Snow is Falling All Around

On the house tops, on the ground.

And it is "snow" wonderful! The official house weatherman has reported 4 inches on the front lawn. 8 inches have settled on the garbage can from the wind blowing it around and such.

This one was taken 10 minutes after we shook all the snow from the plant.

I was driving earlier when it had just started. It was so great to see large flakes of snow gracefully falling from the sky. It's a good thing we brought our snowblower!!

Carl, are you sure we're not in Utah anymore?

Clicking and seizing

My thoughts:

This darn computer. It's not starting. It keeps getting stuck on this screen. Call Dad and we'll get it fixed.

A few months later:

I should back up my pictures to a CD or something. Just in case.

Around Christmas:

Hey a USB memory stick. Now I can get those pictures backed up.

Not too soon thereafter:

The computer keeps making a clicking noise and seizing up. Not even CTRL + ALT + Delete is having any effect. Push the power button. Oh, that doesn't work either. Flip the power supply (My dad would KILL me if he knew I was doing this.)

Friday morning:

What the?!?! Why does the computer keep rebooting itself? I guess I'll call Dad. I guess I'll get that memory stick out to back up the pictures now.

After a few conversations with Dad:

No virus, bad hard drive, eh? I need a super careful techie to rescue all my files, eh? Well shoot. I guess I shoulda listened to that prompting to back up those pictures. Where to I find someone as tediously careful as my father to do the job with out breaking the bank?

At least we've got the lappy.

Lesson Learned:

Helaman 13:38 But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.

Do not procrastinate the day of your important file backing-up. You never know when it will be everlastingly too late, and your file destruction made sure.

Party Time!

Brady had his birthday party this week. It was lots of fun. The guest list included the LaVetters and two families from down the street that have little boys that will no doubt teach Brady all sorts of things his mother will enjoy. We got out the balloons and Happy Birthday banner.

We played a game of pass around the big huge ball. We opened presents, which consisted of a baby laptop, bedtime book, 3 new DVDs, play lawn mower, a puzzle, a toothbrush and new Sunday clothes.

Then it was time for cake and ice cream. With the Birthday Boy stripped down to his 'sposie (that's a disposable diaper. I wasn't about to get orange frosting on the cloth ones.) and birthday hat on, we were ready to sing.

Allow me to get off track for a moment...During the ice storm Brady learned about fire, that it is hot and we don't touch it. Thanks to a burn on a portable heater, he learned that when something IS hot and we DO touch it, it hurts. We were at the party store and he saw one of those fake fabric, fan and light fire dealies and kept saying "hot, hot." This kid knows fire is no bueno.

Back to the party, we have hesitant baby being approached by this burning candle, ensue crying. After the candle is out, it's time for the consuming of the cake.

Ewww, frosting!! The texture is a no go, along with the taste. I assist him in getting to the cake part. It was a carrot cake (my attempt to keep this joyous event healthy) which has a texture to it very much different from bread, which is what he was expecting. As I re-watch the video I think he's a little sad that his ball is not really a ball at all! We even offered a cupcake and that was rejected.

Aunt Gretchen to the rescue!! Brady likes ice cream, just like his Grandpa John. Ice cream, however, is too cold to pick up with ones hands. And when you haven't mastered a spoon it leaves you with only one option: Bring the bowl to your face. Silly little ice cream facial hair. He got his sugar rush anyway.

After cleaning up and playing for a little bit longer with the kids we said our thank yous and goodbyes. We finished up the birthday fun with a bath and bed time. Brady conked out very quickly after having so much fun.

For a snack the next day we had, what else, cake. Brady likes it!! He really likes it!! He's still not much of a fan for frosting, and that's okay with me. 363 days until birthday number two. Bring it on....

*I hope to get the video edited and posted soon.*

Good times at Chili's

While waiting for our food at Chili's, Carl and I entertained ourselves with the fun kids menu. There was a mad lib in there and this is what came out. (underlined words are the filled in ones)

Oh, no! Writer's Block! Episode 23: Salsa and the Silky Fingernails
Scene: Interior of Sunny's grilled apartment. Chip knocks on the front door.
Sunny: What the honk! I wasn't expecting anyone! I hope it's Chip with a tire or a charcol.
Chip: (enters room) Hi, Sunny! Hope you're feeling chocolate. I sweated all the way here! Did you know Ppper is dropping in the taco this afternoon at the Mexico?
Sunny: Really? We should pack some chewy circle and rush over to cut with him. That will be really shredded! I'll bring the plate. That's Pepper's fave!
Chip: Cool. I'll call Hal on my new sock and have him eat us.
Sunny: Yay! I love when we call change together and dice for a spicy cause!
Chip: Okay, Sunny. I'll chill you outside, and we can go in my USA.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I am 1/4 centruy old. It already seems like "25" will be much easier to say than "24."


I had a really good day yesterday. I was able to do some Visiting Teaching. It's nice to visit with the sisters in our branch and get to know them better. It's even better to have gospel related discussions with them. I'm sure had our lives permitted, we could have stayed all day and chit-chatted.


Brady and I went to Lapsit at the library. That was great. We read two books together and sang lots of songs. Brady normally claps along when I am singing or he hears music, but he just kinda sat in my lap. It was as if he was just observing the situation. After the kids played with the toys and put them all away, he did start clapping and smiling. He's on a delayed reaction, methinks.


Brady has been teething and is getting over a really NASTY cold (that he so graciously passed on to me and Carl.) He has been clingy and not sleeping well and just down right crabby. Yesterday it seemed to all go away. He was such a good little boy! We only had to have timeout once! He was happy again! It was the best present he could have given me that day.


I was able ot get some books from the library about feeding children. I know I'm paranoid. I fret over every new stage of eating. "What can he eat?" "When do we nurse?" "How often does he need to eat?" "How much should he eat?" "When do I encourage just a few more bites?" "Do I tell him this is what is for lunch/dinner and that he should eat it or go hungry?" and so many other questions. I read Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense by Ellyn Satter. That lady knows how to write a book for a worried little mommy like me. So thank you, library, for having that book to bring me a bit of peace.


The LaVetter mommy and kids unexpectedly dropped by with a bright green ice cream cake from Baskin Robins. Oooh, YUM!!! And I got a Barbie balloon. That was a wonderful surprise. Thanks ladies (and little guy. I can't say "Gretchen and the Girls" anymore. Maybe I'll call you the Herd.)


After putting sweet little Brady to bed I got to SOAK IN MY TUB!!! A WOOO HOOO!!! It's be at least 6 months since I've had the chance. It was awesome. And since we turned the heat up on the water heater, there was enough hot water to fill the tub. I did find out what happens when you put in lots of bubble bath/shower gel in the water, then turn on the jets. Only the most awesomest thing ever....




I love bubbles.


Carl came home durning bath time and had some cards for me. I was able to relax and write in my journals and exfoliate to my little hearts content.


It was an excellent day. Definately a Happy Birthday to me.

Baby Davis

On February 5, 2009 another child of God entered this world.

His name is Davis Matthew. He was 8 lbs. 7 oz. and 21 inches long.

His momma had a good labor. Their power returned Wednesday morning and she went into labor that afternoon. He arrived at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday.

His sisters love him very much. They really like to hold him. Lissa has been a big help by carrying the car seat whenever she can. I asked the girls what they are going to teach him. Two said sign language and one said ballet.

Brady is aware that there is someone new around. All day Thursday he would say "babee" and rock back and forth. I think he knew Davis was coming. He will teach him many things.

We are so happy you came to live with the LaVetters and get to be a part of our family, Davis. We love you!!

To sexy for his jammies

Carl got Brady from his crib one morning. He told me
"Either it's a toga....
















or a fancy red dress"

















That's a very glamorus look you've got going on there, bud. We're going to have to work on being modest.

Photos

Ice Storm- Part 2

Soooo, literally not 2 minutes after our last post, the LaVetter house goes without power with a thunderous boom. Unfortunately, they are still without power while we snug up to the internet in the comfort of our own home. Tuesday night was really eerie. While the storm continued to pour down rain that froze to everything on contact, the trees began to give way under the tremendous weight. Limb after limb came crashing down to the ground. The higher up the limb, the more limbs it would destroy as it would hurl towards the ground. As if things couldn't get worse, at 4 a.m. wednesday morning, the winds picked up and it began to snow. The winds alone sent a chorus of limbs thundering down. In addition to limbs, trees began to uproot completely...2 to be precise. The rain/snow ended about 5 a.m.

But the day never got above freezing so limbs continued to fall all around the region. At it's worst point Wednesday, northern Arkansas reported 350,000 people without power. The main city in Northeast Arkansas, Jonesboro, reported 75% without power, with all other cities to the north reporting near 100% outages. We continued living in the dark, without heat except for a fireplace Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday, Brookland reported that they have received power to their main grid system. Honestly, I think they just decided to flip the main switch on to see who and what had power. For some reason, our power turned on and hasn't turned off since. We live on street with 16 houses or so, but only the first 4 have power, the rest are dark...even tonight. With our fortunate circumstances, we have been housing the LaVetter's and a family from down the street. 10 people, 2 of which are pregnant ladies and two cats gets very crowded around here. But we all have been very patient with one another.

Hopefully the pictures will do this monumental disaster justice. The best way I've had people describe it is a tornado. Except with a tornado, the damage is pointed at one area. But this storm path was 80 miles long (north to south) and nearly 600 miles wide! Massive power outages were reported in more than a dozen different states. There will be some without power for a month. We'll continue to serve in any way we can. The LDS Church is sending relief troops next weekend to try and do some massive cleanup projects.