UMMM....GONNA NEED A LITTLE HELP HERE

So, for those that don't know...probably everyone except Sara because I had to cancel a carpool pick up for Ben and then ask for her to pick up Brooklyn to get to school. Then I called Becky to cancel the ride around the block for Avery to get her to school. And, of course my mother-in- law because I had to ask her to bring a spare key for my house.

I was walking out of the house, turned to shut the door and the keys slipped out of my hands. It would have been hard enough for me just to bend down and pick them up...but they decided to drop through the crack between the house and the front steps. Great! It is 8* outside....I'm locked out of my house and my car with two little girls staring at me like I lost my mind. Apparently screaming..."no, no, No, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOO" isn't "normal" behavior.

"The Crack"

My poor husband trying to fish the keys out

once he got home from work...yes, that is my

belly.

He got them! But, wouldn't show me because

"this is going to end up on the blog"

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A FIREPLACE!

Brooklyn and Alex received a box from Pop and Grandma so of course it had to be opened immediately! I cut the tape and helped them pull of the packaging paper to reveal...a duraflame box? Brooklyn was very confused. "Firewood???...Why would Pop and Grandma send us firewood? We don't even have a fireplace!"

I already knew what my mom had sent. She very kindly asked..."I'm sure I know the answer to this...but, have you been able to get out and look at Easter dresses for the girls?" Of course the answer was "no". So, Mom found some dresses for the girls and sent them early to make sure they would fit. I don't know what I would do without my mom. Even from so far away she still looks after me. I sure am a lucky daughter. I only hope I can be as half as wonderful with my own kids!

32 WEEK APPOINTMENT

Hey, guess what??? Another doctor thinks I'm really big! Shocker, right? The last several appointments, I've been making the rounds meeting all the doctors at my ObGyn clinic to put a face with a name...cause who knows who will actually deliver this baby.

At my last appointment (30 weeks) I measured 32 weeks. Not bad...only 2 weeks ahead of where I should be. I've been averaging 2-4 weeks bigger. But, today at my 32 week appointment, I am now measuring 37 weeks. So, I have had a 5 week "growth spurt" in two weeks.

I go back in another two weeks ...meet another doctor...who will inevitable will think that I am really big. And, then they will schedule another ultrasound. Not sure why...except to make REAL sure its a baby and not an elephant that is being knitted together in there.

ALWAYS MUCH TO CELEBRATE!

CARPOOL CREW

Most of the time my only "outing" involves picking up Ben and Avery and dropping them off at pre-school with Brooklyn. They are quite the crew. I love listening to the things that just must be discussed before Miss Kruger comes to get them for school. As soon as the car stops, the seat belts get unbuckled and it is a matter of jockeying for position to get closest to the front of the car...then the stories begin. I love the opportunity to listen to all the important things going on for these 5 year olds. I just hope they let me stay that involved when they are 15!

FUN FROM PENSACOLA

Aunt Tammy and Uncle Kimo sent a fun foam magnet project for each of the girls. Nothing is more exciting than doing projects that involve glue!

SNOW PILES DON'T LAST FOREVER

Scott and I have been talking about getting a freezer for years. Friday he told me to make plans to go freezer shopping over the weekend. What??? His reply....well, we need one and these snow piles aren't going to last forever. So, Saturday we dropped the girls off with his parents and Scott and I had an afternoon date. Having time alone with my husband was refreshing. (Even if it was to shop for appliances...although, we did have lunch together and grabbed a DQ treat for the ride home.) And, I should clarify "shopping for appliances": Scott dropped me off at the door, I hobbled back to the freezer section (which luckily was close to the door), I sat on something while Scott inspected.

We even got a bonus.....a new vacuum cleaner. It's too pretty to use...which is ok because I can't stand long enough to use it anyway :)

Scott and the girls plugging in the freezer

A SMILE FOR DADDY

We sent these pictures to Daddy while at work hoping to send him a smile. It worked!

Sweet....

and, Silly!

FRIDAY...ANOTHER ICICLE & MORE HOT CHOCOLATE

Brooklyn decided she wanted to go out in the snow and play again today. Alex wanted nothing to do with it! But, after A LOT of convincing from her big sister and promises to stay right by her side to help her down and back, Alex agreed. I watched from my window...story of my life lately...but decided I needed to get outside and take a couple pictures before they came back inside.
Of course...hot chocolate to warm up is an absolute must when coming inside from the snow. And, I'm pleased to say it was WITHOUT INCIDENT!!!



Dakota warning us..."watch out for yellow snow"

A BIGGER icicle...timer is still going.

Coming back to report. Time for complete "meltage":

90:03. More water. This is getting too predictable!

BROKEN TEA CUP = BROKEN HEART

I opened the cupboard to get out mugs for hot chocolate after the girls had been outside playing in the snow. Reaching in towards the back, I grabbed 2 mugs and in doing so I set off a chain reaction that had horrible consequences. A BIG mug from the back was tipped forward and bumped two other mugs off balance which hit the special tea cups, from the "Princess Tea Party", and Brooklyn's landed and shattered before I even realized what was happening. There was a gasp from the other room and I heard little feet coming my way. PANIC!!! Is it wrong for a mother to want to hide from her 5 year old daughter? I felt awful! For those that don't know Brooklyn well....this girl remembers who gave her what or where she got something since before she was two. And, most everything carries a special meaning and she is sentimentally attached to it.

All I could say when Brooklyn reached the kitchen was "I am soooooooo sorry, sweety". With her big brown eyes filling with tears, she looks up at me and says "It's ok, mommy. But, I am really going to miss my special tea cup. I will go draw a picture of my tea cup so I won't miss it quite so much. And, I will put hot chocolate in it".

If I was in court....this would be the evidence
photo Brooklyn would show the jury.



Brooklyn's Tea Cup Picture: When she gives a picture
to someone it has their name on top and her name on
the bottom. In this case, the picture was to herself so she
will never forget. She didn't say it...but, I think all the
blue are her tears. So very sad.

78:04

Brooklyn and Alex decided they wanted to go in the backyard and play in the snow. As I watched from my bedroom window, I found it hard not to chuckle. Poor little Alex had a HARD time getting through all that snow. Her little legs got so tired and she would just sit down and cry in frustration. Brooklyn tried to convince her to get up and keep coming but never really slowed down for her little sister (which I think is the real reason for the tears ~ Alex is really competitive and does not like to be "out-done" by anyone). Eventually both girls made it down to the play set. They tried the glider....almost moved, but too much snow underneath it. They tried to swings...their little "stay-puffed marshmallow" bodies could not get up and stay on the swings! THEN...Brooklyn noticed the icicles hanging from the play set ladder, broke one off and headed back towards the house. Of course, Alex tried to follow but another "pile of girl in tears" was sitting in the middle of the backyard. It took another 5 minutes to get Alex up and back in the house (she can also be very stubborn). Eventually the girls made it back inside with the prized icicle.

We decided to do a little "Sid the Science Kid" experiment with the icicle. We started the timer to see how long it would take to melt and the girls "journaled" about what they found, where they found it and what they thought was going to happen as it melts.

The Icicle

Journal Time

The end product....a plate of water. Who knew?

Melting time of 78:04. Experiment completed!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Pop and Grandma Abblitt sent a Valentine's package for all of us. The girls had a great time going through all the goodies!

Alex took a picture of Brooklyn holding her card


So, Brooklyn took a picture of Alex holding her candle

Then, Brooklyn took a picture of Alex but insisted she

hold Brooklyn's new sweatshirt not something of hers....

Valentine's Day Bag from Daddy...he sure loves his girls!

I'm one of "the girls" too. I got a Valentine from My Valentine!

PARTY CURLS....AND COOKIES

Brooklyn had her pre-school Valentine's Day party today. And, when that girl hears "party" it means curls must happen. Not having the hour it takes to curl their hair, I pulled out some of my old curlers. At first the girls were very worried...."are those going to hurt"? They must look like some mid-evil torture device to their little eyes. After assuring them that it is the same thing as a curling iron just quicker for mommy...they agreed. Then, I started praying that it wouldn't get too hot on their ears so they look at me with that "liar, liar...pants on fire" face.

THE BEFORE....

...AND AFTER

I've been trying to come up with a fun project for the girls...to help ease some of the guilt for not being a very fun mom lately. Brooklyn continually tells me that she loves me but really misses "the old mom". So, I've been working to get cookies made for the last two days. Can you believe two days??? Ridiculous! But, I managed to get the cookie dough made the first day. Then baked and cooled them on the second day. So, with the cookies finally completed, the girls got to eat frosting....I mean, frost cookies.

QUIET TIME...TO...LAUGH TIME

Even though I really miss my friends, I was not feeling up to making a trip out to visit this morning. Becky offered to pick up Brooklyn and Alex and take them to play with their friends while the moms visited. So, I took the opportunity to rest and enjoy my quiet time.

Becky brought the girls back in time for lunch before we needed to jump in the car and pick up a couple of Brooklyn's classmates for pre-school. Just saying...it's good the kids had a snack and a cupcake while playing because Avery probably had 5 minutes to eat lunch!

You see, Becky thought her van could make it through the snow piled up at the end of our driveway from a plow that went by for the second time after she had already picked up the girls. "I made it in the driveway when I picked up the girls so reason stands that I can make it in there for dropping them off"....right, Becky? Not so much!

After several minutes of laughing, watching tires spin and the van moving no where, I offered a shovel. Although for a brief couple of seconds, I did wonder if pushing the van could induce labor??? Not that Becky would have let me!

Trying to dig out her front tire...

Brooklyn and Alex just can't stand to watch anymore...

"Ok, think I got it this time"...

Well, that didn't work! Scott and Jordan

aren't home....who can we call???

This is what we needed but....

We had our mailman, Mr. Sandell, come to our

rescue...our hero for the day!

You might wonder, "What is Becky yelling to Mr. Sandell?"

..................."Don't tell my husband!"..................

Thanks for the laugh, Becky! I needed it!

AND MORE OF...

this...

and this....

and this...

and this?????

Hey, girls...what do you think of winter?