the need for sunglasses and a purple hat

I just love the idea of sunglasses in December! Today, again, I really needed them, as the sun was just bouncing on the bright snow! The roads are pretty good; the powder just kinda blows to the side, and it's cold enough that nothing is melting and turning to ice. I think it is about -15 degrees today, but for some reason it doesn't feel so cold - maybe cause of the sun, or maybe cause I am spending time inside! The sun streaming through the windows makes me want to take L and D out this afternoon for a sled ride. Maybe I'll do that. Mom and Dad set up their tree and got a new fireplace, and I've promised to pop over to see both. Poor Mom is in bed sick, though, so maybe today is not the best day for us to go for a visit.

I have been searching for the perfect hat. I couldn't seem to find anything that would both stay on my head covering my ears and be warm enough. I was kinda hoping to find purple, as my other accessories (scarf and mitts) are purple. Got a lovely Christmas parcel in the mail yesterday from M and lo and behold - there was the perfect, purple hat!! I couldn't believe it! She always puts so much thought and love into her gifts - I don't know if she intuited that I needed a perfect, purple hat, or if it was fluke, but I know that when you are close friends with someone, sometimes they just know what you need when you need it, without being told.

L was just starting to get comfortable with a little girl at school, and we were planning to invite her over for play-dates. She is basically L's best friend at school. Well today, this girl's dad told me that tomorrow is her last day at the school! They live in C and it is just too far to come; before, her mom was working close to the school so it worked out for her to come here, but now her mom has changed jobs. I am so disappointed for L, as this is really the only little friend she has. L doesn't even talk to her, but she is open to the idea of her, and wanted to invite her over. Yes, there are other little girls in the class, but none who is so friendly and gentle and kind as this one. I am praying that there will be another little friend for L. Someone close by, who she can play with outside of school time.

Speaking of, M needs a friend too, close by for outside of school time. His best friend at school is really not a very nice kid and quite a bad influence on M. I am hoping the holiday will give us some much-needed mom-and-me time to get him back on track.

stories and such

Have a new habit. Each night, when the kids go to bed, I lie with D and tell the boys stories. (Poor L misses out, being in her own room, but she is always so tired she goes to sleep right after being tucked in.) I tell the boys stories from the Old Testament (Joshua and the walls of Jericho; Moses and the plagues; David and Goliath; Hannah and Samuel; etc, etc, etc), miracles of Jesus from the New Testament, and life stories of favorite saints. They are soaking up the stories, and I'm sorry I waited so long to start. But now, a month or so into this new routine, I am running out of remembered stories and actually having to research for something new! Oh well. I guess I learn too this way. And it is so nice to revisit some that I have forgotten. The kids are learning some basics of theology, told in story format. One of my all time favorite stories is about one of my favorite saints: St. Athanasius the Great and the First Council of Nicaea. Maybe we will do that one tonight. Which reminds me that I want to reread Father Schmemann The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy. Love that book!

The two youngest muncheroos were a real handful in Liturgy today. L was being naughty and D wanted to be held the whole time. He gets so jealous if one of the other kids is sitting with me and he pulls their hair and bites and screams! Yep. Terrible twos - here we come! We're working on it. We had his 18 month language screen the other day, and it appears that his oral communication is at the 9-12 month level, which is what I expected. He will be seeing a SLP once per month starting in January, until he gets old enough for proper week-to-week therapy. I am thinking maybe he will catch up on his own, though, before then. I am not worried about him. Just wanted the assessment in case; better to get him on the waitlist (or on the caseload) of a SLP now, than to try to get him help when he is desperate later.

Can't find the dog's ball anywhere! I bought her an inside ball a few days ago and she had it for 10 minutes in one room and it disappeared! We have looked everywhere! Maybe she took it outside and buried it. I guess I should have bought two! A says I buy two of everything. Not true, but in this case it would have been a good idea!

baby, it's cold outside

Actually, it's not so cold today: about -11 degrees. Gently falling snow. White sky and muted sun. Looks colder out than it is. But it was sure cold the last few days. Makes me want to curl up by the fire and read a good book. I haven't been to the library for so long, I almost forget what a book looks like.

Took D to emergency last night. I could see that both his eyes were infected, and his whole face was red and puffy. He has been so sick for two weeks - just a bad cold, but he sure didn't feel good. He got his immunizations on Wednesday (which the emergency nurses couldn't figure out, cause apparently they aren't supposed to give immunizations if the kid is sick) and has had fever on and off since. Sleepless nights and fussiness. Very runny nose, and then eye infections. Well, turns out that he had two ear infections and two eye infections, poor guy! Thank goodness for antibiotics - even this afternoon he is so much better. He has energy; he is playing; he is definitely starting to feel more like his cheeky self.

Bought Daisy an "indestructible" ball this morning from the pet store. Maybe it will keep her busy so she stops chewing the toys!

Gave Great Grandpa A's harmonica to P this morning. He was thrilled and has been making music all day! It will be good to see Uncle T at Christmas; maybe he can give P some pointers.

Early dismissal this afternoon, so the kids and I are going to make the gingerbread train.

modern electronics for dummies

If only there was such a book! Maybe there is - but would it save me time to actually read it?? I know nothing about modern electronics! I recently got a smart phone, and it is smarter than me! P told me off while we were driving in the van today. He said, "Mommy, do you know what a DS is?" I said no. He asked me how old I am, and when I told him, he incredulously said, "I'm 5 and I know what it is and you're 33 and you don't know??!" I tried to explain to him that the iPad, iPod, DS (whatever it is), etc, etc are all new "toys" and were not around when I was a little girl. He thought I was making excuses, and said "But you're an ADULT!" Trying not to laugh, I asked him to enlighten me, and he told me it's something like a laptop! OK - I was still clueless. So I asked M when he came home for lunch. He said it is a video game player that you don't have to put games on; they already come on it. And then P said, "Mom, the difference between an iPad and and iPod is that the iPad is sideways." Well, that helps! Seriously, I need that book.

some days are better

Some days are better than others, and
Some nights are twice as long, and
Some days I'm more than weak, and
Some nights I'm less than strong, and
Some days I just can't take it, and
Some nights I barely make it, but
Some days are better.
-- Charlie Major, Some Days Are Better

Today my doubts didn't plague me quite so much. Today the kids played in the sunshine and snow. Today the dog didn't vomit on the carpet. Today I thank God for vaccinations and second chances and medicine. D is getting shot up this afternoon, poor little guy. And I think today of my Grandma Jean. A preemie baby in a shoebox, warmed close to the stove, predicted a slim chance to live by the doctor, lived a long life. Another baby, stillborn - whose mother was told to have no more babies, yet had two more. My mom, a miracle - and me too. And all of us. God's mercy and love are unfathomable.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

tree up!

A brought home the Christmas tree this afternoon; it is now relaxing, preparing itself for being thoroughly decorated tomorrow afternoon! I told him to make sure it was at least 6 feet tall (after he brought home a little shrimpy one another year!), and it is - I think it is about 8 feet tall, which works in our living room. It is so much fun getting ready for the holidays with the children getting older. As I unpacked the box of decorations, there were multiple exclamations of "I remember that!" and "Can I hang that one up?"
We decided to work towards a "gift-less" Christmas - over the next few years. This year, the children will have stuffed stockings, but no gifts under the tree. Instead, they are each choosing an outing or event that the family can do together during the holidays. P has chosen to go to It's A Blast - a fun indoor playground and arcade in Regina. M wants to go bowling and L wants to go swimming. Hopefully we can convince Grandma and Grandpa to go along!
M and P played soccer this morning. P has one more week for this session. R was such a good coach for P's first soccer experience. We found out that P will have him again for the next session in January, which is awesome. M has JJ, which is so great - cause he learns so much from him. It's quite fun to watch M play now, as his skill is really improving.
So glad T is coming for Christmas! Wish A could make it, but he has lots to do.
Another sore throat and more coughing for me today. I don't know why it can't just leave me alone! Last night was horrible: D was up first, but not for long. Then P was up sick with stomach issues. Then I couldn't sleep for all my coughing! So, no sleep from about 3-6:30am. I really didn't want to get up at 7:30! Thank goodness for caffeine!