Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Near the end of this past week we were hearing news casts of a possible snow storm headed our way. Andrew and I didn't think much of it for a few reasons 1. there are many times that there are forecasts for snow and it doesn't come or 2. it snows but not for long.

I was secretly hoping for the snow storm for the sole reason that I might not have to return to work on Monday. I was supposed to return this past Thursday but I extended my leave only by two days. Now I could start on a Monday rather than the middle of the week. That would mean I would have 2 full days of work (Monday & Tuesday) and one half day (Wednesday). Can you believe school goes to the day before Christmas Eve!!?? It makes me crazy but, oh well. If this snow storm came our way, there was a good chance that school would be canceled on Monday, and if it was bad enough maybe Tuesday too! If Tuesday was canceled then there was even a better chance that school would be canceled Wednesday due to it being only a half day. The notion of not returning until after the New Year really excited me, especially since I have been paid for this coming Monday through the end of December and I would not have had to work one day!

Friday came and the forecasts kept coming. We decided to get our grocery shopping done which ended up being a bad idea. People were going crazy!!!! Lines to check out were down the aisles and the shelves were emptying. We were only going to get it over with since we were going to be gone all day Saturday for a wedding and wouldn't feel up to it Sunday. We were at the grocery store so we shopped.

Around 7 or 8 at night the snow actually began to fall!!! Now, were we going to make it to the wedding on Saturday. That all depended on how much snow came and if it got cleared. People laugh at us for closing down when so little snow comes but its due to the fact that we don't have enough equipment to care for the roads like the big snow cities have. Also, our big issue here is ice. It may snow, but as the day warms up the snow melt, then at night it refreezes which is an obvious danger on the roads.

The snow was coming down when we went to sleep and when we woke up on Saturday.
It was coming down pretty heavily and wasn't letting up. Andrew got out to shovel behind the truck (we had a wedding to get to) and Landon got to play in the snow for the first time. We weren't quite prepared for him. He needs new gloves since the ones he has are to big and we need to get him some boots. This snow cam much earlier this year.

The newscasters were telling everyone to stay inside if possible, but we had my friend Kim's wedding to get to. There was no way I could miss the wedding. She was already rescheduling everything and people were bailing left and right. We made it to the wedding but the reception was canceled. Luckily there was a suite at one of the hotel for everyone to socialize. We couldn't stay long since the wedding was in Baltimore and we didn't want to drive too long in the dark. It took us 3 hrs to get to Baltimore, but that included a stop in DC to pick up a friend. The trip back only took about 2 1/2 with the stop in DC to drop off our friend.

Congrats Kim & Ben!

It was still snowing on our drive home. We weren't sure if we would get in our parking spot but we managed. We've never seen this much snow!

By the time we headed to bed, the snow had stopped. We awoke to a beautiful snowy day. We had to get out and play in it!

The road hasn't been plowed since yesterday at 5 in the morning and there's no guarantee it will get plowed today, which I'm secretly hoping for! If we aren't getting plowed then the back rural roads definitely aren't which means the buses can't pick up kids for school!
Andrew did work at clearing around the cars, just in case. He doesn't have to go to work tomorrow because he was staying home with the kids for my first day back, but I may need to get out.
While Andrew worked at clearing the snow, a snow hill was beginning to accumulate. Landon decided to climb on top and be King of the Snow Hill!!!!

Even if I do head back tomorrow, it was a great weekend! We also may get some more snow later in the week, which would make for a beautiful white Christmas! Hope you all are getting in the holiday spirit, this snow has jump started us!

Getting ready for Christmas

Before I write about "getting ready for Christmas", I need to fill you all in on a special guest we had this past week. One of my dearest friends, Katie, came to visit. I was super excited for this visit since this is the first time, in a long time, that we have been able to spend some quality girlfriend time together. You see, she has been in England for the past for years and just recently moved back to the states with her husband. She is one of my most favorite people and I always have a great time with her. We spent the week just hanging out like we used to when we lived in Jacksonville. We shopped, ran errands, went out to eat, nothing super special but the time together was great! We stayed away from the sights and just hung out.

Thanks Katie, for coming to stay with us, next time Jay will have to come!

In order to get ready for Christmas, we had a few things on our list to do. We needed to get a picture with Santa Claus. I was a bit worried about this since Landon is at that age where he might totally freak out when he saw Santa. He didn't! It isn't the best picture but they are both in it and there are no melt downs. This is from my camera, the picture that I had to buy is much better.
We also had to get a family picture for our Christmas cards. Just before Katie left on Saturday, we had a mini photo shoot around the house and outside. This is one of my favorites but the glare of the sun on the window ruins it. There were plenty of other good ones to chose from for the card.
We hung our stockings. I absolutely love our stockings! I think they are my most favorite decoration. My Aunt Linda made them for all the cousins on my mom's side of the family and as we each get married, she makes one for our spouse and then as we add children, they each get one. If only we had a fireplace to hang them on.
Our tree is up and decorated. It doesn't look like much but we have quite a bit of ornaments on the tree. This year we finally had enough to not include our "filler" ornaments. For the past few years we have had colored balls and drummer boys to fill in the empty spaces on the tree, but this year I decided not to include them. We still have empty spaces, but not as many as before. It has been a tradition of mine and Andrew's to collect an ornaments from places that we visit together. We have been doing this before we were married. It's our way of getting a souvenir that will be used every year, plus each ornament now has a story.

And finally, the house is decorated. We always decorate the outside of the house, but this is the first year that we put lights outside. The picture didn't turn out as well as I had hoped but the house looks really nice all lit up.
We aren't totally ready for Christmas. I haven't sent out my cards, but they are ordered. I have cookies to make, though I'm not doing many this year. I still have presents to buy and send out and hoping that gets done by Wednesday.

Motivational Monday (x2)

Last week there was no "motivational monday" post mainly because I was tired of writing the same 'ole thing...no weight loss, but trying to stay motivated. I did weigh in, but everything as the same. I was actually somewhat pleased with this since I only ran twice during our last week in Fl. Another week has passed and I didn't work out, but I have lost 2 lbs!! I was pleased with this, since it is a small step in the weight loss plan. However, I have a quite a bit ahead of me. I start back to work, there's Chritmas, & a trip to Ohio. Even though the weight loss is small, things are improving. I am starting to get back into my old clothes, which give me hope!This week is going to be tough to get through and I am not feeling very motivated to workout or eat well. This is my last week of maternity leave. Next week I go back for three days (which I'm not too concerned about), then I'm off for winter break, then I'm back at school until June. I'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed on how I'm going to balance two kids, homelife, and work, but we'll get through it. So maintaining is my goal and if I can get myself motivated to workout, I think that will help relieve the stress and anxiety of going back to work.

2 Months

Miss Libbie, or "bibbie" or "wibbie" as Landon calls her, is actually a little over 2 months now. We just got her in for her appointment today. I had full intentions of getting her in before our trip to FL but they were booked up until today.

She is an extremely happy baby and rarely cries. She's smiling all the time and talking to us too. We are truly enjoying her at this time in her life.

We are getting ready for the big move of me returning to work, which I am absolutely dreading. I have really loved being at home with the kids. Libbie is still nursing and I love the bonding and am sad to partly give it up when I return to work. We have been giving her more bottles to get her comfortable with taking from one. She is still intent on figuring her hands out. Libbie loves to have them in her mouth but can't quite figure out a way to keep them there, which I'm slightly happy about.
Our little angel is growing like a weed and is a bit of a chunker, but I love it!! She weighed in at 14 pounds (90th%) and is 24 in long (80th%).

* I do know I didn't post a motivational monday this week, but will explain on this coming monday.

Thanksgiving

After the baptism, everyone headed to my parents for a few breakfast snacks.

Andrew I tried to get a family photo. It's no too bad, except that Landon was not happy because we took him away from his bud, Chance.

Libbie was quite happy taking pictures in her big, red bow from KC. She's got me hooked, Libbie is going to have bows galore!

This was about all I could get from Landon. He's at the age where he knows I want a picture but refuses to participate. I think my sister-in-law got some god ones, though.

Landon, Kinley, & Chance had a great time playing while waited for dinner.
We ended the night with our family game of Catch Phrase. Everyone has a great time!

Thanks mom & dad for such a great day.

Libbie's Baptism

Two years ago, we decided to have Landon baptized on Thanksgiving since we were heading down there for Thanksgiving with my family. Andrew's parents flew down and we were all there to celebrate such a wonderful event.

Since Libbie was born around the same time and we were headed to Jacksonville for Thanksgiving, anyways, we decided to have Libbie baptized on Thanksgiving day, too. I had no idea when Andrew and I were planning this, that he, too, was baptized on Thanksgiving day. I guess we'll have to keep up with the tradition if there are anymore children.

Just as Landon (and myself and other family members) was baptized in my great-grandmother's gown, so was Libbie.
Brian and Debbie are Libbie's Godparents.
My family, though Sean & Debbie are lost in the background.
Andrew's family.

Motivational Monday (on Tuesday)

I did my weigh in yesterday, I just failed to post about the last week. So here goes...

So far...still no weight lost! It's a little upsetting but at least there was no weight gain, right???

I am pretty happy with this especially since I did practically no physical activity all week. Andrew & I ran only two days and only 2 miles each day. Family also came into town for Libbie's Baptism & Thanksgiving, so there was plenty of food eaten.

Not much more to report except that this current week should be better and I'm hoping to see the weight loss begin...we"ll see!