Day 106

We're winding up on round two of this storm.  It was a bitch, to put it bluntly.

And it wasn't even the snow totals.  It was the wet, heavy snow that was difficult to move.  It was the ice that made everything slippery and added a hard crust to the top of the snow.

I was outside for over three hours today.  Our snowblower decided it was on strike, so good old fashioned shoveling was all that we could do.  That's all fine and dandy.  I can handle it.  To be honest, I like to zone out and get it done.  I know it's a good workout, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment when it's finished.
This doesn't mean that I am not aching right now, and feel like my arms may just fall off or stop working altogether at any given moment.  I may have nightmares about either of those scenarios tonight.

Here is a quick video to show you just a bit of the yard.  I swear it seems so much more in person.  Like for instance, the path in this video, the outsides of it are up to my waist.

The kids had fun playing in the snow.  Ty, Nate and Brody used one of the massive mounds of snow as a slide and a platform to dive into the snow below.

On the bright side, Keira has been showing interest in using the potty.  (The bathroom, for all you non-kid speaking people.)
I decided, what better time to give it a go then when we are snowed in?  So I whipped out her Yo Gabba Gabba undies and folks, she has been wearing the same pair ALL day long.  She loves running to the potty.  She loves waving bye bye to her pee pee or poo poo (I know too much info, but it's something I'm proud of her for.)  I am going to take it at face value, and not count on it sticking, but by golly if it does, I am having a no more diapers in our house party and you will all be invited.

Seriously.

I'm not joking.

Do you know how much I have invested into the diaper industry over the past ten years?

Never mind, I don't even want to know, because I probably could have bought a vacation home or traveled around the world five times with the money.

Here ends my post for the day.  Do you like my super cool leg warmers?  You're jealous of them huh.  It's okay.  I'll tell you a secret.  I bought them in the kids sections of H&M.  They are off white, knit and warm as warm can be.

What?  It's okay for Keira to wear them, so why can't I?

Day 99

Today I caught up on ten thousand loads of laundry.

I may be exaggerating a little bit.

So because I had such an exciting day, I thought I'd share this little tid bit.

Each and every night while I get ready to make dinner, Keira picks up on this time to eat cue, gets in her chair, and begins screaming "I'm HUNGRY" in the most starving child-mom you never give me food-kind of way.  When I tell her each and every night it will be ready soon, she pouts and gets mad at me.

I think I'm in trouble with her.

Day 86 ~And Then It Snowed

It snowed all day.  ALL day.  It was beautiful and fun and magical.  The kids were out with us all day playing in it.  Here are a couple of videos.

Day 67~ Twas the Night Before Christmas

When we found out Sharon was sick, my mom decided to purchase this book that records your voice, so the kids would always be able to listen to their Nana read them a story.  Unfortunately with how quickly things went, my mom was never able to give this to Sharon.  So my mom recorded her voice reading to the kids "Twas The Night Before Christmas."   The kids love it.  I think they have listened to it about ten times a day since my mom gave it to them.  Here is a video of Nate, Keira and Brody.  They were in silly moods and I think you get the idea of how much they truly love this gift.  (Also, please ignore Brody in Keira's tights.  We're working on this issue, but I pick and choose my battles during the day.)

When Life Gets Tough, Just Dance

As I stated in my last post, it has been an emotional few days for me, so when I got a call from one of my oldest, dearest friends, Kristina, last night, asking me if Keira and I wanted to come to her house for a "girl's night dance party" we jumped at the chance.
I was mid way through cutting up the homemade pizza (pizza that Brody and Keira sprinkled all the cheese on themselves!), and I had already folded five loads of laundry and gone through a nail biter of a basketball game, (Ty's team won by one point, and Ty fouled out of the game with one minute left!) and basketball pictures (just what I want to spend money on the week before Christmas), and a week and a half's worth of grocery shopping, and putting away of said groceries (which also means batting away children who can't control themselves and are suddenly transformed into ravenous wolves when new boxes of snacks arrive), and cleaned the house, and put about twenty ornaments back on the tree that those sneaky kiddos love to take down, and made breakfast and lunch and, and and and and... you get the idea.  I had not stopped a once!  SO when that call from the Kristina who makes me sign up for races and then doesn't run with me, (who from now on shall be called Kristina who saves me from a busy day with a dance party) came I let Keira finish eating her pizza and then handed over the reigns to Nathan for some boy time and Keira and I dashed like mad out the door for some much needed girl time, fun and laughs.

And then we danced.

And danced.

And danced.

And I didn't feel bad that I was too busy to go for a run yesterday, because I was working up a sweat and having more fun that I have had in a while.

Keira was having fun too.  She watched everything Kristina's daughter Savannah did, and tried to copy it exactly.

I love moments like last night.  I love the unplanned fun that jumped into our laps, the girl time that I got to share with Keira, the laughs that came from the ridiculous dance moves, the pajama pants and tee shirts, the wine the adults got to have, and the fun Sav and Keira got to have with us.

It was needed.

It was perfect.

First Animal Sounds

Here is Keira making a monkey sound and Lion sound. She has also mastered the dog sound and snake sound. I will try to capture those soon.

Dear Keira (On Your First Birthday)

Happy Birthday Keira!
I can not believe a year has passed so quickly. It feels like I've blinked, and now here you are one year old! My sweet baby girl, you are everything I could have asked for and more. You can light up the room with your smile. Your very being exudes so much warmth and love that I swear it is tangible when anyone is around you. Your hugs are amazing, I mean amazing. You have a way of snuggling yourself right into the crook of a neck and just resting there, long enough to transfer your affection. When you think you've successfully done this you lift your head and stare into the object of your affection's eyes as if to make sure they understood your love.
Your favorite game of the moment is peek-a-boo. If you so much as hear the word "boo" you giggle with excitement and put your hands over your eyes, ready to play. You are so funny.
You love to explore, and you pay so much attention to the detail of things. You even like to play cars and trains with Brody, and make the vroom vroom sound so well (much to your brother's delight.)
Keira you have brought so much joy into my world. You are a gift. There is no doubt in my mind you are on this Earth for a grand purpose. I believe the term old soul applies to you. You have this knowledge and understanding that is written in your eyes.
You have done just what I had hoped for, and given your brothers a soft edge. I love seeing them interact with you, so careful. Although your Daddy had pushed for your middle name to be Baby (so he could always call you his baby), he doesn't call you that as much as he calls you his angel. I think that name is fitting.
I am ready to experience life with you. For me, this will be a new adventure. I am skilled in the art of zombie tag and know all of Thomas the Train's friends names. I know more than the average girl about sports (okay that part wasn't necessarily from raising boys.) I know wrestlers names, and how to build cool Lego models, but I have yet to enter girl-world in it's glory. I am so excited for what this year holds for you. I know this time next year I will be talking to you, and will have you answering back. This year you will grow leaps and bounds. Although I would love to keep you my little peanut forever, you will always be my baby.
Keira, my birthday wish for you is happiness. I wish for happiness throughout your life, in whatever you choose to do. You have the world at your fingertips. Your journey is not yet mapped, and I am so excited to see where your path, where the story of your life will lead you.
You have made an footprint on the hearts of all those that know you, and I know you will continue to do this and touch people's lives throughout your life. Keira, always stay true to yourself and pure at heart. Your magnetism will take you far in life, and like I said I wish happiness through all of it.
I could not begin to put down in words my love for you. There are no words, for the feeling is too deep and vast and layered and great.
Happy Birth-Day my sweet Keira!


Congratulations to Sarah for winning the petti-tutu giveaway!

Keira, Liberty and a Mirror

24 Hour Improvement

What a difference a day makes. Keira has gone from shaky walking to standing on her own and walking EVERYWHERE! I mean this child is ready to take on the world. She no longer cares if I am there for her to walk to. Watch out world!

Keira Walking!

This, That, Where

Walk This Way

Lion

Listen at the 10-11 second mark, Keira says Lion. I have wondered for a while if this is what she was saying, and finally got it on video! Now I know I'm not crazy!!!

New Videos

Uploaded four new videos for your viewing pleasure, ENJOY!!!

Keira practicing walking

Brody playing basketball

Sneaking up on Nate (he was singing and building models)

Ty and Keira dancing

Videos Galore

Visiting Santa

Keira waving hi

Breakfast (and listen carefully, Keira says Done)

Brody explaining hockey

Silly Boys

watch the boys pretend to be on So You Think You Can Dance

Bath time

click here for yet another video (I'm freeing up my camera, finally!)

Mobile Baby

Here are two videos of Keira. Click here to see her crawling. Or click here to see her cruising the train table.

Songs for the Elderly

Here is a link to the video of Nate's preschool singing in the elderly home. Unfortunately, I can not just post the video here, because the file is too big.

Video of the Day