More Snow to Come

I can’t believe it but they are predicting another 10-20 inches of snow will fall upon us tomorrow night.

Before this picture was taken, Mike told me that our one and only green shovel was broken.  He went downstairs to the basement and worked his magic to fix the handle but after the deck clearing, it’s barely hanging on.  Good thing we have Max’s little beach shovel as a back up.  (giggle)

That little shovel is a beast and has provided hours of fun in the snow for a 7 year old.

And a 37 year old, too.

Quotes of the Day

“This snow is like quicksand!”

“Snow! Snow! Snow!”

“I hear friends!” and she took off down the tunneled sidewalk.

I tried to suggest that Bunny stay at home.  But you couldn’t resist this face, either, right?

She said to Bunny, “careful.”  Then she held her close.

(It was unbelievably cute.)

The cuteness turned to something else when we got home.  ”I NEED APPLE JUICE!”

Can you say dramatic?

History in the Making

It’s supposed to keep snowing all day which may add 5-10 inches to this.  I’m thinking that nightmare trip to the grocery store was worth it.

Five for Friday

1.  Last night I met up with a bunch of girlfriends from MOPS at Chipotle.  It has been so long since I’ve had a dose of fun and laughter with just girls.  Well, it hasn’t been that long – it was only last Wednesday morning since I went to MOPS and hung out.  But this time it was with chips and guac.  Totally different.

2.  Seriously, this has been the longest week.  With three snow storms, potty training, everyone coming down with a cold, and hormones on the loose at the grocery store, I’m not sure how I survived (or how my family did).

For some reason, it all worked out great.  I have a fully stocked fridge and pantry.  Leftovers from three homecooked meals that I, Anna, made  (all semi-healthy and semi-delicious).  Plenty of french bread and sharp cheddar for lunch (not healthy but calciyumm should not to be forgotten, ladies).  And the feeling that my cup is filled to the brim with blessing -marriage, family, ministry, friends.  Really, how did that happen?  What exactly is in that Midol?

3.  There are plenty of Mini stories to tell this week.  Since she has been the star of the show there’s been the whole devil/angel thing going on, but this week she has — can’t think of a better word — blossomed.

Verbally, I can understand most of what she says now but it’s usually because she’s repeating what I said.  Things like “love you” and “gimme kisses” and “oh goodness” and “shoot!” and “good girl.” She also says random things like “I kick, Mommy!” (that comma is important) as she throws one leg high up in the air just for the fun of it.

We’ve bonded over certain books this week and created all kinds of motions to songs and drew more pop-pops on paper than I can count.  Little People and stuffed animals took over our house but it was fun.  There were parts of this week that I will absolutely cherish in my memories.  I think she is actually potty trained, too (as long as there’s a potty within 45 feet).  Again, how did that happen?  Strange.

4. Plus, and forgive me for bragging, but I also taught Mini to read this week.  Thought I’d start with food labels.

I don’t know if you can tell, but that’s HOMEMADE pizza bites (meal #4 this week!) that she is dipping in ketchup.

p.s.  excitedly, she looked at the browned (not burnt!) cheese and said,  ”chocolate!” before dipping it in ketchup.

5.  I know, I know.  She’s growing up right before our eyes.  Here’s another example.  Since I was with her every single second this week, I’m not sure when did this, but she grabbed my camera and took a ton of pictures.  She has now joined the club around here.

The Errand Cycle

I was crazy to go to the grocery store on the day before a big snow storm is going to hit.  We’re in for a foot or two or four of snow (whatever it is, it’s constantly changing and if the weathermen weren’t liars, I’d pay more attention).  It just snowed twice this week.  Boo, snow.  I hate you.

Today’s experience was probably up there in the Top 5 of Worst Outings Ever.  I needed to run four errands: bank, library, post office (this one gets put off nearly everyday), and groceries.  I know, four errands during Underwear Week was risky.  I put her in a pair of Elmo underwear and carefully drew out a map and planned my public bathroom strategy.

No, I didn’t.  Are you crazy?

In my defense, it was hard enough getting out the door by 11:30 (am I the only one who takes four hours to make breakfast and find the missing library books? Why am I so disorganized?)

At the last minute after the final potty trip and everyone was loaded in the car,  I decided to switch up the plans.  Let’s be spontaneous!

I decided, before having to face the crowded grocery store the day before the Blizzard of the Week, I really needed to get the oil changed.

Because that’s what should take priority right before your car is buried underneath feet of snow and stays in the same parking space for days upon end.

The good news is, no one else in this town thought it should take priority because we practically had the place to ourselves.  Everyone else was at the grocery store.

Which brings me back to why this outing made it in the Top 5 and why it literally put me in tears as I packed the last sack in the minivan.  Let me summarize the trip:

1) the first Little Tikes car/cart the kids were so excited to ride in was broken and the next one we found was about a mile away (yes, I caved), 2) we lost Bunny and it took 10 horrifying minutes to retrace our steps to find her (in the seat of the first car), 3) customers dashing in on their lunch breaks have no patience for the mom wheeling the car with no power steering, 4) it was after 12:00, well past hungry, and 4) Mini was overtired and anxiously screaming and crying the entire time.

I didn’t have much on my list but we were there for almost an hour.  Everyone was staring as I wheeled up to the cashier.  After maneuvering the equivalent of a Mack truck with one hand while carrying Mini on my hip, I took a look down at the contents in the cart.  Milk, cheese, bananas, oatmeal, chocolate, junk food, more chocolate, and more junk food.  I was overcome with guilt and insecurity.

What was missing, though, was what I originally went to the store to get: Midol.

You saw that coming, didn’t you?

Day 2 Ah…Ahh…Chooooo

I have a cold so today I did not find much to love about Day 2 of the Underwear.  That sounds rather gross but you know what I mean.  It was the second day that Mini wore big girl underwear.  I left her alone much more than yesterday but I still kept her entertained upstairs most of the day.

I’m exhausted.

She refused to go potty almost every time the timer went off but once I told her it was okay to carry something with her to the bathroom, she would go.  So…now when she goes potty we have about 10 stuffed animals, 14 books, and 32 goldfish crackers in attendance.

She did pretty well holding it and even told me she had to go when, in fact, she had to go.  Miracle!  She got a pop-pop for that and something tells me the lollipop is an even better incentive than the m&m.

We’re going to have another couple of days at home due to another snow storm coming through tonight and not much else on the schedule anyway.  Even though I’m pouting on the inside about my cold, I’m thinking it was a good time to do this. Usually we are so busy.

It’s really nice to have Max at home to help, too, because he’s a great encourager.  But you can imagine how squirrelly he is.  A squirrel might not be the right description.  Picture a human pinball.  This morning I witnessed him making his bed and while I usually don’t question his method, I had to draw the line on body slamming to get the sheets in the right corner.

Like I said, I’m exhausted.

If You Give a Girl a New Pair of Underwear

Then you might need to plan a Potty Party  (keep following me here, we’re talking about Mini.  You didn’t think that title was about me, did you?  ha!)

And if you’re going to plan a Potty Party, then you need to think about the snacks you’re going to need.

And if you get all the snacks you think you’re going to need and put them on the counter, then you’re going to need snack approval from the Guest of Honor.

And if the Guest of Honor has a say, then you’re going to need to let her show you what she really wants from the pantry.

And if she shows you what snacks she really wants from the pantry, then you’d better be prepared to give them to her rightthisveryminute.

And if you give them to her righthisveryminute, then you’re going to need some lemonade to wash those salty chips down and get the Potty Party started.

(see huge gallon pitcher of lemonade hidden in the back of the party, right next to the Pledge wood floor cleaner)

And if you are sure that you’re ready to get the Potty Party started, then you’d better recruit Big Brother Max to keep her interested in drinking from her Dora cup all morning.

And if she’s interested in drinking from her Dora cup all morning, then you’re going to probably…eventually…need to give her, you guessed it, a new pair of underwear.

Maybe even seven more pair before the end of the day.  But, overall, she made good strides.  And I lived to tell about it.

Story continues tomorrow.  After a good night’s sleep for both of us.

Happiness Is

Overhearing little conversations in play

Witnessing jr. high girls clean off snow-covered cars following a women’s breakfast at church on Saturday.  It was their idea!

 www.brightideas.com – everything you’d ever want to try with M&M/Mars candy.

Watching this family bust a move over at Coal Creek Farm.  Love this!

Let’s Not And Say I Tweet

I’m not on Twitter nor do I update my Facebook status very often.  But if I did, this week’s entries would look like this:

Caught toddler’s vomit with my bare hand.  All in a day’s work as a mom.

Max’s confidence in writing soars after Nana spends time making a Scary Story notebook with him.  They are going to each write a chapter and draw a picture then send it back and forth.  Nana rocks.

Grammy taught Max school today while I slipped away to MOPS for the morning.  Grammy rocks.

Shopping for (soon 2B) 2 year-old’s birthday party with m&m theme.  Eating way too many of the party supplies.

(did you like that 2B?)

Sent Max upstairs to put on an undershirt since it’s freezing.  He came back down wearing FOUR undershirts.  Typical.

Rocked Mini for a long time after she woke up early.  Thought she went back to sleep before hearing a disturbing noise followed by a quiet whisper, “I toot.”

Welcome to the Twos:  Run away from me during the day, can’t stand to be apart at night.

“I do it” is the phrase of the day.

You Can Put a Price on Love

For months Max has been a Webkinz evangelist.  He wants to share about these cute little stuffed animals that you can create virtual existences online for with everyone he knows.  We were a little late jumping into the Webkinz world, which I guess has been around for a while.   So, naturally, all of his friends aren’t super duper excited because it’s old news.  They look at Max and say, “um, yeah.  I have, like, 12 thousand million of those things.”

So what does a boy do when he can’t be the one to bring the good news of Webkinz to friends?  He tells his mom.  Every detail.  And, for any special occasion he can think of, he wants to give her one.

On a recent trip to Target, Max brought along his wallet stuffed with two fifty dollar bills and a wad of ones so that he could buy a Webkinz for me.  It was a late birthday, Christmas, early Valentine’s Day, thanks for the Cheez-Its special occasion.

As soon as we found the right aisle, he asked if I could hide around the corner so he could surprise me with my first pet that would allow me to enter the virtual world he loves.  His body jumped around like popcorn, he was so excited.  It was cute.

He came back with a cool looking dragon or some kind of pegasus creature.  It was sparkly and girly.  I loved it because it was what he picked out for me.  Such a sweet boy to want to buy me a gift with his own money.  Oh, how he’s evolving from the preschooler who gave me a piece of plain white paper for a gift.

We walked over to the price scanner to see how much it cost.  $14.99.

Max said, “No way, I’m not getting you that!”

And so.

We walked down to an end cap and saw a display of Lil’ Webkinz for $4.99.  Perfect.  I guess the price was right.

Meet Fluffy.

Fluffy is a Westie dog and I named her at Target.  She is cute and isn’t yippy at all like you would think.  Fluffy was welcomed into our family by other Webkinzes that Max previously adopted:  Zoombo (a lion), Berenstain (bear) and Geronimo (gorilla).  Clearly Max comes up with cooler names, doesn’t he?

Fluffy is very talented.  While I was catching up on important news blogs today, Max borrowed my camera and documented all the awesome things that Fluffy can do.

Fluffy is a gamer and got a high score on the Batman game.

Fluffy is a bit of a thrill seeker.

Fluffy has her commercial driver’s license and can drive a school bus.

Fluffy can fly.

She has great style.  I like her choice in footwear.  Oh wait. I hope she’s not doing something bad in that shoe.

Fluffy is very outgoing.  When she meets someone new it’s like they’re old friends.

She’s very spontaneous with even her newest pals.

She’s also not shy about taking her own self-portrait.  Actually, we really like that about her.  It says a lot about her authenticity as an indecisive messy housekeeper blogger who still has temporary curtains on the window and picture frames yet to be hung a dog.

I wonder where she gets that love for the self-portrait from.

Thank you, Max, for my Lil’ Webkinz.  I know we’re going to have fun.