Snowmen and Snow and Getting Caught

Here is a photo of the two snowmen we built.  When we built them, the sun was shining brightly.  This is from yesterday morning, when we had a frosting of sorts. Can you see the evergreen hair on the larger snowman!  My kids keep telling me he looks "evil" so I have to build another one this year.  I was just working with nature to build my snowmen -sticks, evergreen sprigs, and a carrot.  If you look at the bottom of the smaller one, my youngest 8 year-old daughter made a baby snowman. 

Today, these snowmen are decorated with yellow spots.  One of our dogs decided they needed to mark their spot - on both of them!   I'm sure the kids will laugh about it when the get home from school.

As for me getting caught, well this is funny.  Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I hear my 13 year-old daughter yell "Mother!  I object" as she walked briskly to my bedroom.  Raising my eyebrows, I asked her what in the world was she talking about.  Trailing her footsteps, was my 8 year-old daughter.

"What's this I hear that you write her (pointing to my 8 year-old) notes and give her a piece of candy every day - in her lunch?!" she loudly demanded.

"uh..." was all I could say.

So, I was caught.  I was asked to write notes in their lunches and give them a surprise piece of candy.  Just after that, my 8 year-old daughter asked if I "notered her."  As I sit here, I just realized I wrote one for the other kids, and had planned to write out one for my 8 year-old, but forgot.  Ugh!  I'm going to be in big trouble when she gets home.  How could I have forgot?!  I better make sure she gets "notered" tomorrow with an extra piece of candy.

Building Snowmen ~ Winter Highlight Moment

Well, I did it.  I built 2 snowmen, and the kids think I have lost my mind.  In their opinion, what mother of my age goes out to build a snowman, without her children?  He he he!  The caught me.  As I was rolling the giant snow balls around the yard to pack on more, they were gawking at me from the upstairs window.

A few minutes later, my son came out laughing and helping build one too.  Not soon after that, my oldest daughter was peeking around the side of the house - with the video camera!  They were so  shocked at my "childlike" behavior that they had to out it on tape.

I can now sit in my work space, and view the snowmen as I write today.  I need two more on the other side so my view is all about fun, fun, fun!  You should see them this morning.  I put sprigs of evergreen on the top of the larger one for hair.  We had a bit of freezing rain or drizzle, so everything this morning has a beautiful coat of white.  Just gorgeous.

Finding my muse when the sun is not shining

The winter time is more difficult for me to stay positive and focused when it comes to my writing.  I have realized that it is very easy to fall into the sweatpants and t-shirt syndrome.  Years ago, I saved Fridays for my "T-shirt" days, and dressed casual for the other days.  By casual I used to wear nice summer or winter skirts with sweaters or jeans and a nice top.  I guess after this last move, I landed in the t-shirt zone on a daily basis. 

Today I dressed in an Indian top that flows past the knees.   It came from India and is decorated with sequins.  Immediately, this kids who are home for another snow day, sent me their "ews" and "ahs" as I walked into the kitchen.  I realized that after writing, I did find my "muse" and that is to dress for "work" and to accessorize with my the style I prefer. 

Today, however, I did not work at the built in desk in the kitchen.  I moved a table to my bedroom, and faced it towards the glass doors, so that I could view the outdoors.  I burned a candle, sipped ginger ale, and got a lot of work done.  In fact, some of the kids are now interested in what I did write for the day.  Could it be that I did not "hog" the family computer and they had more freedom?  I have not idea, but for some reason they are respecting my "work" time a little bit more today.

Blizzard of 2010 ~ Snow Day!

 

This photo does not even compare to those who got more snow than us.

The snow bank on the right of the photo is over 6 feet tall.  Just after we dug the mailbox out, the snow plow came back through.  Grrr!  The predicted amount of snow here today is 10 inches by tomorrow morning.  We shovel by hand and we need to keep at least one portion of the large drive clear.  Snow or not, my husband still has to go to work.  He will need to be able to get back in the drive after work.

After a nice warm cup of hot chocolate, and a nice long hot shower, I have articles to write and articles to edit and articles to submit.  Although I wanted a snow day pretty bad, it is very difficult to work when all of the kids are home.

While we were outside working, I glanced up at the snow mound from the snow that arrived the day before.  My 8 year old daughter was trying to ride her big wheel down the snow bank! Ha, ha ha!  Of course I had to be the bad guy and put a stop to it.  I have had enough visits to the emergency room to last a lifetime.

We've already split wood, shoveled, put out a small fire on the stove top, cleaned up a broken plate that one dropped a mug on, and just had lunch so we can start on the house work.  

"Still want to live like a pioneer Mom?" asked my seventeen year old son after we stacked the wood and could not feel our noses or hands.

"Yep!" I replied with enthusiasm.

Snow and Wind

I had to laugh yesterday.  I was ranting at the kids for "breaking my computer" and all the while, the wind, snow and bad weather, had taken out the cable/Internet lines.  They are up and running, however I try not to write on Sunday now.

We did not get an extreme amount of snow.  The wind caused terrible drifting, and a driver went off the road out in front of our house.  She was able to get her truck back on, but that's how bad the roads were.

The kids are loving it.  The drifts are very tall, and they are sledding down them.  I see that the snow is coming down again this morning.  I'm sure they will be praying for a snow day tomorrow.

Frog Spit

I was tickled to come across Frog Spit (frozen treats) for an after school snack.  When I brought them home last night, one daughter said, "Mooooooommm!  They sell those at school" in the whiniest voice I have ever heard.  That just deflated my excitement.  Either way, that's today's after school snack. 

Now I have to come up with another, off of the wall, treat for after school.  I may have to bake something this time.  Hmmm? 

Sunday Family Games

I have been pretty good at keeping my writing to "work days" and keeping Sunday as Sabbath.  In my attempt to read for pleasure yesterday, I failed.  The kids begged and begged me to play a game with them.  They kept saying, "Come on Mom....you aren't like other Mom's." When I asked what they meant they replied with words such as "boring" and "not fun" and a few others.  How could I not play.

So I did.  They took all of the cards, with nouns, from a game we have called Whoonu.  They shuffled the cards, and each player took one, but could not look at it.  Then another player would tape the card to your forehead, so that everyone else could read it.  Each player was allowed to ask one question each time around, until someone guessed what their card said correctly.  It takes time to play this game, so my reading didn't happen.  Was I sorry I played with the kids instead?  Nope.  It was kind of fun actually.