Busy Winter Days...

Just look at that! Winter storm "Q" passed over us all day yesterday. It made the drive to the kids' last ice skating lesson harrowing, to say the least, but the reward was this beautiful six-inch carpet of snow, and snow stuck to all the trees. Throw in blue skies and sunshine, and it was an absolutely gorgeous view to wake up to. Have I mentioned how much I love our back yard? Because I really, really do. It's my happy place. :)

My unhappy place, however, was driving through the snow yesterday. Once we left our town, the roads were awful! Gus was driving, and I was trying not to look... the snow was falling heavily, and the roads weren't being plowed very well (with the notable exception being our town, which was in great shape!). I was scared! This was the view out the windshield in the next town over: However, it was the last ice skating lesson for this session, and it wasn't cancelled due to the weather, so we plugged along, slowly, until we got there. And most of the other kids were there, too, which was impressive! Our kiddos earned ribbons for completing the first level of ice skating lessons. Maya is done, for now, but Nikos will actually be continuing to the next level-- starting next weekend! So no break for us. He is very excited, and has big plans to become a champion hockey player. And all champion hockey players need to complete at least the second level of ice skating classes, right? hehe!

In other news... I talked Gus into taking a free curling class at the outdoor skating rink in Worcester on Saturday. And he had a lot of fun! It was put on by a local curling club... because hey, they have those here, in the frozen north! We joked that it's a shuffleboard club in the off season, haha! Anyway, at the end of the lesson, they had a little scrimmage, and Gus' final throw ended up winning the match for his team-- so he was in high spirits! Meanwhile, the kids kept warm by running around in the large plaza outside of City Hall, and running up and down the steps. I should have copied them, since I was feeling a little numb by the time the whole thing was over! Today, however, was much warmer and more pleasant. Gus took the day off of work, since I had a doctor's appointment (annual physical) that I really didn't want to bring the kids to! The appointment itself went very quickly, and I got a clean bill of health (yay!). After lunch, we went to the store to look at some things for my garden (we started seeds yesterday), but were sorely disappointed by the dripping-wet-from-melting-snow garden section, haha! Another day!

When we got back home, Nikos didn't really want to go outside... but I reminded him that Gus would be back at work tomorrow, and that this would likely be his only chance to play outside with Daddy this week. So we got all our gear on and headed out... and had a blast!!! We sledded, threw snowballs, and built a giant snow t-rex (well, Gus and I did). It was warm enough (mid-30s) that nobody got particularly cold, and the snow was wet enough that it was really good for packing. It was a PERFECT snow day, and I am so glad that my doctor's appointment forced Gus to be home and share it with us! That, and the fact that he didn't have to plow the driveway in the dark this morning. I'm sure he appreciated being able to wait until 9:30 or so! And that's the big stuff from the past couple of days! I'm sure I'm leaving things out, but that's okay. It's been a while since I last posted, mostly because my photography business has been picking up. Which is great!! I had two sessions last week, with another one this week and more to come-- including a few newborns I am waiting on. I am loving this niche, but every session I have means more evenings devoted to business, and not to this blog. So when there is a gap in posting, that is usually why!

Lovies

I was just playing around with settings on my camera earlier, and needed some subjects to photograph. The kids were unwilling, but their lovies weren't! I just wanted to share this pic of their favorite stuffed friends, Bear and Pink Bunny. These guys go pretty much everywhere with us, and are showing quite a bit of wear and tear. And yes, that is as clean as they get! But, they are very, VERY loved in this house. I think I will miss them one day, when the kids don't "need" them anymore (*sniff!*).

A few quick things...

I just wanted to share this video of Nikos at the end of skating lessons today. He is doing so AWESOME! He's at the head of the class! We only have one more week, but he is already asking us to sign him up for the next level. He is bound and determined to play hockey! Maya has done great, too, but isn't as driven as her brother is. She's smaller, and skating is a lot of work! She will probably take a break before resuming lessons... maybe next winter!
And then, after skating, we went to the pet store and picked out some new friends. It was kind of impulsive, actually, but we had bought all the accessories when we were out shopping yesterday. The blue male was Nikos' pick, and Maya insisted on getting a "tiny" fish (the red female). They are in a divided tank and can't see each other, which is good-- or they might try to kill each other! The kids are very excited, and can't wait to feed them again in the morning! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Snow and Sickness

Today's post is brought to you by the letter S!

Maya and I have both been knocked down by the cold that Nikos had last week, which he so generously shared with us. I feel horrible, but I think Maya has it the worst. Poor thing! I kept her home from preschool yesterday, even. And she didn't even fight me on it-- surprising, considering how much she loves school! But she's exhausted and stuffed up and just generally unwell. The good news is that she seems to be on the upswing. We're actually going to go to dance class this morning. Her nose isn't running nonstop like it has for the past few days, so this is promising!

Anyway... she and I had a nice morning together yesterday, while Nikos was at preschool. She colored in her new coloring book, and I cleaned up the kitchen. Then she told me that she wanted to wear her purple summer dress, and said I could take her picture. So random! But I am in love with this photo. It's so Maya! I did, however, have to Photoshop her poor nose, which is red from being wiped so many times. Poor, sweet girl!

Later, after lunch, I finally mustered up enough energy to take the kids outside. Maya seemed to be feeling a bit better, and I knew we needed to take advantage of the perfect conditions. The snow that fell in the blizzard was very light and powdery. Great for shoveling, but horrible for sledding, snowmen, snowballs, or even walking. Nikos couldn't walk in it at all! But we have had a few "warm" days since then (in the 40s!), as well as some rain. So the depth of the snow has decreased dramatically, and it's also much more wet/sticky. Perfect for playing in! And since it was almost 40 degrees outside yesterday (again, that feels WARM to us!), I really wanted to get the kids out for a bit to enjoy it. We didn't stay out too long, but we got in some good sledding runs, and I built an awesome snowman!

It was fun! I practically collapsed from exhaustion when we came back in, but it was worth it. I'm really proud of my snowman, haha! I kind of want to try to make an even bigger one... maybe this afternoon! :)

Nemo, in review

So, it's pretty much over! We're still getting occasional flurries, but the sun is peeking out and the statewide travel ban will be lifted at four o'clock. Gus went out and cleared the driveway this morning-- it took him over two hours, and it really tested the capabilities of the snowblower, but we're all clear now! All total, we got right around 30 inches-- with some spots deeper and some shallower than that. Nikos and I went out to see if we could play in it, but it is just too powdery. It will be good for sledding in a few days, once it gets a little icier, but it's really not good for anything right now.

And without further ado, here are some pictures!

Blizzard Update

So... tons of snow fell last night! It was crazy windy, too. I just took this quick video, to compare with the one I took yesterday afternoon: We haven't lost power at all, thank goodness (*knock on wood!*). Everyone slept well except for me. I got up at about 2am just to make sure everything was okay. And just in time to see a posse of guys on snowmobiles pulling into the convenience store down the road (which was still open, despite a state ban on driving after 4pm yesterday... I feel horrible for those employees!). It was quite odd to see snowmobiles driving down Main Street, but I'm sure it was safer than being in a car! The plows were running all night, too, though the roads are still in bad shape. We won't be going anywhere today!

Anyway... I stuck a stick out on the front porch yesterday morning to measure the snowfall. And, of course, the snow started accumulating everywhere BUT by the stick! Ha! It was so windy that there are huge drifts everywhere, and it's hard to really know how much snow we got. However, we have 1.5 feet by the stick, which is just about the most shallow spot. I think it's a safe bet that we have at LEAST 2 feet (maybe 2.5?) covering the driveway. And it's still falling steadily!

And here is just one quick pic from the back yard. I think the snow is deeper there, but won't know until we go out there!

Live from Nemo

Still not too crazy out there, but the worst is supposedly yet to come! It's been a pajama day around here! :)

Hunkering Down

Today was a great day! Blue skies, lots of sunshine, and we got the last of our plumbing issues resolved (hooray!). The kids went to preschool. I baked a cake. I also went to the grocery store with the rest of New England to stock up for the blizzard that is about to nail us!

Like I said, it was a nice day! So it is hard to fathom what will be dumped on us tomorrow. Just look at this map! We're in that dark blue (24"+) section. So weird, considering there is absolutely no snow on the ground right now. Tomorrow, it will look like a different world out there!

Anyway, we have plenty of food, and our gas cans are full. The generator and snow blower are all set to go. Gus' work is closed tomorrow, along with all the local schools. Basically, everyone in the state is on blizzard watch. Now we just wait!

In the meantime... I wanted to share a few pictures from today. While I was busy dealing with various repairmen, the kids were VERY busy drawing many, MANY pictures. I can't even tell you how much paper they went through today. But when I had time to help him out with spelling, Nikos was very interested in labeling all his pictures. My reluctant writer wanted to WRITE! I was so happy! The first pictures he labeled were his Ninja Turtles:

Later in the evening, he ended up making a book! It was a collection of Star Wars-themed pictures, and he wrote a little caption on each page. Things like, "I will defeat you!" or "Darth Maul is a rotten egg!" haha! We stapled them all together, and he insisted that we read his book at bedtime. He was SO proud. And so was I! It just reaffirms what I already knew: he CAN write, when he wants to. I think he struggles a bit with his fine motor skills, partly because he's a lefty, and it's hard work for him. I couldn't believe how much he wrote today!

And, speaking of writing... Our baby girl is finally starting to write her name properly! She's known how for a while, but she has never felt the need to, uh, follow society's rules. She likes to write the letters in different orders, or even flip a letter or two upside-down for kicks. It's completely intentional, and it drives me a little insane. But I looked down at her work earlier, and saw this! She did it all by herself-- I wasn't even in the room. Hallelujah! Progress!! :)

Big Kids

Yesterday was a big day in the P. house... I registered our baby boy for kindergarten! I did it while the kids were at preschool, so they weren't part of the process, but Nikos was actually very excited about it (surprising, since he has told me numerous times that he doesn't want to go to kindergarten). He wanted to drive by the school and check it out, so we took a little detour on our way home. His favorite part, so far, is the playground ("They have BASKETBALL HOOPS, Mom!!!"). I think he is going to love it there. However, I still can't believe we are at this point already. Just yesterday, he was this little baby...

...and now he's this Big Kid (who needs a haircut)! It blows my mind!!!

So I guess there will be an orientation in May, and then another one later in the summer, right before school starts, where he will get to experience his first school bus ride. I repeat: I can't believe it. It makes my heart hurt a little, thinking about sending him out into the Big Wide World. But he's a good kid. I think he will be just fine. siiiiigh...

Anyway, I don't have much else to report, except our boy has a cold right now. His nose is running like a faucet, so we are skipping Maya's dance class today. I don't think the other moms and kids in the waiting room would appreciate being exposed to his germs, and it is VERY obvious that he is sick. Maya is a little bummed, but she understands. She is currently playing dress-up, as usual. She is so funny! I snapped this photo of her the other day, per her request. I was just photographing my new backdrop color ("bone") to see how it looked, but she grabbed the chair and insisted I take a picture. Crazy kid!

Today's agenda includes cleaning, caring for my sick kid, and probably a quick run to the grocery store. We have snow coming on Friday, though nobody can seem to agree on the amount. Some forecasts say 2-4 inches, others say 30 inches! Big difference! Better stock up on food, though, just in case...

Wait, it's FEBRUARY?

And the last time I posted was on January 21st??? WOW! That's some sort of record for me, and not in a good way! But I can explain, I swear!

The big thing that's happened over the past few weeks is a major shift in my photography business. I hadn't been working very much, mostly because of scheduling issues. And motivation issues. I got to talking with my buddy Miranda, who owns a custom cake business, and she had suggested we partner up to do cake smash sessions for one-year-olds. This got me thinking. I have this (small) home studio. It's really not big enough for family portraits or anything like that. But it's perfect for babies! And it's IN MY HOUSE, which solves a lot of scheduling/childcare issues. Best of all, my main competition here in town (who happens to be a friend's husband) absolutely hates photographing babies. So it all clicked! Focus on babies! But I've been hard at work completely changing my website, getting the studio set up even better, drumming up business, etc. It's been pretty exciting, actually! I feel like everything just magically fell into place. It's just been a lot of work (in a good way)!

But the kids are, in fact, still here, and we have been plenty busy with other things, too! Just yesterday, our town rec department hosted a Family Skate Day at a local ice rink. Free entry and skate rentals for all town residents! We went, and it was a lot of fun! A few of Nikos' buddies were there, along with their moms, so it ended up being a social event, too. My Zumba instructor was also there. Ah, small town life, haha! Here's one quick pic I snapped of Gus and the kids with my phone. Maya was not in the best mood, but Nikos ROCKED it! He was doing so well, and he was even going pretty fast! I was so proud! His confidence on the ice is amazing!

I actually just went through the photos on my phone to find that one, and was reminded of another event from the past two weeks. One that was rather unpleasant, actually, and I can't believe I forgot about it already!! Last week, we had a few days of negative temperatures. Even with the sun high in the sky, the temperatures were still hovering around zero. It was COLD. Suddenly, our dishwasher stopped working. I thought it was just a glitch or something, and went to bed. The next morning, the hot water in the kitchen sink wouldn't work. Same in the kids' bathroom, which is directly above the kitchen and must share a water line. Then we realized that three of our four heat zones were also not working (we have hot water baseboard heaters). Yup, the pipes were frozen. Great.

We ended up finding a plumber on CraigsList, and he was awesome. I think he will be our go-to guy if we ever need anything again! He was just so competent and rational. He let us borrow his construction-grade heater, which we set up in the basement aiming towards the crawl space where the frozen pipes had to be. A few hours later, we had hot water in the sinks/bathroom again-- HALLELUJAH!!! But still no heat. We weren't freezing to death or anything, since we have the pellet stove, but we didn't know if the pipes had actually burst. We found out the answer to that question later that evening, when we suddenly heard rushing water in the mudroom. Ack! Thankfully, the plumber had showed me exactly what to do in that situation. We got it cleaned up, and left the water shut off to that one zone. A few days later, after a few warm (almost 60-degree!) days, the heat suddenly kicked back on in another zone. And we still don't have heat in the final zone, but that one has most likely been frozen since November. We never use it. So we will see what happens in the spring.

Anyway, the plumber came back on Friday to fix the broken pipe, and then put antifreeze into our heating system so that this doesn't happen again. Smart!! Wish we had known about it before! Anyway, he fixed the broken spot in the pipe. The pipe actually looked like this. Amazing!

So then he tested the system, and it seemed to be working. He put the antifreeze in. And then we heard a bad noise. The same pipe had burst in a different spot! Oh my gosh!! We hustled to turn off the zone and clean up the mess, and then he fixed that part of the pipe. And, wouldn't you know it, the same thing happened AGAIN when we tested the system-- a third break in the same line. All were in different spots, about 8 feet apart, and they were all along the same north-facing wall that never gets sunlight. It was just too darn cold. In the end, the plumber ended up being here for over five hours. I was really nervous about how much he would charge us, but he was VERY reasonable. And I liked the guy! He's local, is a dad to two kids (a boy and a girl), a former firefighter, and he helps coach football at the high school. Most importantly, he did a good job and didn't rip us off. We lucked out! And now that we have the antifreeze in the system, this shouldn't ever happen again. *knock on wood*

Anyway, between our plumbing woes and my photo business, I don't really remember what else has been happening! We enjoyed those gloriously warm days, though they were very foggy because of all the evaporating snow. Now it's back to normal winter weather here. We had a light snowfall last night, temps in the twenties today, and we have had flurries off and on all evening while watching the SuperBowl. Such is life in New England, I suppose!

Where did the week go?

Seriously, where did it go? I feel like we were super busy all week, and then had a lovely, restful weekend that still went by way too fast. I suppose this is to be expected as the kids get older, but wow! Crazy!

Let me think back to this past week... On Monday, we had an impromptu playdate with some friends. The boys (twins) are both in kindergarten, which means they are only available in the afternoons. And it turns out that Mondays are the only days that their mom (my friend) doesn't watch other peoples' kids. Nikos had been BEGGING to play with the boys for a while, and they really had a great time! Plus, the weather was warm enough (50 degrees!!!) to play outside for a little while. It was fantastic! And then, to totally negate all the positive effects of playing outside, they came in and played video games. Doh!

On Tuesday, the kids went to school, as usual, and I continued my 5K training. As things currently stand, I could finish in about 40 minutes, I think. Maybe less, depending on the adrenaline! So it's not hopeless. I'm starting to feel a little more confident about actually being able to finish!

That same evening, I went to a Zumba class at the local community center. I convinced a group of friends to go with me. I was so nervous! I had never, ever participated in a group exercise class. But BOY, was it a workout! Oh my gosh! I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, either. We are going to go back again tomorrow night, and sign up for an eight-week block of classes. I was also amazed at how many people were there. It was in an old multipurpose room, and there were probably forty or fifty women there, ranging in age from about 30 to about 70! A pretty diverse group! And some of those older women really put me to shame... Oh well, I am doing my best!

Wednesday morning, we woke up to about four inches of snow on the ground, with more continuing to fall heavily. I dragged my achy post-Zumba body outside to clear the driveway, since both kids had dentist appointments that we needed to get to. I didn't want to use the snowblower, since the snow was still falling, so I decided to shovel two paths, just for my tires. I even managed to stay on them, for the most part, haha! The drive through our town and the next was fine. The roads were cleared, salted, and sanded, and the drive wasn't bad. It was actually very picturesque, as evidenced by this picture I took with my phone while stopped at a red light.

Once we got down the hill and closer to the dentist's office, it was a different story. The roads were slippery and packed with snow... I did, in fact, skid at one point, and it scared the bejeezus out of me! The parking lot was pretty bad, too. I was a major stress case by the time we sat down in the dentist's waiting room! HOWEVER... both kids did GREAT at their visits, and got a perfect bill of dental health. The dentist predicts that Nikos will need braces at some point to close the gaps and correct a minor crossbite, but he thinks Maya might actually not need them. That would be awesome! I am okay with that! :)

And, by the time we left the dentist, the roads in the area had been cleared much better than before. The drive home was uneventful. Though I spent the next two hours wrestling with the snowblower and snow shovels, getting the driveway clear. I was sore for days after that! Really, I wanted to take a nap that afternoon. But Caryn and her kids were expecting us to come over and play, so I sucked it up and we braved the roads again. I did, however, sleep REALLY well that night, haha!

Thursday was another preschool morning, and a chance for me to breathe (whew!). I ran two miles on the treadmill while they were gone, and then cleaned the house. It was actually sunny and fairly warm-- close to 40 degrees! Caryn and her kids came over to sled in the afternoon, and it was perfect weather for it! We had to drag the kids inside when it started to get dark, but they would have gladly stayed out for hours and hours!

Friday, I was crazy and decided to paint the coat closet door and all the trim in the entryway. This is not terribly exciting to most people, but it looks SO much better now! :)

Saturday, we went shopping for a new car seat for Nikos. Again, not very exciting, unless you are Nikos! He is very happy with his new seat, although Maya is less-than-thrilled to be moved into his old one. But he is getting too big for it, and Maya's seat (originally Nikos') is about to expire. So it was time for a change! And when we got back, Nikos and Gus played baseball outside for a while. Maya even joined in for a little bit! Someone is VERY excited for t-ball to start up again!

Then, on Sunday, we had ice skating lessons, as usual! They did so, so well! This week, they worked on moving backward across the ice, which was a very slooooow process. But going forward is getting a lot better. Look at them go! Niko is at the front of the group in the black sweatshirt and jeans... Maya is near the back in her pink sweatshirt and jeans, with the pink helmet! When we got home, Nikos really wanted to play baseball outside again, so we got our warm clothing on and headed out. Maya and I hung out together, playing with stomp rockets and going "exploring" in the woods. It was a perfect day for it!

Last night, Gus and I actually dropped the kids off at Caryn's house and got to go out to dinner. Alone! An actual DATE! It was lovely. We tried a place we had never been, and had the entire dining room to ourselves. Everyone was in the bar part of the restaurant, watching the Patriots play the Ravens. But the food was great, and so was the service. We will definitely be going back!

And today, we went to go see Rise of the Guardians at the local second-run movie theater, along with every other kid in the area. It was packed! But we all enjoyed it, and Nikos always loves getting popcorn, haha!

And... that's it! By the time we got home, snow was starting to fall again, and the next few days look like they are going to be VERY cold. Maybe I will actually find some time to post, since we will be stuck inside! ------------------------------ On a side note... I don't think I picked up my actual camera all week! My phone is sort of liberating in that way. The pictures are definitely not NEARLY as nice, but it is kind of nice to take a break from lugging The Beast around (said with affection, since I do love my camera!).

Little Skaters

Today was week two of ice skating lessons, and I have to say-- I was SHOCKED at how much improvement all the kids showed. Seriously! They really are little sponges at this age, I suppose. But last week, Nikos spent most of the time down on all fours. Maya, while doing a little better, still had some big spills that left her in tears by the end. And to be fair, poor Maya did end up with with a bruised booty last week. Still, both kids resolved to try their very best today, and they absolutely did! They did SO WELL! And they kept smiles on their faces the entire time. Seriously, I was so proud and so impressed! We went out to lunch with our friends (also in the class) afterward, as a treat for trying their best. I think we are all looking forward to week three... these kids might really be skating around by week eight!

Catching Up

It's amazing how life can get in the way of maintaining a blog. Seriously. haha!!

Anyway... we've been busy the past week or so! The kids went back to school last Thursday, and were very excited to tell their friends and teachers about all the things they got for Christmas. I spent the day cleaning like crazy, getting all the Christmas decorations down and put back in the attic.

The next day, Friday, I felt the need to compensate for essentially neglecting the kids on Thursday, with all the cleaning (during which time they were really good!). It was really cold, and I had absolutely no desire to go out anywhere. So we made a plaster volcano and did all sorts of science/craft activities that the kids got as Christmas presents. We even went out on the front porch for a very short time so that they could "paint" the snow with colored water in spray bottles-- fun!

The weekend was good, as usual. We made a family outing to the home improvement store to pick up some paint and other things for painting the master bathroom (finally!). That was our big event of the day, which was fine-- Maya was actually sick last week, and I wasn't feeling too hot on Saturday. So we got the stuff, and then just hung around the house. Oh, we went out to play in the snow a bit in the morning, but Maya wasn't into it. And to be honest, I was relieved that she wanted to come inside! So us sickies came in and let the boys stay out and have a snowball fight. Of course!

Then, on Sunday, both kids had their very first ice skating lessons!!! It was so cute, and they did so well! The primary focus was on how to fall down and then get back up to a standing position. This class is meant for kids who have never been on the ice before, and they don't use any sorts of walkers or other aids. So it made sense to focus on falling and getting up, since they had to do a lot of it! Maya actually did very well, but was hard on herself for falling-- she had a little meltdown at the very end of the lesson. Nikos fell more often, but thought it was hilarious. And both kids enjoyed the fact that they got to be in the same class as their good buddies Natalie and Jamie. I am looking forward to next week!

One little story... Immediately after class, Maya was in tears because she didn't like falling. And Gus said something to the effect of, "These are lessons-- you are still learning!" At which point she looked up at him and, very seriously, said, "But I ALREADY knew how to fall, BEFORE the lessons!" Poor thing! She really did do so well, though. I showed her the pictures, and it seemed to cheer her up. I am hoping she will feel more confident after the next lesson!

Yesterday (Monday), I spent the day painting the master bathroom. It is the smallest bathroom in the house, but it was a HUGE pain to paint. I'd been putting it off for so long because the existing paint job was just awful-- lots of bumps and peeling spots, requiring a lot of prep work. But I did it! And I even refinished the existing light fixture, too. It took all day, but I did it. And then I ran two miles in preparation for the 5K. And then I took a shower, and then sat down and was basically unable to move again. ahhhh...

And then today, the kids went to school again. I drove to the store and used a gift card to get some running capris and a shirt. And then zipped home to get the kids. They were having a blast playing "Star Wars" out on the snowy playground with their friends. Niko told me that he was Luke, Maya was Leia, and then a few other kids were Han Solo, Darth Vader, and Darth Maul. I think it is so funny how into Star Wars he is lately. One day, he will think it's really cool that I helped with the PR for Episode I. And have been to Skywalker Ranch multiple times. One day. haha!

One little story, though, that is worth sharing... Remember in my last post, how I talked about resolutions? I made a resolution for the kids, that they would wipe their own butts. And they have been doing it!!!!!! Seriously, I am really impressed. Nikos, especially, has finally embraced this change. We're still working on efficiency and effectiveness, but the desire and effort is there. Hooray!

So... he came home today, and was pleased to announce that he had wiped his butt at school. Fantastic!!! I asked him if he got it all. He told me that Chloe checked, and she didn't see any poop on his butt.

You might think Chloe is a teacher at the school. Nope! That's one of his friends, who he will be in kindergarten with next year. Yes, my child asked his friend to check his butt for poop. And she DID it! Oh my gosh!!! I was laughing so hard. But we also had the talk about personal boundaries. While Niko is shy around strangers, the kid really has no shame around people he knows. It's one of his many great qualities-- he is very confident and doesn't ever feel insecure about things. Including his potentially poopy butt. Oh boy. haha!!

We spent the afternoon at home, relaxing. I felt like crud, so Maya took care of me. Dressed in her Cinderella gown, she brought me a blanket, a pillow, and her lovey (Pink Bunny) so I could rest by the pellet stove. I was shivering, so it was all much appreciated! And later, Maya told me that I was the best mommy ever, and that I needed to wear the crown. I amused myself by playing with my phone and taking pictures...

And that's what we have been up to!

Resolutions...

So... it's a new year, and time to make some resolutions! I made mine a few weeks ago, and have actually gotten a head start. A few summers ago, I decided I was going to do the Couch to 5K running plan. I was off to a good start, for a few weeks... but then we went to Las Vegas for a long weekend, during which time I slipped on a wet sidewalk and hurt myself. I could have started back up again, but I didn't-- it was too easy not to. And I haven't run since.

Anyway... My buddy Caryn and I decided that we are both going to do it, and we have been keeping each other accountable. I told my other friend, Miranda, about it the other day, and she wants in, too. The original goal was to do the Color Run in Boston in July. And that is still a goal. But then Miranda suggested a local St. Patrick's Day race. Which is a lot sooner, obviously. And we are signing up!!! ACK!!!! Now I actually have to train! I know that a 5K isn't a lot for "real runners," but it is for me. I am excited. And feeling a little nauseous. It's really going to happen!!

In other news... I have developed a shared resolution for both kids: they will be wiping their own butts in 2013! I am sure that this is oversharing, but my five-year-old has been VERY resistant to this. He had one bad experience over a year ago that really set us back. But after thinking about it for a few days, I came up with a new approach involving actual lessons on technique, involving peanut butter and a few of Maya's baby dolls. Yes, it is completely ridiculous (more so, since I had to examine all her baby doll's butts and find ones that wouldn't be wrecked with peanut butter! haha!!). And we laughed. A lot. But you know what? Both kids wiped their own butts today. They are fully capable! I am looking forward to a time when the only butt I have to wipe is my own. And, dude... Nikos is going to kindergarten in the fall. Time to master this skill, stat!

Speaking of going to kindergarten... our boy had his long overdue five-year doctor visit today. And he did great! He had hearing and vision screenings, which he passed easily (whew! he has two practically-blind parents!!). He's right around the 75th percentile for both weight and height. And he got four shots, but didn't cry! He said "Ow!" and was a little mad about it, but continued to hold still and let the doctor do her thing. I was so proud of him-- he really held it together!

So... now I just need to schedule an appointment to enroll him in kindergarten. I have already completed the paperwork, located his birth certificate, and now I have the medical paperwork I needed. I can't believe it is time to do this already! And, while I'm thinking about it, I need to get him signed up for Little League again, too. Oh, and ice skating lessons start this weekend. And Maya got measured today for her dance recital costume. How did we get to this point??? Oh my gosh!

But being busy is worth it, especially for these two awesome kids. Who played Guess Who? for over an hour this afternoon. I love them so much!

Happy New Year!

2012 has been a great year, filled with lots of new friends and experiences-- our first full year living in Massachusetts! I've said it a lot, but we really do love it here. It was a huge change, but one that has been really good for us all. And 2013 promises to be even more exciting! Both kids start ice skating lessons this week. Nikos will start kindergarten (!!!!!), and Maya will be on her own at preschool for the first time. Not to mention everything else that we don't even know about it. It's going to be a good one. Happy New Year, everyone!

More snow fun! And Man vs. Driveway

Yup, it snowed last night-- probably another 5 inches. Crazy! This is more snow than we got TOTAL all last winter, and we've only just begun. As everyone keeps telling me, this is shaping up to be a "real" New England winter. Lots more snow than before. Which presents some new challenges, which I will get to soon enough. I am just glad we had a nice, mild "transitional" winter last year. We couldn't have timed it better if we'd tried!

Anyhow... We didn't really have any plans for the day, aside from clearing the driveway. But a local friend really wanted to go sledding, so I invited her and her kiddos over to enjoy our perfect slope! Seriously, we bought a house with the ultimate sledding hill. It is so cool to be able to just go out back and sled to our hearts' content! At any rate, she came over after lunch, and the kids had a great time. The four of them play together really well-- her kids are the same age, but switch the genders. Nikos and her daughter will be in the same grade, while Maya and her son will be together. Through all the same schools, too! A convenient friend to have, indeed!! Anyway, here are a few pictures from their snow adventures...

And one from when they came back in. These two love each other! I sense future blackmail material!! Perhaps in high school?

Meanwhile... Gus was working in the driveway. Allow me to back up a few days, to the last snowstorm. On Thursday morning, Gus had cleared the driveway before leaving for work. However, it was still snowing-- another two or so inches fell after he was done. I should have gone out and cleared it before he got home. Hindsight is 20/20! But I didn't, and figured it was shallow enough that driving on it wouldn't be a problem. Gus thought the same thing. No biggie. He drove on it on Thursday night, and again on Friday morning. And Friday afternoon was when I realized two things. One was that our driveway was now covered with hard-packed snow and ice. The second thing was that the forecast didn't include any temperatures that were above freezing, for as far ahead as I could see. Soooo... the ice had to go. And thus began the battle of Man vs. Driveway (or, in my case, Woman vs. Driveway).

I spent about 2.5 hours out there on Friday, shoveling and salting and chipping away at the mess. I got maybe a quarter of the driveway clear. It was 27 degrees, and I was SWEATING! It was a ton of work! I took a break at one point and did some research. I decided that we absolutely, positively NEEDED a chipper/scraper tool (this exact one). I was literally hacking away at the ice with a garden hoe. It was not very effective!

First thing yesterday morning, the four of us headed to the store in search of better equipment. We got a new shovel, a chipper/scraper thing, a salt spreader, and Gus got a pair of Yaktrax (impulse buy--they were on sale! They are very cool, though!). Then we came home, got the kids settled inside the house, and got to work. The chipper/scraper/whatever-you-call it tool was the BEST. Seriously, we should have just gotten two of those. It was still slow-going, but would have been impossible without that tool. By the time the snow started falling, we (mostly Gus!) had gotten this far... Remember, the entire driveway had been covered! And there was an icy snowbank at the end of the driveway from the plows going by!

When we woke up this morning, the driveway was completely covered-- but it was with light, powdery snow. Gus made quick work of it with the snowblower, and then set to work on removing the rest of the ice. And he did it! The sunny weather helped a bit, though today's high temperature was still only 26 degrees. He also cleared out the little parking pad we use to turn our cars around. It looks SO much better now! And I feel a lot less stranded, seeing as how my car doesn't have all-wheel drive OR snow tires!

The plan now is to just keep on top of the driveway-- and never drive on the snow, unless there are warmer temperatures in the immediate forecast! It just packs it down and turns it to solid ice. Which then, in turn, is VERY difficult to remove! Lesson learned! We are going to be pros by the time this winter is over. And also, I think we are going to be getting a lot of exercise. Not necessarily a bad thing!

Snoooooooooooow!!

It snowed, it snowed! We got about seven inches last night. And while the weather forecast had me afraid that it was going to rain all day and turn everything to slush-- it didn't! It was right around 32 degrees-- perfect for playing outside! We stayed out for a few hours in the morning, came in to eat lunch, and then went out for another few hours. We are wiped out! But in a good way. It was a ton of fun, and we should get some more this weekend. Woohoo!