Finally - Wet Snow!

Yeah, I know, technically all snow is wet - but this year we've seen pretty much all powder! My kids haven't been enjoying this nearly so well. Yes, it might be great for skiing, but certainly not for sledding, for snowmans, for forts or even a small snow ball. It's been a "not so fun" winter between that and the very psycho cold temps!

Well, we've had two really great days of melt - last Sunday (temps in the 40's I believe) and then again this past Wednesday (temps here reached 55)! So, windows were thrown open - as was the door - and everyone went out to play. The kids finally got to build a snowman and start on a fort. Of course, that night the way below freezing temps settled back in, so everything around is all solid ice.

Still, the one day made their winter memorable. They were so happy to have the snowman built (which, at one point, looked like an owl) - and Peter was interested in all the pieces used to make him! :)

The Love Of Siblings

Last Sunday I tried to put Peter to bed at the usual time. He crawled under the weird shelf unit that we have between the kids rooms, and came out the girls' door (since his was closed) and started to talk to me at the top of the stairs. Beth came out to let me know that Peter wanted to sleep with me. To which I said no - then told him to go back to bed. I heard Beth talking to him, but didn't know what she was saying and then heard the two of them pattering back to their rooms. I figured Beth was tucking Peter back into bed and went back to cleaning things up around the house.

When I took Gabi up to put her to bed, I found one of the cutest sites - there, on Beth's bed, were both Beth and Peter, cuddled up together, tucked into the blankets and fast asleep. I took pictures and decided to leave them alone - though later I discovered Peter flopped over and too close to the edge so I took him to his own bed. Still, I just love the way my children take care of each other - such loving kids.



BTW - The band-aid on Peter is from a second accident (Jeremy managed to spin Peter off a chair in the church hallway). I guess he needed a balanced bruised head!

New Addition - Sometimes

Well, it's official, we started babysitting our friends' little baby (3 months old) this past Monday. Ever since we'd learned she was expecting, they'd been considering having us watch the little guy when she had to go back to work.

I watched another friend's two kids after school through most of October, November and December - occassionally in January and have started up again with them as well for a couple of hours. That makes for a house of 7 kids for between one and two hours on the week days.

This new little guy has had the wonderful blessing of Mommy at home for 12 weeks - that's more maternity leave than most women I know of. Both parents have been very happy to know that the little guy is being cared for here and has adjusted so well. It's made it easier for her to go back to work. She also works in education - though it's a special education - so she has most of the same vacations as Bob - the difference is that she also has a 5 week session in the summer. Still that's something like 9 weeks off when you count up all the weeks and extra days.

C. is so sweet and laid back. He's a nursed baby, so the adjustment on Monday was the hardest, Tuesday went better, and then Wednesday and today were great. That was a lot faster than I had expected for him to adjust. But he loves to be sung to, played with, talked to - and sleeps about half the time he's here (for now). We are really enjoying having him here.

It's been an adjustment in our lives too - though I get to sleep through the night (assuming I don't have sick kids), I still have to rebalance my day in figuring out how to fit in all the things that need to happen. Since C. found his napping schedule (more or less), it's been rather easy to figure that out - or most of the way.

You're Okay

The other day Bethie bumped her toe rather hard. She started hopping all around, holding it, trying to kiss it, and saying "ow ow ow" - And suddenly, before she'd really begun, she stopped and every now and then you'd hear a tiny whimper that got snuffled out. Then, I heard her explaining to Jeremy:

"If you're not okay, that means that you're bleeding"

Let's not let her in on the emotional roller coasters, the broken bones, the bruises and whatever else does not require noticeable bleeding - we'd end our self quieting all too soon! :)

Smokey Stacks

So we were on our way to church last Sunday - always a great time for silly things to be done or be said. Well, our usual route takes us past a mill - with the big smoke stacks. Jeremy took notice of these - the conversation went something like this:

J: There's smoke in the chimneys!

Me: Those are called smoke stacks. It's okay for smoke to be coming from them.

J: Yeah. It's okay for smoke stacks to smoke. Not people, just smokey stacks can smoke.

Why My Schedule Is Too Full Too Blog

Well life around here is always full of something. This time - for the last month or so - it's been full of Bob leaving the Granary (yes, I actually said he left the place) and then going to work for the Calzolaio Pasta Company. We've been very excited about them opening - former employers and great people - and this new restaurant brings a new taste and style to the area! It's exciting - and Bob is really enjoying his time there.

With this change, Bob's been working extra hours - though he's enjoying it, he's also more tired with adjusting back to the later nights. We were spoiled for a while - though we didn't see him tons, we did actual get to have him almost every night to help get kids to bed. So we're all adjusting to the new schedule. Happily - but adjusting never the less.

For now, the Calzolaio Pasta Company is only open for dinner (5 to 9 I believe), but you really ought to head on down and try it out! I've heard it's AMAZING - EXCELLENT - INCREDIBLE and these are words not just from my husband. I, of course, have not yet made it down (I really want to try it WITHOUT the kids first - though I understand they have family style dining) - I've got a promise for a date with my dear husband over vacation (I can't wait... my mouth waters every time he talks about the food there)!

Oh - did I tell you, it's REAL Italian food - homemade pasta and all!

Peter is 2!!!!!!!

My sweet little boy - still tall for his age -is 2! It's hard to imagine that the time has gone by so quickly, but I guess that's all part of life! He's still sweet and kind. Pretty laid back - until he's mad about something and then he's all red head! Yup - he kept the red hair - so far, so good there! ;)

He's always been interested in anything that moves... but his interest has shifted almost completely over to trains. He's a bigger fan of trains then Jeremy ever was (and for those of you who know Jeremy, you know he loves his trains)! Peter has also expanded his vocabulary so that he always has something to contribute to the conversation (although his pronounciation isn't always the best). One of my favorites is when he receives something, he says "Tank ew" to which I will always reply "You're Welcome" - that is followed immediately by him saying "Ew Elcomb". I think it's sweet!

When he opened his presents, he first opened a new wooden train. So he kept saying "more tain, more tain" with each present he picked up. He did get another one - and a Thomas lantern and Thomas DVD's so he never lost his excitement. Then he opened a book - a Little Engine that Could series train book. He was so excited as he saw three other gifts the same size, and with eyes all lit up, he'd grab one and say "nodder tain book - nodder tain book!"

Well - he's two - he thinks he's in charge - he climbs and he laughs a lot! He's learning that his older brother really can "take him down" but that he's a really nice big brother. Peter's still trying to prove he's stronger (he's thought he was for the last two years)!

He's learned to get into everything - and not just in the typical toddler fashion - although that too - but when I say get into everything I really mean "in to" - as in "let's see what makes this tick - what happens if I take this off - how will it change if I open this and take something out". He's a smart little guy - but finds himself in a lot of trouble because he's not suppose to be getting into such things. He's learning, though.

He still loves music - sings all the time - rocks to any beat - and the other day (while we were home because the car wouldn't start and there wasn't enough room in the other car for all of us), he laid backwards over the chair arm putting his head on my lap and his feet up on the window (holding himself suspended) and listened to (and encouraged) me singing numerous Primary songs for about an hour straight.

I will always treasure his little kisses (full on the mouth still - though he's learning that the check is better - he also enjoys giving kisses on the top of the head) and his snuggles (all too soon he'll be too big for these kinds of snuggles and we'll have to switch over to big boys ones).

It's exciting to watch him - but I must admit, I'm not sure I'm ready to watch the baby grow up!

Beth is 5!!!!!!!!!

Five! Can you believe it!?! Time surely flies - it seems I was only typing up one of these a little bit ago for her! She's certainly grown..... as in taller! :) She's smarter and (hopefully) wiser too! She loves to home school - loves to learn new things (something she dreaded before) and loves to "boss" around others - oh, wait, that's called "being a little mother" and I should remember it's good practice for her! :) She's certainly learning, the hard way of course, what is okay and what isn't in that sort of activity.

Over the last week she's turned into a 5 year old, complete and true! My mother has always said that she's never met a 5 year old she likes (not to say she doesn't (and hasn't) loved many - for she certainly does and has). It's something about the terrible two "growing up" until they are just a big ball of mess. Well - if mess is grumpy, sulky, whiny, "the world is falling down on me", "everyone's out to get me", "it's everyone else's fault" - well, then she's hit the nail on the head here. Bethie certainly does a lot of that - though Bob has started relating being 5 to the "good and helpful" moments which seems to be working for her. She certainly loves to be 5 (even before she actually was) and wants to be sure that everyone sees her as being 5!

We had a little Ooh and Aah Jungle party for her. She enjoyed having a few of her friends come up - and, of course, opening presents. This is the first year that I can recall here she actually was interested in how many presents she had. In the past she was always excited, but the number didn't matter. This time, it seemed she didn't get enough - though when I talked with her, she told me it was because she didn't get much toys - which later translated to she didn't get one particular thing that she wanted (which we hadn't known she'd wanted) and which I can't recall what it was any more. She's apparently also forgotten about it.

She's a regular little "Fancy Nancy" - sort of was before she was introduced to the books. But with the books has come a more frequent use of the larger "fancier" words. And she just loves them!

Well, Happy Birthday, Bethie! You're sure growing up fast - and we're excited to see what adventures this next year has for you!

Laundry Tag

One of the things I really love about my children is their unending imaginations! Whether they've taken something they've seen, heard or read and then adapted it to suit their needs (or wants) or whether they create something completely new, they are always finding fun in the world of imagination (which often includes singing and dancing)!

Well, like many families, we have good days and bad days with chores. Especially when Mom or Dad has interrupted the joyful fun that may have been going on to insist that a certain chore has to be completed right then. We run into this most often on Tuesdays just before dinner (when our neighbor and the missionaries will be joining us). This week the task was dirty laundry. I wanted all the dirty laundry from the bathroom in the laundry room (I didn't even care if it was organized).

After a little grumbling and complaining, they turned the situation around for themselves - it was time for a game! They love to create games so that the chores can be "fun" - even though it likely takes them longer. In this case - Laundry Tag!

The rules:

1. One person is it.
2. The others have to take dirty laundry from the bathroom to the laundry room without being tagged.
3. "Home Safe" is only in the laundry room.
4. Once you are tagged, you becoming it and the old it has to carry laundry without getting tagged.
5. You can only go back and forth between the two rooms - in other words, no other rooms unless they are in the direct path.
6. Try not to get tagged. - You want to be the one who takes the most laundry with the fewest tags!

Though this makes the chore loud - the silly screams are well worth it when you discover that not only have they brought all the dirty laundry from the bathroom, but they've gone through the rest of the house too! Wow - that makes doing the laundry so much easier!

Too Dry To Be Fun - But Still Funny

Apparently the snow is too dry and too deep to be any fun! We tried to get out this afternoon (32 F is wonderfully warm after all we've been having) thinking we'd take in the fresh air and enjoy ourselves before the below zero temps settle in again (though not nearly as low). But since we'd been stuck inside for so long, the kids had grand ideas of what they would be able to do in this new snow. It would have helped to have some wet, sticky snow. We've not really had any this year - well, a little, only to be covered with freezing rain!

Because it's all powder, that requires some "trail breaking" - not just stomping down. We thought we'd shovel our way down the hill (to get rid of the new powder in hopes of finding the packed down trail - after all, packing powder is no fun). But it was just too dry. And though the little red sled went down, it didn't have the same effect and everyone felt they were drowning in the snow coming up!

Just prior to this, Beth and Jeremy were fighting over the "little blue shovel" (which then became mine and was put away) and were screaming at one another. That couldn't be enough, they had to throw snow - not snow balls, mind you, but just handfuls of this powdery mess. They were none too happy with each other. But I managed to convince them to come try the hill (just as Peter decided he was done... and so was Gabi).

On the way back from the hill - since Peter was screaming because he wanted to play on the playset that I'm too big to help him on and Gabi had gone inside - Jeremy is all in a fit because the "red sled won't go" (they started at the top of the hill.... not so good in this powder) and Beth was screaming, dragging the sled, and every two steps flopping herself down on the piles on either side of the path to the house screaming that "Jeremy left me to pull the sled AGAIN!"

Well, inside go the boys, and I come back to make sure that Beth is calming down and getting ready to have a better day - she's still muttering, but since Jeremy isn't around she just drags the sled without the drama (though I did notice it was upside down). Grumping all the way, she looks at me and says "Everyone's been throwing snow in my face!.....EVEN ME!"

Oh - when the whole world's against you, you better make sure you know which side you're on! :)

Two Stitches And A Black Eye

Well, it's been a year (more or less) since the fan incident with Jeremy. So, (apparently) in true Nielsen fashion, it was time for another adventure. No, not the same. Not even the same kid! Or parent! (Bob tried to tell me we were even, then I reminded him that I wasn't involved in this accident)

Peter is transitioning away from naps - which means that when he does nap, it's usually in one of our big green popham (mushroom) chairs. He snuggles in there, with a blanket, to watch a movie and usually, if he's going to nap, is asleep before you can press play. Well... he was napping. He prefers to be on his tummy when he sleeps, so he'd turned himself over. Since he'd been sharing a chair with Jeremy (who had since left the room since the movie was over), that meant he'd turned himself over to nearly the side of the chair. But, he was fine.

Then he woke up - fussed a little (which we tend to ignore because he'll be happier sooner if we do), found he was tangled in his blankets and then tried to get out. As he did so, he turned the whole chair over. So there he was, in a tangled mess, Beth jumps up from her clean up chore and starts this weird panic noise that she does - but just stands there. She is, after all, not quite 5. Since she's closest, I told her to go over and help him up. All the while he's screaming (but that's not unusual when he's already irritated and then something goes wrong). Beth gets near him, then jumps back as he sits up and starts a little panic screamy whimper thing (I can't repeat it... it was too strange). By this point I can see past her to the little boy who obviously has blood running down his face!

So over and through the train tracks all over the living room floor, I grab him up (I think the carpet was spared), all the while (having taken one quick look) yelling for Gabi to get a cool wet washcloth and for Beth to get the phone. Peter had cut the corner of his eye when he hit it on the train table (folded up into the wall).

Bob was off trying to clean up a frozen / broken pipe disaster down at one of the apartments, but I had expected him to go to the new restaurant to help out that afternoon. So I called there for him (since my van still wasn't starting). He had only just stopped in looking for something because the job he was doing was taking much longer than planned. It's a good thing that one of us wasn't starring at a little boy covered in blood - he reminded me that there are others closer who could help (all I could think about was that my van wasn't starting and I needed to get the little guy to the hospital - it's something about having four kids and living in the middle of no where that puts ones brain into such a funk).

Anyway, the bleeding is more or less controlled at this point - I called my home teacher who came and got the van going - packed the kids in the van and took off for the hospital (cell phone in hand to call for assistance there). The good news was that since I had to wait for my home teacher to arrive, I as able to have Gabi put together a bag of things for Peter and have all the kids get their thing on - and stock the fire - so we were ready to go just as he got there!)

We called some other friends and one met me at the hospital to trade vehicles and took the other three to his house where they would be able to run around, play and be happy. I took Peter in - and amazingly, there was only one person in front of us and the staff all worked together over lapping things like triage - registration and got him in very quickly. Peter was great! He didn't like the wound to be touched or a bandage put on it, but other than that, he was quiet and held still. He was really amazing!

Bob made it to the hospital just before the stitches were to go in, so he was the one who held Peter still, which helps a lot!

Anyway - Peter has two stitches and a mildly black eye. He's happy and tormenting his siblings as usual (he gets that from his brother). We also found out that he's a whopping 29#!!!

Since I've been struggling with the remains of a cold as well as fighting off this fluish thing that Beth had earlier this week - and I didn't want the van out in the snowy mess today - I stayed home with Peter and Beth. Bob took the other two as well as our neighbor - in the Subaru - carefully - leaving with extra time. I'm sure it will all work out.

But now that I'm done updating, I'm going to try to rest. My head has felt like someone beat it like a drum for the last week! I'm sure getting up to stock the fire every night hasn't helped - but the extra rest will be nice! Though I'd love a nap, that will wait until Peter goes down - in the mean time, I'll see if I can read my scriptures.

Some Snowy Adventures

Well I had meant to blog about one of our many snowy adventures - but it has taken me this long to download the pictures! I know, I'm terrible about that. Never-the-less, here we are.

It's not been as snowy here as last year - not as many storms - not as much being dumped on us. For this I am grateful. Of course, the trade off is the miserable, nearly-unbearable cold temps. I say nearly unbearable because, of course, we're still alive and kickin'! Anyway, during one of our snowy adventures, I was in and out shoveling snow (which my body is still trying to adjust to since last year was my first year shoveling since I got married - gotta love the husband how insists it's not good for the pregnant body and then those little ones who won't let you away from them long enough). For that day, we bundled everyone up first, and all headed out. I even thought to put the camera in my pocket.

Jeremy and Peter love to help shovel snow. Here they are clearing the deck - later, though I did not put up a picture of this, Peter turned his shovel around so the handle was sticking out between his legs and started toddler hopping down the deck saying "gi-up, gi-up" - if it's not a train, it's horse he can ride! :)

They first tried to create a snowplow train to remove the snow off the slide - the landing at the top isn't very big, however, and Jeremy had slid down when Gabi tried to get Peter in line behind Beth. This made Bethie's face sour until I told her she had an even bigger pile at the end of the slide to land in!

We also took out spray bottles filled with food colored water. This was our first real attempt at snow painting and I guess I should have tested each bottle. We were smart and put in hot water (so it wouldn't freeze - we have a spring so the water is nearly already frozen when it comes through the pipes), but I hadn't checked to see just what spray setting each was on. When I washed them out later, I discovered most were set for a steady stream instead of a mist. Oh well... live and learn. They still had fun - enjoying seeing the snow change colors.

While the older three worked on that, Peter and I headed to the driveway to shovel - I put up pictures of another time when he was hanging onto the back of the snow shovel and just letting it drag him around. Well, his time he helped for while. Then he was a little tired, so I just scooped him up with the snow and ran him and the snow up the little hill. He laughed all the way. I had to convince him to get out so I could dump the snow without dumping him, but he made sure to jump back in for the return ride down the "mountain" (which is what he called it). Anyway, this continued over and over again - and although it made things a bit slower, he was having so much fun that I just had to laugh. I did get a video (although not exactly how things happened because I couldn't video myself pushing it) but can't post it here because I guess I made it too big. But here are a few pictures I took stopping every so often to get the effect!

And then... to top off the morning, we headed to the back hill and (after re-creating the sledding run) the kids went down a few times. I got a few pictures and then thought I'd get a video of all the kids in train formation - but the trail wasn't packed well enough and we had more powder falling on it the whole time! We'll have to try for that later.

We love having the different seasons - there is so much to do and so much to look forward to with each season!

Bye Bye Binky - So Grown Up

Peter, nearly two, still has his binkies. I've not really been in any hurry to force him away from them - of course we don't have a new baby to worry about with that this time either. Though I've thought about it from time to time, he was dealing with this allergy mess and I just couldn't bring myself to take away his form of comfort - though nearly all of them he'd bitten threw and I was determined not to buy new ones for him.

One day (about two or three weeks ago) he brought me one and told me it was broken. He kept trying to put it in his mouth and then kept pulling it out to look at it (it was really messed up and the pieces were hanging). So I told him that he could just hold that one (since he usually has one in his hand and one in his mouth) - but he insisted that it was broken. So I told him if he didn't want it because it was broken that he could throw it away. He promptly took it and threw it away. But, hey, no big deal he still had a couple (many have been lost in true toddlerhood fashion).

Two days ago he brought two more to me (the only two I knew we still had) and told me they were broken and then ran over to throw them away. Since the trash was full, he needed my help to open it. I wish I'd gotten the camera out - he was so cute and grown up as he took both binkies, examined them carefully and then dropped them in the trash. He looked up at me, realizing he didn't have any more in his hand, and fussed for a minute. Looked at the binkies once again, then pushed the trash closed and ran off to play.

What a big boy! - When he went to bed, he was sad to discover that he didn't have any more - until we pulled the blankets up and there was one, just tucked in nicely to the fold of the blanket. It's already been bitten threw, so I'm sure it won't last long. Still, as the mom, I was both impressed with his grown up willingness to get rid of the binkies himself and sad because it meant that he was a big boy. It's so hard to watch your baby grow up - no matter which baby it is!

Just How Cold Is It? Bragging Rights Or Miserable Envy?

So they said it was suppose to be colder this winter than last. I don't recall just how cold last winter got (we didn't have a reliable thermometer last year) - but when Bob headed out the door around 7am this morning it was -35 degrees F! Yes, you read that right! -35! Since I hadn't been feeling well and therefore hadn't slept well last night, Bob was so kind as to let me sleep in. Just how was this possible... his car wouldn't start... neither would the van.... neither would the truck. But really, can you blame them... -35 and I wouldn't be trying to do anything outside either!

When I got up about an hour and half later, it was -27 and our house was only at 53. I don't even want to know how cold the house really was when Bob got up (though he and I both took turns stocking the fire frequently throughout the night). We've been lucky to be able to keep the house at 60 (though it looks like things might be very, very, very, very, very slowly trying to creep a little warmer inside). It only got up to 8 outside and then started back on the downhill slide around 1:30pm..... supposedly tonight is not suppose to be as bad (somewhere around -15 or -20) and then it should start to get into normal freezing January mode (in the negative single digits through the night). I'm hoping this cold spell (nay, blisteringly freezing madness) will truly be short lived!

~Just thought the family would like to know why they are glad NOT to be visiting us right now! :)

How Much Homework? Too Much?

I stumbled upon this article and found myself eagerly thinking "yes... someone has finally taken notice". This may seem strange to some who know that we're home schooling, but really, just because we're doing it this year doesn't mean we'll do it forever. My biggest excitement comes when they say "taking back family time" - which I've always seen as an issue involved in public schooling. It just seems like the family time is all but eliminated especially as the children get further and further up the graded ladder.

This article targets homework - the overloading of homework. Take a look - if it's something that concerns you, then you may well be inspired in how you might help to take a stand and help bring back family time to your life! It's not about eliminating homework - it's about taking the research and seeing that less is more.

Kids Overworked? Join the less homework Revolution
It's from the Today Show.

Allergy Update

Okay... I received an email this morning and thought that I probably ought to update people on our allergy adventures. Though we discovered that Peter is allergic to berries (Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries... and to our disappointment... even Blueberries), he was still having trouble. However, instead of the hivey eczema, he was just covered in more a flat dry, scaley red - from head to toe.... miserable and screaming, scratching and itching, not sleeping well, not playing well... you know, just miserable.

I was at my wits end because I honestly didn't believe it was another food allergy - it didn't feel right when I thought about it and it didn't appear in any the same way and nothing seemed to modify it... the redness only continued to get worse. So, one night, studying everything I could come across, thinking maybe it was an infection that had gotten out of control from earlier scratching, I came away in tears, anger and frustration. - After all, my baby was miserable and nothing I could do would fix it... and being his mother, isn't that what I'm suppose to be able to do!?! (I know, that's not really logical, but tell that to the emotional heart)

Anyway, one thought had come back over and over as I'd thought about changes we'd made since July - but it hadn't been pressing on me like the thoughts about the blackberries, so I figured it wasn't really an issue. Never the less, we decided we had to try it and if there wasn't any improvement I'd call the doctor and look into blood work to rule out an infection. So the night before my fit mentioned above, I took all of Peter's clothes (except the PJs he had on) and washed them - WITHOUT OxyClean - then triple rinsed them just to make sure the residue would be gone.

As I mentioned, this was the night before my fit of frustration. Sunday didn't seem to go any better than the weeks and months before. That's why I was in tears and yelling (at poor Bob who was just as helpless as myself) when I went to bed. But that night, Peter actually slept through the night and was pleasant during the following day. He was itchy from time to time and we'd just put on the three layers of cream (something we found works the best) and he'd be off and having fun again without scratching any more! And by Tuesday, the redness of his skin was gone and you could see the patches of eczema very clearly (all over his body). I knew something was finally working.

To be certain, OxyClean has come out of all our laundry. I do like it for getting stains out that won't otherwise go away - so we'll use up the rest of it in a soaking form followed directly by two rinses then washing with two more rinses when needed - but never in the actual wash again!

It's been nearly two weeks of this now and we're down to putting the cream on Peter once a day!!!!!!!!!!! It's so very exciting... .by the way, for anyone interested, the cream layering we do is as follows:

1. Hydrocortizone (prevents the itch)
2. Eucerine (though we've switched to the equivalent in the Equate form - it's easier to spread) and this is to moisturize (a necessary step)
3. Aquaphor (this traps in the moisture, protects the skin from external elements which would cause cracking, and heals the already cracked and sore skin)

Though you can just put the three layers on one after the other, best results are found when you leave a layer to "soak in" before you add the next. I've read up to half an hour in between. I put on the first layer and wait until it's "dry", then add the next and do the same...although this one does not really get "dry" it does seem to loose much of the "greasy" look as it soaks in. Then we add the aquaphor... often we just put in him his PJs right after that - though it feels weird sticking to the "goopy" skin so we sometimes we'll let me run around without PJ's for a little while for that last layer to soak in more before covering him up.

Once he's all better, we'll drop the hydrocortizone all together and only use the other two when he first gets out of the bath.

Anyway, by doing all of this, my Peter is soft and kissable again... and his skin is that beautiful milky white that he's always been (my fairest skinned child). The only trouble places are the ones which had shown up first - behind his knees - but even they are down to looking like soft pick patches! It's wonderful!

It's been a long run... though I know others have gone on longer.... and I won't swear we're out of the woods yet, but it certainly looks promising! And certainly seem to make a lot of sense!

Jeremy's Hair Cut

It would seem I'm not keeping up as much as I use to...sorry... as today is Missionary Tuesday (that's the day they come up to our area), I won't be adding the really fun stuff today. But I thought you'd like to hear this little bit.

A week ago - yes, Missionary Tuesday again - Jeremy hadn't eaten very much because he was coming down with the cold that has hit our house. So when he tried to go to sleep, his tummy wouldn't let him and he came down asking for a bowl of cereal. We've been trying for weeks to convince him to let us cut his hair - really, it was over his ears and down to his neckline in the back - but he's afraid of anything around or near his head due to the accident a year ago (with the fan).

The last hair cut was at the beginning of the summer... I had to wrap my legs around his body, hold his forehead with my hand forcing his head back against me while I buzzed just as fast as I could with him screaming with terror the whole time (seriously... Peter was easier to do). So I decided that I wouldn't worry about it until it just had to be done. And then I decided I'd let Bob worry about it.

Anyway, since we'd been talking to him about it for a few weeks, he was less concerned and agreed - but only if Daddy used the scissors... and even then he wasn't too thrilled. But since he wanted some cereal, we decided to get the hair cut done first - great incentive to sit still and get it over with fast!

We got him excited about it by saying that he would get a missionary hair cut and wouldn't that be a great surprise to the missionaries when they got back from their teaching appointment. That made his eyes twinkle (he loves to have anything in common with the elders). And sure enough, when he was all done he came running out to the living room to show me saying:

"I'm already a missionary now!!!!!" - and he really looks so cute... and so grown up! (Sorry no picture yet)

Cross Country Skiing

A couple winters ago, my mom had brought up a set of skis and boots for Gabi which were way too big for her then.... though she tried a couple of times to use them. They are still a little big (so she'll be able to use them for another year anyway), but they seem to stay on both her and Beth. So, since Bob had been to the annual ski sale and purchased boots and skis for both him and I, bindings for himself, and poles for both of us and the girls' set (they share the one set from my mother), they took turns learning how cross country really went!

They both really enjoyed themselves and got the hang of both "gliding" and "getting up". They are eager to have their own sets (as in, not have to share) but are so happy to have a set to use between them. And it's nice for Daddy to have the one on one with each girl when he takes them out (I don't have bindings yet).

It's so nice to have winter adventures (I need to take sledding pictures.. I just haven't done it yet... the kids have so much fun and the hill is so crazy slick that they go really fast).

New PJ's

My kids grow at strange intervals... okay... not so much the intervals that are strange as the time of year... so, take Gabi - in the fall we gather our winter things and make sure that they fit and have room for some growth, but are comfortable. We do this ever year. And every year, by the middle to the end of December, Gabi has outgrown her PJ's... that's always the first thing... and then she manages to out grow everything else within the next month or so... yes, we're starting to look around!

Anyway, we went looking for larger PJ's... you know, the nice warm ones... some call them blanket sleepers, some call them footie pajamas, some call them bunny bags (only they have feet).... anyway, no dice.... until one day.... and then, well, let's just say what we saw were not something appealing... at least not for us.... soooooooooooo......

Gabi's been learning to sew anyway... and she wants to learn it all at the same time... that's normal for her... sure enough, we decide we have a pattern (which she has not yet outgrown), she chose some fleece, and away we went.

Though she had help from me, she did most of it either with me or by herself. All I did by myself was the neckband and the elastic (which she helped with the first time around and we discovered it was too wide still - ooops) - there was enough fabric to make matching slippers, but we have not done those yet (she has slippers so it was the last thing to worry about).

Anyway... I think she did a great job! She loves them... wore them for the first time last night and got up this morning telling us just how snug and warm she was all last night.

Gabi's Birdhouse

Okay - Lynne - here it is... the much awaited picture of the birdhouse! This was a project that Gabi did with her father during the week of Christmas. It only took them about an hour - but it turned out so nice. We've not yet seen any birds at it yet... though the other morning we saw a little mole feeling around on the snow gathering the seeds the wind had blown down!

As you can see, the wind around here really gets carried away... when the top is open like that, it's because we've had winds that rock the house! We've been surprised at how well the little birdhouse has held up to the wind.... and that the hinges have held!

Our Newest Sunbeam

We have a new Sunbeam in our midst! We had all been so excited and looking forward to the big day - and then, when the teacher called to get some information (she was Beth's teacher last year) I couldn't understand why she was calling.... I had forgotten that Jeremy was now a Sunbeam!

In true Nielsen Sunbeam fashion, Jeremy had received his own scriptures at Christmas. This tradition had started because the girls could read themselves at that age and had asked for them. Jeremy has always wanted his own ever since! And so, although he's not reading as well as they were (he is reading), we continued the tradition. He's so excited to have them - and was sooooo cute carrying them into class (even if he was a bit nervous that first day)!

Christmas 2008

We had a nice Christmas, as usual. The kids did really well waiting for Christmas even - since we stayed really busy this year. We - unlike many- open our presents at mid-night Christmas Eve. It's a tradition that Bob brought back from Chile many years ago, and we've stuck with it. The kids really enjoy being able to stay up late and feeling like they don't have to wait so long!

Peter made it until 11:30pm and then just couldn't keep his eyes open any longer! Though we tried to wake him, he just kept sleeping... (the blanket with him was not the new blanket he received) - so he opened his gifts in the morning after stockings. (This also meant that Jeremy had to wait on many of his gifts - since they were joint gifts for him and Peter).

It seemed we had a lot of favorites this year... it was nice. But the things which stand out most (and maybe we're biased) are the rolling pins for the kids, their new double fleece twin size blankets (matching Thomas ones for the boys and matching butterfly ones for the girls) - and for the girls, the parts to the dolls I started making for them which they get to help finish (they are very excited about this). As for things received, well, for the family Grandma and Grandpa took the cake again this year with a nice telescope (which they kids tried out once and are anxiously awaiting warmer weather to do more). But as for every day gifts - that would be Aunt Julie and Uncle Jeff (hey, really, who can compete with noise makers!?!) - very nice recorders (with instruction books) and train whistles (used daily)!

Books, of course, have been loved at night when the kids "can't do anything else" - and have brought laughter and smiles. And I love my new bundt pan (can you believe I've been married so long and didn't have one!)! Bob has taken over the GPS unit - claiming it for himself (it was a joint gift). The boys got many more train piece to their wooden railway and with all the splits and connections, they are able to have some really fun and involved track layouts - not to mention the extra trains which makes sure than everyone has at least one train to play with now!

Many other gifts and stocking stuffers were received with enthusiasm. We really had a nice Christmas. But more than what we received, we were able to have the children actively involved in preparing and sharing gifts with others who would not have as much this year. It was a special time, and they really enjoyed it. They wanted to keep going back to the Operation Santa tree in the store, and enjoyed coming up with other names and ideas. It was especially fun to watch them truly catch the meaning of Christmas - and to share their joy, love and enthusiasm with others!

Where Have We Been?

I'll admit that our family has been "lounging" a bit. We had the unexpected joy of finding Bob home for vacation without the demands from someone else's schedule or a job he needed to finish. It was great! - Of course, along with that comes sheer laziness... you know, Christmas kind-of sinks in and if you don't have to go anywhere, well, you kind-of forget about the rest of the world.

We knew we had to pull ourselves out of that... so... we invited friends over for dinner... then immediately set to work uncovering the entire downstairs... that includes counters (my worse problem). It was good though. And though it's not perfect, it certain has stayed much better. I just need to find the energy to tackle a few more things around here.

We also thought we'd go to a friend's house for New Year's Eve - we were all very excited. But, then we discovered our alternator died - that also meant no family outing to the movies. That's okay, we got tons done here and the kids were great about it... though I must admit, even though I had no place to go, I was starting to get a little stir-crazy without the van in the driveway!

Androcles and The Lion

Well, an exciting month of December... and can you believe I forgot to post some of the excitement (much to the dismay of Gabi), so I'm going to play catch up again for a little while. And then, since it seems that we're past the year end craze, we'll see if maybe we can keep up with things once again! :)

So... the much missed.... Gabi was able to participate in the school play this winter. It was "Androcles and the Lion" - another wonderful experience brought to the school by the Children's Stage Adventures. They study for one week - some parts only get a couple of days of rehearsal in. And then they put on a wonderful little show complete with songs, routines, and (of course) memorized lines. Many of Gabi's friends had larger speaking parts, and she said a few lines herself... as one of the little mice. She was, of course, very cute!

Normally the group works with the kids for one week, ended with a dress rehearsal/performance in the afternoon and a full performance in the evening. This year, however, school had been canceled, so the play was pushed from Friday to Saturday with only the noon performance. Though Gabi was disappointed to not be able to do both, she was overjoyed to see Daddy in the audience (which would not have been able to happen if the play had been on Friday).