When There Is No Time For Words

Pictures just have to be good enough.

This has to be the saddest birthday post ever. A few random shots in the midst of a catch-up blog.

Birthday Breakfast

I let my kids pick what they want to eat on their birthdays. I was trying to steer him away from coffee cake or cinnamon rolls by offering eggs and bacon. He chose donuts. Score one for me....making donuts is daddy's job!

Big 5 Year Old

Basketball with the neighbors....and their cousins.....and the dog.

More neighbors....and the neighbor's cousins....and the dog?

New Birthday Present

My son wanted to try out his new remote control jet ski in the bathtub. We opted for the pond out back. It was a good choice. Until......

This.

It was frightening.

I have no idea what was so funny (and, of course, he can't remember), but I still love the smile.

Playing "The Blues" at the school fundraiser. Apparently his teacher doesn't believe in piano recitals. She prefers her students to play in front of hundreds. I am never sure who is more nervous, me or him.

Ouch

Haircuts Anyone??

Days and days of snow and ice, plus a crazy busy schedule on days that we aren't snowed in, result in this...


In my defense, I did make them appointments and drive them 15 minutes to the Barber Shop where they get their hair cut.

We walked in and waited for Luke to appear from the back room. When he emerged, he looked so pale I thought he might vomit or pass out right there in front of us.

Since he is former student of mine, I went into major teacher mode. "Are you ok? You look like you aren't feeling well." I'm a little surprised that I stopped before telling him he should go to the office to get checked for a fever.

He admitted he wasn't doing so great, but thought he could make it through a couple more haircuts.

I graciously said I wouldn't mind if we had to come back another day, and suggested that he maybe think about going home (interpret to read -- "There is no way I am having you stand inches away from my kids for 30 minutes, touch their heads, and breathe all over them!").

He took me up on the offer and was practically out the door faster than we were. I am still wondering if he ever even canceled the six people on his list after us.

Seventeen inches of snow later, we still haven't been back.

Which brings me to a new dilemma.....My boys now think their hair is cool and do not want it cut "ever again".

I knew the day would come when they would start forming their own opinions about these things. I was just hoping it wouldn't be for at least another 10 years.

More SNOW

Not one flake of snow before Christmas. Well, maybe one flake....or two....but nothing that even came close to sticking on the ground. Everyone was talking about how dry of a winter it was going to be, and how we may have a record year for the least amount of snowfall.

It is again another reminder of what predictions really are. Just GUESSES.

And boy were they WRONG.

I'm okay with wrong every now and then. This would be one of those times!

Day #1 - So beautiful


Day #2 - We've heard that our area got 17 inches. The boys took a ruler out to measure in the spot that had the least amount of snow in the entire backyard. It is just under 12 inches there (you can see the top of the yellow ruler if you look closely), so I am thinking 17 is about right when you factor in the drifts.

I love the first footprints and tracks in the snow!

This would have provided hours of endless fun had it not been 5 degrees outside.

He got so cold he wanted his entire face covered. I very calmly reminded him that if he would STOP EATING THE SNOW, his chin would not be so stinkin' cold!

I am happy to report that I did not lose any children in the snow drifts this time around. One out of two isn't bad, don't ya think?

Snow Day #.....I Have Totally Lost Count.....

Laundry is caught up.
Dishwasher has run.
Floors are vacuumed.
A good amount of dusting has been done.
Floors are mopped.
Papers are graded.
Grades are entered into the system.

I told my family I would make bread at some point today. I am a little sad about that decision.

However....

I LOVE SNOW DAYS!!

Or snow weeks....

Or snow months.....which is about what we have had since Christmas.

Someone may have to remind me of this love when we are making up all these days at the end of the school year.

I'm Trying to Figure Out...

....how this beautiful snow......

.....became this nasty snow. Overnight!

And here, my friends, is why it is important to keep at least one eye on your child at all times (or at least every few minutes). I glanced outside and saw this. His little hand was waving in the air. I opened the door and heard, "Help!"

"Hang on!" I hollered to him. (Like he's going anywhere.) "I'm coming to help you!" (Just let me grab my camera.)"


The experience was obviously not too tramatic. One more picture, however, and it may have gotten ugly.

Midnight Conversation

The snow was blowing.

The wind was howling.

My 4 year old was crying.

I went to investigate what was wrong.

Him: "Owwww......(cries)......owwww......(cries louder)......"

Me: "What hurts?"

Him: "I don't know!"

Me: "Does your tummy hurt?"

Him: "Yes......(cries).....no.....(coughs)......maybe.....(coughs some more)...."

Me: "Do you feel like you are going to throw up?"

Him: "No. Well, I don't think so."

Me: Grabs trash can.

Him: "I just wanna build my own guy!"

Me: "What?"

Him: "I Just Wanna Build My Own Guy!"

Me: "You just want to build your own guy??"

Him: "YES! I JUST WANNA BUILD MY OWN GUY!!"

Me: "With what?"

Him: "I don't know!"

Fast forward one hour....one hour filled with intermittent crying, sleeping, whimpering, and me trying to figure out what in the world building his own guy had to do with anything......

Him: "Mom? My throat hurts. I think I need some medicine and some sprite."

OK!! Drugs and pop coming up! Anything for sleep. Would you like some fries with that?

Worked like magic.

And I'm happy to report that he is not sick.

However, I am TIRED.