Highlights

The last week has been a bit of a blur, what with the Seattle “blizzard” and all. School was cancelled 3 out of 5 days last week, and I got to spend a lot of time with the family, which was fantastic – but didn’t allow for much time to actually write anything down. Thus, we’ll have a bit of recapping…

On the 17th, school was closed for the first of the three days, since there was a possibility of snow. The snow never actually came, so everyone started calling it the “practice snow day”. We got some good play time in, LG, LD and I playing a lot of chase, reading comics, and making the first round of our Christmas goodies (which I still haven’t sent out). Fudge, buckeyes, and pumpkin cupcakes – LD helped making most of it, though he was gone for an hour or so, playing at T & F’s house across the street. LG liked getting bits and pieces of the goodies, her eyes lighting up with each new treat. She never got more than one bite of anything, but that one bite was enough.

The next day, we swapped play times with LD’s friend from up the street. She came down to our house and played for a couple of hours – including in the snow (finally), then they switched. L & I were both home, taking turns watching LG and hanging out together. LD, his friend and I had a huge snowball fight on the way up to her house, and it was a good one.

Friday, with more snow and the school closed yet again, we spent more time outside and exchanging playdates with folks in the neighborhood. There was a lot of time spent out in the snow, and LD and his other friend, Z, seemed to have a lot of fun in the backyard together while LG was napping. After heading back in to take the chill off with some hot chocolate and warm cupcakes, we went back out, this time in the front yard. We took an over-bundled LG with us – she mostly just stood there. Literally, just stood, still as a statue, taking it all in. the couple of times she tried to move, she fell face down in the snow, getting a face full of the stuff. It didn’t seem to bother her so much as puzzle her; she appeared quizzical about the whole thing.

Saturday rolled around, and we spent an hour in the car so you could see Santa. We hadn’t really been paying attention to the date, and didn’t realize that EVERYONE would be going to the mall at the same time. The line to see Santa wasn’t too long, only about a half an hour, but the traffic going to the mall was crazy. Both LD & LG were perfect during the trip – no whining, fussing or complaining, which earned a pretzel before we left the mass of stores.

While in line for Santa, LD had no trouble making friends with a little girl behind us in line; the two of them found a set of massage chairs, and they scrunched together while sitting in them. LG wandered around the line in her cute little PJ’s that my mom had sent her – we’ll call her G.O. All of the clothes that G.O. sent were really cute, and we decide to use ‘em for the photo.

Then it was Sunday again, and I had to work – though not for too long. It was extremely slow, so I wound up coming home early. I bought some new mittens for LD, and as soon as I got home he wanted to try them out. The whole family bundled up and went into the front yard, playing together in the snow. We brought T & F over to play with us, having snow fights and digging snow tunnels, while L snapped a few pictures. After about an hour, LG got tired of standing around (and of getting knocked over by our dogs – they’d come out with us), and it was time for her and L to go back inside. LD, T, F and I stayed out for another hour and then all adjourned to our respective homes for dinner and bed. LD asked if I could play with him while he took his bath, and I promised him I’d do it on Monday or Tuesday.

I’m back at work, and am fairly well caught up, though not with as much detail as I’dve liked.


Oh, and I almost forgot – on Wed, the day I went to work for just a bit, we had a Secret Santa. Austin, one of my co-workers, picked me, and he gave me this HUGE stuffed pig that was super soft. He’d won it in a carnival, and thought my kids might like it. LD was in bed when I got home, but the next morning, when he came to get us up, L told me he’d spent the entire day before cleaning & help look after LG, so I gave him the pig. It was an immediate and HUGE hit – the thing hasn’t left his side since, at least not when he’s been indoors. He sleeps curled up next to it, and has named it Mr. Fluffy.