I Should Be Doing Laundry

Instead...I'll just put my feet up.

1. These 2-year molars are killing Grace. Killing. She is in sooooo much pain. Fever. Drool. Lots and lots of drool. Lots and lots of Barney and Elmo. Lots of cuddling and singing. Who knew my awful singing would be soothing?

2. I have yet to make a single Christmas cookie. But I'm on the right track. At least I made the dough this morning. My little helper had a tooth meltdown right before I added eggs, so the cookie making had to be put on hold.

3. I wonder when I'll get out and buy those last few gifts. I wonder when it will finally click, and I'll know what to get.

4. I just remembered I bought clear bulbs to do a craft w/ Grace. Now where did I put them?

5. Seven days before Christmas break. Too bad it wasn't a three day weekend. I could really use some more sleep.

6. My goal was to get to ten, but my eyes are getting heavy and a comfy bed sounds way too good right now.

I'm Behind

I'm so behind.

Normally, my tree would be decorated by this time. My nativity would be on display. My Christmas shopping would almost be complete. Presents would be wrapped, and I would be baking Christmas cookies.

This year...

My tree just got put together this morning. Still lightless. Still sans ornaments.
The boxes containing my nativity, ornaments, and all decorations have made their way out of storage, but are still upstairs.
My Christmas village....maybe next year.
I have not ONE SINGLE present wrapped. I have maybe five bought. ugh!
Not one cookie baked.

But I'm okay.
A Christmas movie is on the menu tonight. The tree will be decorated fully by tonight.

And the rest will come.

It's Just Not Worth It

So Grace broke one my necklaces this morning. It was a gift from a student last year. A red glass heart on a multicolored strand. And I could have been pretty upset about it, but it's just not worth it. She didn't mean it, and I know it will be first of many things that she will break around here. And that is just it - they are things. I hope in the future, I'll be able to remain as calm as I did this morning.

Continuing on with my Day of Thanks #4
1. I'm thankful it is Friday.
2. Thankful it's Friday.
3. It's Friday.
4. It's Friday.
5. It's Friday.

(This day couldn't come fast enough this week.)

Day of Thanks 4

1. innocent remarks from students (It is refreshing to see that some of them have not grown up too quickly.)
2. homemade chicken pot pie
3. an uninterrupted night's sleep
4. putting puzzles together w/ Grace
5. 75% off

Day of Thanks 3

1. sharing a laugh with a colleague
2. trying to keep a straight face when all I want to do is laugh when Grace does something like slam her fist down when she is mad at me or when she yells Mama.
3. Grace's kisses (yeah, I know I said this yesterday, but they just make me smile)
4. sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee and reading today's mediations
5. sweatshirt weather

Day of Thanks 1 & 2

So here's my plan. Create a daily list of five things for which I'm thankful. Since I missed yesterday, I'll have ten today.

1. My hubby
2. Grace
3. Jesus
4. Quiet time
5. The Cannon family - We are truly blessed. It is such a relief to know that our Grace is in good hands during the day when we are at work. Thank you Terri!

1. cooking with my Chef Grace
2. finding a book that you just can't put down no matter how hard you try.....right now that book is Catching Fire (sequel to The Hunger Games)
3. a good belly laugh
4. giant pucker kisses from Grace
5. Elmo

Pumpkin Art

No carving in this house. Grace wants to be involved in everything. We can't cook without her helping, so I knew we couldn't carve pumpkins without her. With that in mind, we painted. The pumpkin on the left is hers. Mommy painted Elmo for her Elmo-loving Grace. Don't you love that this turned into finger painting pumpkins? Check out Grace's legs and fingers.

This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy went to ZooBoo and didn't waste any time dipping into the candy.She was IN LOVE with this dog. Each time we tried to leave, she would run back and either give him a kiss or a high five.

This little piggy tried to climb into the real piggy's pen.

She loved the pigs. We got this smile after she sat on the fence looking at the pigs.

About five minutes after this picture, she was sound asleep in the carseat.

Just Another Day

At first I was going to post about how lazy my Sunday has been, but when I started to think about the day, I realized I did more than I thought. Thankfully, Grace decided to sleep in this morning. I really appreciated the seven a.m. wake up versus yesterday's six bells. Grace almost made it through all of church, but the puffs didn't work so much today. After church we headed to the zoo to buy our tickets to the Zoo Boo next weekend. And since we were already there we took a speed walk around to visit the animals. This time around the elephants caught her fancy. Then it was off to Sam's Club where Grace made friends with the worker handing out apple slices. Home to drop off the goods and then off to Grandma and Grandpa's for the afternoon to visit with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Chris. While they played, I graded tests. (Note: I'm still procrastinating on the essays I have yet to grade.) I also made a trip to the library, ate a lot of food, and watched some football. All in all, it was a great day.

whining

I'm not liking my blog design.

I have no idea how to get what I want without paying someone to do it. And I'm not paying someone. It can't be that difficult right? Maybe if I had time I could research it. Maybe I should have taken a computer class instead of four years of Spanish. Yo necessito una lapiz doesn't really help me with html code.

Sorry for the whining. The blog design is pretty miniscule. I get that. However, I would like to come here to write. And the design distracts me. I don't like it. Basically, it all comes down to time. Time to play around. Time to find tutorials. Time to sit down, think, and figure out exactly what I want it to look like and plan some specific posts. But hey, if I had time, I'd start in Grace's room. That poor girl needs her mommy to pack up her 12-month clothes that haven't fit her for awhile and unpack ALL of her 18-month clothes. Heck, I still need to pack up receiving blankets, and she hasn't used those babies in over a year.

Realizations

I've come to realize...

1. I have a very short fuse when I am tired. It is especially short when I know Grace needs to nap, and I need to nap, but she refuses to sleep, refuses to even relax on the bed, and refuses just about everything I try. I have come to realize I have to be very mindful of my lack of patience when I'm tired.

2. I'm not a fan of ironing. It is not difficult. It doesn't take too long to complete it. But. I. Hate. Ironing. I seriously could walk by the hanging clothes that need it without giving them a second glance.

3. I love fall. I miss this season. Yes, it is finally in the 60's here. Yes, it is finally sweatshirt weather. But it isn't the fall I know from Michigan. Everything is still green here. I want those vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds. I want piles of leaves.

4. I need to suck it up and start grading some papers.

5. I owe someone an apology.

6. I need to start walking the lake again in the evenings.

7. I probably shouldn't laugh when Grace says, "Stop, it."

8. Elmo and The Wiggles are permanent staples in this family.

9. Marshmallows with dinner is okay if it means you'll eat your entire sandwich too.

10. I need some sleep.

A Good Mess

I'm staring at a giant mess that at one point you could call my living room. Grace has strewn the floor with the newspaper - now shredded (I hope Matt read it this morning.), two blankets, a pillow, pom poms, beaded necklaces - lots and lots of them, a sippy cup of milk, a felt pumpkin, two puzzles, an exercise ball, an Elmo DVD, and lots and lots of construction paper because she found my stash.

The dining room table isn't much better. It wasn't clear of clutter to begin with, but Grace brought me her Dollar Store Craft bag and made a pumpkin. The only problem is that she wouldn't stop with the stickers, which are now ALL OVER the table.

It has been an eventful night full of Elmo, cooking (Let me rephrase this. I'm cooking, and Grace is playing with mixing cups and water in the sink.), puzzles, pumpkin craft, stickers, and lots and lots of kisses.

I'm okay with the mess. She won't be 18 months for long.

Writer's Block

I want to write.
The ideas won't come to me.
I'll settle for laughing at the giggles coming out of my daughter's mouth as I sang "On Top of Old Smokey."

I'll try the writing again tomorrow.

Children's Festival

Our family spent Saturday morning roaming the waterside at the Children's Festival. Grace loved:

• the dogs
• making a bookmark and picking out her very own book. She was quite particular in her selection process and eventually settled on the book Seeds, Seeds, Seeds.
• making a sailboat with Home Depot. She did not take the apron off.
• decorating her own cupcake (and eating it immediately)
• joining other kids in the Play House exhibit. She gravitated right for the farm and played with a tractor.
• Loved the rocking dragon
• Climbed through tunnels with Gymboree
• Hid from the Mad Hatter while playing croquet
• Had tea with the Queen of Hearts
• Had tea with Mommy
• ate kettle corn with Daddy

Grace HATED:

• any roaming characters (We were lucky to get a picture with Curious George.)
• playing the fiddle (Poor people from the Symphony Orchestra tried twice, but she just cried and cried.)

Much Needed Advice

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Matthew 6:34

The Demands of My Toddler

1. Shut off! (Translation: Shut off my monitor and my noise machine Mama. I'm up for good and not going back to sleep any time soon.)
2. Eat! (And this is getting oh, so tricky because most of the time we can't figure out what she wants to eat even though she knows.)
3. Stop it! (Not a fan of this one.)
4. Dragging the kitchen chair to the sink and/or digging her apron out of the drawer = I WANT TO COOK NOW!
5. Puffs! (Translation: I'm not eating what you put on my plate. I want cheese puffs.)
6. Handing a book to me = Read now!
7. *#!%&*(&^%$# (Translation: I'd love for you to tell me because I have no clue most days to what she wants, and her tantrums resulting from this minute detail are quite exhausting.)
8. Keys! (Translation: Just asking for keys = I want to play with them. Taking the keys and trying to open the trunk of my car = Get the stroller out and let's take a walk.)
9. Outside!
10. Up! (Translation: Either pick me up or put me on the bed to jump in the pillows.)

Today

Today, I

• made chocolate chip pancakes with my little helper Grace.
• had to clean the griddle first, sice Chef Grace threw a handful of dry pancake batter all over it.
• watched at least three episodes of The Wiggles.
• read Have You Seen My Duckling at least 10 times along with Shapes, Five Little Monkeys, and Baby Bear Baby Bear What Do You See?.
• took Grace to the zoo.
• ironed clothes during Grace's nap.
• did two loads of laundry during Grace's nap.
• watched Ghost Town (and turned it off after 30 minutes) during Grace's nap.
• made brownie sundaes with the help of Chef Grace.
• picked Idaho potatoes, sweet potatoes, and a bag of red potatoes off of the living room floor (thanks Grace).
• watched football.
• held down my screaming child as I tried to cut FIVE fingernails and laughed when she yelled for her "Dada" to help her.
• watered flowers with help of course from Grace.
• took a walk (short one since Grace decided to start crying).
• helped Grace decorate wooden lion, elephant, and monkey magnets with markers.
• programmed my coffee pot for the morning, picked out clothes (mine and Grace) for tomorrow, and packed part of my lunch.
• played on the computer.
• started reading The Girl Who Could Fly.
• loved every minute I spent with my daughter.
• mentally prepared for the first day of school.

I Must Give Thanks

It seems like I've done nothing but whine this week. I haven't accomplished what I wanted to do, no time, too many meetings, etc. All this whining has covered up all the things I should be grateful for this week. So to start off my weekend that will eventually lead to the first day of school, I'm going to count my blessings.

1. Grace ran into her babysitter's arms on Monday morning. (Going back to work wasn't too hard, since I knew she was happy.)
2. Grace ran into MY arms when I picked her up Monday afternoon. (I needed that.)
3. I set up my classroom the week before, so it could have been a lot worse this week.
4. Smaller class sizes this year
5. College Football starts
6. Grace slept in today.
7. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about our new principal.
8. Hurricane Earl did not bother us. (I can handle the 1/2 inch of rain he left.)
9. The new teacher I am mentoring has some great ideas and is going to have a wonderful year.
10. Grace and I have had fun painting and cooking.
11. I love sharing my dessert with her.
12. It's not 105 degrees anymore.
13. I find it hilarious that Matt is fighting from singing along to The Wiggles. I knew it would only be a matter of time. Fruit Salad anyone?
14. It's a three day weekend, and I get to spend it all with Grace.

Crankapotamus In the House

My day started out great. I took Grace to the zoo. She was fascinated with the meerkats, roared at the lions, laughed for a good five minutes at the squirrel monkeys, and booed like a cow. (Not a typo. In Grace's world, cows boo.)

We came home and had lunch. Let's rephrase that. I tried to feed Grace lunch, but my happy girl was turning into a crankapotamus. I tried for a nap.

The screams and cries were endless.

Took her back downstairs. Cranky. I needed a nap.

Matt took her. I napped. Still cranky. Daddy tried a nap. No go yet again.

No nap = crankapotamus

This Summer

This summer I made a to do list for our family. I came across the idea on an awesome blog called Whatever. From the first day of summer, we have been working on this list:

1. zoo
2. paint
3. blow bubbles
4. aquarium
5. visit Aunt Sarah in Montgomery
6. family pictures
7. Tiny Tot Time @ the library on Tuesdays
8. Outer Banks
9. Anniversary trip to Savannah
10. visit Grandma and Grandpa Shemanski, Aunt Paula and Landon, Aunt Mallory, and more relatives in Michigan
11. Pirate Program @ library
12. Meet Maisy @ library
13. Mallory's bridal shower
14. Read 2010-2011 VA Reader Choice Books for Middle School
15. run in the sprinkler at Grandpa and Grandma's house
16. play with Landon
17. go to the beach
18. sleepover @ Grandma & Grandpa Moyer's house
19. Read Sookie Stackhouse series
20. visit Blizzard, the albino deer, at City Park
21. Go flower girl dress shopping w/ Aunt Mallory
22. Walk with Grandpa Shemanski
23. Bingo w/ Mom, Aunt Kris, and Paula
24. bonfire w/ smores
25. Aunt Mallory and soon-to-be Uncle Caleb visit us
26. pool party @ Karin's house
27. play date w/ Bree
28. Toddler Time @ library on Wednesdays

We have one week left before our summer vacation ends, and we report back to school next Monday for a week of meetings and staff development. I have checked off every single thing except: Outer Banks, reading Sookie, and reading VA Reader Choice. The Outer Banks is just not going to happen. I'm tired of traveling. Even though it is a little over an hour to get there, and we only wanted to spend the day at the dunes, I just want to be home. That leaves 14 books to read before Monday. I have 9 out of the 10 Sookie books to read, and 5 of the 10 VA Reader Choice.

I better get reading.

Ramblings

I feel like rambling.

I find it scary that MY MP3 player has The Best of The Wiggles on it. Grace is taking over everything.
I have procrastinated making banana bread yet again.
I'm thankful for the cloudy day today (and having lived in Michigan where it's cloudy nine months of the year that is saying a lot).
It makes me smile when Grace makes her animal noises. She has mastered dog, cat, and lion/tiger. Cows boo instead of moo in her world, and she just says duck or fish.
I'm watching Deadliest Catch as I type.
I need a new book to read.
I need to buy new pots and pans.
I need to find 8 storage crates.
I need a baby shower gift.
I believe I will be going shopping tomorrow.

It's sad that for the past 3 days it has been 105 degrees, and I have to plan to pack flannel pajamas and sweatshirts for our trip to Michigan. Hello Frozen Tundra aka my parent's basement.

I'm tired and my arms feel like Jello from helping a co-worker move bookcases and books into her new classroom. Lots of books! Lots!
I'm glad it wasn't me that got stuck in the elevator at school today.
I wish I wasn't thinking about school already.
I can't believe my sister has already started Christmas shopping.

I think my gel pillows are calling me.
Night!

Running Through My Head

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy
Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy
Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy
Yummy Yummy
Yummy Yummy
Fruit Salad!

Let's make some fruit salad today (Uh huh uh)
It's fun to do it the health way (Uh huh uh)
Take all the fruit that you want to eat
It's gonna be a fruit salad treat!

Peel your bananas
The second step
Toss in some grapes
The third step
Cut up some apples
Chop up some melons
And put them on your plate

Now we've made it, It's time to eat it (Uh huh uh)
It tastes so good that you just can't beat it (Uh huh uh)
Give everyone a plate and a spoon
We'll all be eating it very soon!

The first step
Eat up the banana
The second step
Eat up some grapes
The third step
Eat up some apples
Eat the melons
Now there's nothing on your plate

Now we've had our fruit salad today (Uh huh uh)
It's time to put the scraps away (Uh huh uh)
Wash the bowls and wash the spoon
Let's do it all again real soon!

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy
Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy
Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy
Yummy yummy yummy yummy
Fruit Salad!

It's Been a Goldfish Kind of Night

My darling daughter has a habit of pulling everything out of her diaper bag. That is the pockets that are open because there aren't any zippers and the occassional time I forget to zip the thing. Sometimes she puts everything back with a few extras (like my cell phone), but most of the time you can tell where she's been by the piles and piles of stuff scattered over every surface.

Tonight was a night in which I forgot to zip. See where this is going? "Fish, fish," I heard coming from the dining room. Since she already had them in her hand, I told her she needed to sit down, which she did instantly, to eat her fish. And there she sat, quite content, eating her Goldfish. Well, that is until she started shaking the bag.

Then I saw my newly vacuumed carpet completely covered in an entire bag of rainbow Goldfish. I thought it was sweet she started picking them up again, but that didn't last long because soon I heard the shaking of the bag until every last Goldfish was back on the floor. And as soon as she saw all of the Goldfish was on the floor, she proceeded to eat them again.

Is It Really Summer?

Since the last day of school, we have been on the go.  Our first stop was Montgomery, Alabama to visit Matt’s sister Sarah and her husband Chris.  Since Grace has flown before, I thought her travels would be the same – people watch like crazy in the airport and then sleep on the plane.  Silly me.  My child decided she wanted to people watch everywhere.  I think I got a 30 minute out of her on the last flight.  She would rather play peek-a-boo with the people sitting in front of us and behind us.  She also apparently loves to read Sky Mall and where the nearest exits are on the information booklet. 

Grace loved Aunt Sarah’s dogs.  I knew she would bark because she does it at home, but her barks were nonstop.  We also went to the Montgomery Zoo twice.  Why?  It was free.  How?  We have a membership to the Virginia Zoo, and that gets us into other zoos for free or a reduced price.  I have to say the Montgomery Zoo rocks.  Everything was shaded. (I guess you have to be in the deep South.)  And you get to be really close to the animals.    We also went swimming every day.  With Grace’s nonexistent sleeping, we figured out pretty early (day one) that we needed to tucker her out to get some sleep out of her.  She loved the pools and the water park thingy (bunch of different sprinkler things shooting up and all around).  On the last day we went swimming in the morning and in the evening.

And a trip isn’t complete without a flight snafu.  Ours happened to be a canceled flight leaving us stranded in Charlotte.  They got us a new flight immediately to Norfolk, but our car was in Newport News.  Can you tell how much I love this?  Matt’s mom picked us up and brought us home, and then Grace, my sister, and I drove the next day to get the car.

Oh, yeah.  Did I mention that my sister and her fiancé arrived for their visit on the night we returned home?  That first night was rough just because of my lack of sleep, but we had a great time too.  We spent one morning at the beach, one day at the aquarium, one at the zoo, and did some shopping.  Grace is going to be the flower girl in Mallory’s wedding in November, so we went dress shopping.  We found the cutest dress at Dillard's – ivory w/ light brown hem on the bottom and waist w/ a bow.  I had to buy a 3T.  (EEK!)  My child is 14 months.  I knew we needed room to grow, so I started with a 2T, but there wasn’t much room.

We are now home for a month with no visitors until the end of July.  I’m trying to get to the story time at the library, but Grace is not cooperating. Yesterday, she fell asleep in the car and slept through the entire thing.  Today, she has been a bear, so I put her to bed at 9 for a nap, and she is still napping.  The story time is at 10, and I am NOT WAKING THE GIANT.  No Way.  But here are a few pics from my sister’s visit that show she isn’t a bear all of the time.

 

 

  

 

Puddle Sitting

Grace doesn't puddle jumps...she sits. And loves it! I guess we'll be doing this more often.

Apparently She Walks

April 22, 2010 - Grace took three steps for our babysitter. Matt and I have yet to see her do this because she seems quite content to hold our hands or simply fall down and crawl if we let go of them.

We’re now counting in years and not months!

Grace is now officially a one-year-old.  She’s still my baby, but has quite the little personality.  Her favorite word is “this”, she points at everything, loves dogs and even barks like them, and is almost walking. 

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Birthday Eve

My baby girl turns one tomorrow!  ONE!  It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital.

An Early Birthday Present

When Grace and I arrived home on Friday, a giant box was waiting for us Grace.  Her birthday present from her Auntie Mallory had arrived.  Since the box was enormous, we Matt decided to put this little buggy together and let Grace have a present early (her birthday isn’t until Thursday). 

Oh, how she loves this buggy.  She grips that steering wheel and enjoys the ride with that big ol’ smile that I love.  And it gets better.  When the buggy stops, Grace starts shaking the wheel trying to get it going again.

And mommy loves it too because it has a seat belt.

Playing Around

Just wanted to see how Microsoft Writer actually works.  Don’t mind me.  I’ll try and post new pictures of Little Miss Grace soon. In the meantime, here a few from a couple of months ago.

The Best Money Spent

For 99 cents at CVS, I picked up a bottle of bubbles. Yes, the good ol' fashion bubbles with the oh so special wand. I can't get enough of Grace's smiles and laughter over them.

I love the joys of simple stuff.

Getting into Shape - Spiritual Shape

We were just having a discussion about Lent at school. I'm not sure how it started, but one of of my colleagues mentioned, "Yeah, we know it is Lent when Deb stops eating meat."

Sure part of being a Catholic during Lent means no meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays, but Lent is so much more than meatless meals. It is a time to get into spiritual shape. A time to look within ourselves and reflect on how we are living our lives. It is a time to get closer to Christ through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It isn't a time to give up chocolate just for the sake of giving up chocolate. It is a time of conversion. A life changing conversion that doesn't revert back to the way it was on Easter Sunday. Find something to do or even give up that will make you a better person, a better mother or father, a better daughter or son, a better teacher, a better Catholic. Find something you will continue with after Easter Sunday.

Good Dental Hygiene Must Start Young

She only has four teeth. Well, make that three teeth. There is a fourth, but it has barely poked through. I've seen the baby toothbrushes in all shapes and sizes and even the fancy baby toothpaste and gum cleaner. Gum cleaner? I had no idea we were supposed to be cleaning gums. But since she sprouted teeth, I figured we could at least keep those pearly whites in mint condition. Well, that is until they fall out and become gifts to the Tooth Fairy.

Grace is a trooper when it is time to brush her teeth. In fact, she loves it. The first time we tried it, she grabbed the brush and had to watch herself in the mirror. The video doesn't really show her enthusiasm for brushing teeth (I swear I'm not making this up.), but she didn't get in any naps of considerable length today, so she was tired by the time we whipped out the video camera.

Did You Say Snow?

I'll be the first to admit that my northernness comes out in full force whenever snow is anticipated down here. All winter our meterologist wears a snowflake and has a segment called the Snow Hope Index. I'm not kidding. This fascination with snow cracks me up, especially since once they get snow everything shuts down, the shelves at grocery stores are wiped clean, and accidents abound because people have absolutely no clue what to do once snow actually hits the ground. What? I'm not supposed to continue driving at 65 miles/hr? What? I'm supposed to keep my eyes on the road instead of this pretty white stuff falling from the sky?

However, after reading a column in the morning newspaper, I realized that my memories with snow are a little more complex than a dusting here or there or a snow hope index of one. I'm remembering the first snowfall and how much I loved it, but them I'm also remembering how that crystal white snow soon becomes yellowed or blackened for that matter. I'm remembering trudging through the neighborhood screaming trick-or-treat with my snowsuit under my halloween costume. I'm remembering having to wear hand and foot warmers in my gloves and boots just to overcome frostbite. I'm remembering -30 to -40 degree temperatures. Yes..you heard me right. And that wasn't even including the wind chill.

But I'm also remembering making snowforts and snow igloos, snow angels and the ever popular snowmen. People down here don't have that luxury. The last time it snowed this much down here was 20 years ago. 20 YEARS AGO! When that snow came down, the people came out of the woodwork. I have never seen so many people outside in our neighborhood - not even during the summer. For some, this was their first time seeing snow. And with that came their first snowball fight, their first snow angel, and first snowman.

The snowmen I remember were rolled, had a carrot for a nose, and coal everywhere else. He donned a black top hat or winter hat and a scarf. Virginia snowmen? Nowhere near that (unless you count our mini-snowman who donned my winter hat, had a baby carrot nose, and green M & M eyes, and a red M & M mouth.) Listen people...I had to make due with what was in the house. My Kingsford charcoal isn't just sitting around. Anyway, I was talking about snowmen. These snowmen were decked out. I saw one lounging in a lawnchair wearing a bikini top wearing sunglasses and holding a martini glass. I saw one snowman that was actually a penguin (totally cool), and others with very cool wigs. When the snow falls down here, creativity sprang up in every neighborhood.

And you know what else? Instead of sitting inside playing video games or texting or twittering every 10 seconds, people were outside playing with their kids making snowmen, makeshift sleds, and simply having fun.

My Snow Bunny

Yesterday, we got snow. Lots and lots of snow. By the end of it, I think we had around seven inches. We knew Grace loved snow from our trip to Michigan in December, so we were excited to go outside. Since having a snowsuit isn't a priority in Virginia, Grace had to wear one that was too big. It worked just fine though...just think of a female Ralphie from A Christmas Story. We made a makeshift sled out of our garbage can lid yesterday, and today she had fun sitting in the snowbank yelling at Matt while he shoveld the driveway.

It's a Snow Day...too bad it's Saturady.

This is the first REAL snow we've seen since we moved to Virginia. I've seen what the locals do when it rains, and it is a thousand times worse with the snow. Last night I watched my neighbor poor four bags of salt on his driveway. The snow didn't even start until three or four this morning, but last night around five that dude's driveway look liked it snowed.

Grace had a great time sledding when we were in Michigan over Christmas. I wish we had a real sled today. This was our makeshift sled and snowsuit that is a size too big. She kind of resembles Ralphie in "A Christmas Story." And she wasn't a fan of making snow angels.

sorry guys...the video won't upload.

Baby Gate Diaries

Grace has decided that crawling isn't enough for her, so she started working on mastering stairs this weekend. Her persistance is quite extraordinary, so we put up the baby gate tonight. After playing for awhile, she ventured to the stairs to try and get up. She found the gate instead. And started crying. Big alligator tears.

Hello World, Here I Come

My baby girl is crawling. Last night she made a mad dash for my macaroni and cheese, and this morning she has been crawling nonstop. I tried all morning to get her on video, but each time she would sit up and stare at the camera. We finally got it on tape with a little help from some chocolate (If you noticed, she is chasing a Lindt chocolate snowman missing its head.). No, we didn't give her any.

You Can Forget Trying to Fool This Girl

My Grace hates fruit. She'll eat any vegetable you put in front of her, but give her a piece of fruit, and she scrunches up her itty-bitty face and shoves the spoon away. Her swift movement usually results in my spilling the fruit.

She will however eat baby food fruit if I mix it with her oatmeal. And since juice is made from fruit, she doesn't drink that either. Even the watered down stuff is a no-go. To get around this, I make the oatmeal with the juice.

Tonight as I was making her dinner, I thought I'd try and give her tiny bits of peaches and cherries from a fruit cup in the cupboard. Grace has to feed herself at dinner time, so I thought maybe if she was feeding herself the fruit, she'd eat it.

Step 1: I put tiny bits of fruit on her highchair tray.

Step 2: She touches it, but won't pick them up.

Step 3: Thinking she wants her plate, I put the pieces on her plate.

Step 4: She touches them, touches the plate, picks up the plate, flips it upside down on the floor.

Step 5: After picking up the pieces of fruit from the floor, I try again. This was the first mistake.

Step 6: Grace takes the plate and turns it into a food frisbee. There was food EVERYWHERE. I found fruit on the wall, the floor, and the fridge. None in her belly though.

Step 7: Clean everything up, give her three pieces of banana. She touches them, picks one up, but doesn't eat it. She then proceeds to bang on her highchair (We have Matt to thank for this.). I give her three Puffs. Now, the puffs look just like the banana. When I looked back, all the Puffs were gone, and the bananas were still sitting there.

Step 8: Go back to giving Grace fruit in her oatmeal.

My 2010 Anti-Resolutions

1. I will not eat beat myself up over eating multiple sugar cookies or buckeyes or pieces fudge every time I walk in the kitchen at Christmas. Who has the willpower to walk away from all that goodness? Not me. Maybe that is why I gained so much weight in the two weeks we've been on winter break.

2. I will not keep clothes that I haven't worn in over a year. Quite frankly, I find it a little disturbing that I still have clothes that I wore in high school.

3. I will not give up coffee.

4. I will not let 105 seventh graders let my blood pressure rise to abnormal limits.

5. I will not give up procrastinating. As much as I pains me to write this, I admit I am a procrastinator. I wait until the last minute to grade 105 essays. I wait my shoes are piling up at the front door before I haul them upstairs just to start the cycle again. I wait until the door is sagging from the amount of clothes waiting to be ironed before I drag out the iron. I wait.

6. I will not turn into a texting-obsessed person who can't even sit through a dinner at a restaurant with friends without pulling out the cell phone to check on her husband. (insert rolling eyes).

7. I will not send my family into a swirling amount of debt just to keep up with what is "in" or "cool" or to keep up with what everyone else is sporting. I'm just fine with my low-tech cell phone (I just upgraded to one that actually sends videos. It still flips though. That is apparently out-of-style now.). I'm just fine with my $10 purse from TJ Maxx.

8. I will not forget to use stickers. What kid doesn't love stickers?

9. I will not be sad when my birthday rolls around this year. Maybe I won't be told to get in line as I walk my students to the computer lab.

10. I will NEVER stop loving my beautiful Grace.