The Fort

Jonathan spent a wonderful wknd in Florida with his youngest brother. They had a blast! Unfortunately, I have not pictures to post yet. But, I took the boys to Indiana to do some visiting of our own. We really scored in the fact that Greyson (one of my sister's boys) was in town at my parents AND my niece Kami had her 2nd baby! So we were able to do some extra visiting which is always such a highlight. Hen and Wy had a blast with Grey - he is 3 yrs, so he is smack dab in b/t my boys which made it fun for everyone. Kami had a little boy and named him Lukas (sp??) -- he was a little over 6 lbs and sooooo cute!

More snow

Almost have 2 ft of snow on the ground... I'm not sure who is having more fun... Jonathan or Henry?? They spent about 2 hours outside today building snow tunnels --- and taking down dangerous icicles. Jonathan actually spent another hour after Henry went in "finishing off" the snow tunnels and pathways. For the valley, there is a crazy amount of snow on the ground!

Winter Storm Warnings

It's not often, living in the Miami Valley, that we get two winter storm warnings in a 7-day span. So, you can imagine our excitement when our pastor mentioned on Sunday that we might get another 6-9 inches. I thought he was joking. But the meteorologist in me ran home Sunday night and the first thing I did (even before checking the Super Bowl score) was check weather.com. Now that Jonathan is a principal, life isn't near as exciting when we get snow days as when he was a teacher. However, I still have it in my head that it is a "snow day" and I tend to forego my typical responsibilities at home!! On Saturday, after our first snow blast, we had so much fun with the boys. We shoveled the driveway, and then spent an hour or so in the woods playing down by the creek. It was absolutely gorgeous and God's creativity was surely on display. It was so easy to highlight for the boys. And again found myself being so thankful for the seasons!! Can't wait to see what He brings us this time!

Meteorology

I keep telling Jonathan that our boys must go to college and major in meteorology. How hard can it be to say a storm will start at 6am, but then it really starts at 4pm, and then all day long change your accumulation predictions? It sounds more like a game to me! :) Took these pics at 1pm, 5pm, and 8am this morning.

Meanwhile...

... while my Dad was slaving away, we were busy going to fabric stores, Trader Joes, Kohl's, making pillow cases, starting tomato and pepper plants, teaching Henry new 'sight' words (and teaching him his phonemes... my husband would want me to say!), buying vitamins, making soups upon soups, making the guys try the soups upon soups, fixing pants, making granola, loving on kids, exercising and the list goes on. We were tired at the end of each day!!! But not as tired as Dad... :) We had a blast! The house feels quiet today with no saws going in the basement and no Buck (the yellow lab) walking around the house. It was a wonderful 8 days!

My Dad

My Dad is a real stud. For 70 years old, he is an amazing health and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to anything handy. Actually, handy is an understatement. He does amazing work which is due much in part to his perfection-like mentality (his greatest strength and greatest weakness my mother would say!). He has never done a stair rail before, and this was no easy task. He studied, did some Internet searches, asked the guys at Home Depot (who didn't know much at all!), looked in the DIY books, etc. And his product came out absolutely perfect. It is beautiful! We baked him a giant cookie one night... it tasted great, but it wasn't that impressive to look at :)

Last week...

... we started what we thought was a 3-day visit with my parents. They were coming b/c my Dad had agreed to let us pay him to do all our trim in the basement, finish off the posts, and put in a stair rail. The visit turned into 8 days! It was wonderful! Well, I should say it was wonderful for my Mom, me, and the kids... my Dad might say otherwise! :) We did a little b-day celebration for Wy, but Henry got a gift too. Doesn't every good Grandma do that?? :)

The boys discovered they loved green smoothies! I think this one had cucumbers, spinach, pineapple, bananas... and a few other odds and ends. They both drank a ton and kept asking for more. I'm onto something new now... if they won't eat salad, I'll just blend it!

Injuries...

...one of our biggest fears. I know it sounds weak, but Jonathan and I really don't deal well with blood or cuts or wounds. Henry and Wyatt were at a friends house the other day (I won't name names!) haha.. :) We had gone to a movie and then to Home Depot. While there, we got a phone call saying, "I'm so sorry to tell you this, but Henry was playing and tripped and hit his head on a table. I think we got the bleeding to stop, but he might need stitches. He's pretty upset. You should come right now." OK. So Jonathan was in the middle of talking to a Home Depot worker about a magnet for our glass shower door. The worker had actually made another phonecall to find out if they had what we needed. So... waiting.. waiting.. he finally gets off the phone, and I tell J we have to go now. We head out and I explain to J what the my phonecall was about. Ok, we're not panicking. Here's what our discussion is sounding like in the van:


M: Poor baby... I feel so bad we're not there.
J: I'm sure he is fine. If it was really bad, they would have called an ambulance.
M: I know, but every Mom wants to be there when her kid gets hurt.
Silence
M: You know, honestly, I'm glad it was them and not us. I'd much rather Henry get a gash on his forehead then a little girl. Boys are expected to have scars on their face.
J: Yeah, right on his forehead. He already has a permanent bump there from when he fell on those weights when he was two. So it'll probably just blend in.
M: I know. Actually, I'm really glad it was at their house. What if that happened at home and one of us passed out? Or what if you were at school and it happened and I was by myself and I couldn't get a hold of anyone? What would I do? Call 911. Ahh... I'm always dreading this kind of stuff.
J: You wouldn't call 911. It was only a cut. You would get the bleeding to stop. So, what if he needs stitches. Who's going to take him? I can't watch that. I'll pass out. But I'll go. I'm sure I could do it if I know I'm the only one there.
M: I can go. But what if I pass out? I'm sure I can handle it. I've delivered two kids for goodness sake. I wish one of us were good at this. I'll go. I'll do it. I know I'll be fine.

We pull in the driveway. I think by then we had actually turned this into a really good situation. Henry seemed really calm when we arrived. So calm, in fact, that he didn't even want one of us to hold him! Took him to Urgent Care and they glued and steri-stripped him. I took him. He was hot stuff - he was so talkative and "cool." It was actually quite comical. Even more comical was the fact that right after they finished working on him, I felt that familiar feeling of passing out. I asked if I could grab a glass of water, and in the process, knocked some things off the counter. The doctor said, "oh my, you don't look good. Your lips are all pale. Sit down. Are you OK?" I quickly explained I needed some juice and that this is not abnormal for me. Whew... another 5 minutes, and Henry and I were on the way home. He was VERY excited about the new tank/truck/airplane thing he recv'd and was pumped to show J and Wy his cool bandaid. I was just excited he was OK and that I didn't actually pass out.

Happy Birthday Wy!

Happy Birthday Wyatt! It has been a WONDERFUL two years with you. You started off as a cranky baby, but you turned into be a very sweet, cuddly, cheerful little boy. We chalk it up to all of that early chiropractic care! :) You adore Henry and it's the first word you say when you get up from your nap. You love yogurt ("rolyo" as you say it) and blueberries. You are finally starting to eat what we eat... and that has been a blessing! It's hard to believe you are already two, but doesn't every parent say that? Time flies a bit faster with the second b/c we're not watching every move you make. We are so thankful for the friendship you have with Henry already and are thankful that, so far, we've been able to have you two in the same room... you both sure love it. There are times when we're not so sure! :) Your highlight this year has been the "breath holding spells." This keeps us on our toes... and when you did it again over Christmas break, we had to remind ourselves that you would be fine. We are thankful for the health and the life God has breathed into you. We pray we don't take it for granted but always see it as a gift. We love you and are looking forward to the days ahead. Happy Birthday!

Berry Adult Christmas

(I know... this is one a month behind too!!!) Don't get any wrong ideas by "adult" Christmas... it simply means we don't invite any of our kids! :) This, too, keeps getting better and better every year. Mom and Dad have really simplified, and while my mom is disappointed that none of us want to stay up until 3am playing Axis and Allies and making home videos (we remind her that most of us have kids now or are over 40!), I think they have been pleased with the interaction that takes place. This year was the best yet. It was filled with laughter, sharing, and snow! - which let the boys be boys and the girls do some visiting of our own. Thanks Mom and Dad for a great holiday!

Berry Grandkid Christmas

(I know... I'm a month behind.) I must commend my parents. Getting together 17 grandkids is no easy task -- and especially when they are spanning ages of 0-12 at the party. It is difficult to plan games, activities, food, books, and then coordinate that with breakfast times, lunch times, naptimes, travel times, etc. They do an awesome job - and every year they get it even smoother. The boys had so much fun with their cousins, and I think the older and older they get, the more they will look forward to it. This year was a "knight" theme -- hence the foil. They also do a gift exchange which is crazy to get through... I keep telling my mom that pretty soon that is all we'll have time for b/c there is so much to exchange!!!

Ever had a night like this?

10:30pm - I climb into bed... earlier than usual, excited to get some extra rest so I can kick my cold.
11:17pm - 2-yr old wakes up. Also has a nasty cold... is congested, needs readjusted in the crib, propped up on some pillows... goes back to sleep.
12:32am - 2-yr old up again. Nasty nose... wants held this time. Pick him up. Doesn't want medicine. Doesn't want a song. Doesn't want the rocker. Wants my pillow. Fine. We can both sleep. We go back to my bed (I say 'mine' b/c really Jonathan is far away on the other side completely incoherent... no idea he is sharing his bed). Quiet.
3:30am - 4-yr old up. He is crying in the hall bathroom saying he is cold. Well, he is standing there with no pants on. Of course he is cold. He goes potty. I put his pajama pants back on. Wants to come to my bed. Um... not going to work. Daddy's alarm is going to go off in less than 2 hours. I do not want two kids in my bed. I tell him NO. He cries more... I tuck him in. He wants to come to our bed he reminds me as he is wailing. Fine. I'll lay with him until he falls asleep. That suffices. Back to sleep for both of us.
4:00am - I suddenly wake up. Henry is sleeping. I go back to my bed. Forget little 2-yr old is on my pillow. Pick him up and move him back to his crib.
4:04am - back on my pillow by myself. Whew... back to sleep.
5:15am - Kick husband whose alarm is blaring.
5:45am - Answer phone while hubby is in shower to find out there is a school delay... doesn't matter for him. He has to go anyway.
5:50am - Hubby comes out of bathroom. I tell him the message. He asks if I want to have breakfast together... I say NO. He gets the message.
6:20am - Henry crawls into my bed and is trying to arrange his pillow. I help him and mumble something impatiently.
7:44am - Thankfully, EVERYONE is still sleeping... except for me b/c the phone rings again. Hubby asking if I'll go down and check the news to see if Kettering is closed. Why is he asking me this -- ? He is the one who is actually at the school?? Bizarre... I crawl out of bed, head downstairs, catch the closings, call him back -- YES they are closed. Tell him I love him and share my evening activities with him. He reminds me I can ALWAYS wake him.... ;) I guess I'll grab a shower.
7:52am - oh, but wait... someone is crying in his crib.
8:00am - muffins anyone?????? :)

Anybody else get this much night activity?