SNOW!

We had record breaking snowfall here this week and some of us are pretty excited!

Say Cheese!

There really hasn’t been a whole lot of things going on here in our neck of the woods.  We have been having unbelievably nice weather for the middle of January.  I think I’m actually going to make it through this winter—then again, we still have to get through February!  I’ll take a sunny, 30* day anytime over the bitter cold!

Wally has been in California the last few days, which, unfortunately for him, it’s been rainy and cold!  He’s supposed to get back in tonight, but his flight keeps getting delayed because of the weather (go figure) so I’m not sure exactly when he’s going to show up.  We’re all hoping that he’ll be here when we wake up in the morning.  We’re in desperate need of a nice hot breakfast that doesn’t include cereal and milk!  (I know, we’re totally spoiled here.)

We had a fun weekend though and Kelsie and I were able to get our craft on and made some 3D snowflakes.  They were really fun and easy to make and seemed to be the perfect decoration for this time of year. 

Caleb and I started a parent/toddler class this week.  It was the perfect thing for an almost 3 year old to run, climb, and jump to his heart’s content for almost an hour!  It’s great for this time of year when we can’t spend a whole lot of time outside!

Brandon’s new obsession is football.  He watches it, plays it, and video games it.  He has even started watching Sports Center in the mornings before school and writes down notes of when the games are.  Can you say obsessive compulsive?!  I have to admit that I’m glad we’re starting to get out of the Pokémon phase…even if it is just a little bit.  He can’t wait for basketball to start in a couple of weeks.  Neither can I.  It means that he’ll have an outlet for all his stored up energy and will (hopefully) quit teasing his brother and sister so much.

So, if you made it this far, you’re a trooper!  I’ve been having a mental block when it comes to my blog these days.  Hopefully something exciting will happen soon so that I’ll have something more interesting to say!

Shiner

It has been an interesting week around here.  We had sub-zero temperatures here yesterday which only reminded me that I am not tough and I really hate the cold.  But, we did still walk to and from school with the kids and Caleb even fell asleep in the stroller on the way home (I still can’t figure out how). 

Our car was completely frozen shut which made it hard to get anywhere yesterday too, but with a little man-power from my man, we at least got in.  The rest of the doors are now working today since it has warmed up to a whopping 21 degrees (but feels like 10).

Wally has been up late every night and up early every day preparing for his talk he is giving at his job interview next week.  I think he is going to crash hard tonight!

And, as a final note, you may have notice the shiner Brandon is sporting.  That is what happens when you run smack dab into the side of the table with your eye.  It was pretty swollen for the first couple of days and is finally starting to look better now, but I wouldn’t be a good mom if I didn’t document it with a picture now, would I?!

In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb

I tell myself every winter that I just have to make it to March. March is that magical month where things are supposed to warm up again, flowers start to bloom, and buds start to form on the trees. In the last few years, though, I have also learned to gear up for one last big snowfall sometime around St. Patrick's Day. So, the count down is on. Today marks the first day of March and it has been snowing all day. We are currently in a Lake Effect Snow Advisory and could see up to 5 inches of the fresh powder by morning (yeah, I am kind of a weather geek). But you know what? I'm totally OK with that. Tomorrow is Pulaski Day which means the kids are home from school so we can just hang out here together doing fun things all day. The famous March saying, In like a lion, out like a lamb, is proving to be true. I'm just holding on to that lamb. I don't want him to get too far out of reach.

Cabin Fever

There really hasn't been a whole lot going on at our house lately. We seem to be stuck in the winter rut: only go outside when it is necessary. Kelsie and Brandon go to school, Wally goes to work, and occasionally (sometimes urgently) Caleb and I make it to the grocery store. The result of all this? Cabin Fever. I have decided that you really can only watch so much TV, play so many video/computer games, play Sorry so many times, and drink packet after packet of hot chocolate before we need to come up with some new activities. It's a good thing that our kids have some good imaginations!

Kelsie created our last name with masking tape one afternoon, Charlotte's Web style. Then, to our amazement, they had so much fun running through tape like it was a finish line. This entertained them for the good part of an hour. All three of them! Who would have thought?

We also dusted off Dad's skateboard one cold, gray afternoon. We pushed the kitchen table aside and the kids had a great time gliding across the floor. (Caleb preferred watching and laughing instead of participating.) Another great time-passer and a bonus of burning off some extra energy!

I also need projects to keep myself busy during the long cold winter months. I finally made my winter quilt top to hang in my entry way. I am really happy with the way it turned out and Kelsie was a great help figuring out what design to do!


So, is there a reason for this post? Not really. It's just nice to mix things up a little bit and do something out of the ordinary. We'd love any new ideas too. What do you do to get out of the winter rut?

Frozen Tundra

The air temperature at 8:15 this morning when we left for school was -16 degrees. After factoring in the wind chill, it was a balmy -35 degrees. My nose hairs froze before we got to the alley next to our house. The last time that happened to me was over ten years ago when I lived in Rexburg. I told myself then that I would never live in that kind of weather ever again. Hmmm.

I really wanted to keep the kids home from school today. I had absolutely no desire to brave the elements. Not even to come home and tell anyone who happens to call me how tough I am because even though we are experiencing sub-zero temperatures outside, we still walked to school. Nope. I didn't want to go there. But, because school was not cancelled (or even delayed for that matter) we had no choice. Kelsie had a class breakfast to go to, so we trudged through the snow and biting wind, cut up orange slices and all.

And, for all of you who are wondering if Wally is crazy enough to bike in these harsh conditions, the answer is yes. While I'm at home worrying that he's going to walk in looking like a blue popsicle, he's out jumping off the snowplow created hills onto the streets. You can call him crazy (lots of people did while he was on his way to work), but that just adds fuel to the fire.

It wasn't until the pipes froze last night before we went to bed that we felt we had a direct hit. It's cold. Very cold. Relief is in sight this weekend when we are supposed to get up to 20 degrees above zero by tomorrow afternoon. It's going to feel like a nice warm day after what we've just been through.

I guess we will be able to wear a badge now. The one that says I made it through the coldest Chicago winter in a decade!

Arctic Blast

This is the forecast for the next 20 hours.


Brace yourself.



For me.



Sigh.

Sledding

There aren't very many hills out here in the Midwest, let alone sledding hills. Fortunately for us, there is a small hill just down the street at one of our favorite parks, the perfect size for kids. Since we got a foot of snow this weekend, we decided to make the most of it and take the family out sledding. We have a nice big sled (Caleb's primary transportation these days to and from school) for us to enjoy. Kelsie and Brandon tested the hill and packed down the snow for a good run which set the stage for the next hour and a half of fun. The snow was deep and soft, the perfect kind for sledding and having a nice big snow fight--which is what Brandon decided was a lot more fun to do than waiting his turn to slide down the hill. This was also Caleb's first real sledding experience, and we were really impressed with his innate abilites to the sport. He liked going down the regular old sled until our friends showed up and brought their pizza pan. After that, it was all about the metal pan, or not at all. He's a pretty tough 1 year old, if I do say so myself. Don't believe me? Watch the video:

Snow Day

We have had a ton of snow over the last couple of days. We've been hearing snow blowers all day cleaning up the sidewalks, only to have them covered again in an hour. After we got jobs done this morning, the kids and I went out to play. Kelsie and Brandon built a snow fort, while Caleb (waist-deep in snow) did his best to move around and through all the white stuff. We also tried to build our own hill, but it didn't work out as well as we had thought it would. We're planning on going sledding later this afternoon and just having fun. I really like the snow when it's light and powdery like it is today. It's when it get hard and frozen when it's just a pain. We're supposed to get an "arctic blast" this next week, so we will be staying inside as much as possible. But, for now, we're enjoying our snow day.

By the way, Caleb liked the snow fort, I think by the time I ran in to get the camera, he decided that he was done with it.

Winter Sets In

Today marks the first official day of winter. Old Man Winter sure let us know it too. When we got home from church today it was -1 outside for the high, but felt like -25 with the windchill. I don't think it is going to warm up very much tomorrow either. We've been bundled up in blankets and drinking hot chocolate all day. I'm glad school is out for the next couple of weeks! Send us your warm thoughts and any good soup recipes our way. We're really going to need them!

Riding in Style

It was a really beautiful day here today, despite the freezing cold temperatures outside. It was nice to see the sun again after a few days without it. Yesterday, we had a big winter storm that dropped about 6 inches of snow on the ground. We were outside with our neighbors last night shoveling our sidewalks and driveways before it all froze overnight. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to shovel their walks which means that walking to and from school can sometimes be difficult. Last year, I quickly realized that strollers were out of the question with the amount of snow and ice on the sidewalk that NEVER went away. Lucky for me, Caleb was still small and light enough to put in my baby backpack, so I would carry him on my back every day. This year, he's not so small anymore so we came up with a better idea. He really likes his new ride (so do his brother and sister) but really doesn't like any kind of hill. He just hangs on as tight as he can and enjoys the ride!

By the way, Brandon was pretty tired today after school (which explains why he is so grumpy in our video). He came home and fell asleep for an hour. I think he's ready for Winter Break just about as much as I am!

Brrr!

It was 7 degrees when the kids walked to school this morning. With the wind chill factor, it felt like -13 degrees outside. We were going to go to the post office and mail some things, but our car doors are frozen shut. I don't think I'll be going anywhere today. It's going to take me all day to talk myself into picking up the kids from school this afternoon. Wish me luck. I'll need it!

Happy Freakin' Spring!

Enough said.

Here's Proof...

There is an end to this crazy winter! We had a BEAUTIFUL day today! Brandon and I noticed some bulbs that had started to grow in our yard this afternoon while we were playing catch. We were so excited we did the happy dance! It's supposed to get cold again, but this at least gives us hope!

Happy Spring!!!

Friendly Faces

We have met so many friendly people here in Chicago, but there is one man that I see everyday that always puts a smile on my face. He is an older gentleman who serves the local elementary school as their crossing guard. He always makes sure that the drivers follow all the traffic rules and lets them know if they're not (he's not afraid to yell if need be). He also makes sure that all the kids cross the street to and from school safely and welcomes everyone with a warm hello on these cold days.

Since we have had nothing but snow and ice for the last coupe of months, I carry Caleb on my back when we walk to school and have Kelsie and Brandon on either side of me. I use them to hep me balance across the sheets of ice that cover the sidewalks and if I do happen to slip, I do it as gracefully as I can and hope one of the kids goes down with me so I can blame it on them. This must have impressed our crossing guard friend because he has nicknamed me Super Mom. Every time I see him (which is usually twice a day) he always has a huge smile and says to me in his Chicago accent, "Hello there Super Mom! How are you today? Be careful on that ice now, it's pretty slick today. I don't know how you mom's do it. You're just great. Alright now, you have a good day!"

The other day, after dropping Kelsie off at school, we were crossing the street with our friend when he pulled out a Dunkin' Donuts gift card and handed it to me. "Because you mom's are just great, especially you Super Mom!" he said. I was totally caught off guard, but luckily kept my balance! That simple act of kindness made me forget how cold it was outside and how grateful I am for friendly crossing guards!

Lake Michigan

We decided to venture out this weekend since the sun was out and the temperature was above 20 degrees (32 to be exact!) We went out for lunch to Wendy's, a family favorite, and then drove the kids over to Lake Michigan. It is a lot bigger than I thought it would be, but I guess that is why it is one of the great lakes. It is so big, in fact, that Brandon decided we should "dig for crabs at the beach" since we were at the ocean! Needless to say, there weren't any crabs but there was plenty of ice and snow all over the beach and all across the lake. We thought it was pretty funny when we saw someone throwing pieces of ice across the lake (just like you would if you were skipping rocks) and it just slid across until it hit some more ice.

There was a really fun park on the other side of the beach which didn't take Brandon and Kelsie very long to find. They had so much fun pretending to be pirates on their pirate ship and fighting off all the "bad guys". Caleb had fun swinging on the swings and it was just nice for all of us to get out of the house and to get some fresh air! We could also see the Chicago skyline from the park. I keep forgetting how close we are to the city, so it was really cool to see it from that angle.


As always, here are some pictures to document our outing. I am having lots of fun with my new camera and (for now) my willing subjects!

Kelsie loves the tire swing, especially when Dad spins her around super fast!

Caleb and Dad enjoying a nice ride on the swing.

Brandon zipping up his coat after deciding that it was still cold outside.

Snow, Snow, Snow!!!

We have lived in a lot of snowy places: Idaho, Utah, and Pennsylvania to name a few. It did snow a few times in Washington, but I haven't decided if the snow we got there really deserves to be put in the same category. In the one winter we were there, we probably got 3 inches of snow. Total. But, I guess, snow is snow. Come to find out that in Illinois, snow is here too and LOTS of it! We got dumped on the last day and a half with over 10 inches of snow and although that means lots of shoveling, unless you have a handy snow blower or a husband who isn't lazy, and a lot of fun for a couple of kids to play in. We are just glad that it finally warmed up from the frigid temperatures we were having so it could snow!

I took Caleb out this morning to give him the wonderful experience of snow. He wasn't quite sure of how he felt about it. I sat him down in it and he just sat there. I'm sure it's hard to move around in a huge snow suit anyway, but he just didn't know what else to do. When he fell over and laid down, he didn't like that at all. That was the only thing he was absolutely sure of.

Brandon, on the other hand, can't get enough of the white stuff! All suited up, he charged on out to see just how deep the snow really was. He was amazed to find that it was knee-deep (to him, it came up to my calves) and that he had to push his way through it. He helped me shovel for a little while, deciding that the grass, trees, and bushes also needed to be cleared off. He finally decided that jumping off the "mountains" of snow we made could be a lot more fun and rolling around was even better.

Kelsie had pajama day at school, so she trudged off into the winter wonderland with Wally this morning in her pj's and boots (no, we didn't forget the coat, hat, and gloves). She appeared to have been fine when we picked her up from school this afternoon in the same get-up and walked through the unplowed streets to get home. What a trooper!

Wally, unfortunately, was unable to bike into work today and since our car was covered with snow, ended up walking. He has yet to come home, but since he has such a special person in his life (who is NOT lazy I might add) shovel the sidewalk, at least he will have an easy walk once he gets close to home.

I really don't mind the snow. I love it when it snows a lot and it just seems peaceful outside. It really is a beautiful thing. The best part after a cold day out in the elements is coming inside to a nice warm cup of hot chocolate that really hits the spot.



Unless you don't have any.





And you can't go anywhere because there is 10 inches of snow outside.

Baby, it's COLD outside!

We have now lived in Evanston for just about 3 weeks and have been hit with some very harsh weather. Last Saturday, we had a hi temperature of 7 degrees, but with the factored-in wind chill, it really felt like -18 degrees! It was so cold that when we woke up in the morning, ice had formed on the INSIDE of the window, not just the outside. Wally showed the kids how to breath on the ice to melt it and then watch it refreeze in less than 1 minute! Kelsie and Brandon thought it was so fun and exciting to melt the ice and watch it freeze again. Wally was so excited and happy to watch their interest in this new phenomenon! We took a short video to share the excitement with all of you.

With such frigid temperatures over the weekend, we decided to make Saturday a family day where we each picked the one thing we wanted to do the most! Brandon, of coarse, chose to watch the rest of Star Wars, Episode 1, The Phantom Menace from the night before. Happy that the Republic regained Naboo and peace was once again restored in the galaxy (at least for now), we moved on to a riveting game of telephone, Kelsie's choice. Remember that game from elementary school? We sat in a circle and the "operator" whispered a message to the person on their right until the message got to the end where it was announced to the group. It was lots of fun to hear how the message came out at the end! After telephone, we played Wally's game of choice, Scrabble, Jr. When our game was finished, Wally braved the elements and ran out to the grocery store and then came home and made homemade pizza for dinner.

The rest of the weekend didn't warm up too much. We discovered just how cold it was outside on Sunday morning when Wally went to turn on the shower before church and nothing came out! Our pipes froze overnight and we weren't able to de-thaw them before church. Needless to say, we went to church stinky and smelly. We were able to hide it pretty well, I think, since people sat next to us and were still interested in getting to know us!

A close-up view of the ice formations on our window.

Despite our freezing weekend, we are still adjusting to our new home and area that we live in. For the most part, things are going well. We are all feeling better from being sick when we moved in. Kelsie is enjoying her new school and is making some new friends. Brandon has enjoyed his new Primary class and has a new friend at church too. Caleb is oblivious to our change and has adjusted well to his new surroundings. I thought I'd leave you with a short, quick video of Caleb's new funny face that he makes. It just makes us smile and thought you would too.