Weekend Update

So...let me tell you about our weekend.

I just finished reading my sister's blog about all the projects and crafts she's been doing on top of going to school AND being a mom AND expecting her second little girl very soon...and it made me think about all the projects I want to do and have started and haven't started.

Well, things have been put on hold for a bit, sadly. (like Caleb's quiet book, any sort of blanket for our little baby girl, these flash cards for Caleb, pictures, a video for my parents...and the list goes on)

Much of my time gets spent doing research and looking for either an apartment, a car, insurance, logistics about moving...etc, etc. So, this weekend it was exciting when we actually went to look at a car and liked it enough that we're in the process of having it inspected and buying it! It's nothing glamorous: a 2002 Ford Taurus. But it's in our budget. If we get it, I'll post some pictures...

Anyway, yesterdays was also Justin's birthday!!! We celebrated Friday (he got work off), Saturday, and Sunday. It was great. Friday we looked at the car and went to a boat/RV show that night with coupons. It was AWESOME!! WE looked at two boats...but went into EVERY RV. lol we're big fans and are excited for the "some day" when we can make that purchase! So much fun!
Saturday we kind of just chilled; I cooked breakfast, and we had planned to take pictures at TArget with a coupon, but were late so missed our appointment. It was nice to just relax and get things done around the house. Oh, we even opened the in-laws tent trailer in preparation for our trip to New York in a couple of weeks.

Sunday we had dinner and cake/pie with presents. I made a strawberry banana pie, mom made a chocolate bunt cake, and Justin's home teaching companion's family made a carrot cake for him! It was very yummy.

The BEST present of the weekend was Justin found his wedding band!!!! He lost it before Christmas when he threw a snowball at me during the first snow...and finally as the snow started to melt he could find it!! I cried. I was so excited! It was a huge blessing, and what a great day for him to find it!

On another side note, my husband sure knows how to make me feel special; make my life special. I have an unexplained affinity for St. Patrick's day; well, he bought me some beautiful, bright tulips and he and Caleb made me a card. So little, but so thoughtful. I loved it. :)

So, as you can see, my craft and other projects are not getting finished as quickly as I would like. *sigh* oh well. As long as I'm busy and can see progress...

More Family Fun

I just had to give Justin credit for getting up on our roof to shovel it...for 7 hours!!! He was so cold when he came in he couldn't even shower. It was sooo sad! But with all the snow and then the ice storm we had, there was lots of fear about roof collapse. So, it had to be done! What a brave man! And I'm happy to report that our roof did not collapse, and we are all safe.

I also had to give a bit more tribute to my son. He is such an individual, I have to high light it!

1. He loves playing with his Legos. Not so unusual, I understand. His favorite part is either a) putting the flowers on his fingers or b) putting the cat/dog in the "door" pieces and talking to them.
2. I decided to put olives on his fingers. Who doesn't remember having "alien" fingers as a kid?
3. This is just one stuffed animal Caleb likes to sleep with. He really has like 7 in his crib and at nap/bed time we have to arrange all the animals so he can see them and confirm their presence. Cracks me up! He's running out of room for himself!
4. Story time with Grandma. He insists on having a blanket.
5. My favorite: He knows the sound the dishwasher makes when it starts the drying cycle and spits out steam. He loves to run from any room, no matter what he's doing, and stand under the warm air.

Fun around the House

I have to say, I have a ton of fun being with Caleb all day. Okay, some days I get really tired and frustrated and bored, but overall, it's fun!


I remember building forts when I was little, so I thought Caleb would have fun with his own special place. And he did. :) We hung out in there all day...too bad we had to take it down to eat dinner.


Alas, with all the fun there must be some down time; even sick time. Here we are, two sickies lounging on the couch. I love snuggling with my boy!

Justin stuck a little ball up Caleb's shirt and Caleb thought it was hilarious. He couldn't figure out how to get it out and just ran around with it. Fun things always happen when Daddy comes home.


Because of the fun "belly" Caleb formed, we decided to take matching belly pictures.
Now Caleb always tries to get the ball out of my shirt. haha!
So, here is also probably the most recent belly shot we have. I'm about 6 months along here!
I think I look a lot like my mom in this picture, too (face, not body! lol)

Being a mom sure is a lot of work; and it's only going to get to be more, but man, the joy sure out weighs the work (most days!)

Revisiting an old Passion...or two.

We all know we are supposed to develop our talents, otherwise we will lose them, right? Well, one activity that I have been told I have a talent for, and has at least always been an outlet for stress, joy, and just expression, is writing.


In high school I kept a poetry journal. I gave some speeches and things in high school. I've always written in my journal (some periods of my life are more descriptive. :D). In college I was a writing tutor. Letters are so rewarding for me. And yet, somehow, I've stopped writing.

I've recently had some opportunities to tutor various people with some writing assignment or requirement they have for work or for school. Turning on that part of my thinking, and looking at organization, flow, content, relationship between sentences, paragraphs, even words. It makes me so excited!! It got my juices going again and I realized how badly I want to write. Not a novel, mind, you. My sister can take that route (she's even published! Here's her blog and more about her book Perilous).

No, I'm much more a essayist. I just LOVE having a question to answer, a concept to explain, something to expound on that requires some research, some deep thinking, trial and error, revision, revision, and revision. It just does something to me!! I have always loved words and I suppose it's controlling words and implementing them into a pattern and method that I designate so they present the image I want everyone else to see: that's magical. And I'm definitely a sucker for the old-fashioned pen and paper.

So, I've decided to write again. I have a few topics in mind. Some are emotional and sentimental. Some are practical and things that I really do want to know more about, so why not give myself an actual assignment? I can't say I miss school; but I do miss the required expression of thought. I need to be and do better about that. So I am.

Anyone else experience a sort of reawakening in their talent or interest realm? How did you deal with it? What was it?

As a side note, anyone follow the Jeopardy shows with IBM's Watson? Fascinating. Language at the core.

So ya want some snow, do ya?

Since I've known Justin I've heard stories about these "fabulous New England winters." Ya know, so much snow that you can't open your door and you have to climb out through a window just to shovel? It was nigh unto famous in my mind.

So, naturally, when we moved out here, one thing I thought for sure I'd get to see was some great snow. Piles of it. I mean, I grew up with snow, and we got snow in Utah, but nothing I was used to compared with the impression I got from the stories I heard Justin tell. Well, let's just say, last year was a "mild winter" and this year, I was so excited about a little dusting that I bundled Caleb up and went out to "experience" the snow.



His favorite part was eating it. He loved being able to look up and see the snow coming down, too.

Then, what do ya know, here in January we've had two big snow storms, and something about Mass...snow here doesn't melt. I told Justin that back home, a "big" snow storm meant school closings, being stuck inside with hot chocolate, movies, and playing outside. Here, it means shoveling and work. No fun. No wonder people get so tired of snow.

Well, after last night's storm, I decided to document the difference. I would lose Caleb in these drifts if he could burrow his way into them! The big picture on the bottom is from the snow plow collections, and the bottom right is the walk up to the front door.



Needless to say, I've experienced my "real New England winter." :)