Sprinkles

Yesterday we made Christmas cookies for our neighbors.  It was fun working in the kitchen with the girls, a treat for all three of us as we don't bake as often as we use to.  Although, it reminded me why we don't; it's exhausting even for the well.

Still finding sprinkles.

Frozen Bananas

What happens when you leave green bananas in the trunk over night in 20 degree temperature?  They get completely black and hard as a brick.  The other day I did a bunch of shopping.  When I got home that evening, Chris came out and helped me bring in the groceries.  The next morning I asked Chris if he could grab me a banana as he was standing in front of where they hang.  As he turned I could see no bananas.  He went out in the cold and brought me my blackened frozen bananas.   I used a knife and cut up a frozen banana and ate it in my oatmeal.  None of the others survived.  From now on we will double check the trunk making sure the bananas and all other items are out of the trunk.  You would think we learned our lesson from last winter's exploding pop cans (see post: "Never..." February 1, 2010).

Snow

Although the snow is mostly melted away, I wanted to share with you our four events that came out of the snow storms we had a few weeks back.

The first one happened about a week or so after Chris and I had to call 911.   That is all I am going to say about that.  If you want details on that event, contact me personally.  With that said, I was still extra sensitive to scary situations.  It was night time and Chris was at the church.  The girls were in bed and I was sitting on the couch doing my Bible Study.  I heard crunching sounds in the backyard.  Some one was walking through the snow in our backyard!  I flipped on the back light, but wasn't about to peak out to find a man standing there with a hatchet.  I prayed, gave it to the Lord and got back to my study.  A little later I heard it again.  Prayed more and decided I needed to take action.  At that time, it was a few minutes before 9PM and figured that Chris was almost done at church, so I gave him a call.  No answer.  So I gave a friend that was there a call.  No answer.  So then I called my neighbor.  No answer.  Then I called her cell.  She answered!  She was on her way to work, but called home and sent her husband over.
There was no one in the backyard, but there were a bunch of footprints.   We both knew right away they weren't human, because he sank in the snow, and the prints were shallow.  My neighbor got closer with a flashlight and said they were definitely animal prints.
The next day I went out to see these footprints.  Some of the prints, you could see paws.  Some, the leg imprinted into the snow as well.  The interesting thing was they weren't deep prints.  I'm guessing they were prints of a mountain lion.  Whatever it was, came in and out of our yard over the cement wall with the road on the other side.  We have had no snow crunching since.  

One of the days that it was snowing was a Sunday.  I don't like driving in the snow, but wanted to go to church, so the girls and I set off (Chris goes super early, so we don't usually go with him).  We saw cars on the side of the road and could tell the roads were slick, but I was going slow and doing okay.  One of the lights turned red as I was approaching, so I gently pressed on the breaks.  All of a sudden we are sliding across the lanes!  We were in the far left lane and ended up halfway into the third lane.  There was nothing I could do.  Thankfully there was no one in the lanes at the time.  So after we stopped, I backed up and got into the middle lane.  With my heart still racing, we made it to church.

Still another day, the girls needed to be picked up from school.  I jumped into the car and turned it on to get it warmed up, closed my door and scrapped off the snow.  I went to get back in and the door was locked!  Somehow I must of hit the lock (not automatic lock) when I was getting out of the car.  At that point it was about five minutes before the bell would ring.  So I ran in to call Chris (and the school).  He had to leave work and travel about 20 minutes to get them.
While I was waiting for everyone to get home, I decided to shovel snow.  A few minutes later our neighbor got her car stuck right in front of our house.  She couldn't go forward or backwards.  So her brother and I tried to push.  Nothing.  We shoveled the snow behind the tire.  Nothing.  Then another neighbor came out with a towel.  She helped me put it under the tire that was stuck.  We rocked the car a little so the towel was under the tire super good.  Then, as we were rocking the car again, the driver gave it some gas and went right over the towel.  Amazing.  So if you live were it snows, have a towel in the car.

Okay, my last snow story.  Another day, I went to pick up the girls from school, my car was having a hard time turning.  It sounded like the tires were rubbing on something.  We made it home and I got out to check.  There was ice packed in so tight that it was resting against the tires.  I grabbed our snow shovel and start chipping my way through the ice/packed snow.   I knew the girls were watching me, but didn't know that Madi wasn't paying attention and was too close to my shovel.  When I moved my shovel in a different position, I hit something behind me!  Madi!  I hit her mouth.  She was bleeding from the mouth and her tooth cut her lip.  Thankfully it wasn't too bad.  But I felt awful.

With all these stories involving the snow, you would think I already have a big dislike for the snow, as most people around here have.  I do still like it, as long as we are safe.

Singing

Last week was a week of singing.  On Tuesday the girls went to Barnes and Noble for our school night.  They got to listen to our neighbor (PTA President), Santa, and Madi's teacher read.  The school choir, which the girls are part of, also sang three songs...

Wednesday the choir (over 100 students) sang their Christmas program for the school.  They did it twice because they can't fit 750+ students in the gym at one time.  

Thursday was their final choir performance (pictures didn''t turn out) of the year (they also sang a song for a program at the school, earlier this fall).  Madi had testing from 4:30-6:00PM and then had to be at the school at 6:30PM for the 7PM Christmas Program.  While I was waiting for Madi, a lady came to inform us that the testing was not to be over until 7PM.  I knew, at that point, I would have a sad and hungry Madi.  Madi wasn't the last group done, but definitely far from the first.  She got done at 6:53PM.  By the time we got to the concert, she performed 3 out of 10 songs.  

Last post I mentioned how last week was the busiest of the year.  This is just a small part of it.

On Saturday we went caroling with our church family (one person, not counting me, not shown in this picture).  Even though we were a small group we were able to bless others, sharing the love of Jesus.  A good way to end the week of singing.  

Eight

Madi turned eight last Thursday.  The only happiness I can find of Madi turning 8 yrs. old is I officially have no more children in car seats!  I've lived with car seats for 10 years!  The law is when you are 4' 9" or 8 yrs. old you are done with car seats.  Since Madi is 8 inches away from 4' 9" in height, she will be using a car seat until the seat belt doesn't hit her neck, but rests on her shoulder.  Don't want any beheading going on in my car! But legally done.
Since last week was the busiest week of the whole year, it was difficult to decide when to have Madi's party.  We chose Wednesday from 4:30-6:30PM.   Five out of six girls came.  I only knew of two that said they were coming, so that was interesting, but it all worked out...

Madi's 2nd Grade Friends

We had pizza, root beer (Madi's favorite drink she gets maybe three times a year), cake, ice cream, and [I threw in] carrots, grapes and milk for something nutritious. 

While the girls weren't eating or watching Madi open her presents, they were listening to Veggie Tales/Disney music, making funfusions and playing with Littlest Pet Shops.

If you look hard (or click on the picture), you can see that, right before Madi blew out her candles, one of the twirly bars (candles) fell off the cake and burned through two plastic table cloths; thankfully it didn't burn my fabric table cloth and burst into a bigger flame. 

 

Did I get any pictures of Madi opening presents?  No.  I was writing down what she got and Chris was video tapping her.  Unfortunately if I don't ask, he only focuses on the one in hand.  I equally take the blame.  But we did get a picture of Emma's tongue (smile).

Happy Birthday Madi!  I love you!

Ear Piercing

About five years ago Emma wanted to get her ears pierced.  I told her that 10 yrs. would be a good age.  We then decided that Emma and Madi would get their ears pierced together at 10 and 8 yrs.  So this fall I double checked to see if they both want to get their ears pierced for Christmas.  Emma decided she is going to wait until she's 12 yrs.  I would have much rather done 12 and 10 yrs. than 10 and 8 yrs., so I wish I would've known this would happen, especially since Madi looks way too grown up.  Anyways, since we already said we would do it, Madi got her ears pierced for her birthday....

                                Madi getting ready...

Madi got her ears marked and watched the lady get the ear gun ready...

Madi closing her eyes as they are ready to punch her ears...

Madi's mouth wide open as they punched her ears...

 

Madi adoring her new birth stone earrings... 

Note:  To see in detail, click on the picture.

Thanksgiving 2010

This was the first Thanksgiving I was away from my family for Thanksgiving.  I was sad, but we did still have a great day.  We took the first part of the day getting our chores done, then enjoyed watching some of the parade, playing games, looking at adds, coloring, and webcaming with family (and of course watching football).
Then we went over to Jim and Joyce's house to have a yummy Thanksgiving dinner.  She had made cookies for the girls to decorate.  They had all the trimmings to make adorable cookies.
One of my traditions I enjoyed growing up is working on a puzzle on Thanksgiving day.  A tradition I am assuming Sue, our dear family friend started.  Since the girls got old enough to engage in a puzzle, it has been fun.  It gets everyone involved.  So I brought a puzzle over.  We had fun doing it, though the girls didn't last long in helping.

Pictures for Mrs. Joyce and Mr. Jim

Madi's gingerbread man

Emma' almost done gingerbread man

The puzzle