Let it snow

Getting out on the roads Christmas Day, it was the strangest thing. I don't have a picture of the volume on the main streets, but driving down the road, I was weaving in and out of cars lodged and abandoned in the snow. There were few drivers out on the road which made for an eery quiet. The thought nagging in my mind was "Where did all these people go?". We must have passed 40 plus cars. They couldn't have all walked home late in the night, could they? It wasn't until we got out of the city and onto the back roads that we thought to get the camera out. There was much less traffic but you can see the drifts on the side of the road that were car door high. This road was wide enough to accommodate two cars but at one point, we entered a plowed path that was just one lane. A half mile in, we were met with four cars coming the other direction. Their car tried to turn and got stuck in a snow bank. John hopped out to help push it free and we were then left with the task of backing out of the slalom path we had just navigated into. I was so tense holding on the steering wheel as we bumped around in the uneven divots littering the packed snow and ice that I found myself sore the next morning. If it wasn't for the 4 wheel drive in the truck, we wouldn't have gone out at all.

Below is the picture of my parent's car that got stuck on Christmas Eve and was shovelled out Christmas Day shortly after this picture was snapped. Fortunately the snow was not near as high as other drifts around the city had been and the snow had melted several inches from the night before but it was just high enough that the tires couldn't spin their way out. Oh how I wish that I had a picture of May. It felt like I was driving in a zombie movie or world ending event. Cars scattered about. Abandoned. These three cars don't do it justice.

From the sky, we received 14 inches. From the plows, many cars received much more. Ones that were just stuck tire deep, like my parents, awoke the next morning to find their car wedged in three feet of snow. Good for those of us driving. Bad for those who'll be shoveling their way free. I stole a few pics from the news site to show what I mean. It doesn't capture zombie-esque, but is does capture attack of the snow plows and the sight of passing mail trucks and even a city bus motionless in the snow.

I am certain that all those dreaming of a white Christmas, didn't dream of this. Probably more like fires and cocoa and carolers in red bonnets and fuzzy gloves. Snow men and sledding and giggles. Not shovels and frame repairs. I guess it rings true. Be careful what you ask for. Even at Christmas, the most magical season of all.

You know it is time for haircuts when...

Nothing beats ponytail wars, while inside, staying warm and out of the blizzard. We were Samurai. And yes, note the sweater vest.

Winter Wonderland

We officially have a White Christmas on our hands. I knew some freezing rain was coming, but wasn't really planning on the blizzard warnings based on the 40mph winds tossing snow about. In fact, as I type, my parents are stuck on the side of the road 2 miles from their house, waiting for my Uncle to come and save them because it would be quite a hike home in calf deep snow. Why are they out? Tina had to work. Apparently animals at the vet still have to eat, even if in zero visibility snow. I am not an animal person, so I'll plead the fifth.

Joshy and Ben have been chomping at the bit all morning, wanting to get out and play in the thickening white blanket covering our lawn. With the wind whipping about, we figured if we bundled them up and took them out they would be begging to come back in. Yes, we are that dumb. They loved it which makes me think that they are not their mother's child. I don't mind snow and I love wind but not wet wind that gives me frostbite. I much prefer the woods and leaves and sun that speckles the ground to slowly losing feeling in my toes. Still, the boys and John had a blast as I stood in the door way, snapping pictures. There were snowballs thrown and laughs traded and tears when they finally had to come inside. I expect much more time out tomorrow when the sun has reemerged to replace the bone chilling wind.

Merry Christmas from three snow covered boys and one sensible, warm girl.

Christmas Program

Joshy's preschool class had their Christmas program this past week. It was rather adorable, them singing Rudolph and We Wish you a Merry Christmas, reindeer hats and Joshy making up motions that I don't believe to be planned. During We Wish you a Merry Christmas, him and the little boy to his right were doing that arm motion you equate with blokes singing in a bar with mug in hand on each We Wish. He had a good time and was so proud of his sweater vest. In fact, he has worn it every moment he can since and is wearing it as I type. I think he slept in it last night. Who knew that all he wanted for Christmas was a sweater vest?

He's the smart guy

John and Joshy were playing swords tonight and I watched them as they rallied back and forth, Joshy being the good guy and then claiming he was the bad guy. Here is how the conversation went:

Joshy: I am the good guy. Fight.
John: Got you. You're dead.
Joshy: Okay, I am the bad guy. Ready. Go.
John: Smack. You're dead.
Joshy: Okay, I am the guy that doesn't die. Go.

That solves that.

O Christmas Tree

The weekend after Thanksgiving, the boys helped John and I set up our new Christmas tree. If you remember from last year, new is because I had yet to buy or own a tree short enough for the house I live in. Somehow, as I look at a 8 ft tree in the store, my mind's eye pictures our ceilings towering far above it while the 6 ft tree is barely taller than me. So it was that we would get home and inevitably celebrate another Christmas with a half assembled tree as the ceilings turned out not to be 10 ft tall and the top section of pre-lit evergreen had to remain in the box. This year I was determined to learn from my mistakes, as all incredibly wise people do, and bought a 6.5ft tree that fits perfectly in our front room. With a red star and a hodgepodge of ornaments ranging from sentimental to "seriously...you are going to put a swan on the tree?", it is perfect and as I told Joshy, our house just feels like Christmas. We even managed to get our stockings hung, though not by the chimney with care, but with $2.99 garland and twist tie bows tied to our rail. After it was done, I just sat down in a chair and stared, my heart so happy to see the tree complete and up well before December 23. Now we just have to figure out where we put that tree skirt...

He is his father's son

Being carried by my room, Ben's greeting of choice? "Hi mama. Love you. Peace out."

(drum roll)

I am pleased to tell you that I have recently become a part of the exclusive group of people known as...Snuggie owners. That is right, I now have my very own, as seen on TV, long sleeve blanket! Oh, we have all mocked it. Laughed at the over exaggerated actors unable to get their hands out of their blanket to answer the phone or save their child from sticking a fork in the socket. We have all thought it looked ridiculous when their relieved faces donned the snuggie while playing backgammon. But, here is what you need to know. Throw their sub par marketing team out the door and picture being cuddled up on the couch watching Stargate Universe freely drinking your diet coke and snacking on your almonds without having any part of you uncovered. It is hands down the coolest thing ever. Plus, you look like a wizard, which is always a plus...

Nothing really matters.....but moi

Meet the boy's new fascination or as they call it, "the mama song". When you get to the red fur and drums, you'll see why. They laugh every time, without fail. It's heartwarming to see the Muppets gift Queen to them as Wayne's World once did to us.

clap clap DE-FENSE

Tonight I had the privilege of going to a Thunder game with some girls from work. Not traditionally the biggest of basketball fans, I have attended two, yes two, games this month and have had a complete blast at both. In fact, after repeatedly answering to who let the dogs out and reminding the players when it was time for defense and when it was time to charge, I am certain that I will barely be able to speak tomorrow. Of course, you have to count in the shameless screaming for t-shirts and frisbees and every time we dunked or stole. I also vaguely remember some verses of we will rock you and bird calls but everything begins to blur when you are inebriated with exhaustion and laughter. For the first of my two games, the half-time show was a single man who was all five Village People and was hilarious. This time around it was Native American dancers and while I am appreciative of the culture shout out, I am pretty sure they just spun in circles for 10 minutes. Not a cumulative circle. Just 8 people stationary in court position…spinning. Of course, it was hard to pay attention when you are continually distracted by the world’s last remaining mullet. It was long, tangled and unwashed; sweeping gently back and forth across his PBR logo with each swig of beer. It was just as a true mullet should be. And let’s not forget to take a moment of silence in honor of the inflatable mascot who suffered a mid-court deflation, head flopping behind as arms and legs scurried off the floor. Or for the man painted completely blue who lost the biggest fan contest to an equally blue fan dressed up as Thor. There is nothing is worse than going smurf in vain. Well, except for being a grown person donning streamers and cat ears. Still, two thumbs up for the Thunder Cat reference, even if I don’t remember them having pompom manes. Thundercats HOOOOO! It was a great night from the tip-off to the funnel cake to the three, count them, three cashiers it took to change out the nacho cheese to the car ride home and the heated debate concerning why running around a car is inherently Chinese. It goes against everything I stand for, but basketball might just have a new fan.

Mozarts in Training

At Thanksgiving I turned around to the sound of mismatched notes and saw the boys just sitting together at the piano, playing away. At the end of the day, these brothers love each other. Just a little less when one has a bigger share of the piano stool...

The holiday season has begun

It seems to get increasingly hard to find the energy to blog as we roll into the holiday season. I say energy because I can find the time, but as I sit down with my laptop perched in my lap, the next thing I remember is my head hitting the downside of a bob and ssssssssssssssssssssssss running across the screen. I love the holiday season but it is hard to believe that it is already here. Hard to believe that a turkey is cooking as I speak. This year I'm responsible for three things including a dessert which I have now made twice. Not twice in my life. Twice this morning. I had gotten inspired and decided to shoot for Paula Dean. The instructions were simple enough, but the not noticing the vanilla had expired in 2007 was not. I knew I remembered us having vanilla extract but that is probably because I must have seen it in the cabinet for the last 4 years. I thought it smelled funny and yet poured it anyway. Sometimes I wish I could go back and tell myself "THINK!". So, with bad vanilla mixed in my bowl and not enough corn syrup for another batch, I call to John who jumps out of the bath and makes a scurried Walmart run. I had gone myself the night before to pick up ingredients and upon reflection, I should have thought in advance about the certain pecan shortage. I literally got the last bag in the store, though not enough for the recipe. John comes back with syrup, vanilla and corn flakes for the hash brown casserole. The casserole that just came out in time for the pre-cooked turkey from the local rib joint to go in. Perhaps buying your turkey isn't in the spirit of Thanksgiving but it is in the spirit of reducing the cooking time from 8 hours to 1 and it tasting tender and flavored and not at all like the last turkey I tried to cook in a bag. The memories of being awake at two in the morning, trying to pull a bag of frozen gizzards out of a half thawed turkey are still crystal clear. Somehow my gravy turned yellow and the potatoes soggy but I had a platter in the shape of a turkey and the common sense to know that I would never repeat that again. To add insult to injury, my mother has decided to take her Christmas card pictures today. A wonderful idea as a day full of cooking always affords time for attention to appearance. Perhaps I will go in my current unshowered state and just hold the dessert as proof as to why. Yes, my hair is sticking up on one side but do you see the homemade caramel and toasted pecans?? So, your holiday greetings include me looking a little greasy. Just chock it up to a commitment to cooking and serving desserts with no expired ingredients.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cinnamon Rolls...yum

This morning, John made mini-cinnamon rolls for breakfast and gave each of the boys 2 to eat. He had taken to work on some things while the boys were eating and the next thing he knew, he walked into the kitchen to find the stool next to the counter and the cinnamon roll plate empty. The boys had eaten their two and then the remaining six. As I type, Joshy is going to the bathroom singing "What's gonna work...teamwork" as loud as humanly possible while Ben repeats "eeeevvvaa" over and over while driving a car up and down the side of the door jam. This was preceded by them running circles on my bed, singing the monkey song bookended by their questions of "What are you doing?, What are you doing?, What are you doing?". Good thing for us our children aren't affected by sugar...

Sadee Schilling Studio

My dear friend Sarah has created some artwork that I am so proud of and want to share with you. During all the time I had spent with her in college, I never knew there was an artist buried inside the girl that ran for fun and studied English by choice.

http://sadeeschillingstudio.etsy.com/

The hand and the imaging center

I have been having some hand pain over the course of the past couple months. The dull burning sensation is manageable but if you compress the hand, as in a handshake, the pain is acute. I have been terrified of handshakes since a bank representative shook my hand and I, in the classiest way imaginable, yelled out loud in pain. Yelling at someone for shaking your hand always does make for a good first impression. After another month of navigating my way around meetings cunningly avoiding handshakes, I decided it was time to visit the doctor. I went to the clinic at my work which is handily a block from my building but, while staffed with qualified doctors, is not outfitted with radiology. So, I was sent to an Imaging Center where I was told to just walk in. As I entered and handed my form to the receptionist, I was told that they were short handed and therefore not doing x-rays. Okay, so let's back up. You are an Imaging Center. A center whose only purpose is to image. And you are so shorthanded, you don't have a single person to perform an x-ray. Right. She asks if it would be alright if I come back the next day. I pause and then decide to pass on my general annoyance and sarcasm dolled to those who ask questions that are not really questions. Would it be alright? No. So, what now? So, I leave. Two days later I am able to slip out early from work and drive back over to the center where, upon entering, I am told "Ewwwww...we don't do x-rays after 4:00". Okay, I was here two days ago and was sent away because apparently the receptionist was the only one who had made it to work that day and I specifically remember no mention of the 4:00pm deadline. She decides to call back and see if they can make an exception. Good idea. Fortunately they can. Good for both her and me, as she wants to live and I don't look good in orange. After being escorted to the room, my hand is placed on a cartridge next to a piece of tape with a big "R". She contorts my hand into all sorts of positions. You know, the kind you generally avoid with an injured hand. When finished, she tells me it will take her two days to develop the film. Now, I know we are circling around, but I would again like to point out that you are an Imaging Center. This is what you do. You are paid for nothing but taking images. Please tell me why you would not have any investment put into the equipment you are using. The hospital in Norfolk took the x-rays of Joshy and they appeared on the computer screen. You won't have them for two days because you have to first build the darkroom and then develop them. In Norfolk, it took 5 minutes. Here is took 30 because we had to make it to and from 1980. From now on, I will pass on your Imaging Center in lieu of finding my own radiation source and shooting it at my unprotected self, as you did, seeing no reason to cover any part of me as clearly the radiation hits nothing other than the spot where the light shines...which is why you have to make a point to take the previously used cartridge out of the room and you stand behind a protective barrier. Better safe than sorry.

Pumpkin Patch

For the second year, we visited a pumpkin farm south of the city to select our pumpkins. Of course, I use pumpkin farm liberally. I am pretty sure they are shipped in pumpkins scattered amongst some vines. Still, they have corn mazes, hay mazes, goats to feed, horse swings made of tires and tube slides propped up on hay bales. You know, the safe way all slides should be propped up.

Looking at pictures from last year, it is amazing how much the boys have grown and how much worse the weather. Last year this time, it was a perfect day. This year, walking through the patch meant choosing the from the two dry paths and not those with ankle deep mud. Last year Ben could only sit where we sat him. This year, he was climbing up hay bales to slide down slides.

2008

Now

Jessi and Nana came along with us and as the last hoorah before leaving, Jess agreed to take Joshy through the corn maze. We had walked through it earlier and it seemed like just a big circle so, 15 minutes later, I was mostly just annoyed that they were still playing while we waited, hungry, feeling the water drops at increasing intervals. Finally, I sent John in to get them because patient and starving are concepts that I cannot reconcile easily. Soon, they were filing out of the maze, Jess and Joshy cheering that they were saved. Apparently, the maze is more of a maze than I realized and they had been legitimately lost. As Jess tells it, they were turning left and then right and then back where they started, running into others who asked if they had seen the exit to which they replied, "No. Have you?". Finally, as they, too, felt the raindrops Jessi turned to Joshy, gripping him by the arms, saying "Jessi is going to get us out of here", all the while certain she was hearing animals rustling around in the corn stalks. It was then that John turned the corner, as she tells it, to her and Joshy cheering at the sight of him. Seems like, for the first time ever, my instantaneous anger when hungry actually made something better.

And when I see him...I'm going to punch him...

Joshy and Ben love when my dad is in town. All they can think about is getting to rough house around with him. Probably because he gets down on their level and is happy to roll around in the dirt if the battle demands it. Every time I tell Joshy that Papa is coming, he jumps up and down and Ben points him out in every picture he sees him in. He also points Ross out as Papa but we are working on that.

(I love that they are already versed in the concept of "kick 'em while they're down"....)

These two little boys love their Papa.

Happy Halloween

This year Joshy fully understood the concept of Halloween and requested in September that he be Wolverine. He has been talking about it since and how Jess would be the Hulk and they would fight.

The night of, everyone came over to our house and dad and mom handed out candy while we ran the neighborhood in search of treats. Across the street from us there is a little boy Joshy's age named Chris, who he has become fast friends with. Well, we happened to set off the same time he did and the rest of the night, we were at the mercy of Chris and where he felt like going because Joshy's only concern was "going where Chris goes". We didn't mind. It was just so wonderful to see him enjoying himself so much.

Ben was getting into the spirit too. He would say "Happy Halloween" before the treat, "Thank you" after wards and then complete it with a "you're welcome". He loves to repeat people, so if someone said "so cute", out would come "so cute" in a sing song voice. He loves hats, so I had put on his striped beanie with his costume and he did, in fact, look like Super Waldo. Not intended, but entirely adorable.

Tina dressed up in her yearly inflatable costume and even Lexie had a costume to wear. Who is Lexie? She is the dog I don't clearly remember saying could come over but apparently was overruled by some conversation she and John allegedly had. Being outside, in the perfect weather, surrounded by families and kids...I am just continually so thankful for the neighborhood I get to live in. It is like when I was young, walking around the neighborhood with my pillowcase because those little pumpkins couldn't cover near enough territory. Or John, walking through his neighborhood, smashing pumpkins and terrorizing anything he could get his hands on. Yep...he was that kid.

It's a race!

Or...at least a run with the word "fun" in front of it that came with matching t-shirts. Tina, Jess and I drove up to Tulsa this morning for the Tulsa Run. It was Tina's first run and I was so proud of her. We ran and then walked according to the timer in my hand and when in run mode, had the added fun of trying to zoom in and around the other walkers who clearly didn't understand the "stand to the left, walk to the right" concept promoted on people movers world wide. We had left that morning at 6:30 to get there on time and while not quite able to find our exit, we finally found our way to a parking lot with other numbered people wandering out of it. That said, it was a bit further from the start line than I had realized. Strangely enough, they did not seem to want to jog to the start line to ensure we weren't late. I believe the exact words, as I was shuffling along, was "and B is out...".

Jess, was...well, Jess. She is the one standing in the crowd at the start and performing over exaggerated stretches and waving to the people on high risers and cheering as we ran across the finish line. She makes me smile. The best of all was just getting to spend the morning with both my sisters. It is not often that we get to spend time just the three of us, driving down the turnpike, jamming to "1985".

Robin Hood, Prince of Really Cool 4 Year Olds

This morning, the boys went out to my mom's house to practice their compound bow. Joshy has his own bow and Uncle Ross was ever the patient teacher. They shot at a fake deer made of who knows what. I haven't been close enough to inspect. Still, I much rather the "fake" than the real. Not because of any animal right sensibilities (definitely pro hamburger and bacon) but the idea of having to turn a carcass into deer steaks. Even the image of peeling back the skin or whatever it is you do to get the meat out. Only if there was no other way to get food, including the option to feast on dead party member's bottoms.

There is just something about a man with a weapon in his hand. Look at my John Nathan. Protecting us from Medieval Savages. Any closer era and the gun powder/atomic weapons win.

Welcome to Fall

It is hard to believe that it is jacket weather already...

Boom Boom Pow

Jess has signed up for a hip hop dance class on a whim and in the midst of practicing for her Dec 13th recital, has pulled the boys into her hip hop madness. Notice Ben who, since he first understood the concept of dance, dances not with his legs, but only with his arms.

My Beloved Baby Boy

Tonight I was working on cleaning the kitchen and had finally resorted to barring the boys from coming in because telling Ben to put the knife back in the dishwasher and Joshy that I wouldn't answer him if he was whining, ended up proving counterproductive to my kitchen cleaning progress. We set up our leather ottoman in the doorway as a blockade. A blockade that doesn't block much of anything but serves as the line by which punishment comes if crossed. No sooner than I had turned back around to the sink do I catch Ben crawling up onto the ottoman in the corner of my eye. As I turn around and say "Ben" in my warning tone, he falls flat on his stomach and starts to fake snore. I turn back around and he proceeds to hang one leg towards the kitchen. As soon as my head turns in his direction, the leg comes back up and the fake snoring begins again. It is adorable but aggravating and entirely ornery. Every time I start the dishwasher, he comes along and changes the settings or turns it off. I think that the cycle is finished and open it up to a washer full of suds. He pretends to be sleeping and as soon as you close your eyes, he blows the air through his lips at your face to get the puttering sound along with flying spit. Or he will poke you in the eye while saying "eye" because he has learned that the excitement of him saying the right word somehow makes the eye gouging okay. His vocabulary is exploding but mostly with phrases like "no..no...bite" and "no more". That and his colors. The other day he even started to count along with Jessi when playing hide and go seek. Best of all, though, is his "sorry". He will say it in this sing song tone and gently rub your cheek. It is almost worth being hit. He knows "Bumblebee" and "Spiderman" which he sings to the Ironman theme song. Joshy could sing you the tune and correct you when you inevitably get it wrong. When the music is loud and he begins to dance, instead of moving his legs, he just moves his arms up and down like he is doing the...well that dance from the sixties where they are moving their arms up and down. All I can think of is Mash Potato but I am pretty sure that's not it. My baby is a ball of wonderful craziness embodied in the boy with his leg hanging into the kitchen pretending to sleep. I wish I had a picture that captured his precocious smile and ornery glare but somehow the times when it shows up are not the times I am thinking "take a picture" but more a "you better not put that marble in your mouth"...

Soul Glo

As I was blessed with course hair, I often use Biosilk on the ends of my hair to try and keep from getting "Monica Hair" after taking two steps outside on humid days. Joshy happened to be in the bathroom with me when I was putting it in my hair a few mornings ago and of course, asked what I was doing. After explaining, I took my almost dry hands and rubbed them through his hair so that he could be just like me. Instead of putting the biosilk up in the cabinet, I left it on the back of the toilet while I stepped out of the bathroom to grab something. Soon I had Joshy trotting after me. He was proud to show me that he had used the biosilk himself and now had 1/2 of my bottle of serum applied to his hair. It looked like Soul Glo hair from Coming to America. You could mini-toboggan down the sides and have enough left over grease on your treads to make it across a field of sand paper and tackiest of glues. He felt so fly that I couldn't break his spirits and just told him how great he looked as I talked about using only a little and ringing the oil from his hair. Never has there been greasy hair so adorable and well meant.

State Fair Part Deux

I had the opportunity to go to the state fair twice this year, the second time with some girls from work. One of them brought their daughter who was adorable and it is always fun to have a kid present because it is easier to explain away my excitement at seeing a Llama or Zebra when a kid is right there being excited too.

We stopped by the car barn to see all the cars but I was disappointed that they didn't have the Cube on display. That was the one I was most interested to see. Still, I got to see LeAnn spill funnel cake powder all down her front and that was something. What created the humor was my comment to her as we were leaving work about how she was wearing such nice clothes in comparison to me and my slumming it and how she was going to end up getting stuff on it. She of course said "What am I going to get on it?" with ridicule in her tone. So what do we call her covered in white (and some Indian Taco mind you)? Maybe case and point...

We played some games as well before the night was through. LeAnn played the horse race and I gave my best at the water squirting race (came in second - barely) but it was Kyra who who ended up scoring the loot for the evening.

The only thing that can make the State Fair better is the State Fair times 2. And let me just note that it took some impressive squatting and leaning for me to take this picture. Just saying. Don't want to keep props from being given where props are due.