Busy days

The kids are off school this week for "mid winter break".  I'm not sure what the point of it is except to drive us parents crazy.  After all, how do you keep 6 kids occupied for a full week when it's cold and snowy outside?  It's not like the middle of summer where you can send them out to run around or play sports or go to the lake.  And although I am already hearing "I'm bored" from a couple of them the others are finding ways to entertain themselves.

Cerah made bagels this morning.  They were pretty good

Then the spent a few hours playing Axis and Allies.  It's a really long game

Hanah finally decided to join in since the others were taking so long. 

Then they went downstairs to play house in Hannah's room

We made Cerah go but she didn't really want to so she claims that she's the dresser and it's her job to just sit there

Even Max tried to join in but they didn't want him chasing Shannon who is playing the part of a cat

I would have joined in but I am still recovering from yesterday.  My back is one unhappy camper

NOOOOOOoooooo!!!

So long Spring.  Welcome back Winter, you cold hearted season. 

Remember those pictures of my trees with beautiful, beautiful grass around them? 

I don't.

And my deck that you could walk on?  No more.  Now there's 7 inches of snow covering it.

And my driveway.  You can't even tell I have a driveway except for the tire tracks can you?

Well,  I do now but when I took this picture you couldn't tell.  I would show you an after picture to go along with the before but I am too tired.  Besides, I have to go to confession now because I'm pretty sure I broke a few of the commandments while I was shoveling all this.  The first was murder, although not literally.  But since, according to the bible, thinking about murder is the same as doing it I am guilty.  See, I was wishing I could go back in time and stop whoever it was that discovered this stupid state.  And yes, I would go to extreme lengths to do so.  After I had been out there for about an hour and a half (which gave me lots of time to think) my neighbor came out with his snowblower and did his driveway and sidewalk in 30 minutes.  Hello coveting and envy.  As if that wasn't bad enough he was so kind as to blow all that snow from the sidewalk onto my driveway.  Apparently he thought the snowplow hadn't pushed enough onto it.  Murder is quickly becoming my favorite fantasy.  All in all, it took 4 hours to do the driveway and the deck.  The boys came out to help about an hour after I started and Tony came out half an hour after that so I did have some help.

That said I am going to let you in on a little secret:  I would give my left testicle for a snow plow or a snow blower right about now.  What's that?  I don't have one?  Well, if I did I would gladly donate it. I wonder if Rob's a deep sleeper.  Hmmm.  But I don't have a plow or snow blower  *sniff, sniff*.  Instead I will just have to keep using this -

At least it works.  Wanna know why I don't look happy?  It's cuz I know what's coming.  Fast forward 4 hours and you should see me now.  On second thought, you probably don't want to.

Spring is teasing

We are starting to see signs of spring.  I know it's too soon for it to be here but for today it is.  What a tease Spring can be.  She gives us just a glimpse of her beauty and then covers it up again, perhaps knowing that once we've had a little taste we will gladly wait for the full show.  As for me, I will enjoy what I can while I can.

GRASS!  Under all that white there was grass.  I'd almost forgotten it was there

This one too.  Just pretend you don't see the little bit of ice left

And a driveway again.  No longer do I have to guess where I'm at when pulling in.  Don't mind the water - it's just melted snow that has nowhere to go.

Yes, I know that this is just a picture of the side of my house but do you see what's on it?

Shadows - caused by sun peeking through the trees.  Oh glorious sun, how I've longed for you.

Why did you take so long to come to me?

The importance of this picture?  Well, my child is outside in the middle of February wearing only a short sleeve shirt and she is not blue from cold nor does she have icicles hanging off of her.  Yay weather.

No Respect

Today I am venting.  A lot.  Because sometimes you just need to if you want to keep your head attatched to your shoulders.  Rob and I had some errands to run this morning so we left here about 10:30.  Our first stop was the library and then next was Walmart.  I spent about 5 minutes at the library and we were at Walmart for about an hour.  Then we went and had the car washed and last we stopped at Home Depot.  When we got out of the Explorer at Home Depot I looked backed towards the car cuz Rob was slow and noticed that there was a spot on the rt. rear bumper that didn't get washed well.  On our way out of Home Depot Rob noticed it too and stopped to take a closer look.  Turns out it wasn't a spot that was missed - it was a spot where somebody had hit my car.  And, of course, they didn't have the common courtesy to leave a note or try to find us.  There is no respect for people anymore.  Of this I am positive.  I have noticed, however, that this lack of respect and courtesy is more frequent here in Michigan than it was in Arizona.  This is the second time in two years that someone has hit my car and caused damage to it and left like cowards.  Now I am stuck with the choice to either try to come up with enough money out of pocket to pay for the repairs or make an insurance claim which will raise my rates.  I already live in a state that has one of the highest insurance rates in the country.  I can barely afford the rates now and I certainly don't have $3000 to pay for the repairs.  But, they have to be done because this time around they cracked my bumper and if I don't get it fixed it will just keep cracking until eventually it breaks completely. 

Maybe I should just title this post "I hate Michigan" because that would be a fairer representation of how I feel right now.

sledding

We went sledding this morning.

We had some that had lots of fun

some that were cold

and some that wiped out

one that almost wiped out

a first timer

a couple slow pokes

and the long walk back up every time

but, in the end, everyone enjoyed themselves



Crop circles

I saw the most amazing thing in my yard this morning.  Crop circles.
So I had to go check them out.  I wonder what they are trying to tell me.

Why are you still here?

Leave while you still can

Swing Away.

Anybody watch Signs?

Run, run....

Don't worry.  I have hired the finest investigative minds

What?  Cerah's stuck in the snow?

Oh, it's just a stick.  never mind

Hot on the trail of a clue

And now he's lost.  Just going in circles.

Get it?  going in circles.....never mind

Don't worry Whiskey, I'll save you

Just as soon as I can see past this snow drift

Mysteries are too hard.  I'm just gonna sit here and soak up the sun