two hour delay....

The other night at our annual couples gathering, one of the couples came in quite late. As they came in to a little bit of teasing about finally arriving, the husband said, "The other day the kids had a two-hour delay. They were so disapointed that school didn't close, but I asked them, "Can't you just be thankful for the two hours off?" He said he felt the same way about getting to the gathering....late, but just plain thankful to be there.....so this morning, I am reminding these guys just to be thankful for some cozy morning time. We have lots of cranberry cinnamon swirl bread, and raisin too, so I made plates and plates of toast, and it smells good in here. I have my coffee, they are watching, "Magic School Bus"....and the first bus doesn't come for another 45 minutes. It is snowing again after a brief lull this morning, we shall get lots more lake effect snow today.

The grill and a garbage can....

Tomorrow is garbage pick-up day....not only will we have to remember to have Miss Rosie inside, but we should make sure the cans are dug out...


I didn't wear mittens when I brought Miss Rosie out this morning, but I dug out the mailbox...oh my, snow is cold. The paperbox is yellow, down next to the mailbox. There was no paper in it. I guess when the paperman cannot see the paperbox, one does not get a paper. It was invisible until I dug it out.

Jonathan likes his daddy's ipod.

Charlotte Claire playing Wii in her new jammies...Gramma sent them in the mail for her and Camille, from Florida.

So....

1. Aaron's nose is indeed broken. We are going to a specialist today to have it straightened. I told him that if it were me, I would take like four ibuprofen first. (The pediatrician said that one of our options would be for Aaron to play handball again, he had a 50% chance of getting hit in the nose again and straightening it.)

2. The dental surgeon called in another antibiotic for Miss Mali, but tomorrow afternoon I have to take her in to see him.

3. I hate winter driving more today than I did yesterday.

4. Yesterday I bought gifts for our church friends, and the kids and I got them all wrapped up last evening.

5. We had roast beef and baked potatoes, and carrots, and green beans, and gravy for dinner last night despite the fact that the girls at home who were supposed to put in the oven while I was gone didn't get to it...I had to put it in when I got home....I am thankful for the convection oven, it was done by seven.....

6. There is so much left over, dinner tonight will be yummy and easy.

7. While I was in the dr. office with Aaron yesterday, the school nurse called me and informed me that Jonathan was there, feeling sick. After concluding there was no way I could go pick him up, she said she would send him on the bus with a bag. Why do I feel so horrible when I can't be in two places at once? I am keeping him home today...even though he never did get sick.

8. I am so glad I bought those stupid hot boots. Just this week alone I will get my money's worth.

9. All I want to do is fun things (well, that's normal), like making cookies and wrapping presents. But kids wet their bed and dishes stack up and this living room is so small in the winter when they play with all their stuff out here.....so the regular everyday stuff takes up so much time. I am trying to balance everything without getting too stressed to enjoy these guys.

10. Tomorrow night is the elementary Christmas Chorus concert, Suze is stressing about it. She does NOT want to go.

11. I think Emily got off to India okay, since I haven't heard otherwise. She stopped in yesterday for a bit before Mirielle drove her to the airport. I gave her some immodium and some pepto-bismal and some Balance Bars, and asked her if she had her passport. Yes, she is almost 26, but I am her mommy.

12. When Mali was working at McDonald's, she got a phone. She paid $60 a month for a card. She hasn't been working, and can't afford to buy the cards. She wants a phone card for Christmas. And I ask, how can it possibly be worth sixty bucks to use a phone for ONE MONTH?

13. Last night I also dug through my closet and found class presents for Evelyn, Suzanne, Sonja, and Jonathan, and they got wrapped.

And since I like the number thirteen, I shall be done now.