#35 of 365- February 5, 2011

I actually kind of had a lazy day on Saturday, and only took those 3 pictures of the snow. SO I will use one as my 365.

I feel like a bear, hibernating!

Well thank you mother nature, it looks like we will be spending the day at home again. Not that I mind spending all this close time with my sweet babies, but I am starting to go crazy!! Here is what I woke up to today.

Where is the street?!

It appears I may have to break out the play-doh, and paints today. And if I am doing that you know I am running out of ways to keep them entertained! But I digress, another lazy day! Hoping we will be able to get out this weekend. It is suppose to snow tomorrow, and Monday too so I guess we shall see.

This weekend we have a friends birthday party at America's Incredible Pizza, the boys love this place. And then I think Chris, Angie, and Alyssa might come over to watch the Superbowl. So it should be a fun weekend!

What are your plans for this weekend? Any fun plans for the Superbowl, or do you not get into it?

Have a great weekend!

The Storm

wasn't much of a "historic" storm if you ask me.

We have ice, we have lots of ice.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Sunday night I ran up to the gas station to get milk and bread. The store shelves were bare, all the news was talking about was this "historic" storm we were going to be getting. They were even talking about it being a repeat of the St. Louis blizzard of 1982, and while I was not born at that time, I have seen the pictures and it was bad.

Well Monday came and we were prepared. It was a lazy day, inside waiting for the storm. There were toys strewn all over the house, cartoons on the TV, lots of laughter. Oh and puzzle building. Timothy and Mason got some new Lightning McQueen puzzles for Christmas and we broke those out of the boxes!

Then there was fort building, this was the big hit of the day! We threw blankets over the top bunk of their bed to where they hung down to enclose the bottom bunk in darkness. Timothy was giddy with excitement over his new hiding spot.
We laid in there talking and giggling, tickling, and telling stories! We were in the moment. It felt like time was standing still. Just me and my boys.
But of course no snow, or ice, day would be complete without playing Lego's inside the fort!
Before I knew it, it was time for lunch and then naps. It was that moment that I looked outside and realized the freezing rain. You could hear it hitting the windows, the pavement. Like someone was dropping little ice cubes from the sky. But that's all there was, no snow, no blizzard.

By Tuesday morning I awoke to this.
Ice covered the streets, vehicles, the ground, everything was under a thick layer of ice. And the freezing rain was still going. It was heavy. It did that all. day. long. We were iced in!

The day felt like deja vu. The house quickly became littered with toys all over again. By afternoon the "storm" was more sleet than freezing rain. The ground looked like it had snowed, but it was just ice and sleet. Timothy was begging to go out and ride his four wheeler in the "snow". Daddy gave in.


This has become Timothy's favorite thing to do when it snows. He loves doing doughnuts. In the beginning it used to give me a slight heart attack, but I have gotten used to them doing this. Timothy loves it, they are safe, they're not going very fast. And Timothy always wears his helmet.
Mason and Taylor stayed inside. Mason watching from the kitchen door, laughing when they would get close!

Still by the evening we only had sleet, no snow, no blizzard, no "historic" storm. The news kept talking about all the snow that was coming that would hit St. Louis. We always knew that we wouldn't get quite as much being slightly south of St. Louis.

By the pm news, their predictions changed, they said that the storm was heading more North than they anticipated and we wouldn't get hit as hard. I was a little bummed. I kinda wanted to see a good snow fall, a blizzard.
They were still worried about all the ice on the power lines causing power outages. Luckily we haven't had any of that. I pray that we don't loose power. When we went to bed last night we had a good solid 3 inches, if not more, of ice/sleet on everything.

This morning we woke up with about maybe 3 inches of snow out. But that's it. Were not stuck, not snowed it, no "historic" storm. We could make it to the store more milk and bread if we had too. Granted the roads are a little icy and just crappy in general. But a lot of hype for nothing. Although I do know that some areas of Missouri do have 9+ inches to 14 and probably more. I guess I am OK with our 3 inches of snow, but I would rather of had more snow and less ice.
And now the news it talking of more snow on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Oh how I dream of summer!

Did you dodge this winter storm? Or did you get hit?

Hope you all are staying warm!

#31 of 365- February 1, 2011

We're iced in!

More about our "historic" storm, and how we have spent the past 2 snow/ice days later today.

Ice Ice Baby!

Well the freezing rain has started here, and we are now prepared to stay inside for the next few days. Last night when I seen everyone facebooking about the store shelves being bare, and that all the milk, bread, and eggs were gone....I panicked. We never made it to the grocery store yesterday and we were out of milk and bread.

So I ran up to the gas station last night and bought milk and bread. I feel better now about being stuck for a few days. But apparently people were not kidding, the stores are bare. No milk, bread, eggs, or meat!

I can handle snow, it's the ice that scares me. And the possibility of down power lines and no heat. With three little ones that would not be an ideal situation. So I pray that this whole "historic" storm is not as bad as they are making it out to be!

Either way we have a lazy day planned for today. Lots of book reading, playing trains and cars, coloring, napping, and movie watching. Tim and the boys plan to watch a Batman & Superman movie, and that will give me time to do some cleaning.

Here is hoping you all have better weather where your at!

Taylor and I wish you all a great Monday friends!


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Winter Mix

I guess the past few day's of 40 degrees was just a tease before another winter storm hits. Tomorrow we are suppose to have an ice/snow storm, and that is what if forecasted for the next few days. I guess I am glad we got out of the house yesterday!

It looks like we will be stuck in the house for the next few days. I can do a little bit of snow, but ice scares me and I would rather just stay in. Which totally sucks though because today, Monday, and Tuesday are Tim's day's off and I usually try and do family things. I know someone who is happy about all this winter junk, Tim! He prefers to stay in playing computer games. UGH I am NOT looking forward to this!

Back to yesterday, I have a funny story. We went to the mall because I had to go to the store to get diapers and stuff, so I figured while we were out we would go play at the mall.

While walking back to the play area from eating lunch Timothy out of nowhere just falls over onto Taylor's stroller. Her stroller has this little piece on the side of it that I am not even sure what it is for, but anyway it was sticking up and cut him. It's a pretty long cut and he cried. But once back at the play are I kept finding him with crowds of kids around him, shirt up, showing off his battle wound! The kids were ohh and ahh, asking him if it hurts, touching it. Kids, HILARIOUS!

Taylor was all over the place crawling, pulling herself up. I am sure it won't be long before she is running around with the boys. Not sure how I am going to keep up with all three of them, but I am sure I will somehow.

So with the possibility of being stuck in the house for the next few day, I need help with activities to do. What kinds of things do you do with your kids in the winter, when it storms and you are stuck inside, on rainy days? We do the usual like play-doh, coloring, movies....but I need more ideas! Specifically more geared towards a 4 and 2 year old. HELP a mama out!

off to get ready for the day, I have some lady coming by to take my maternity clothes. I am a little sad to see them go, but really I have no need for them and could use the space they are taking up for other things. Plus if I can help someone else who needs them than I will.

We also need to get our taxes done today, my mom does them. We are suppose to go by there this afternoon, so hopefully we can get that done. And then I really have to convince Tim to go to the grocery store. This weekend is our normal one to grocery shop, because of pay day. But I am sure today we will be fighting the crowds because of the snow storm. Tim doesn't want to go and would rather go tomorrow. I know that won't happen.

Do you freak out about winter storms and run out to the store?

Have a great Sunday!

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Winter Blues

Even with Christmas next week, which I am excited about, I'm sorta down. I am pretty sure the winter blues are already kicking in. This could make for a LONG winter, since it's only the beginning of the season.

I am pretty sure it's due to the fact that our van has no heat. So we have been trapped at home for over a week now. The last time we left the house was last Tuesday, and we FROZE with no heat in the van. The bad thing is I have no idea when we are going to be getting it fixed.

We are in DESPERATE need for groceries, but I can't take three kids to the store in this weather with no heat. Tim has been on call the past few days and has been getting home late, and then called out a few hours later. So that makes it hard to go when he gets home.

I am beginning to feel like I am loosing my mind! I just really want to get out of the house. I am finding that it's getting harder to entertain all three kids at home all day long everyday. I am sure they are getting bored too.

Sometimes I feel that if I have to play referee or break up one more fight, my head is going to explode. Or if I have to hear one more tantrum, or Taylor cry for one more hour, that I may just lay on the floor in a complete meltdown!

Seriously are my boys the only ones who fight ALL. DAY. LONG.?

Some days I don't even get to take a shower until the afternoon, and sometimes not at all. Some days I don't realize I haven't had anything to eat all day until Tim gets home. Some days I don't even manage to get out of my pajama's, and it's not intentional.

This parenting thing can be hard, I am sure all parents could agree with that. But I find that during the winter months that can be even more true. I find myself searching for creative things to entertain them. Googling "things to do inside with toddlers" or "fun and education activities for toddlers during the winter months".

Lately I have been just taking things hour by hour. Just trying to make it to lunch and nap time, then just making it until dad gets home, and then making it until bed time!!

Then in the midst of this cabin fever, tantrums, all out wars, and chaos. Is the sweet tender moments, moments that make me realize there is something to be said about being cooped up in the house.

Moments like when I catch Timothy reading to his sister. So sweet he can be. And I am sure there are more of these moments if I would just slow down, breathe, and not sweat being stuck inside. Maybe take it as a blessing. Maybe find the good in a situation instead of the bad.

How do you handle the winter blues? What activities do you do with your kids in the winter?

Escaping....

the cold weather.

Earlier in the week, we really needed to get out of the house, to run and burn some energy.

It was a little too chilly for us to be outside, especially Taylor so we went to the mall to play.

Where it was nice and warm!

My favorite part of spring and summer are the warm days spent outside. At the park or zoo in the sun. I can see those days have dwindled to almost nothing.

I had to bust out the sweaters. And I think that in the coming days I may even have to bring out the warmer jackets and possibly even the winter coats.

I am the type that in the dead of the summer I am wishing for fall, the change of season, the crisp cool air.

Although the one good thing about the change of seasons and winter.....HOLIDAYS! My favorite time of year is Thanksgiving and Christmas!

I love the family time that the holiday's bring. Running around to all the sides of the family. It's a sorta craziness that I crave!

It's also this time of year that I wish we had a fireplace. To all snuggle up under warm blankets, with a fire crackling, watching a movie. AHHH sounds so nice.

Now I have just started rambling, in cohesively!

Ah, OK now I remember the point of this post. The cold weather. We have resorted to playing at the mall instead of the park.

I think I am going to have to come up with some fun indoor places to take the kiddos this winter. Last year we had a few places that we just rotated. I need some new places.

I think I even resorted to telling Timothy that it was going to rain, it was cloudy and cold out, to get him to stop asking to go out and ride his bike.

I also don't look forward to having to bundle up THREE kids to get out of the house. I am going to have to start getting ready 2 hours before we have to leave. Everyone knows that I am late everywhere as is, and that it takes me forever to get out of the house in the summer. And that is when I just have to make sure everyone has underwear and shoes on!

Oh well, I just have to remember that Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner!

Ok I guess I should start to rap up this post. Especially since I have no idea what I was just rambling on about!

So where do you take your kids in the winter time?

Or what kinds of activities do you do with your kids at home, indoors?

If your still reading, thanks for listening! Hope you had a great day!