Lots of eatin'. Not much runnin'.

Yeah...hmmm...so Snow Day #2 was not nearly as glamorous or festive as Snow Day #1.  The kids didn't seem quite as jazzed about the blanket tent anymore.  All of their toys, books and crafts seemed...mundane.  Even after much begging and pleading for a showing of Star Wars: A New Hope, both kids lost interest after thirty minutes or so.  There was a lot of general whining and complaining...from me, that is. 

But, I am trying not to lose sight of the fact that these are the days when we will make memories as a family that our kids are likely to remember for a long time.  And, I want them to look back on them fondly.  I spoke briefly on the phone with my mother-in-law yesterday and she expressed how much she misses those days of being huddled together with the kids at home, with nowhere else to go; that those are some of the most cherished memories she has of her kids.  So, like I said on Facebook this evening, I had a few "mommy melt-downs" today, but I want to step back this evening and take the time to appreciate just how lucky I am to have a wonderful, healthy family and to live in a warm, comfortable home.  Jeremy and I reflect often on how amazingly fortunate we are.  It's easy to lose sight of that, and important to bring yourself back to that realization often.  Here were some of today's blessings:



Beautiful this morning with the sun rising behind our house.

The kids and I were groovin' to this music this morning.  (Okay, I was groovin' to this music this morning.  My kids were looking at me like "what the heck is this?")

Weston is wearing the Horton costume Jeremy made (from two jersey sheet pillow cases, two wire hangers and some leftover foam from one of those crib wedges) for Grace last year for "Dr. Seuss Day" at school, and Grace is wearing the cheetah ears she fashioned out of yellow duct tape.  Creative much?

Weston took this photo of Grace reading in the blanket tent.

I made the Chicken Stew with Biscuits tonight.  It was really good.  I'm looking forward to leftovers tomorrow...

I also made the Apple Crisp tonight.  Also very good, with vanilla ice cream of course.

Apple Crisp

5 cups sliced, peeled apples (I actually diced them, and left the skin on)
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar (I always stick to the low side of this)
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup coconut

1.  Place apples in a 2-quart baking dish.  Sprinkle with the sugar and stir to coat.

2. For topping, in a medium bowl combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in coconut.  Sprinkle topping over apples.

3. Bake at 375 for 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden.


While I am very thankful for all of these wonderful things, I could use a serious trip to the gym!!  And, again, we got the call at lunch time today letting us know that there will be no school on Thursday.  (Hello, Snow Day #8!)  Our blanket tent, as awesome as it is, has made our living room a place where doing the P90x videos is just not possible.  So, I'm feeling rather blobby...and, as a result, grumpy.  I even got up this morning and put on workout clothes, as if that were in the cards for me today.  On top of that, this blogging thing has turned me into a night owl.  I've got to go to bed earlier!  So, on that note, I'm signing off...