long trips in the car to grandma's house. She has not had any accidents and will go do her job when needed. And the girl can poop! Who knew so much could be stored in one little body?!? This morning after returning from taking Shelby to school and making a few stops, she headed into the bathroom. And boy did she have to go! She left so much in the little potty she agreed it was photo worthy! So I thought we would share. :) The amazing thing is 1 hour later after picking Shelby up from school she headed right back into the bathroom and did it again! It's a good thing she knows to turn the fan on too. Shelby walked in and said, "Oh, Morgan Aaron"!

Oh Happy Day!

Today we went to pick up our Mini Van! The girls and I are so much more excited about it than Nate, but he has come a long way from 3 years ago. My SUV was a 3 year lease that will soon expire. 3 years back when it was time to get that vehicle, Nate and I went round and round about getting a van or not. I was for it and he was dead against it. We had Shelby at the time and I was due with Morgan in a couple more months. My thoughts were that the only sensible vehicle for us was a van, but sensible does not win over man's ego. I settled for the SUV but told him in 3 years I would have that van. It is missing a few features that I wish it had like automatic sliding doors or tailgate, but it does have the DVD and a third seat for other passengers! And around these parts I so looked forward to the sliding doors. I no longer have to worry about open doors bumping other cars in the wind while struggling with getting kids in and out of car seats! Oh and how nice that will be in our garage that seems so tight! Funny thing is that is something my husband frequently grumbles about but it took 3 years of me pointing out how much easier van doors would be in our garage for him give in! :) Thanks Nate!

Brrrrr!!!!!!!!!

It's days like these that make me so very thankful to be home and have no place I have to go. Yesterday's snow and today's cold temperatures (currently 15 below) helps me realize how lucky I am to be home. After commuting to work 30 miles 1 way for 8 years, I have not missed that winter drive. And the idea of having to pack up a couple of kids to get to the sitter is no fun either. You would be lucky if your car was actually warm by the time you got to where you were going. And that is if your car started at all! Today might be one of those days the mail just stays in the box. Keep warm everybody.

Close To Trained

Morgan has been working hard at using the potty. She hasn't had an accident for awhile and has worn panties to church 3 times and to a birthday party last night without any problems. She has her goal of receiving a Scooter like big Sis when she is trained. It will be nice to not have to buy diapers anymore, except for at night for awhile. Good job Morgie!

Christmas Memories

For awhile now I have talked about posting a few pics from Christmas. Now that the holiday hustle and bustle, travels and joy are behind us, I find myself feeling guilty for probably buying too much "stuff" and thinking I need to find a way to cut back for the future. I suppose that would be sticking to the list I have created and not picking up things as I see them while out shopping. I so often find things I know they could use or like but I never thought about before seeing them on the shelves in the store. Shelby has already started her list for next year (never a good sign) and has even created for herself a Valentines Day list. I hope she won't be disappointed to know for that holiday we usually buy a new Valentines book and maybe a DVD. Tonight she said she wanted a doll for a Valentines gift. I told her she wouldn't be getting another doll for quite a while. She said she wanted 13. I told her to go count. She probably has already met that goal or is at least close enough! The other thing I feel guilty about is the fact that we probably didn't put enough focus on the Reason for the Season like we should. Goals for next year I guess.

Christmas Eve Eve

Since we would be in Wisconsin on Christmas day, the girls opened their presents on Christmas Eve morning. Shelby prepared the way for Santa by opening the fireplace doors and leaving a note and snack for him on the little table in front of the doors. I found this when I came down from putting Morgan to bed. I was impressed by her note to Santa. I knew she could write the letters in her name so I thought maybe daddy helped her with the others. He said no, she did it all herself. I was impressed because we don't do a lot of "teaching" around here outside of reading and coloring. Me as teacher and her as student just does not work! So I am sure pre-school has helped as well as a few other tools she has. I'll keep this short so I can play Hungry Hippos with Morgs before we go pick Shelby up from school.

Misc Thoughts

There is so much I could post I have just been staying away. I've been busy taking down the tree and actually finishing decorating for the rest of winter. I said before I just gave up on my decorating and left shelves empty. I'm making progress in the basement in getting things back in order. That space becomes the holding spot for gift wrapping and decorations. I need to get that in order so we can start working on tearing that up to find out why the floor leaks when we get a bunch of rain or melting snow at one time. So we just move from one thing to another. Speaking of - if it's not one thing, it's another or water, I woke up the other night about 1:30 wet. Slightly dazed I realized since I don't pee the bed, the bed was peeing on me! We have a water bed that was left to us by the previous home owners. It had a few patched areas from her dropping needles when she would sew in bed! It seems one of those patches close to my butt was wearing away. It is just a tiny hole but it got me plenty wet. Of course this happens when Nate is out of town. I did a temp fix with duct tape and today went to a swimming pool store to buy a pool patching kit. There really aren't too many water bed stores around anymore so that seemed to be a good alternative. We'll see if it works. I haven't decided if I will try to sleep in the bed tonight or on the couch. Speaking of bed, I think I will head for some sleep. Maybe next time I will work up the time for posting some pictures from Christmas. Sorry for the babble.