Wishes

I wish for you all the happiest memories your heart can hold, all the sweetest gifts your mind could wish for and the biggest hugs from all those you love. Merry Christmas Everyone!

We are off to my parents for Christmas eve and Day, we will return sometime shortly after, depending on weather conditions and the moods of my teens.

Simple

Just a few pictures of two things that caught my eye yesterday. I was waiting, not too patiently, for Hubby to get done with a business phone call. The guy on the other end of the phone would not stop talking, and I was getting restless. Hubby and I had things to do, places to go, get off the phone! While I waited the sun crested some trees behind our house, and ended up shining right in the kitchen window. There is only one reason I enjoy this time of year, and that is the sun is low enough in the sky to shine right into my kitchen. During other times of the year the sun is blocked by a fairly deep overhang. Right now I can get my sun fix just doing the dishes. (That is when the sun decides to finally grace us with it's presence, which is pretty infrequent lately)
So, this is my Love Thursday post. I love, the sun, and the light it brings to my kitchen this time of year. I'm a simple person, really, I am. Hush now, all you people who know me!

Bah Humbug!

I love Christmas, but I hate winter! When I got up this morning it was 25 degrees below zero outside, I won't even whine about the windchill, it was just plain awful. Over the weekend we got over 13 inches of snow. I don't mind snow, if it's just snow and no cold to go with it, but this is ridiculous! I do however like pictures of post storm havoc. This one is off the south side of the roof of my house. The day before we had wind gusts to 40+ mph out of the north west, and this is what happens. No, school was not canceled this week. School has never been canceled here since Miss 15 started. It was called off once during Mr 19's (formerly Mr 18) school career though.

Speaking of Mr 19, he had an interesting experience this weekend. Due to the storm he stayed on campus all weekend. The storm hit his city early Sunday morning and left them with a big dumping of snow and lots of cold weather. Since he can't plug his car in (if you don't understand what I mean by that, you live too far south!) he has decided it best not to start it until the temperatures get above zero, so instead he and his room mate walked to get a meal. Brrrr!
After he went to bed Sunday night, and just an hour past midnight the fire alarms went off in his dorm. He lives on the ninth floor, no elevators during a fire alarm. By the time they got to the bottom floor there was an awful smell. A sewer pipe had burst, and flooded the basement of the dorm. Gross! School officials hustled the students out the door of the dorm, in minus 40 degree wind chills and wearing only their pajamas, and ran them to the nearest dorm to sit in their commons area until Mr 19's dorm could be cleaned up. It took all night. The students got back into their dorm at 11 a.m. the next day. It's finals week.

Complete The Sentence

Feel free to play along in the comments section or on your own blog.

Today I: took Miss 10 shopping for Christmas gifts, she didn't make a lot of progress, I did laundry, made supper, drove and drove and drove some more.

Tomorrow I will: try really hard to stay warm- we are under a blizzard warning. I hope to finish decorating, bake and wrap some gifts.

I'm looking forward to: some time with Hubby tonight, sitting still and having a drink.

I could pass on: this would be a long, long list. Lutefisk ranks right up there, as does liver and onions, rap music.... I'm one picky woman.

Newest song I like: I am so ashamed: Hot and Cold-Katy Perry

Last show I saw: I can't even answer this, I haven't seen one in years, and even then it was just local theater. Oh wait, I saw Missoula Children's Theater Rumplestiltskin. Does that count?

Something aggravating: children and adults who cough and sneeze and don't cover their mouths.

One thing you may not know about me: I'm a control freak

I can still: listen to 80's hair bands without getting annoyed

Gift I'd want if money was no object: My sister moving back to ND, a vacation alone with my Hubby, somewhere warm.

Tag, you're it!

Little People

Last week was a busy week. I was fortunate enough to have SuperSister and her daughter staying with us. I tried to chip in and watch the little monster whenever I had a free moment so that SuperSis could get some work done. It was a blast. My niece is part fireball, and kept me on my toes. We were all lucky enough to get in on her first few steps in life. She is determined to walk before her first birthday, which is on Christmas Day. She was brilliant with our fat cat, and he never once got frustrated with her (A miracle in itself). Like all kids her age she has the most interesting idiosyncrasies in her personality. She gets frustrated with her limitations, and with ours, and makes the most interesting noises. She loves to repeat sounds she hears, even if it's a doorbell, music or a siren, and she's got great pitch.

The day after SuperSis left for her in-laws, I got to babysit my nephew for a day. It was fun chasing him around the house for a while, but he was feeling rough, and wasn't his usual self. Although that was ok, because I got lots of snuggle time that way. We ate lots of peanut butter and ice chips. We also built lots of block towers and knocked down lots of block towers.

The pics are of the two of them. They both had to thoroughly examine the Christmas tree. My arms got tired holding them up to check out each ornament. But it was worth it. Having nieces and nephews is an amazing experience. But the bonus part is that I don't have to keep them overnight. So other than having my own big babies who are coughing, wheezing and sneezing, (and keeping me up!) I get to sleep at night, but still snuggle up the little ones during they day.

The Verdict

The verdict is in, and Miss 10 has decided she loves her new room. The photos above were taken just after we finally finished everything. It took forever! The artwork wall is picture that she has done in various art classes. The dots around the curtains and doors are from Target. They added just the perfect touch. The colors and layout of the room are the workings of a mind with a bit of ADD, but also with the help of a mother who didn't let her go hog wild. It's perfect for Miss 10 and really suits her personality.

We've been busy enjoying spending time with SuperSister and her daughter. More tales to come about the niece who growls, and sings, and dances.