Some Winter

Lest you think I’ve fallen off the blogging bandwagon, let me assure you that I haven’t! It’s just a busy time of year! 

There is a lot of snow up here in Wisconsin!  These photos are actually from back in November, our first snowfall (which really wasn’t too much, but Abe was bound and determined to get out in that snow!):

Ring-around-the-Rosy:

 

Last weekend was the Christmas program in Chicago.  It was so special!  Since we weren’t able to attend last year, this was Abe’s first program.  He had his verse and piece down to a “tee” and was very excited!!  (I just hoped he wouldn’t freeze up once he got in front of everyone). 

We were able to stay with Betty again and enjoy the whole weekend.  After a chili supper at church on Saturday evening, the children met upstairs.  When we were all seated, they turned off the lights and the kids all filed in holding little battery-operated tealights while they sang together (this has been a tradition in Chicago for many, many years!).  As Abe walked by, he was clearly enamored by his little light.  After he got in front, he spotted us and waved and waved!  I was actually tearing up about it all!  I think maybe because I didn’t expect it to be a “candlelit entrance” which was really beautiful?  And he just seemed so grown up and independent?  Anyway, I got my act together and waved back at him!

When Abe’s class said their parts, my aforementioned concerns about him freezing up were apparently not necessary--he said his verse quite loudly and did his song actions quite expressively.  But it was so sweet!  He just really seemed to be enjoying it which, as a parent, makes you really enjoy it too. 

I really tried to get a picture of him so handsome before we left home, but he refused to cooperate.  This was what I got before I finally called it quits:

 

We’ve been making quite a few “toilet paper roll crafts” around here lately.  I’m beginning to think that Abe is sabotaging our toilet paper supply just so he can do more crafts!  This little snowman was our greatest success—the boys were well behaved, happy, and helpful throughout the whole process AND it turned out so cute!  Those two things rarely happen together, it seems!

 

Lastly, December for Ryan meant no more weekends at the hospital!!  He is in outpatient pediatrics right now and very much enjoying the later mornings and weekends off.  Of course, by “off” I mean he is home.  He still has a lot of studying to do while he’s here, but his time is definitely more flexible.  It has been wonderful!  Anyway, what better way to start a snowy weekend morning than with chocolate-chip snowman pancakes?

 

Stay warm, thanks for reading!

Marco Island

Wow, it’s been a long time since I posted!  We’re wrapping up the first week back at home after being gone for almost 2 weeks, so there’s been a lot of catch-up with laundry, ironing, getting the boys back on regular schedules, working on surveys, etc.  We also squeezed a little holiday baking in this week!

But, it’s time I posted about our trip to Marco Island.  The boys and I were so blessed to be able to go down to Florida with my dad’s side of the family during the week before Thanksgiving.  The weather was unbelievable, the food delicious, and the company so sweet. 

It was so refreshing for me—I think sometimes I just keep going through each day without realizing how much I’m physically chasing after the boys and meeting their every need.  With my parents, aunts, and uncles being so helpful with them, I recognized how wonderful it was to have a hand, and in truth, I really enjoyed it!  If I’m entirely honest, it can be very tiring caring for 2 little ones with no family nearby and with Ryan working long hours.  There are plenty of times when I would love to drop the boys off at my mom’s for an hour just so I can go grocery shopping without them climbing all over the cart! 

Overall, the boys did great on the plane rides and were well behaved.  Abe discovered the amazing-ness of a thing called swimming (he wanted to be in the pool every waking moment!), and Charlie loved the sand.  I was so glad they were comfortable with all of my family and had so much fun!  I was really sad to leave Ryan at home, but I am glad we had the chance to go.  It was a wonderful time.

Now pictures! I did a rather poor job of capturing anyone other than my boys, but here’s what I’ve got.

I thought this was a neat picture!

 

Enamored by all the shells:

 

We saw three dolphins swimming so close to shore!  I tried to get a picture but couldn’t tell what I was shooting because of the glare from the sun.  Obviously, I missed the dolphins, but I got this boat!!

 

Papa found a horseshoe crab! 

 

Climbing the rocks- both boys were very brave!

 

Building a tower out of the cool magnets Grandma brought along:

 

The little fish!

 

Watching the sunset:

 

So beautiful!

 

I loved this—brothers holding brothers!  And I realized afterward that both pairs were color-coordinated!

 

Most of the cousins in the pool:

 

I’m ready to go back already, particularly with the temps today!

A Picture Each Hour

I’ve seen this idea popping up on a few blogs here and there, and I think it’s so much fun!  Each hour, you take a photo of something you’re doing.  Obviously most these activities don’t encompass the entire span of an hour, but it still gives you a peek into our day!

This past weekend Ryan was off on Saturday, so we turned off our alarm and were looking forward to sleeping in until the boys woke up, usually around 7.  But… Abe woke up with some uncontrollable coughing around 5 AM, and alas, our day began. 

5 AM: Breathing treatment for Abe

6 AM: Abe watches cartoons (while I nod off on the couch beside him)

7 AM: Charlie wakes up and it’s time for some coffee!

8 AM: Pumpkin Spice Pancakes!

9 AM: Exercise

10 AM: Hair Dryer…

11 AM: Library!

12 PM: Groceries!

1 PM: Laundry

2 PM: Ahh, boys are napping!

3 PM: Batch of granola

4 PM: Kitchen Clean-Up

5 PM: Edwardo’s!

6 PM: Daddy and Charlie reading

7 PM: Bath time!

8 PM: Bedtime for the boys

9 PM: Ryan and I watch a little Flashpoint

10 PM: Time for bed!

Miscellaneous

First, just a brief note about my total lack of new recipe posts lately… I think I was a little burnt out from all the new recipes I had to try when we got unusual items in our veggie box over the summer/early fall!  That season is over now, so I’ve kind of been sticking to the tried and true.  Especially with colder weather now, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to make our favorite comfort foods!

Now some pictures from life around our house lately:

Piggy-back rides with Daddy—this was so special, because I remember doing this with my sisters and our dad!

 

Playing “Matching” with Daddy after he got home one night.  And yes, Abe is in his undies.  If you stop by our home unexpectedly, there is a very good chance that you’ll find him just like that!  Thankfully the colder weather has begun to put an end to it…

 

Charlie stepped right into camera as I was trying to take the above picture! 

 

Our “friends” we made one rainy day:

 

Charlie helping himself to some Cheerios one morning!

 

Drawing with chalk:

 

The last pictures are from a picnic dinner we took to the reserve/parkway area on a beautiful but chilly evening!  It was colder out than we realized, but we had a ton of fun!

Abe-ster:

The Charles:

My hubby and me:

Our view during dinner:

The boys exploring while I cleaned up the food:

Now the cold is really settling in around here!  While we had a couple of really mild days at the beginning of this week, I think now it’s here to stay…