February 10, 2013

Almost free!

We did two dig-out sessions today.  One in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Ashlin didn’t do quite as well this morning as she has the other times we went out.  Maybe her gloves were still a bit wet, I don’t know.  I only got to help Stu a little bit.  Trying to keep the girls enthusiastic, I suggested trying to get to the swing set, so I could start shoveling the deck.  They were game, very happy at the thought of the slide.  I didn’t think it through quite as much as I should have.

The snow was almost to my waist.  Blazing a trail was not easy, especially while carrying Ashlin on one hip.  She couldn’t stand, though when I sat her on the snow, she sort of stayed on the surface.  Teagan had a lot of trouble following in my footprints.  So, I’d go a little way, put Ash down, go back and get Teagan.  Leave Teagan, forge ahead with Ashlin, go back and get Teagan.  Incredibly tiring work, and I hadn’t even started shoveling yet!

Eventually we got there, Teagan played on the slide a bit, though she had trouble climbing the wall with her boots on.  Ashlin was with me, sitting on the stack of deck chairs while I cleared the door.  The door that had snow higher than Teagan!  I got most of that done, and started on a window before Ashlin and then Teagan were fed up.  Getting back to the front was a bit easier, I could follow my trail, but still, it was leapfrogging up with one and going back for the other.  Teagan did try a bit to walk herself out though, my big girl.

The snow was stupid high

While I was out back, Stu got most of the end of the driveway open.

We went in, and we all napped.

Ashlin was still a big cranky about being outside in the afternoon.  She wanted to be near both of us, and really didn’t want to try to build a snow monster, like Teagan did.  The driveway was open enough, so I dropped Ashlin in the car – in Teagan’s seat! – and backed out.  All the snow on the roof fell off in the road as soon as I stopped.  It was so loud when it slide off.  I took the car around the block while Stu continued to widen the end, and to see the neighborhood.  Ashlin enjoyed that, but really wanted to walk, “Ashlin walk, snow.  Walk.”  How could we refuse?

So, while Stu continued working on the driveway, I took the girls and we went for a walk.  It was so strange, the snow plow only did one pass, so the road was only one car wide.  We saw a few people out, still digging out their cars, their driveways.  Teagan would always say “hi!  What’s your name?” Quickly followed by “my name is Teagan!”  Most people humor her and replied with their name.

They both were very good on the walk, not getting too far ahead or behind.  Listening well.  Teagan would stop every few feet to get a new snowball, or boulder, as a new one would pique her fancy.  You could see who had a snowblower and who shoveled.  Or hadn’t finished shoveling!

Free at last!

Anyway, we’re free! Or at least able to get out of the house and go around the block. I’m not sure how much else of town is cleared, last night there was something like 80% of town that was still unplowed, like we were.

Oh, and the door and windows are clear, as is some of the chimney.  As much as I could get to before dinner.

Fingers crossed that the rain we’re forecast for tomorrow will melt some of what we have, and not sit on top and weight it down.

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February 9, 2013

Drifts

The snow fell until just about 10:30 and Stu headed out.  It was so pretty, and pretty amazing.  We had somewhere around 30 inches of snow out there.  With all the drifting, it’s hard to see, but we have a certified measure of 37 inches (OMG!) less than a mile away in one direction and 35 inches another.    Some drifts are taller than the old baby, most are taller than the young baby.

Stu was able to shovel a quick path to the driveway while I bundled up the girls.  They wanted to sled, I was pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to, so pulled out all the sand toys.  The toys that Stu laughingly told me I started calling the snow toys.  At first they had fun running back and forth in the almost tunnel to the driveway.  It sort of looks like Beggars Canyon if you squinted.

The girls were mostly contained as they could not walk in the snow, so I started helping Stu shovel.  It was not fun.  The snow was so high – almost waist high! – that you had to do several shovels to get down to the ground.  Ugh.  At least it wasn’t too heavy, unless you overloaded the shovel.

I got to focus on shoveling for about 10 minutes.

Not quite Beggars Canyon

The girls enjoyed the pathway to and from the house…

Clearing off the Chairs

Teagan helped a bit clearing off some of the front porch.  Then they both got bored and started wandering into shovel range.  They were curious, and tired of entertaining themselves, wanted us to do it.

We did find Stu’s car

We found my car too!

The snow on my car may not look so high, but remember that our driveway is a steep hill.  So, we found both cars.  Yay!  After about an hour of shoveling, wrangling little ones, everyone was cold so we went back inside, unwrapped the kids, ourselves.  Tried to warm up, though I forgot the hot cocoa, because, well, it was nap time!!  Everyone rested, even if they didn’t actually sleep.

I made you a cake

After nap/quiet time, Teagan helped me make cupcakes.  We had lunch, bundled up and went out again!

Snowflakes on eyelashes

We got a bit more done in the afternoon dig-out session, but again were restricted by the length of the girls attention spans.  And how warm they were.  Ashlin broke down first, so I took her in.  Teagan stayed out for a bit longer with Stu, being a very good girl, staying out of the shovel’s way and dusting snow off my car.  And mugging for pictures.

Pretty smile

Stu and I did another evening dig-out session after the girls went to bed.  We got as far as the plow wake, the plow that finally got to us around 7pm when we were putting the girls to bed.  So, today we were able to find both cars, shovel a path and entry part of the front porch, and one car width to plow wake.  So, we may need to park single file instead of side by side for a while, until it melts a bit…  Hopefully the storm we’re expecting in a week won’t be too bad…

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February 8, 2013

Hello Nemo!  It’s the Blizzard of 2013!  Snowpocalypse.

Ok, enough.  We have a lot of snow.  At least a foot by now.  The wind has turned up and is howling around the house.  The drifting snow has turned the motion sensor lights on at least twice.  There was something that sounded like hail, big rain, and then some  thundersnow!  And lightening!  Yay!

The girls got to play at day care for a few hours this morning while Stu and I got to do some work before we picked them up.  He started shoveling, I went for the girls.  By noon we had about 3 inches, I guess.  He was back inside by the time I got back.

Ashlin helping daddy shovel

Ashlin napped and Teagan snuggled and watched some fairy move on Netflix.  I tried working a bit more.  Not much luck with Teagan home, she is so nosey and just wants to know everything.  Why you typing mama?  Why is that blue, mama?  There’s a 6, right there, mama!  So, when Ashlin woke up, we went outside.

Which is an enormous undertaking in itself.  Two young kids, two snowsuits, pairs of boots, hats, scarf, mittens.  Teagan got bundled up first, and sent out into about 5-6 inches of snow.  I got Ash wrapped up and then made her wait while I got my gear on.

It’s her beach

While Stu continued to shovel the snow, I found some sand toys, dust pans, small shovel.  Ashlin would get stuck in the snow when she moved off the shoveled bit, she had trouble waking in it, it was so deep.

And it packed well!  We made some snowballs, threw those around.  Though Ashlin didn’t want to, she held on to hers.  We molded snow, made a snow man, used the sand toys to make a small fort in front of him.  The girls took turns helping Stu shovel.  I shoveled a bit too.  Then we went sledding a bit.

Hot cocoa with marshmallows!

And then was the rush to get out of the snowsuit.  We made it though!

The girls warmed up with some hot chocolate.  Ashlin had her first mug, (warm!), and she loved it.  Or was it the  marshmallows on top that made her so happy?  Maybe both.

Stu and I went back out to shovel once the girls were in bed.  There had been so much snow that fell between our sortie three hours earlier that you almost couldn’t tell. It’s now about an hour and a half since we shoveled, and again, it’s like we never went out.  We must have gotten at least four inches.

Anyway, we’re done for the night.  Fingers crossed we don’t lose power, they expect about 30% of the state to be out before all is said and done.  Yo Gabba Gabba has been canceled, (boo! I was strangely looking forward to some dancy dance), so we have nothing to go out for tomorrow.  We can take our time getting whatever snow we get off the porch, path, driveway and cars.  I will admit to not looking forward to the end of the driveway!

Even with all this snow, I’m happy I live here, and not where it rains spiders.

December 29, 2012

Snow Sisters

Wow.  Can’t believe it’s almost the end of the year.  This year has really flown by.

Today was a snow day!  Yay!  We were supposed to go home, have lunch with the ‘rents, get hair cuts, meet up with friends, have dinner with the gang.  The forecast changed plans.  We were expected to get about 6-8 inches.  Right now, I think we have a solid eight.  And who wouldn’t want that?

Earlier this afternoon, we all bundled up in hats*, coats, boots, mittens or gloves and headed out to play.  Or shovel the driveway.  The girls loved sledding down the hill in our yard.  They’re still small enough that it’s a good hill.

We started with the small sled, the one person sled.  Teagan LOVED it.  She wasn’t too sure last year, but she’s bigger now.  She didn’t want to stop.  Ashlin, I think, felt a little left out, and we dug out the bigger sled.  She was very reluctant to go down the hill with her sister and I, but eventually agreed.  She had fun!  Each time, she’d do a “no, no no” but as we started going down, she’d say “yay!”

Teagan enjoyed her hot cocoa today.  Last year, she wasn’t convinced it was a good thing.

I did spell Stu a bit, let him sled with the girls, while I shoveled.

It was a good day.  Even with some of the tears and occasionally turned-off listening-ears.  Both girls were tired, early.  Heaven.

 

* Somehow, I don’t have a hat!  Oh! No!

March 1, 2012

Yesterday, as Stu was driving Teagan home from day care, it was snowing a wet and heavy snow.  He turned on the rear wiper to clear the window.  As it moved across the window, it made a funny noise.  Teagan laughed.  She said the car farted.  Stu played with her the rest of the ride home, turning the rear wiper on a few times, letting Teagan giggle about how the car was farting, then turning it off.  Then back on, with a different timing, and then off.

She was so excited by it, it was the first thing she stuttered when she got in.  Mama!  The car! Farts! Hahahahahaha! Farts!

This morning, I had to put the wipers on again.  It was doing something between rain and wet snow.  The rear wiper made a noise.  Teagan was beside her self laughing because the car was farting again.  I played with her, putting the wiper on and off at different intervals, and it was fun.

Ashlin laughed, because her sister was laughing.  It was a nice ride in to day care.

My car farts.  LOL!

January 21, 2012

Snow!

It snowed.  Last night and today.  Light and fluffy snow.  Not good snowman making snow.  Teagan was sad about that.  Oh well.  We still had fun playing in it.

We went out in the morning, while the snow was still falling, and had a blast.  Teagan tried making snow castles, even though it wasn’t really packing snow.

Granted, Teagan wasn’t listening much, she kept getting in Stu’s way while he was shoveling the driveway. But she wanted to help him.  We probably should get her a small snow shovel, just to humor her.

Snow angel!

So, instead of making a snow man or snow castles, Teagan and I tried to make snow angels.  Sometimes getting her to do something is like herding cats.  Eventually, she did one – for LaLa.

She didn’t want to ride the sled down the hill, but eventually sat in it, and by the afternoon, let me pull her around.

Catching snowflakes was also something Teagan kept trying to do.  She loves to eat snow.  We have to make sure she eats only clean snow.  Also, was always taking her mittens off, and then complaining about her hands being cold.  Silly girl!  They’re there to keep your hands warm!

Catching snowflakes

We had to go in after about an hour.  Everyone was cold – Teagan too!   Although, as it was her nap time, she insisted she wasn’t cold, and wanted to stay out.  Ashlin slept through the entire outing, which made it easier.

We bundled everyone up and went back out after lunch, even Ashlin, who wasn’t being compliant and napping as she should.  So, in her bunting, I put her in the swing.  She had fun!  She’d get a push from me, or from Teagan, or occasionally Stu (who was still shoveling the driveway).

She was all smiles and laughing.  When she could see her sister, she would smile bigger.  Watching her enjoy snow was so much fun.

Asnlin

Eventually, Teagan let me pull her on the sled.  Down the hill in the front yard, over the curb, and up the driveway.  Back to the begining.  Ashlin got a push at the top, and would giggle.  Off we’d go again for another circuit.

Stu, by this time, had finished shoveling the driveway, put the shovels away and came up.  Teagan and I were about halfway down the yard when he said that Ashin – who I had just pushed not even two minutes before – was freezing.  He took her in, I finished the trip with Teagan and then we came in.

Ten minutes later, we got all the snow suits and stuff off, and Teagan up to bed for an afternoon nap.  Stu told me that Ashlin was really cold, unresponsive cold.  Spooky cold.  She was just staring off, not focusing on anyone.  He got her out of the bunting and wrapped in a blanket and hugged her to get her warm again.

Swinging in the Snow

I had just been there and gave her a push. Teagan pushed her too, and she was gigging.  Crazy how fast that happened.  I would have been back at the top of the path within 3 minutes, and I hope I would have noticed if Stu hadn’t already brought her in to warm up.

She was fine after a little bit.  I snuggled her too.  When she went up for her nap, I swaddled her in a flannel blanket and, after rocking her a bit to get her sleepy, put a nice warm blanket down.  After the nap, she seemed back to normal – hungry, active, dadadada.

I guess, next time we’ll double bundle her and keep an extra close eye on her.

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January 20, 2012

A Surprise Rainbow!  I looked over during a conference call, and there it was!

And Snow!  We’re going to get at least 8 inches (tee hee hee) by the end of this storm…

And right now?  Homemade pizza!

January 16, 2012

Standing Tall!

Lookie who pulled herself up today!  With no help at all.  Up until today, she’s always pulled up on me, or someone, who gave a little bit of help, moving a hand to give her better traction, better leverage.  Up until today, she’s tried to pull up, but wasn’t able to get all the way.  Today, she succeeded.

Then stood there, playing with her sister’s toys for about 10 minutes.  I let her.  By the end, her legs were quivering from the exertion.    I think she left some drool on her sister’s creepy scout doll.  She was so proud of herself.

Five minutes after that, she crawled.  Forward.

After that morning nap, she got herself back up to a sitting position from a “superman” belly on the floor.

So many milestones in one day.  This would explain some of the crawling around, fitful sleep she’s been doing lately.  She “crawls” around the crib in her sleep, trying to roll over, stand, move forward.  Then she gets lost and cries.  Silly girl.

Now, all we need are the teeth to finish cutting through.  Both bottom teeth are there, just below the surface, little white Chicklets.  They’re not hindering her eating, oh no!  But they are interfering with her nursing.  And that’s just no fun for me, even though I haven’t been taking the Fenugreek lately to increase  supply.

I would also like her to say “mama” to me.  Not just say it when I’m not there, or on the other side of the room.  She can, but she won’t say it to me.  Still.

But for now, the babies are sleeping.  And it’s snowing outside.  But it’s warm inside and I have a snuggly blanket.

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December 4, 2011

Done!

The next bit of craft to hang on the mobile in Teagan’s room.

Time for the leaves to come down.

I’ll slowly swap out these snowflakes for the Christmas ornaments I made last year.

She’ll love it, I hope. Especially after tonight’s double parenting fail. Sigh.

October 30, 2011

Thankfully, our power came on last night around midnight – or was it 2am? – Neither of us are sure. But it doesn’t really matter, the power came back on.  There are still way too many people in town that don’t have power, and many more in the state.

We were lucky.  We didn’t even lose anything from the fridge.

I got to make snow angels with Teagan today.  She’s totally in love with the snow.

At first she didn’t understand why you wanted to be on your back, she kept trying to lie on her stomach to make her angel.  And then she’d take a bite of snow.  Eventually, she would turn over and move her arms and legs to make the angel.  So cute.  Her first snow angel.

Mama and baby snow angels