Gratitude

What a great few weeks it has been. I am reminded over and over how blessed my family is.

We have great friends. Friends we laugh with and cry with, friends we stay up way to late with and get up way to early with. The kind of people who take their own hair out of a ponytail so they can braid Lily's, who insist on taking our kids (and dog!) so that Shawn and I can have a night to ourselves. Friends who drop off treats, send us cards, include us in their holidays , making us part of their families. These are the kinds of people that truly bless our lives.

We're also blessed to have healthy children. Children who are bright, articulate, and kind. As a mom, the thing that humbles me the most, is when these 3 children forgive my short comings and carry on as some of the kindest people I know. They easily forgive the unkind people in their lives and move on quickly. They love fiercely and make every day brighter for me and those around them.

We're blessed with the gift of music. Some of my family sing like angels. And, more importantly, they think the rest of us do as well. I can't imagine a day that isn't filled with music. Home (and at Grandpa Al's) we can belt it out no matter how we sound.

We're blessed with laughter. There are days when our home, car, friends' homes and cars just ring with laughter. Laughing til we cry and are afraid we might wet ourselves (well at least those of us who have given birth) make for some of my favorite days/memories.

Spring. We're blessed with a beautiful and mild spring. After more years than my whole family has lived combined, we had a March with not only no snow, but warm spring days. After months of cold, dark, days, we have crocuses and daffidils in bloom and irises on the way.

So, we are truly blessed and have so much to be grateful for. We hope you do as well.

Cinderella

This past week has been full of fun events. Charlie was in her school play, Cinderella and the Glass slipper. she did a really great job and we really enjoyed it. :)

Wild Things

With Shawn for a dad, I shouldn't be surprised by what great storytellers all of my kids are. Emily really showed us her skills tonight as she narrated her school play, Where the wild Things Are. We couldn't have enjoyed a play more. Not only did em totally rock it, but the play itself was a ton of fun. They used black lights, great music and added extra places (space and the ocean) for Max to visit. They also did a preplay talent show which em also got to MC.

So, great job Emily- and look for another update Thursday night after we see Charlie in her school play.

Em's birthday

Emily turned 10 - or as we like to say- became a zero-teen

the beginning of January. We celebrated by inviting our family over to celebrate. I of course forgot to take pictures until everyone was leaving, but I did get a few. We haven't done her friend party yet- which will be her very last one as we stop doing parties when they go to middle school (we can't believe that she's going to middle school either!), but she had a great time turning 10.

Snow Days

Well the snow keeps falling and we're starting to run out of room. Our yard is REALLY starting to pile up. In December, the girls stood next to the ornaments our friends, the Nesvolds, gave us for Christmas. Now, those ornaments are totally buried and the girls are right up in the branches. I'm not sure how much more snow our yard can hold. For now, we're just hoping for an early spring!

When it rains.....

It freezes to the ground . At least that's what it does here in MN. The last week has been crazy- between the freezing rain, wind, and snow, and Emily being home with the chicken pox, life has been a little crazy. Add to that Shawn being gone for the last 5 days (To warm and sunny Pheonix) and you end up with some crazy homebound fun.

Now, Em is on the mend- but still out until Monday, there's no more snow, and Shawn comes home tonight so things are looking up. I'd show you some pics of our week but our camera is in Pheonix with Shawn.....

Giant Macaroni

One of Emily's birthday presents was the Movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. CWACM was one of my all time favorite books as a child and I expected to dislike the movie since it wasn't true to the book, but actually, I loved it. So, Sunday afternoon Lily looks out the window and says, "Mommy look at the giant Macaroni!!!" So, I look at the window wondering what she thinks she is seeing, and there, in our yard, is what looks to be a rather large elbow macaroni. In fact, it is the same color and shape of the elbow macaroni in the sensory table at preschool. I immediately realize that despite the resemblence, in actuality it is not a piece of macaroni, but the top of the red ornament handle in our front yard. The same one in this picture. The snow is now so high in our front yard (pics to come soon) that only the very top of the handle of the red ornament is still showing. All 3 ornaments are totally buried in our front yard under

feet of snow. I wonder how long until we see them again- and if the weight of all that snow is going to pop them.......