Let it snow!
Kurt came home from work early on Friday, knowing we were about to get pounded by the same storm that dumped snow on Las Vegas. I'm glad he did. He needed some time playing in the snow.
The kids had a wonderful time too.
Even Quinn seemed okay with it.
Here's a fun shot. This is that same picnic table this afternoon, after the Friday storm and today's storm.
This is the pond. Dorian and Faith seem to think they will be going skating soon.
We have a walkway under that snow somewhere.

I love the single icicle hanging from the lamppost.

I'm excited today is the solstice. I'm not thinking of it as the first day of winter this year. I'm thinking of it as the shortest day of the year, and therefore we'll be getting more sun from here on out. We need some sun.

The kids are excited for Christmas and ask daily if it's time to open presents. Not very long now. Then we'll have to think of something else to look forward to, besides spring. We always look forward to spring.

The storms of life. We're living in a winter wonderland. Those of you blessed not to live in the northeast may have heard we had a significant ice storm this week. It coated trees and power lines with ice, which was very pretty when the moon came out on Friday night. But it also meant some of those trees and lines came down, and lots of people are without power. We never lost power, though we did lose our cable connection, which meant no phone or internet. But that's a minor annoyance compared to having no power for heating. The local high schools and colleges have become temporary shelters for people without heat. And there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to the power losses. As I said, we never lost power, but a mile down the road from us is a traffic signal at a major intersection that hasn't worked since Thursday. Do you remember learning in driver's ed that if you come to a signal that is out, you should treat it like a four-way stop? Yeah, that isn't happening down there. I don't know how many accidents have occurred because of it. But the good news is the roads are well plowed and salted to taste, so as long as wherever we're going has power, we're fine. I had a dentist appointment on Friday, but when I got there, there was a hand written note on the door about their power loss, and they couldn't call some people (like me) because of the phone lines being out. It's been quite an adventure for some.

The storm hasn't dampened the spirit of the season. We got Secret Santa-ed last night. Just as we were finishing dinner, the doorbell rang. On our doorstep, we found a gift with a note about its being the first day of Christmas. We got a Pepperidge Farm tree, made of several packages of Goldfish and Milanos. Dorian and Faith were very excited. So if you're reading this, thank you very much, and I really hope you didn't biff it on our unsalted front walk. That's a bad habit we get into when we only go in and out of the garage.

We're doing well other than the storm adventures. I'm knocking on wood as I say that I think all illness has been squashed in our house. And may it last. No one wants to be sick for Christmas, which is just over a week away. How did that happen?

Just a little classic 80's movie to mark the day.

Yes, it's my birthday. I was born on the 39th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing, and the day before John Lennon was murdered. Just a couple of iffy signs to start life with. This is my 6th birthday in a row where I've been either pregnant or breastfeeding. For the record, I'm making no prediction as to my status next year. If I've learned anything this year, it's that the best laid plans can all turn to crap.

We sort of had our celebration yesterday, just because things are generally easier on Saturday than Sunday. Here I caught Faith making my cake.
And the kids' favorite part, blowing out the candles.
Kurt made me my favorite chicken and feta dinner, and we watched a lot of football. After all the football games were over, we watched The Two Towers. And then this morning we woke up to snow. And another year passes.

In other news, Quinn weighed in at 13 lbs 4 oz this week, up nearly a pound from last month. He's growing! I think (knock on wood) the illness is on it's way out. And this week's word appears to be favorite. Both older kids are starting to grasp the concept of favorites. Many times in the last few days, I've heard Faith say "You're my favorite mommy." Okay, I admit, that one got to me.

Tis the season to be jolly again, and our year of the unexpected is almost over. May it never repeat.

We had a great Thanksgiving. The cousins loved playing with each other in the added space in the basement. We had lots of good food and good company, and it was so good for me to have some more adult conversations. Only 4 months to go.

I went to the other ward's sacrament meeting on Sunday morning. I don't know if this will be a long term solution, since we'll trade times with them after the new year, but for now, it works. It was good to take the sacrament, and just be there. And things didn't fall apart in my absence.

We've had snow, but then Monday the sun came out, and it got up to 50, so we went outside to play. We did that again today. I'm all for winter delaying it's real appearance.

I also took Quinn to our pediatrician on Monday. He never did shake whatever he picked up at the hospital, and the last few days, it worsened into serious congestion with yellow snot, and coughing. Turns out he has a sinus infection. Poor kid. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I feel like a first time parent again. I remember being pretty anxious when Dorian got sick for the first time. I took him in because he was getting dehydrated with all the throwing up. I was much more relaxed with Faith, and knock on wood, I've yet to take her to the doctor for an illness. Then along came Quinn. I'm sure we'll both grow out of it, but in the mean time, we'll probably know about every bug that works its way through our neighborhood and our church. And the older kids will continue their course. Dorian's gotten into the habit of using a word he just learned in every context, appropriate or not. This week's word is important. Example: "Dorian, it's time to get dressed. " "It's not important, Mommy." or "What do you want for lunch?" "It's not important, Mommy." Alrighty then. Nevermind that I think he's going through a growth spurt and has become a bottomless pit. He ate three bowls of pasta last night, two of his own, and then he finished off Faith's. But that's okay. It's not important.