SNOW!!!

Well, I didn't believe it would happen, but it actually snowed here. It started this afternoon while the kids were napping and before I knew it, everything was covered. We watched from inside for a while and then decided to get out in it since I wasn't sure it would even snow enough to still be here tomorrow. Less than 6 hours later, it hasn't stopped snowing, and I'm pretty sure we will get to build a snowman tomorrow!

They had just woken up from naps and watched the snow from Sam's window.

Sam was more interested in sitting around being cute than in seeing the snow.

We finally got to go out in it!

It was snowing so hard! Less than 30 minutes after coming inside our footprints were gone.

The view from our house. I thought it was impressive at the time, but I just peeked outside and it's way more impressive now. But it's cold and dark so I'm not taking another picture. You will just have to take my word for it!

Poor Sam and Hank had to watch from inside.

Heading back inside.

We did make a tiny snowman, but they destroyed it before I could snap a picture. Jack is giddy about making a big snowman tomorrow. I sure hope the weather cooperates so he can get his wish!

Our Firstborn

This boy - the one who made us parents, who makes us laugh, and cry, and beam with joy, and pull our hair out with frustration - he's something else!

He's such a sweet big brother. He loves having Anna as a playmate and he turns into a silly person just trying to get Sam to laugh (and he always succeeds). He loves to be praised and is so proud of himself when he accomplishes something we've been working on.

He's still very into Thomas and could literally play with trains all day long. He's not as shy as he used to be in new situations and he can be extremely loud when he wants to be. When he's in the mood, he loves to sing and he really enjoys reading stories together.

He says some of the funniest things, but I always forget to write them down. Just today we had a conversation that went like this (after he jumped on my stomach when I was not anticipating it):

Me: Jack, you can't jump on me like that. You will break me and then you'll have to get a new Mama.
Jack: I don't want a new Mama. We'll just fix you if you're broken.
Me: How are you going to fix me?
Jack: We'll just follow the directions. I guess we should go to the store to buy directions and then we'll follow them to fix you.

Warms my heart that he will at least try and fix me before throwing me out for a replacement! See . . . he's something else!!

Dance Party

Sometimes we have a little dance party in the afternoons. This is a short glimpse into one, but I must warn you, it's pretty tame compared to most. And please overlook Anna's outfit, she chose it herself. :)

Sam's Surgery

Sam's surgery this morning was a success. We had to be at the hospital at 6:00am for a surgery that was scheduled for 7:30. We had wonderful nurses who raved over our little guy so that definitely made things a bit easier. Once they gave him some oral medication to make him drowsy, he was hilarious to watch! Poor guy just seemed so out of it. We left him in good hands and waited in the waiting room about 40 minutes before they called us back to see him in recovery. He did great and now we are home and even though he a touch grouchier than normal, I think he's going to be just fine. Hopefully these tubes will kick his never ending ear infections. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers this morning!

Sitting in the waiting room before everything got going this morning.

Playing with the cord on his monitor.

The sleepy medicine is starting to kick in here.

Getting one last snuggle in before they took him back.

My Three Little Monkeys

Maybe when they're teenagers we will finally get a good picture of them together - and maybe not!

Tubes

This little guy gets tubes in his ears tomorrow morning at 7:30. We would appreciate your prayers.

He had pre-op appointments both at the ENT's office and the hospital yesterday. I took all the kids to the ENT and they actually behaved pretty well. Of course, I let them play on the floor in the waiting room. (It's carpet so I just pretended that sick people don't come to the ENT and there are no germs on the floor.)

I tried to contain Sam in his stroller, and even though he's grinning behind that paci, he didn't stay happy there for long. I just let him get on the floor and eat the stroller wheels because I just pretended those don't have germs either.

When we got back to the exam room Anna and Jack each got a snack and an ipod to watch a movie of their choice. They thought is was a pretty sweet deal.

They did not go with me to the hospital for that appointment (because there are REAL germs there!), which was a huge blessing since we had to wait over an hour to see the pre-op nurse for less then 10 minutes. She took her lunch break while we were there waiting - lovely. Just hope it's not an indication of things to come. Will post an update when I can. Thanks for remembering our baby boy tomorrow.

Our Budding Artist

So if you're not my friend on facebook, you don't know what our creative (for lack of a better word) daughter has been up to this weekend. Let me fill you in . . . .

Friday morning she was coloring at the kitchen table with markers.

I was in the other room and I heard her say, "It's ok, Mommy. It's ok." Hmmm . . . I peeked in on her and she's sitting on the floor, coloring on the kitchen chair. She usually does this activity with Jack (who I guess keeps her in check), but this day she was coloring solo and I figured it was my fault for leaving her unattended. Plus, it washed right off, no biggie.

Sunday afternoon she was supposed to be napping in my bed room. I had to move her in there because she and Jack were not settling down. I knew she would sleep (sometimes Jack doesn't) so I've never had to worry about her getting into things, until now . . .

She found a ballpoint pen in the drawer of a nightstand and colored to her heart's content.

On our brand new sheets!

Today, she and Jack were wild animals during nap time, so again, I moved her to my room. I specifically told her not to color on anything, checked the room for pens (there were none), and left her to nap. Big mistake! I went to check on her a while later, thinking she was sound asleep, and this is what I found:

Lipstick and eyeliner all over my bathroom counter . . .

and this face grinning back at me!

And as much as I wanted to ring her neck, this image flashed through my memory and I had to stifle a laugh.

Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?

At this point, the lipstick has stained her skin and she looks like she has some weird disease. So if anyone has any tips on how to remove lipstick from my 2 year old's skin, I would appreciate it.

Our Girl

Just wanted to document a few things about our girl these days:

- When she wants something that Jack has, and I tell her to pick something else (another toy, plate, cup, crayon, etc.) she says, "But that's my favorite color!" It doesn't matter what color it is.
- When asked, she claims that pink is her actual favorite color.
- She loves playing trains on the train table when Jack is at school, but she usually does it wearing high heels.
- She's already obsessed with shoes - she absolutely loves wearing them at all times and her favorite is a pair of Jack's old flip flops that are still a size too big for her.
- Our girl LOVES to color and she adores stickers and reading books.
- She has always enjoyed singing songs and is good at remembering the motions to go with them.
- She's still the toughest kid I know. She very rarely cries when she falls and gets a bump or bruise.
- However, she will fling herself on the floor in a screaming, crying fit if she doesn't get her way. This happens several times a day, it's just lovely.
- She still likes to snuggle - especially if awakened early from a nap by her brother.
- Says the cutest things that I always forget to write down. Last night we were waiting for Marshall to get off work so we could go to dinner (Kids Night at CFA!). They were antsy so I told them I would text him to hurry up. When he walked out to the car where we were waiting, Anna was so glad we didn't have to wait anymore she said, "Mommy, thank you for my Daddy!"
- She's a mess and definitely keeps us on our toes!