More snow!

Hard to believe we got so much snow just after it all melted. Poor Matthew is so confused by the changing and non changing of the seasons. But being practical, he thought he could go and shovel again, regardless of how long it stays!


Poor Daniel only go to watch--though his view from his bed is quite fabulous!

Snow!

All(most all) the kids love it when it snows, and are very excited to go out and shovel the driveway for me. They're not as excited about the sidewalk, since it's so uneven, and save it for last, or for me.




(Daniel is less than excited to be "helping".)

Growing up too fast!

Two firsts this week for Nathan:

One. Lost his first tooth! It came out quite painlessly, to his relief-during naptime when he was bored and fooling around with it.
Two. First bloody nose! (Though it was not a full out gushing one, still, it now looks a lot like it could have been!) It happened when we were sliding on our (small!) hill with crazy carpets. Unfortunately, I left the stroller at the bottom (bad thoughtless Mommy Roze! who watched him ever so slowly-it seemed-get closer and closer until-smash!) and Nathan didn't think to stop, or put his hands up to protect himself. Poor guy! Life is harsh!


And a picture of each kid for all those patiently waiting readers of mine:
(You know who you are.)

Nathan


Melanie


Matthew


Daniel

Mommyish

I was moaning and groaning and sighing as my husband said goodbye to my tired self this morning. He was telling me about my two remaining children who were both awake and waiting for me to release them from bed, while the third was clinging to my legs.

As I crouched there at the top of the stairs wrapped in my housecoat and peering through very tired eyelids he says
"Have a good day."
I laughed in a pitiful sort of feel-sorry-for-me way 'cause my kids are all awake and I don't want them or me to be that way.
But he didn't fall for it.

"You have three wonderful children dear," says he, "Have a wonderful day."

I think he is right. About the day, and the children, and the perspective I should have, even if it is 6:45AM and I am tired.


So now I'm feeling sort of mommyish today. It's a drearyish day, with fresh snow, yeah, fresh snow. We are staying at home today. And I am doing chores ever so slowly, and just existing as happily as possible in the same atmosphere as my kids. Maybe I'll even hug one of them spontaneously. ;)


Melanie and I had matching hairstyles the other day, at her request. Braids look 10x cuter on her than me, but they stay in my hair 10x better. So together, we are a wonderful combination.

Painting Progress

Melanie's bedroom is only just barely noticeably purple anymore, as the primer has reduced it's former "vigor" to only a lingering glimmer. If all goes as scheduled Melanie will be sleeping and playing in her room again on Sunday, but the trim and windowsills would still need to be done. Can't wait 'til she gets it back again...then I'll see what Nathan and Matthew's floor colour is again, and I'll, hopefully, have less fighting amongst my little children.


The ceiling and closet door (and inside the closet) have received the first coat of paint, and should, hopefully, get a second one this evening. Then for the walls!!


Three kids napping in one room doesn't happen (not in my house anyways). So Nathan is out on the couch today. He doesn't always sleep anymore--but is forced to remain quiet AND removed from my glorious presence for the duration of an hour. He still sleeps 25-50% of the time (depending on sicknesses, busyness, and growth spurts). YAY for naptime!

Weather update:
We've had tonnes of snow here lately. Isn't it just fabulous!! Our chain link fence is almost buried in snow again that I've shoveled onto it in order to keep the driveway clear. And flakes are falling again! Best of all, it isn't windy!!!!

Wonderful White Winter

Our snowbanks have gotten quite tall due to my faithful plowing and plentiful snow falling. That's actually the second time this year that it went over the fence by the shed. Hopefully this time it won't melt so much that I can see the GRASS (that would be horrible) again. Isn't it just lovely?

Three fans of the snow
are below.

(Well, maybe only the first two.)

Christmas Eve

A small sized chair designed by our in-home carpenter Nathan. I like how it has arm rests, a back, and four legs. I think the detail of architecture is very impressive!

Perhaps the sizing is a bit off though! Looks a mite squishy to me!

I never imagined that Christmas Eve would be spent trying out oversize umbrellas to go tromping out in a snow covered world to splash in the rain. I sure hope that the snow holds out! We have a pretty thick layer and it's holding up valiantly!! These pictures are taken with my night time flash, and I don't think I'll try using that one again!



I had two mornings (one last week, and one this week) were in I "returned" the favour of a friend, and did some errands and shopping. Remind me never to go shopping on the week of Christmas again. The crazy drivers and harried looks of pressure plagued people is more than just mildly disconcerting.

Said I loved you but I lied

Today is a good day. I haven't even yelled at the kids, not even once yet. And it's the afternoon already!! Yuppers, it's true.


Matthew loves standing himself up now. Which is rather a nuisance when it's time for him to go down for his nap. (Note to self: make sure I put duct tape on the shopping list.) Usually when I check on him his grin is even wider than this one (he's confused by the camera's presence). So yeah, do I pick up the cute grinning kid or tell him off and lay him down again? That is a tough call! One of life's more complicated decisions. ;)


He's thinking, if you're gonna let me out, then get on with it! Melanie, on the other hand, thinks it's so much fun that she should join right in.


Matthew being a blockhead. As usual.


This is a fence with animals penned in. All sorts of animals. Having clutzy Melanie bump them, even ever so slightly, was not a positive experience for poor Nathan.


Melanie being her cute difficult self.


Me being relaxed and no longer being a really angry frustrated and goal driven mother. Because the battle is over. And I lost...at least it's over.


My brilliant idea of a new activity to keep the kids out of my hair while I'm prepping dinner. Not recommended. It lasted only 5 minutes peacefully, and required 2 minutes to set up. Very low pay off, for very little benefit.


Enjoying it...if only ever so briefly.


Nathan is concentrating hard, but also trying very hard to avoid the annoying photographer. (No, I couldn't possibly be referring to my lovely self.)


Getting-bored-already look.


Give me five!
(I could use a little more than five myself. :p )




All bundled up and ready for the park.


The long lost park has been found...its a bit like Atlantis these days...


I think a crazy carpet could help here.


Yup, kids are weird. She's trying to squish a snowball with her belly...and thinks it's the funniest thing she ever did do.



Just in case the snow melted in our yard, we thought we'd bring a little more to ours. It's not stealing is it?