winter and rodeo

two things i frankly never thought i would spend much time thinking or talking about.

the high yesterday was 17 with freezing rain all day long. i had to stop while driving just to clear my windshield. it is before christmas and it looks like the snow is here to stay. the forecast gets us to a balmy mid-30s finally later this week. i am so not a winter girl. i hate hat hair and my toes are too cute to be hidden for so long!

the most shocking was the day my husband called my cell to say he wanted to get tickets to the rodeo. i sat stunned while he said, "hello- are you still there?" truly words i never thought i would hear from my new jersey bred husband...he and harrison are engrossed in the 10 days of national rodeo finals on tv every night. thus why my christmas cards will be out on time this year!

celebrating

sweet old ladies. there is this precious woman, Jane, at church who just loves michael and has taken to our family. she brings us holiday surprises all the time. we have the elf on a shelf who flies home to the north pole to report on kids to santa every night and returns by morning to a new spot to watch how children behave and listen to their christmas wishes (we are long on wishes and short on concern over being watched by a santa spy). we have handmade reindeers that sit on our tv and can be molded to lay down, stand etc...we have an advent candle for christmas morning and an angel music box...what a sweetheart she is. whenever she sees me at church she comes straight up for a hug and update on family goings on. i pray i am this sweet and considerate some day.

poopy snow

i know you are supposed to teach your children to play only in the white snow and avoid the yellow. we have another problem here. our postage stamp of a yard in the front is a pooping ground for neighborhood dogs so the rule has always been do not go in the grass. now with a fluffy white layer of snow on the ground it is so tempting for children...i so do not want poopy snow tracked around my house. i need to find a pet free field for my kids to play in. i am torturing them by reminding them every time we step out of the house "do not go in the poopy snow". mean mommy!

what to do when the privileges run out?

my spirited aleksandra. i literally run out of things to take away from her some days. yesterday was one of those days. she had to go to her room in the afternoon, lost tv privileges for the next day, got a spanking and went to her room and missed the polar express. i found her yesterday in a water soaked bathroom with her head in the toilet. freakin mess! that is just the tip of the iceberg. luckily she is adorable and super loving or as michael says "you would just put her in a box and ship her back". if you can think of any punishments that you had as a kid please forward. believe me when i say it may be impossible to crush her spirit. she will walk up after an hour in her room and tell you "you are beautiful mamma and i love you!" and then of course ignore your instructions within minutes.

peace and patience...peace and patience...peace and patience....peace and patience...