Text Convo

UA: Do the boys want to play in the snow today?
Me: Yes, if you come here. I can't get out (of the driveway) yet.
UA: I'll be there after my oil change.
Me: There are sleds and snow brick makers in the garage. Do you like chili and cornbread!
UA: Perfect! Yes!

Then my dad brought his snowblower to clear the driveway, I made chili for dinner, and UA and UK arrived to build Snow tunnels all afternoon! The boys even ate chili because their uncles did....and the brownie dessert bribe helped, too.

My grandma doesn't text, but she does have a cell phone, otherwise it might have been:
GG: K, we want to come see your new house.
Me: Come Saturday after mass.
GG: love you sweetie, see you then!
Me: Love you Grandma!

I tossed a pork roast and root veggies in the crock pot this morning for dinner and convinced them to stay. They were thrilled to eat a meal again at their old dining table - a wedding gift from GG's parents 60 years ago this fall! I'm thinking I ought to decorate with a retro 50's theme in here now!

What a special time we are already having here in MI. I told Hubs I hope we both live long enough to celebrate 60 years together and see 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Below: the fellas shoveling before PaPa blew our drive out (Hubs was traveling, he would have shoveled!) then digging snow tunnels with the uncles.

Recess!

In place of "naptime," which morphed into VERY unsuccessful "quiet time" over the last few months, as some folks suggested I try, I've taken the boys outside this week. It's been warm- as in between 25-35 degrees!- and they LOVE sledding down our hill, I guess it's an embankment, but it's just the right size for the kids and its in our side yard, so we go when C takes his afternoon nap.

They've also shoveled most of the lawn, "helped" build an igloo- okay, they just watched me make bricks- tried ice skating, Er, walking on the rink in our neighborhood, and rode their bikes and cozy coupes- no small feat with those snow pants and boots!

I've enjoyed getting some fresh air this week and become nearly streamlined in bundling the kids. We had a classic moment today where the kid (N, of course) finally gets outside and says "I have to go to the bathroom!" I thought, are you kidding me? I just took you! Well 5 minutes later he said it again so I knew it was true and raced him inside-score! He made it! I was going to say its a small victory, but for him, it's HUGE!

I'm not getting much done this week in the housekeeping department because the boys are awake 7-7, but soon I hope , I'll get organized and energized to use my evenings more wisely. Right now I'm just passing out and thanking Jesus for helping me make it through the day!

Play...Date!

Before everything fell apart On Saturday, our wonderful neighbors graciously offered to watch the boys for a couple of hours so that Hubs and I could have a lunch date - and shop for a new dishwasher at the local Sears, courtesy of me opening my big fat mouth asking Ms. T if she was having problems with hers which I noticed just so happened to be the same one. (And yes, they had problems with theirs - shocked?  I think not.)

It took us 5 seconds to agree to the free babysitting, and I packed the boys PBJ's in their tiger lunchboxes for the long trip across the street.  It was so adorable to see them all bundled up with their cute little backpacks on, I just had to take a picture!  They are only two, but look like little gradeschoolers on their way to school!

Mom, seriously?  Do you really need a picture NOW?

Our dishwasher shopping was somewhat fruitless in that our landlord is going to be either fixing or replacing it (hooray) but in the meantime....I'm washing dishes.  And we're getting really cozy with disposable dining wear.  Not that it matters when everyone is sick, though.  So dishwasher is on hold for today.  Hopefully he'll be calling me soon...like any minute. Anyhow, we had a fine time eating in a restaurant in one of those booths built for two (they're so much smaller than I remember!) and chatting about NOT POTTY TRAINING.  (I'm beginning to think I have a serious potty mouth problem.  I almost wrote a post dedicated to all things potty but decided you need a break because, when asked this morning, "What goals or dreams do you have for your life?" at our Mom's Group Bible Study, I blurted, "You mean, beyond potty training?"  Yeah, I've got a problem.) And just like that, our date was over and we needed to retrieve them.

The boys had so much fun at Mr. L and Ms. T's that it took everything within us to get them dressed and come home. Our neighbors love the boys so much - it's such a blessing to have them in our lives.  They are the same ones who bailed us out the very next day when Hubs was near death.  (Okay, not really, but sort of.)  God bless them!

Let it Snow!

I have a to-do list that doesn't end this week.  It's so long that I'd rather do nothing than attempt anything on it.  So, darn the torpedoes, I'm going to blog tonight! 

Grandma A was visiting this weekend and when she saw snow in Saturday night's forecast, she knew just what she wanted to do.  The two of us headed out to pick up a few things during naptime: Papa Murphy's Take and Bake Pizza and two mini snow shovels.

That was our Saturday evening: pizza and snow shoveling because we got 6 inches! 

FYI, I took 35 pictures of the snow shoveling extravaganza.  The boys were SO EXCITED to be "snowplows" that they would not even look in my direction for one single second.  So these really are the best pics of the lot.  You've been warned.  

N in green, M in blue, headed out the door

"This is my snowplow"

Daddy gives them a hand

"I'm cold"

"I'm a SNOWPLOW!"

Daddy slows M down for a snapshot

"It's cold!"

"Cheese!"  My little hams just about to go out and shovel.

They stayed shoveling with Daddy until the entire drive and walk were done, then kicked and screamed when it was time to come in (you'll notice a lack of re-entry photos) and have hot chocolate.  I thought they would love it, all lukewarm like they like all their food, but no.  They only wanted to go back outside and snowplow some more!  I suppose that bodes well for the future - I will always have a clean driveway! 

Cavemen

That's what we've been!  We just heard on the news that this weekend's snowstorm is a Minnesota February record - so we've been creative with indoors activities the last couple of days.  N, especially, loves being a caveman.  He dumps out all the toys in the 30 gallon tote, lines himself up, and tips it back over onto himself.  This game became especially  fun when I gave him a flashlight!

Last night we were snowed in, so Daddy taught the guys how to make forts.  They thought this was totally hilarious and spent an hour crawling in and out, lining their vehicles up on the chairs.

That's M giving us his big boy face.  I think he was saying "ham!"  He learned it when I fed him a ham and cheese sandwich the other day. "Ham-ham-ham-ham-ham-cheee-"

I definitely have some ham and cheese on my hands with these little cavemen! 

Blizzard!

Not the Dairy Queen kind, either.  I just checked the Weather Channel, which has been reporting from Minneapolis all day, and we've been upgraded (although I thought upgrades were good!) from a winter storm warning to a blizzard warning!  I don't know if I've ever been in an actual blizzard, though I'm certain I've described many a snowstorm as a blizzard.

We knew the snow was coming and spent yesterday gathering acorns - that is, groceries, books, yarn, and choo-choos - because we thought we might be snowed in today.

Oh, about the choo-choos.  Remember "The Power of Pwez?"  Daddy said that M's "Pwez?"  would be irresistible to the grandparents,and it's true!  Daddy has a prized choo choo train from his Aunt J and Uncle T, which he kept and placed on a special shelf in the boys' room.  M can see it from his crib and wakes up every morning saying, "choo-choo," pointing at it.  Well, it just so happened that Grandma was in the room and asked HER for that very special choo-choo "pwez" that Daddy doesn't take off the self.

That's all it took!  They are loving every second of the choo-choo.  Okay, M is very possessive and won't let N play with it, but he's having a great time.  So great, in fact, that the choo-choo had to go with us when we went shopping (for yarn, of course)!

So Daddy, we love that you took such good care of the choo choo.  Thanks!  It's keeping us sane while we're snowed in during the blizzard!

We had so much snow that we're measuring it in N's and M's.  Check out how much has blown onto our balcony today:

Half an N at noon today

A whole ME of snow at 4pm!

Oh, yeah...it's PJ day, too.  We're all lounging in our comfies.  After dinner, the fellas will get a bath and a clean pair of PJ's.

Being snowed in today has been quite fun because we prepared ourselves yesterday and were prepared with provisions and have had plenty of cable TV access: Weather Channel, HGTV and Yo Gabba Gabba On Demand! 

Let it Snow

because there is one great thing about paying homeowner's association fees in our townhouse: plowing!  And now that I have two boys, it's also: entertainment!  As with our Friday morning garbage collection, the snowplow elicits "oohs" and "aaahs" and excitement from my little fellas, and better than the garbage truck, it lasts for several minutes!

Snow is much more fun from in here.

That's so amazing!

Snow Babies

Most kids in our area are thrilled with the foot of snow we're receiving today.  Are ours?  You tell me:

Where's my caaa?

Hey, it's kinda cold out here.

This is cold and I can't find me my caaa!

Okay, 5 minutes is enough.  Let's go in!

Waaaa!  We thought you loved us, Mommy!

No, Daddy!  Not the scary snowman!!!

Nope.  They hated every minute of it.

We've got about 4 more months to torture them like this!

Spring Has Sprung!

At least it feels like it.  Yesterday the Twin Cities hit a high temp we haven't seen in 3 months: 42 degrees!  I was so excited, I piled the guys in the stroller and we took a spin around the neighborhood.

 

The sunshine makes Matthew smile and squint

 

This is Nathan's "riding the bus" pose: he rips the toy off the rings and hold onto them while we ride. 

 

There's still some snow, but if the temps keep rising like this, it won't be around long.

Come on, spring!

Mr. Mom

My husband is one versatile and muti-talented guy.  Last week, he was flying all over the world (literally, not figuratively), working hard but taking time to call us from Zurich and Skype us from Paris.  Yesterday, he was a stay-at-home-dad, trading business meetings for bottle feedings and pressed pants for poopy pants, all so I could have a "day off." 

Here's a peek at Mr. Mom's day at home:

 

Lunch on the floor!  Lunch on the floor!  Looking like a mom with your lunch on the floor!

 

Matthew helps load the dishwasher

 

We measure the snowfall with our babies: there is one Nathan of snow on our balcony

 

Zoom, zoom, I'm getting fast!

 

This was Sunday night - the boys' first Superbowl game

Thanks for giving me a day off, sweetie!

After a long day at home with the boys, how did Steve feel?  "Tired!" he said.

(Hee, hee)

Amazing Race Application

If you know me even a little bit, you know that Steve and I are Amazing Race GEEKS! If you've never heard of it, go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/ and check out the show. Season 16 premiers Sunday, February 14, so you'll need to learn a thing or two about the show because.....
WE APPLIED FOR SEASON 17!

Yep, I just got back from the post office, where I overnighted our application forms, photos, and a DVD of our two-minute application video. Can you believe that? Me neither!

I think the cuteness factor was over the top because we dressed the boys up in their Phillies Phlyers snowsuits, gifts from our dear friend, Uncle A, and took them out to one of our local 10,000 lakes to touch snow for the first time! (Insert huge THANK YOU to Steve's friend M for his videotaping skills here!) The boys were not too sure what to think about it while we were taping, but when we posed them for these two quick stills afterward, Matthew voiced his opinion: IT'S COLD AND I DON'T LIKE IT! We're right there with ya, buddy.
You also know that Steve is the brains when it comes to technology, so you'll have to wait a few days for his return to upload the video to our computer before I can post it here. I'll update this entry and re-post it then. Believe it or not, I did try, but not very hard because I really don't want to screw up the computer and be without the internet until he comes back this weekend. (Insert huge THANK YOU to E&S here for their DVD-making skills, since we had to outsource the job!)

I don't know if we stand a chance to get on the show, but even just completing and sending the application is a thrill for us. For crying out loud, I have no idea what we'll do if we get a call for a semi-finalist interview! Probably scream and jump up and down and wake the babies, only to realize we'll have to make it to the out of town interview with our ankle-biters. But I'm pretty proud of us for crossing off one of our "Bucket List" items: apply for the Amazing Race, something we've been talking about doing for years.

We'll let you know what happens! Wish us luck!