Wordless Wednesday.

Monday, Monday...

Today is Monday, and it feels good to fall back into the easy routine that is our early week. You may remember my last post about our semi-rotten week, and my determination to have a fabulous weekend. While there were plenty of things that didn't quite go as planned, we still managed to have ourselves a pretty great time. I'm learning to roll with the punches a bit more, I suppose...
Anyway, we got up bright and early on Saturday morning for a fun day of Christmas tree picking (and subsequent decorating!). I made pancakes for breakfast, and it seemed that we were ready for a perfect day...


After breakfast, we bundled up and headed for the Christmas tree farm. Oh, but before we drove away, we had a quick mishap....the boys were locked inside the car. And, the car was running. In the garage. And, they were both strapped into their carseats (just out of reach of the locks!). Oy. Thankfully, with the help of a little prayer and a wire hanger, Eric was able to get a door open!

THEN, we were off to the Christmas tree farm....and we got lost. For whatever reason, the directions that I looked up took us approximately 45 minutes out of our way via backroads. Not so much fun with a grumpy baby in the backseat. (By this time, it was nearing lunch and naptime!) Mommy and Daddy were not in good moods, and two whining boys were not helping the matter.

FINALLY, we arrived at the farm. And, it was truly fantastic! We took a wagon ride to the fields, and then tromped through the snow until we found our perfect tree! Eric chopped it down (really!), and then we headed back to the barn. The staff was super friendly, and they got our tree all ready for us to take home. While they prepped the tree, the boys made friends with a little dog and cat who they found in the barn.


By the time we headed for home, all of our spirits had lifted. A little snack in the car, and we were back in the Christmas spirit! Levi even napped on the way home....which, of course, meant that when we arrived home, he didn't want to nap again. If you're a parent, you know full well that quick 30 minute car naps don't suffice for naptime, so there was a naptime battle while Eric uprighted the tree in our living room.

Eventually, both little guys gave in to napping, and the house was quiet. Well, except for the incessant dripping of the snow/ice melting off of the Christmas tree on to the living room floor! Ah, the holidays!

By the time nap ended, we were ready to give it another go at Christmas cheer! We pulled out the lights and ornaments, and set to work decorating the tree. Ornaments, old and new, came out of boxes, and we reminisced (in between "No, no, no!"s and pulling Levi out of the tree about 40,000 times!). Two of my very favorites....


Within a couple of hours, the tree was trimmed...and we had homemade pizza was on the table for dinner, courtesy of Eric and Nate! (Seriously, could I have picked a better guy?!)


Dinner went smoothly--everyone ate well, Christmas carols played in the background, and we admired the gorgeous tree. It seemed as though all of the day's difficulties had been worth it (and they absolutely were!), and my stress slipped away. Did we have a picture perfect day? Not quite! But, it was still a family day, and we enjoyed ourselves amidst the chaos. Our holiday season might not be perfect--but we're not perfect either! And, no matter what kind of day we create or experience, there is nothing I'd like better than to spent time with my dear family preparing to celebrate our Saviour's birthday! Merry Christmas!


(^ Two sides of the same tree. At the same time. Ah, parenthood.)

First Snow.

We woke up this morning to the very first snowfall of the season, and it was gorgeous! Not just a few flurries or a smattering on dried leaves, but a full blanket of at least an inch of white stuff covered the outdoors. Instantly, the house felt cozier, and my bed warmer--which was fine since it was 2am, and the baby was already back to sleep! A few hours later, the morning light revealed the snow-covered world, and we were excited to see that it seemed to be sticking around for a bit. There's just something about a gorgeous yellow tree covered in glistening snow that can't quite be captured in a photograph....although I tried because it was truly breathtaking.

Snow day!

We got a bit of snow last night, and Nathaniel got to go outside to play in it this morning. (His first time ever to play in the snow!) We had a great time, and I think he'll be back outside for some more play before too long!

MARCHing along...

Why is it that these last few weeks of winter always creep so slowly? We're teased by a balmy day here and there, then we wake up to a fresh coating of snow! I don't like to complain about the seasons and the weather; I love them all...but these little neon shoots are exciting me today! {We all know those people who believe that New Years Day should be the last day of winter, right? Ahem, winter only just begins on December 20.}

Recently, I've been itchin' to get outside! I'm the one who starts taking long walks when it hits 40 degrees, and I've been known to open all the windows to "air out the house" when it's 55 outside. This year is different; I've got a little guy (who likes to be warm!). We've bundled up for a few walks when it's been chilly, but, overall, we stay in the house. I don't mind staying in most days--what is better than a cozy day with a cooing baby?! But, oh, I am craving a long walk outside {sans wooly hats and puffy jackets}!

I'm bored of our winter hibernation, and I can't wait to open the windows, breathe in the perfume of hydrangea, wear flip flops, take Nathaniel to swing at the park, see the trees turn green, go for long walks after supper, sit on the deck with a glass of iced tea, blow bubbles and scribble with sidewalk chalk, stay in the sun until my shoulders freckle, and fill the wading pool! I am ready for change. Summer change.
I really do like winter--I love snow and the crisp air! I love the quiet and the coziness of home. I love the regal beauty that autumn brings. I love the long, humid summer afternoons. But, spring? Well, I love the promise of spring.

{For some reason, spring just makes me think of mud, which I do not like.} I like spring rains, I really do. I like the beauty that spring brings back into the drab, sleepy world. But, mostly I like the fact that spring is our transition from a long winter into sweet summertime!

We spent a few minutes outside this afternoon, and I was surprised at the amount of green that I found. And, that gorgeous, azure sky! Despite the new snow two days ago (which finished melting today), spring really is coming!

snow.

Remember what the weather was like last summer? Remember those lazy, hot summer days?

(I particularly remember the suffocating heat and not being able to see my {swollen} ankles! But, oh the excitement that came with it!)

Alright, now let's continue down Memory Lane...remember 4 days ago? Remember the breezy, 63 degree day when all the snow melted and we couldn't wait to get outside for a walk? We were all convinced that spring had sprung early! And now we're kicking ourselves for that foolishness--after all, it is still February! Those few warm days were splendid for melting off the snow and giving us an opportunity to get out and stretch our legs. They gave us hope and excitement for spring. But, last night was a harsh reminder that it's still winter for a few more weeks!

Those few days of warmth have really planted a spark of spring fever around here! I can't wait to get back outside with my little man for some more walks! For the time being, we'll stay indoors and enjoy another snow day with Daddy...

Stream of Conciousness...

We are not very dilligent about watching the Weather Channel around here, unless we have a particular reason for doing so. Recently, we've had no reason, so all of the bitterly cold days with snow flurries and intermittent freezing rain have just been taken in stride. Last night, as Eric struggled to finish homework and lesson plans and grading at a decent hour, he commented that a snow day sure would be nice for today! I laughed at him because all of our snow has melted (while the rest of the country has gotten loads of white stuff recently!). Then, around 9, I took the dog outside, and was surprised to discover that his snow day may very well become a reality! This morning, all of the schools in our county were closed due to the snowy roads and frigid temperatures!

Eric got to sleep in, eat a hot breakfast, squeeze in some last-minute studying for his night class, AND play with Nathaniel today! Lucky guy! And, lucky us to have him home for the day! I know that everyone else seems to be tired of the snow and cold, but it's truly beautiful!

Admist all of this cold and snow, my parents finalized our vacation plans for this summer yesterday! And, while I do love the snow, I'll admit to being pretty excited for hot weather and a week at the lake!

Amidst all of our playing with toys and reading of stories, Nathaniel is getting pretty good at sitting up! He still tilts to one side or the other, and falls when left alone, but his core muscles are getting much stronger. {This might be due to the fact that half of his jammies have animals on the feet, and he LOVES to reach for them, then sit up, then down, then up....I think the boy does the equivalent of about 75 sit-ups daily!} Speaking of strength, I believe that we are getting closer to a roll-over as well!

As you may or may not know, I have two younger brothers, both of whom are in the United States Marine Corps. Tim, the older of the two, has been deployed to Afghanistan for 7 months. He left on Saturday evening, and after almost 24 hours of travel, arrived at an undisclosed location. On the one hand, I admit that I think it's a little bit cool that he gets to go to such an exotic and different culture. On the other hand, as you well know, Afghanistan is a dangerous place right now. I truly admire his strength, courage, and character as he serves his country in this manner. But, he's still my little brother, and I do worry about him! Please, please, please keep him in your prayers!!

Lastly, I will leave you a bit about tomorrow's blog. I'm planning to start a "Wordless Wednesday" post, which means that I won't be able to explain it tomorrow, will I? Basically, this means that I will simply post an entry without any words--it will, however, contain picture(s) and/or video(s). Lazy way to show off my baby? Yeah, maybe...but it sounds fun, right?! I like doing a weekly "challenge" on my blog. Anyone care to join?

Our normal.

It seems that I've been neglecting the old blog for a few days now...so here's an update. We have settled into a calm sense of normal, which is good. Nathaniel has set up his own sort of daily schedule, which is nice (in that I know when to expect him awake/asleep). I've never pushed any sort of a schedule on him because we're home all day, and I figure the baby can do what the baby wants. Apparently, Baby wants a schedule now--and Mama's okay with it!

Eric spends most of his days teaching and lesson planning and homework-ing. We turn up the heat and enjoy crackers and soup at suppertime.

Weekends are our family time, and we spend most of it in our living room with a board game or a new movie on the DVR. Best of all, we've got our little man to play with every single day--which always brightens us, no matter how dreary the weather!

We've gotten lots of snow upon snow, and it's cold. Really cold. As much as people complain about winter and the ice and snow and sleet, I can't say that I hate it. Maybe that's just because I don't have to get up early and drive to work in it. Maybe. Maybe it's just that I do enjoy living in a climate where we have changes with the seasons, and I want to enjoy them all! I feel like lots of people think that spring should start as soon as Christmas ends. Did you ever notice that winter does not actually begin until December 20th? That means that the majority of winter is after Christmas. Yeah, seriously. Anyway, it's almost Groundhog Day, so there is hope out there for all of you anti-snow bunnies!

snow.

Hey, it's been looking a lot like THIS outside our house today:

 So we spent most of our morning doing this:

 Until we decided that enough is enough in the house, and we needed some fresh air!

 Beautiful!

 So calm and serene...

 Until we realized that we were not alone....!

 And, back into the house we went!

Enjoy your snowy day!  And, keep warm!