Recurring Topic

So I know it is winter and yes, we live in Canada, so here is another post on what seems to be becoming a recurring topic...SNOW! On Saturday night it started snowing and it was the wet, heavy snow that looks beautiful when it is coming down, but is a real pain in the neck (no pun intended) and back to shovel. What made this storm even better was that it occurred on the weekend, so Jay got to shovel for a change.

We are definitely getting more snow this year than last year and that is OK with me. I really do like the snow and I want to get out and do some skiing soon. I also think that I don't tire of the snow as easily as when I was working since I don't have to deal with the rough commutes or cleaning off the car when we have a storm. It is also nice that we have a snow removal company who cleans the driveway after the storm so we just have to do the sidewalks....not too bad of a deal if you ask me.



After the heavy shoveling was done, Arabella and Jay had fun playing in the snow. They made comfy seats in the snow and explored all over and they even made a snowman on the patio who looks in the back door. Arabella used potatoes for his eyes and mouth and a carrot for his nose, which she ate for a snack, so needless to say, his nose is a little small. Mr. Snowman is now snow covered (it is snowing again) and looks like he wants to come in and warm up! I am so happy that Arabella enjoys the snow and playing in it. It was one of my favorite things to do growing up and I still like to get out and play in it!


Arabella and Jay also had a fun new game, that I am OK with since the snow is so deep...

First you swing

Then you let go and fly through the air

And then land on the cushy snow!

All the fun in the snow really wiped them out and they took a great nap and rest up for all the Superbowl excitement!

Bad Boo Boo

On Friday night, Arabella was playing in the basement with Jay and she ended up getting a hold of my hand weights. Needless to say, it didn't end good. She dropped on square on her big toe and the scream and crying that she was doing sent shivers down my spine. I knew she was in real pain since the last time I heard her cry like that was when she was still in the NICU in the hospital right after she was born. It made my cry and I thought about taking her to the hospital. I know, I know, maybe I was over reacting, but I couldn't stand to think how much pain she was in. Anyway, we put ice on it, got her to calm down and quickly a blood blister formed under her nail. She had a rough night of sleeping, but on Saturday she was back to normal...and I let out a huge sigh of relief. When the blister popped on Saturday, we bandaged it up and she had to have to picture of it taken. So here is the wonderful First Aid job I did.

Splash Time

Arabella decided that Jay should come to her swim lessons last week. Before and after class they had some splash time fun in the family pool. Arabella is doing great in swim lessons and the only complaint that I have is the bubble that she has to wear on her back. It is like an oval basketball that is air filled. You can increase and decrease the air in it depending on her swim level. We tried the same thing over the summer and I ended up returning it. I really don't like the design of it and I don't think that it really is helping her at all. When she wears it she flops all over the water and it seems to make her unstable and she struggles to be able to kick. Instead of being horizontal in the water, she is vertical and the bubble moves up and down her back and has even rotated to her front. Since I taught swim lessons when I was in high school, I have some knowledge on how kids learn and the devices that they can use. In all the lessons I taught and over the 3 or 4 years, I never saw what is happening to Arabella when she has the bubble on happen to any of the kids who wore the foam swim back bubble. I am going to do some research and order one for her if I can find it. I just think it is a better product and she will end up being more successful in her lessons. And that is what matters most. Enough about the bubble, she and Jay had a fun time swimming and she can't wait to take him back!

Snow Cleanup

Before we even started shoveling, the snow was almost as deep as Arabella is tall!

I took this picture out Arabella's playroom door this morning...some place out there are steps and a patio...

This morning, Arabella and I ventured out to play in the snow and shovel the front walk which disappeared in all the snow we got yesterday. It wasn't too cold if you were in the sun but we bundled up warm and got the work done. Arabella mostly played in the snow while I did the clean up, she had fun smashing up big chunks of snow or "snowballs". Once the clean up was done, we got out her sled and we took a nice walk around the neighborhood to check out the snow piles and enjoy the day!
The work is done, now it is time to go for a sled ride around the neighborhood.
One of the many deep snow banks...this one is so tall, you can barely see the pick-up truck in the driveway!
A shot of one of the streets in the neighborhood. I like that when they plow here, they leave a coating of snow on the streets.
Arabella and Ted are ready to go!
Stomping on "snowballs"!

Thursday's Thoughts

Hearing: The sounds of snow removal as everyone in the neighborhood digs out from yesterday's storm.

Tasting: An old standby, made new - Steel Cut Oats with cranberries, unsweetened coconut and cacao nibs. I used to make it with dried cranberries (loaded with sugar), sweetened coconut (more sugar) and chocolate chips (sugar again). I love the new way even better than the overloaded sugar bomb of before. In case you are wondering what cacao nibs are the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of Theobroma cacao, from which cocoa solids and cocoa butter are extracted and they are the basis of chocolate - YUM!


Seeing: Bright beautiful sunshine and snow, snow and more snow!

Smelling: Candy conversation hearts that are in my Valentine's Day table centerpiece. Good thing they are not a favorite candy or I would be popping them in my mouth left and right!



Feeling: Stressed with potty training. Arabella has most of it down pat but we have been having a few hiccups here and there with pooping in the potty. I know she gets it since she hasn't had an accident with pee in ages, but the poop is becoming a whole other story. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is a quick phase she is going through! Stay tuned...

I Drive An SUV But...

This morning, in the middle of some really bad snow, Arabella and I did what Canadians do...we went about our day and went to her Petite Gym class and then met some of her friends at Zig Zag Zoo, an indoor play area. One thing that even a year later I am adjusting to is that everything stays open during storms and the kids still have school...a novel idea, right? I have about 20 years of experience of driving in the snow, but still I couldn't help thinking to myself, you are CRAZY, what are you thinking driving in this???? Here are a few pictures that I took while we were out this morning.





This picture is of the 40, a major 3 lane highway, it was just down to one on the way home and at this point, the snow had tapered off a little bit.


And when we got home, this greeted us. I couldn't even drive in the driveway and I have an SUV. Jay was nice enough to come out to shovel a little path for us so we could get in the house. My car is sitting out on the street until our plow company comes and plows us out.

More Shiver Fest

My friend Laura and her husband, Richard, took some great photos at Shiver Fest and I wanted to share them! They both take such great pictures and they keep telling me it has nothing to do with their ability but it is all about the camera. Laura actually has the DSL camera that I keep asking Jay for, OK, not asking, but whining. I know whining gets me no where with him so maybe him seeing these great photos will help. One can dream right?? And in case anyone would like to help my cause, I am taking donations for my camera fund!
Taking a walk on the snow covered ice!

Laura and I in our matching hats!