bored kids + another snow day = one unfortunate kitty

This is what happens when you are stuck inside yet again due to blizzard #243 (ok so I am slightly exaggerrating but this winter is becoming endless!).

All I can say is poor, poor kitty.

I am going to have use all of my creative powers to come up with something to beat the boredom tomorrow and possibly hide the cat....poor Lucy.

We just found out we will have our fifth snow day off from school tomorrow.

Ugh.

A funny little thing called {grief}

"Daadd. Puh-leaze turn this awful music OFF!"

"But Mandy, this is a classic, how can you not like it?"

"Because DAD, it isn't cool, and it's totally out of fashion...please can we turn the station?!"

"This is good music. We aren't going to listen to your rap crap."

Tonight one flick of the radio dial and a '70's rock song that came blaring through the speakers made me become completely lost in memories.

I couldn't stop the tears that flowed freely from my eyes as they made what was already a tricky winter driving experience all the more questionable.

Grief.

You never know when or where it's going to strike.

Just a few seconds earlier I had been relishing a quiet ride to town all by myself and was happily singing some up-beat country song when for whatever reason I decided to turn the station.

When 'Crocodile Rock' began playing and all those times I argued with my dad came rushing back to me I just couldn't help but feel sad and lost.

I long to talk to this man who frustrated me so much sometimes (especially when it came to music choice) and tell him how much I cherish all of those times, the good, and the bad.

If I could, I would tell him how I can never turn the station when one of his songs comes on.

I wish he could know how these songs are so important to me today.

They allow me have these memories of simple times, even if they are memories of silly little arguments.

Most importantly they remind me that he was here, and that he is still very much an important part of my life even if I don't get to see him.

I am so grateful for moments like these.

I love you dad, thanks for this memory.

Playing Hooky

While the laundry laid in piles in front of the washer and the dishes sat in the sink and those pesky dust bunnies hid along the corners of our floor, the kids and I decided to play 'hooky' from our normal chores and just spend some time playing on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

When Travis and I couldn't find this guy earlier today and realized that he hadn't come in since we came home from church an hour before...it turned out that he was hiding in the car, nose stuck inside a book that he just couldn't put down!

I love that he is such an avid reader!

It has been such a gorgeous day!

After Tanner and I came in at the 2 hour mark, the two littles decided that they wanted to continue their fun and are still out there...nearly 4 hours later (aside from the occasional bathroom break or quick snack).

We don't get a lot of winter days like this and have to take advantage of them while we can!

And no afternoon spent outside is complete without some hot cocoa!

I hope you're all enjoying your Sunday as much as we are!

A Basketball + Bathroom Story

Our family spends a lot of time in the gym during the winter watching basketball games and as of the past few years, playing too!

Last night, the five of us went out to eat and then went to a girls basketball game between two great teams.

At one point, the two littles were getting antsy and begged to go to the bathroom because they just had to go potty!

After a brief scuffle between Travis and I about whose turn it was to take them (neither one of us wanted to miss the game), I was the lucky one who got to go (that time anyway!).

And if I wouldn't have been the lucky one, I would have missed out on this BIG, albeit slightly inappropriate, memory that we got to make because of this unforgettable trip to the bathroom!

I realize that Ty is getting way too big for me to take him with me into the women's restroom, but I still get nervous letting him go into the men's room alone.

So, lucky for him, he got to tag along with me into the women's restroom last night.

We happened to follow one of the girls basketball teams into the restroom which left Ty and Madi both with some BIG eyes as they watched these animated high school girls gossip and giggle after their game.

When Ty finished up and came out, I realized that there were a couple of girls standing by the sink who were changing into different clothes.

I knew I was in for it when he and his sister both stared openly at the girls as I tried to rush them through the hand washing routine.

I just knew that my son, who normally has no trouble coming up with zingers in awkward situations, would soon open his mouth and comment about this situation we were in, and I sure as heck didn't want to stick around there to find out what would spew from his mouth!

We nearly made it too, he was drying his hands just as a couple of the girls passed him by and all of a sudden he proclaimed (very loudly)...."What stinks in here?!?"

Oh dear Lord, forgive me, but all I could do was turn the other way and try to stifle the laughter that was about to burst from me.

Of course, the girls had heard my little big mouth and immediately started laughing and telling all of their teammates what my un-filtered son had just said.

Needless to say, we got out of that bathroom as quick as lightning and I started laughing.

Ty and Madi couldn't quite figure out what I (or the girls) thought was so funny but it is a memory that I won't soon forget!

I think we are in for some BIGGER stories from this little wild man in the years to come!

And although the following photos have nothing to do with that story, they do tell the story of our budding little basketball players!

I have said it once and I will say it again, I LOVE living in a small town and watching my kids participate in activities like this!

And just to clear the air, these are not the girls basketball players that we saw last night, thank goodness!

My little baller...she really does like to play even though she would never admit it...because in her words, she is a gymnast! 

These two look like they could be trouble in a few years, don't they?!

I wanted to take one photo of these two and of course little Miss wouldn't cooperate because her big brother had to be in the photo!

A Case of the Crazies...blizzard #242 and counting is in the books

 

While this very nasty blizzard was raging outside today...

we spent the third, yes, THIRD full snow day home from school this year going a little crazy.

This wasn't an uncommon site ...

We are having a LONG winter already and it is only January 16!

Recently, Madi learned how to hand knit and today she took her boredom to a whole new level...I think as of this time tonight her creation can stretch the entire length of our house!

 

Those of you that aren't from around here (here being the arctic tundra, known as western Minnesota!) probably can't fathom what the big deal is.

 

I mean, I am sure you are thinking...'what the heck is her problem, a day off of work to spend at home with your kids...that sounds like a dream!'

 

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate these days, I really do, but there is another part of me that is longing for our routine and normal weather!

 

I think the kids were feeling the same way when I told them there would be no school today...instead of the usual cheers I was met with this instead...

 

"But I want to go to school!"

 

"I don't want to make up another day when the weather is nice!!"

 



 Not quite the response that I was expecting.

We are all getting a nasty case of spring fever!

Making the most of t.o.d.a.y.



 

Every once in awhile a day comes along when you look to the heavens and thank God for living in such an amazing place.

 

Let me tell you people, that day was not last Sunday...but for me, it happened to be this one.

 

I posted on the blog last Sunday about going completely stir crazy (and I was) because the kids and I were stuck literally inside all weekend.

 

Today happened to be one of those winter days when I am truly happy to live in this crazy state, and we were able to enjoy the wonderful temperatures!

 

These moments and days are passing us by and we are trying to make the most of them!

 



 

 

 

 And I consider myself so lucky to have a budding photographer who lives in our house and happens to be seven years old.

She was rocking the 50mm 1.4 in these two shots of Ty and I!