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!!!

"Worth It" Moments

I made this little mini album of pictures of Josiah this summer. I used the poem "What Are Little Boys Made Of?" for journalling and added lots of neat coordinating embellishments. I didn't exactly mean to leave it where Josiah could find it, but I did and he found it. He LOVED it. He sat right down and looked carefully at every picture and every page. It was so sweet and he had no idea that he made his Mommy feel really good!

Josiah's pacifier now stays in his bed. He can have it at naptime and bedtime. It was a very easy transition. Now he talks a lot more! Duh!!! His favorite treat when we go grocery shopping is John Deere fruit snacks. On the back of the box is a picture of a farm with various tractors and animals. On Friday he came up to me pointing at a certain tractor and I was sure he was saying "lawnmower." Yup, he was pointing to a lawnmower! What a boy! Today while he was watching his John Deere DVD he was repeating the various model types. But for Hi....he still waves.


My mother-in-law captured this incredible moment at church last night. Aliza is praying. Hands folded, eyes squeezed shut. Recently she told me that Jesus lives in her heart (pointing to her stomach area) and eats the crumbs in her tummy! We've been working on memorizing some Bible verses. She gave herself away on how quickly she can memorize this weekend when she immediately picked up on a bedbug poem that Grandma Karen taught her!