Mini Sledding Hill

School was out on Friday, because we had poor road conditions and 3 more days worth of snow coming at us.  It is quite literally the most snow I have ever seen in my life.

Friday Snow:

Saturday Snow:

Sunday Snow:

The truck is still there, just completely covered in snow.

So, Saturday, I spent some extra time outside after clearing our sidewalk/driveway for the second day in a row, and made a pile of snow off of the back deck, for the saucer sled we bought!

Grace was the first to try it out, but we didn't have a camera with us yesterday.  She had an excellent time.

Then, with even more snow overnight, the pile was fresh and ready to go for Emily and William!

I think Emily is the only one who truly enjoys the snow, and will suit up and go play in the cold. = )

Today I had to clear the walk/drive for a third day, and my arms and back are quite sore!  Luckily it's supposed to "warm up" this week.  While I think "warm" is a stretch, it'll be nice to have it climb above freezing for at least a couple of days. = )

later days

Everything Else

My final post of the day, all of the other pictures from my phone that didn't fit anywhere else. = )

The Sam's club near us closed down.  I went back a handful of times to see the stages of it closing, and it was sad, and crazy, and sad.

 

If I already posted about this in the blog (I don't think I did) it is really a very upsetting event for my weekly schedule.  Having to go clear to the other side of town to do my major shopping every week is not a possibility, so I'm having to rework all of my tendencies, in the middle of winter. = /

The kids really like the giant icicles.

Alice's friend Willow came to spend the night.  Everyone really enjoyed having her here. = )

There was a lot of dressing up the entire time!

The snow went away for just a few days, and it was a welcome change for my little ones to go out an play, even though it was still cold!

The twins write with opposite hands. G-J

But they make me feel very loved. G-J

The puppy was getting a makeover from the twins. = ) J-G

Emily went on a field trip to the hospital.  She thought it was pretty fun. = )

Alice did chores for me and Aunt Rocky, so that she could buy her new prized possession.

William looks so grown up these days!  Kindergarten round up is next month, and I can see him more and more as a kindergartner! = 0

There are giant snow piles in every parking lot.  This is not something they ever show in the Hollywood version of winter, so it is still surprising to me.  Understandable, and logical, but surprising.

Speaking of which, it's probably why giant stores have so much extra parking in them, it's occupied by snow piles in the north.  Oh, and all those road signs that say "pass with care" and "turn lane ends" are actually probably because you can't see the stripes on the road during this time of year here.  FYI.

My very busy Juliet:

I was super proud of William.  I helped him put 100 dots on the poster, and tape on the title, but he drew all the W's without fighting me once!  He loved the stickers too. = )

The instructions for the poster were not very clear, in fact, they were just a single line on the reminder for the 100 day food item. So, when we brought William's a day early, the other moms were a bit panicked.  I figured that I'd just overlooked the instructions in the weekly newsletter, but apparently that one line was the notice.  It all worked out though, everyone had their 100 day things the next day. = )  This time of year is so crazy for the teachers, with 100 day celebrations, valentines, count day, parent teacher conferences, and starting to look ahead to next year!

There are nights Alice is Johnny on the spot with her homework, and nights that she would rather pout against the door than to take care of it.  This was one of those times.

Avia bought Juliet a new nightgown, so she was waiting by the washer for me to clean it for her.

Did I mention that it snowed?

later days

What our snow days really look like

We had 2 snow days last week, one on Monday and one on Friday.  The Monday one is always tough, because it makes the week feel all out of order.  The Friday one was super welcomed though.  It would have been even better had Billy been able to stay home with us!

Obviously, snow:

Crockpot meals:

Baked goods:

Board games:

And lots and lots of laundry.

later days

Picking up the Orthotics

This is the latest post in series of William, Grace and Juliet's journey with Hypophosphatasia.

Last week, we went to pick up William's orthotics.  

The waiting room is a great place to hide.

William's inserts fit inside both his tennis shoes and new boots. His new boots, of course, have more support built in than his old boots anyhow.  So, now he has some inserts to help his ankles, and hopefully they will start feeling better!

They had a cool circus tent in the exam room!

It was kind of a long trip for the amount of time we were there.  I tried to piggyback it on the orthopedic doctor visit, but the days didn't work out. = /

I'm hopeful that with this little bit of correction, and continuing his Strensiq treatment, that his ankles will continue getting stronger, and eventually he won't need anything extra.

later days

<what happened previously
what happened next>

Orthopedic Doctor

 This is the latest post in the series of William, Grace, and Juliet's journey with hypophosphatasia.

In addition to picking up William's inserts, we also saw an orthopedic specialist.  The day was lots of back and forth for me, as the twins had speech, then we had to go back to pick up William, then back past speech to go up to the clinic.

Their waiting room was designed for adults, but mercifully had a children's area.  It was not enough to keep their attention through the entire wait though, we had a trip to the restroom and water fountain* in there too.

The orthopedic doctor was unfamiliar with hypophosphatasia,  but took some x-rays of his leg.  he saw some new bone growth, which normally happens when there is a fracture or break, but could just be the Strensiq in action.

He sent the films to their endocrinologist to view, so after we see her in April, we will return to him for a follow up...for something?  He didn't see anything worrisome, and surgery is not in the short term plans. = )

At least the snow should be gone by the next time we go up, in May, right?

later days

P.S.  I seem to always be put in charge of the jackets when we are at appointments.  I'm not sure about the big girls' coats, but all three of the little one's jackets will zip together!  It makes them much more manageable to carry around.

*The details are so easy to lose, and I really want to be able to read this and remember how it was.

<what happened previously
what happened next>

Picking Out Glasses

This is the latest post in the series of William, Grace, and Juliet's journey with hypophosphatasia.

The twins have speech twice a week in the next town over, so after their visit one day, we went and picked out glasses for the twins, and put in an order for William's new lenses.

Grace picked out hello kitty, no surprise and Juliet found some my little pony frames that she liked.  Two of the three have come in, but we're waiting for the last pair before we go retrieve them. = )

It's much snowier here now:

later days

<what happened previously
what happened next>

Crafts & Projects

Each weekend I've been able to spend a little bit of time crafting or working on projects!

Teacher gifts.  These are unfinished in the picture, but I did finally finish them!

William's sweater got an upgrade with a Hogwarts patch.

I hung my cookie cutters, so that they are more easily accessible.  The big kids love picking out different ones each night for their lunch sandwiches.

I made a bandana collar for seven, and the fabric made my hands crack and bleed.
 

It took over a year, but I finally had a brainstorm on what to make Mary Jacqueline out of the tea towel I bought at a garage sale!

A pillow/pillow cover for their camper!

I also made some bluebonnet oven mitts, that came out beautifully, "red, white, and blue." for my kitchen, but I don't care for the red with my yellow kitchen. = /   I listed them on Etsy, so they are out there just waiting for the right person to come along. = )  I'll have to get some yellow oven mitts to makeover for myself.

And, working on a project for which I have no tutorial, but plan on using two zippers took me a long time to begin, but I started and finished it on one of our snow days!

A custom wallet for Sarah, to match her purse. = )

I have a couple of projects on my sewing desk, and the kids will be on holiday in a week's time, so hopefully I'll have time to craft. = )

later days