A Different Kind of Weekend

The snow started at noon on Friday. It didn't really accumulate, but it was coming down. Friday night the snow changed to rain/sleet/ice and the wind howled. At 2:50am we lost electricity. I know the exact minute because Jeremy's computer backup power supply alarms when the power goes out. This wakes up the whole household. Aliza was awake for over an hour. She was a little scared about the wind and the ice hitting her window. The wind really howled and the windows shook. Our power company estimated that power would be restored by 6am. Thankfully we do have a propane insert in our fireplace so we had some heat. That insert is in such a place in our house that the heat goes straight upstairs, but does not heat the downstairs at all.

When we woke up there was no power. We thought we could wait it out. So we stayed upstairs, reading, looking at pictures on the computer and just hanging out. By 11:30 there was still no electricity and the power company was not giving an estimated time at this point. The snow was coming down harder and accumulating faster. We decided that we better head to my parents before the children took naps. We were afraid that it we waited we wouldn't be able to get out of the driveway and we had no desire to spend a dark evening at our house. We had no problem getting to Mom and Dad's house. Later that afternoon we found out that power came back on at our house about an hour after we left. Figures! But by that point it really was not smart to be driving. We ended up staying at my parents for 2 nights (last night so that we could watch the Super Bowl).

We got about a foot of snow. Jeremy, Dad, Jeff and Brian cleared our driveway yesterday. There is a thick layer of ice under a a bunch of snow and Jeremy could not get his car out today.

The craziest part is that we could get up to 6 more inches by Wednesday! Aliza doesn't even ask to go out anymore. We are all over the excitement of snow!

Memories

Matt & Chrissy got married five years ago. Jeremy and I were Best Man and Maid of Honor. Chrissy just gave me some pictures and they brought back so many memories for me. Bear with me for a few moments of vanity.

Chrissy's wedding was a mere two weeks after my second thyroid surgery where my vocal cords were damaged. I was just getting my voice back, regaining strength and my thyroid levels were decreasing. I insisted on wearing the scarf around my neck so that for a few hours I could forget my scar. I remember being utterly exhausted, but I also remember feeling so pretty that day. Getting my hair and make up done was an esteem boost that I really needed. I was so excited for Jeremy to see me. I got to walk up the aisle with him and dance with him at the reception (yes, that was my first ever dance). This was a bright day in a period of time that I remember as pretty dark.




Now, about this snow that we are getting! I like snow. It's pretty, it's peaceful, it makes winter a little brighter. But, for this winter, I'm over it. I've seen enough. We've been in the house for too many days. One weekend snowed in was plenty for me. That weekend was last weekend. We are on our second weekend in a row of snow. Totally unheard of! The snow from last weekend is still on the ground. Several more inches have accumulated tonight and now I hear ice hitting the windows. Jeremy has declared that we will be going to the Super Bowl party on Sunday. Do you hear a little desperation in that?!

Snow Kisses

Josiah started enjoying the snow yesterday. It has melted some so as long as he was holding Grandma's hand he was happy to walk around in the snow. He periodically tasted the snow and still refused to wear hat and gloves so he tried his hardest not to fall down.

When Laura and Aliza finished their snow man Josiah gave him a kiss. He has melted my heart recently with his random kisses. Usually two or three at a time complete with a big smooch noise.

Lots of Snow!

It started snowing at 8:00am on Saturday and didn't stop until around 8:00pm. As cars were driving past our house Saturday morning Aliza said that they were running away from the blizzard. It wasn't a real blizzard, but it is about as much of a blizzard as we will see in this area.

Jeremy and the children headed out to play about 11am Saturday morning. Josiah refused mittens and come in about 5 minutes after he went out.

Catching snowflakes on her tongue.

Sunday morning we had just about 9.5 inches with plenty of higher drifts. The snow was very powdery, but it was fun to walk around in.

Josiah did not like it at all. Today the hat did not stay on either. He couldn't walk because the snow came up to his knees.
It took Jeremy a long time to uncover our cars. This evening we thought we would try to get out to the road. It didn't work. For the time being we are officially snowed in!

Sheats Cousins Playdate

The 3 biggest cousins were admiring the littlest cousin's latest achievement--sitting up. I realized that they were all sitting in close proximity so I grabbed the camera. Meghan somehow convinced them all to look at the same time! She tried her hardest to convince Josiah and Caleb to take their hands out of their mouths, but who cares! I love it.

Gideon got tired so Aliza read him a bedtime story and sang him a lullaby--or two. (See video below)

I'm not quite sure how Meghan and I missed this. I know we heard Josiah getting something out of the pantry and I know I saw him with the bag of Doritos. He was snacking all morning today. Somehow that led to an all out Dorito party. They ate every last morsel of Doritos and loved every second of it.


Aliza was trying so hard to be gently and sing nicely to Gideon.

One of THOSE Days

When Aliza woke up at for the day at 5:30am, I was pretty sure it was going to be one of those days. I was optimistic for about an hour when she played happily in her room singing "I've got the peace that passes understanding...down in my heart. Where?....." It deteriorated though into mischief, a short nap, not being able to play nicely with Josiah, and finally an all out screaming fit at bedtime.

Janell, this is what they were up to while I was having such a normal, uninterrupted conversation with you. These canisters have been within their reach since they were born and apparently Aliza can finally open them. Josiah came to me with white hands and upon investigation I found this.


The white sugar and the brown sugar--open with 4 hands playing in them like sand. Both had sugar around their mouths and Aliza had sugar in her hair.

Now the canisters are tucked away on a high shelf in the new pantry. The pantry is hardly safe since they both can open the child lock. Maybe a padlock will be in order!

More Rain

It poured all morning. Every time I looked out the window the puddles were bigger. I think these are the biggest puddles yet. Of course our ground is so saturated that we are flooding very quickly. It was above 60 degrees this afternoon so we went out to play in the puddles. There were lots of puddles to choose from. I was happy that, for the most part, they avoided the ditch. The water in the ditch came up to their knees at the deepest part. I had boots on, but I really did not want to have to rescue them! They ended up being outside for almost 2 hours--and Josiah still cried when it was dark and time to come inside.

For those who know our yard, this is beside the swing set where the old chicken house used to be.

Behind the swingset. Josiah pulled that wagon the whole time he was outside.

Josiah in about the deepest part of the ditch beside our driveway.

Now I hear rain beating on our window again!!!