Snow Day! - Posted by Lisa

It looks like this is the end of the storm, but with cold temps and more snow expected on Sunday, Monday, and Christmas Eve, I *think* we have a decent chance of having a white Christmas. What do you think?

Stepping off the front porch


Our mountain (all the snow plowed from our cul de sac - note there was NO mound of snow there before today)


View from the top - Ian


View from the top - Christopher

Got Snow? - Posted by Chris

To be fair about 3 inches of this snow was already there before today's snow storm, however we still have 5 hours before the Winter Storm Warning is finished.

5 years ago tonight... - Posted by Lisa

Five years ago tonight, Chris and I (and half our family, it seemed) were settled more-or-less comfortably into an LDRP suite awaiting the birth of our first child. I will never forget our excitement and anxiety to know that in a matter of hours, we would become parents for the first time. We knew his gender, had selected his name, had seen his slightly distorted image on 3D ultrasound; the only thing left for us was to stare into his face and hold him in our arms.

After about 12 hours of labor, Christopher David was born via c-section at 3:06 am. Having had aspirated meconium and having low blood sugars, he was kept in the special care nursery and Chris and I were unable to hold him until several hours after his birth. I was bit drugged up following my surgery to think straight (and have looked better too ;). But I do remember gazing at him in wonder as I held him for the first time, awkward as it was with both he & I connected to IV tubes and other wires. It didn't take long for the "mama bear" protectiveness in me to surface. Before long we couldn't even believe there was a time where Christopher was not a part of our lives.
Now, 5 years later, I am still awed by him...by the amazing boy he has become and is becoming. I am so proud of my loving, kind-hearted, bright, inquisitive, and friendly little boy. He is well-liked by his teachers and friends at preschool, well-loved by his many family and friends, an adoring and adored big brother to Ian, and so very cherished and loved by Chris and I.
So Happy, Happy 5th Birthday, Kiddo! You have brought more joy to your Dad and I than words can ever say. I hope I can always be the Mom you deserve. I love you!!

xoxoxo
Love, Mom

Note to self re: making the gingerbread house - Posted by Lisa

Christopher and I like to make a gingerbread house as our little pre-Christmas tradition. Well, "make" might be a bit too strong of a word, since we actually purchase a kit and assemble it. Even so, it's still something that we like to do together.

This past Friday, Christopher and I (and this time, Ian as well) made a gingerbread house again. It's not a masterpiece, by far, but considering that our last one actually fell apart, I think it turned out alright.

Even so, there are a few points I'd like to remember when we go to do this again next year, so I write this as a reminder note for me to read when the time comes.

1. Open all pieces, including candies, before starting and set them aside (in dishes, if appropriate). Just makes the process easier.

2. Decorate the walls and roof before assembling the house. The icing anyway. First of all, it is much easier to squeeze icing out onto a flat surface. Secondly, it is best not to fiddle too much with the structure of the house for a while after the walls have been "glued" together.

3. The kit only provides about 1/4 the amount of icing you will truly need! Buy or make more before starting this project!

4. Keep plenty of wet cloths and dry paper towels on hand within easy reach. The icing gets EVERYWHERE.

5. Resist the urge to lick the icing off your fingers. Sugar buzzes are no fun at 40. See #4 for alternative options.

6. Make sure you have stepstools ready and in place for both kids (if necessary) before starting. The Little Tikes picnic table does not make a good last minute replacement. :)

7. Put on the Christmas music and HAVE FUN! Remember to enjoy this moment with your children, as they won't be like this forever.

I think that about covers it. I may add more if something else comes to me, and I also welcome suggestions from all of you. What kind of traditions do you/did you enjoy with your children during the holidays? Any words of wisdom that you have gleaned from the experience?

Miss me? - Posted by Lisa

So, yeah, I started out the month of November with a bang, and ended it with a fizzle. Sorry 'bout that. I've been told by Chris' mom that there has been at least one mention of my lack of posting in the last two weeks, so I figured I'd better write something.

We've been kept pretty busy lately, with work (I did two more days of private duty nursing since the last post), Thanksgiving (had Chris' parents over for dinner), shopping (I actually braved the stores early on Black Friday with my sister), putting up Christmas lights in 15-25 degree (F) weather (brrrrr!), and preparation for Christmas and Christopher's 5th birthday coming up this week (how did that happen?). As Chris' cousin Heather recently put it, life is hectic, but good!

In other (somewhat mundane) news, Christopher is looking forward to his first birthday party invite for a school friend. A little girl at preschool has invited the class for a McDonald's playdate this Wednesday (our McD's has an indoor playscape). Ian has been bladder trained now for a while, which has been wonderful. We're still waiting on him to grasp the concept of telling us before he has gone #2. He's young yet, we know, but the washing machine and bottle of Resolve carpet cleaner will get a bit less of a workout once he's past this phase. :)

So that's a little bit of what's life's been like around here lately. Nothing too exciting, but good nonetheless.

p.s. If I haven't yet bored you to tears, and you're still reading...since I'm finding out that there are more people reading this blog than those who actually comment, I'm issuing a challenge. Post a comment on our blog! :) Everyone reading this, whether I know you in "real life" or not (or whether or not you've commented before), please leave a comment. I'd really like to see just how many people, and who, is reading this blog. Hope to hear from you!