Reminder

the clock display reads 6:32 a.m.

Nothing like your child waking you out of a deep sleep at 5:15 am with the sentiments "Mom! My TV not work." It's a quick reminder why:

a) I should get to bed earlier

b) why you never let your child nap at 5:00 pm, into the evening, and through the night

c) desserts left on the counter top are fair game at any time of day

Dalanie's Diggin' List

Little Lanie's almost 7 months. And as such, here are a few of the things that she's diggin:
-eating; graham crackers, cheerios, and blueberry buckle baby food
-bath time - I think her neck mass had slid down to lower parts of her body ;)
- inch worming her way around - she's got the army crawl down to a science
- playing with Brother's empty fruit snack packages - they're crinkly and can withstand lots of slobber
- tricking Mom into thinking she's teething, but still no teeth
- her Mommy; she throws fits when I leave the room - and sometimes when I'm still in the same room
- taking a series of 10 minute naps - try getting anything done during one of those

Cabin Fever

We loaded up the kids, snowmobiles, and snowshoes and set off for Bone where my in-laws have a ranch and cabin. Some years you can drive to the cabin at Christmas time, but this year is quite different. There is a ton of snow. There are several spots on the way that are limited to one lane because of all of the snow.I took Dalanie in the Snugli and zipped the coat over her. She was so content and toasty warm. It is a 7 mile ride in from the snowmobile parking lot to the cabin.
The cabin was buried in untouched snow. We had to dig ourselves a way in. Once inside we started a fire and then set off on a little snowshoeing adventure while the place warmed up.
Hudson pratically drug us up the mountain. He's a real fireball on snowshoes. Watching him walk in snowshoes with such ease is a testament that anyone can snowshoe.

Since there is no running water or electricity at the cabin, we were pioneers for the weekend. We kept busy stoking the fire and cooking over it. The simplicity of life like that is alluring to me. You would never be bored because you'd be too busy trying to stay alive.

It was the kind of outing that makes you more in love with your husband and children and way of life. Plain and simple, just like we like it.

It's About Time

I would not be exaggerating if I said I have been working on this quilt for several years. It started as my first piecing project back in college. After being packed away and moved many times, it's finally complete. I machine quilted a vine for the borders and stipple in the blocks.

Love-ly Party

Another girl and I hosted a Valentine's Party for some of the moms and kids in our ward. It was complete with heart-shaped chicken pot pies, a valentine exchange, and sugar cookies. We had a house full of rambunctious and rowdy boys and 2 baby girls. I think we were all glad to be doing something out of the usual. These wintery days have been getting to everyone.

Nursery

Who knew that as a mom your entire life would revolve around the institution of nursery? Mine certainly has the past few days.

During one very boring snow day, Hudson wanted to dress his baby up. Once we had her in a little homemade dress, he put sissy's pink snow boots on her and they were off to "church." At church they sang a few songs and colored. The doll didn't color or sing very well by her self, good thing Hudson's picking up on the pretending thing. He colored a beautiful picture for her. During the course of the day the picture got ripped. At day's end I requested it be thrown away to which he replied, "Idaho!' We've got a geographical genius on our hands. See for yourself.
Last night Dalanie entered nursery boot camp. She practiced drinking water from a cup and eating graham crackers. By the end of her first grueling session, she looked more like a drowned rat than a marine but she's right on track to be an eligible nursery participant in about a year.Lastly, I leave you with my heart collage. No real correlation between it and nursery other than I think it would look adorable in our baby room, nursery, upstairs.

Tagged

Nikkala tagged me awhile ago. For some reason, I find these questionaires hard to fill out. I suppose you won't find any of it interesting, but here it goes.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 fellow bloggers.

10 years ago: I would have been causing all sorts of trouble as a junior in high school. I'm pretty sure it was around this time,(and the same kind of road conditions we are experiencing) that I swerved to miss a dog in Zena and slid off the road. From then on I vowed never to swerve to miss an animal. Maybe that's why I told Brent "just hit it!" and week ago when a dog wandered out in front of us.

5 things on my to-do list today: hmmmm. . . . only 5- 1. get kids bathed and dressed 2. aerobics 3. shower and drink lots of water 4. declutter and donate to DI 5. create a Valentines collage

Snacks I enjoy: toast and honey, M&M's

Things I would do if I were suddenly made a a billionaire: Become debt free, build a new house, build an events/catering center, travel, and save a good chunk.

3 of my bad habits: 1. wasting time on the computer (guilty as charged) 2. letting clothes sit in the dryer 3. leaving my cell phone in the diaper bag- so if you really need to get a hold of me, call my home phone

Jobs I have had: WEPCo, Lake Ag, Burley Golf Course, USU Grounds Crew, International Sports Specialists, Hillman Farm, Mom

Things people don't know about me: I have mellowed out a lot. I used to be a basket case. I am also a lot better at controlling my feelings (no violent outbursts anymore.)

You're IT if you feel so inclined.

Hudson-isms

This boy comes up with the funniest things lately.

Maybe it's because I'm his mom.

Maybe it's because we've been cooped up inside for the past week. But at any rate, I hope you find them as entertaining as I have.

"That grapesuit not good for me."

"I need some candy to make me feel better."

"Sis, I'm sorry. I be more tareful." (After several repeated offenses. In his mind sorry fixes everything, just like Mom's kisses.)

"Me do!"

"Where that ______ are?"

Now that I sit down to type them all up, my mind goes blank. I'll have to keep a better list.

My Buddy

This afternoon, I bundled Hudson up, strapped on his snowshoes, and sent him outside to play in the new snow. Two minutes later he was standing at the back door yelling, "Knock, knock, anybody home?" As soon as I opened the door, he started begging me to come out with him. I quickly conceded. There's just something about going outside and getting cold cheeks. I put on my snowshoes and we set out on our cross country expedition.

He's an animal. The snow drifts were deep and difficult to get through, but he plodded on. Maybe next time we'll have to go somewhere more challenging. I think I've found a snowshoeing buddy.This is his outdoor pulpit. He loves to stand behind it and talk to the snow. "See snow, that my house. Mom, your turn."

It's That Time

Calving season is in full swing.

We had 7 Super Bowl babies (quite surprised when we went out after the game), several sets of twins, and a lot of snow to contend with.

Brent spent the majority of last night pulling calves. He's been an OBGYN on call lately.

Keeping Good On My Promise

When we were planning our kitchen, I told my husband that I needed more counter space than my tiny kitchen afforded if he ever wanted me to make him cinnamon rolls. I dreaded making anything that require to be rolled out since I had to use my kitchen table. For weeks after, I'd be using a butter knife to retrieve gunk that had been rolled into the leaf cracks.

He was good on his promise so I've tried to keep my end of the deal.

After finding out that school had been canceled yesterday, (it doesn't even effect me, but I still get happy when there's a snow day) I decided it was a perfect day for cinnamon rolls. My helper was soon at my side tasting the dough. After his approval, we got the dough rolled out.

Pomerelle

For the past few winters, Brent has been trying to get me to go skiing. Well, a pregnancy later and we finally did it. Thanks to Mom and Dad for watching the kiddos. I can't believe that I grew up so close to Pomerelle and never took advantage of it. They have been getting tons of snow. The day before they had to close because of all of the snow (something like 70 some inches in 72 hours.) There was tons of powder. As a first time skiier I even enjoyed the conditions.

The Waiting Place

For the past few days, I've been hanging out in the most useless place--

"The Waiting Place… for people who are just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go, or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for the wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.” Oh, the Places You’ll Go By Dr. Seuss

I spent the entire day yesterday waiting for UPS to deliver a certified letter that I had to sign for. After several phone calls and many visits to their website trying to track down my letter I was given the ambiguous response, "It will be there sometime between now and 9:30 pm." Well, 9:30 came and went and still no letter.

On top of that, our family has been trying go and visit my parents. We were all ready to leave when then the wintery snow conditions prevented us from going.

So here were are, another day. Still waiting. But this time only until 11:00 am when we can go and pick the letter up directly at UPS and then head out to Burley. Weather permitting of course.