Date Day!!

We had a date today!! Very rare in this house... We started at Home Depot, picking out paint chips and moulding, then we saw the movie Marley and Me- the tears flowed on that one, had a great lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and followed it up with a Mrs. Fields Cookie visit. We parted ways so Rick could pick up the kids and I had my pre-op appt. Hard to believe my surgery is next week- eeks. I finished the day with a little retail shoe therapy :-)

Abby Girl

I turn around and she looks older, bigger, smarter. It's as if I wasn't looking.

Resolutions

Have you made your New Year's Resolutions yet? I actually made some for the first time in many many years- wrote them down on a 3x5 card and it's in my Bible- this way I'll have a daily reminder.
We continued with Christmas on Friday the 26th with the girls. Abby covered everyone in stickers- you can see in the pics below. We spent most of today taking down all the Christmas decor and untrimming the tree.
I am mentally preparing myself for returning to work tomorrow and am a little uptight about it... even though it's a short week... lot's to do.
Rick now has ANOTHER cold. Miles I ran last week = only 3.

Merry Christmas!

A few pics from today... we went to my mom's in the morning so the kids could open their presents from her there. They had a ball! We got stuck on the way home- at the end of our street (at least in walking distance to the house). We lost a chain and had to shovel the car out and get the chain back on-then got stuck again in front of our house- more shoveling. There is some front end/underneath damage to the minivan now. eeks.

Jessica and Reilly made it safely from Seattle and we are lucky to have them overnight. Our big Christmas dinner is tomorrow with the girls. Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Christmas Day.

These three were at Grammy's

Merry Christmas

...for unto us a child is born and we shall call him wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace...

Day of Freedom

ok so maybe not that dramatic... but it was nice to get out. It took us approx 6 hours just to do the following:
1) starbucks
2) urgent care (you would be amazed at how quick this trip was) really!
3) eat lunch
4) pick up Cinnabons for Christmas morning (tradition)
5) stop at store for 12 items
6) pick up pizza for dinner
7) get gas
8) starbucks :-)

6 hours!!! No complaints- we made it home safe. My poor husband finished shoveling us out so I could get to the dr. I now have an ear infection. It's my annual one and it came early this year. Ever since I had kids- I get ear infections every winter. It's the most bizzare thing. Rick no doubt re-injured his tennis elbow so I will continually nag him to ice it. Abby covered me up with a blanket when we got home and crawled in with me for some snuggle time.

We Lost Power!!!

My worst fear in this storm came true- we lost power a few times today but it came back on. Around 1pm we lost it for 5 hours. I already had the candles out and ready and Rick had the flashlights ready. We have a gas fireplace so he turned that on with the remote. It wasn't able to blow air but after the temp dipped to 65 in the house it brought it back to 67. I had dinner in the crock pot so we lit the stove and I just finished it there. The kids had an absolute blast- loved the fireplace and the candles and the dark. It was actually fun- not that I would want it to happen again. I am low on candles and Rick was worried about the pond freezing.


I have to admit my heart is bursting. Tonight Abby said "What is God doing about the lights?" and later after the lights came on, "Did God turn the lights back on?" It just about makes me weep that this little 4 year old girl has her mind turned towards Him.

Cooking Dinner by Candlelight

Our stocking holders spell PEACE. Fitting.

Still homebound

We ventured outside this morning to shovel snow. I needed out of the house, needed fresh air and exercise. We barely made a dent and it's snowing again! I couldn't resist posting a picture of the 'big guy' who is VERY interested in the potty lately.

Cookies for Santa

What else are we going to do being snowed/iced in??? If I look like I am medicated it's because I am... I am the last in the family to get this cold and it's going on 4 days. Normally I am not that big of a wuss but this one really made me feel crummy. Santa is going to be well fed this year.

Start 'Em Young

Six inches and not done yet

Me-Me wanted to be in his element.

Letter to Santa

Dictated by Abby Jenkins 12/19/08

Dear Santa,
I've been really good this year. I would like lots and lots of Christmas presents. I wuv you Santa. Are your reindeers well fed? I wuv your reindeers and even the red nose reindeer. Aidan has been really bad this year. I don't want him to get any presents. I want him to be good. I wuv mom. I wuv dad. I wuv everyone. That's all.

Frosty the Snowman

you have to turn the sound off on my playlist...

We Miss you a Merry Christmas

This is what Abby sings. I tell her it's actually "wish" and she says, "no it's not." I say black she says white...

So for days we've been anticipating snow and it's fun and beautiful until I think about getting to work and the fact that they are calling for more snow at the end of the week. It can go away now!

We had a great weekend- Abby's Christmas Pageant (um which was... not good) and Nick and Ashley's crock pot party- soooooooooooo yummy. Today was playing in the snow and the whole family took naps!

Our God is an Awesome God

You will have to turn the sound off at the bottom of my page first. It's so sweet that she sings this- until the end when she shoves her brother...

It's Video Time!

Not much to report-a few funnies though. Today I was taking Abby to ballet class and waiting in the lobby and she was cold so I picked her up and started quietly singing Our God is an Awesome God because I am pretty sure that is one of the songs they are signing in their Christmas pageant this Saturday so I figured hey... good practice. Well, she apparently didn't like it and says (almost with the eye roll of a 12 yr old) "Mom, can we just be quiet?"

You know how most, if not all parents say, "if you eat so and so you'll turn into one?" Last night for dinner we had teryaki chicken sandwiches with sun chips and fruit and Abby says "I'm going to turn into a chip so I can eat myself." Pretty smart thinking if you ask me.

A few videos- you'll have to turn the sound off on my playlist at the bottom of the page.

Birthday, Christmas Lights and a 5K

It's so nice to just RELAX today. Although we were up at 5am (not by choice) and headed downtown by 7:30 to participate in the Jingle Bell 5K run for Arthritis. We crossed the finish line at 31:32. Not sure what our 'chip' time is until it's posted. Aidan is still not sleeping during nap time and LOVES to wake up at 5ish. Brutal. We were home by 10ish and I promised Abby we would decorate the Gingerbread house today.
Aidan had a great 2nd birthday. We took him to Build a Bear. Once we got in the mall parking lot he says "no San-Sant". He calls Santa San-Sant. He thought we were visiting Santa again! He picked out an elephant to stuff. His party was great- good visiting and the cake was so cute I hated to cut it. The kids were full of energy :=)
Chritmas lights... lol. It's just not Rick's year. I picked out these solar snowflake stakes for the yard. They turn colors and I love them. Yesterday he mows the lawn and SEVERS the wires.