Snow Days

Before I get into the snow storm business that we've dealt with all weekend, I need to write a short blurb about little Harper. She has been making us laugh with little things that she's picked up on. For instance, when we change her diaper, we usually offer her a toy to distract her; Tony has been offering her a baby hairbrush and saying "brush your hair, Harper" and today, she brushed her hair- too funny.  She also likes to sit in a small wagon, and I watched her grab the handle and hoist herself up, I took a picture and she laughed and then sat back down. This time I flipped on the video camera and asked if she was going to do pull ups, then I said "ready, set, go!" upon hearing this, Harper pulled herself right up to standing and grinned, then she sat down and I said "are you going to do another one?" she immediately grabbed the handlebar and pulled herself up again. I have no idea how she knew what "pull-up", "go" or "do another one" meant. Harper and Jack also have a little dog that plays songs and says the phrase "So big!" Harper heard this and threw her arms over her head like she used to when we would do her stretches. I don't know how she remembers this stuff, but she cracks me up.  Oh, and here's a picture of Jack- a boy after my own heart, reading- love that little one. Okay, onto the snow day...

Today is day three of being trapped in the house, and tomorrow will be more of the same. For some reason, Texas has decided that it wants to be Michigan and we have been relegated to staying inside and snuggling under blankets while the thermostat hoovers around 27 degrees and the sheet of ice that is our driveway keeps us prisoners in our own house.

Day 1 was fun- a day off work and a day to play with the kids and introduce them to the "snow"- it's deceptive, it looks like snow, but instead it's just ice (ask poor Abby who went barreling headfirst into the flowerbed). The kids seemed to like the crunchy ground and didn't even mind getting bundled up for the cold.

Day 2 we realized we wouldn't be getting out all day long and we noticed some things around the house needed to be tended to, for instance, we have two trees that we lost to the ice- front yard tree is missing two large branches from the top that have crumpled and look like sad reminders of the shade of summer; the backyard tree has been split down the middle, like a banana that's been peeled. So Tony put on his boots and assessed the damage. When he got back inside, we heard a chirping noise and realized that a smoke detector needed new batteries, we had one- done!  Until the second smoke detector started chirping, thank goodness the neighbors had a battery...until the third smoke detector started chirping- we now have a disconnected smoke detector on the island.

Day 3 has been a drag. Harper stared running fever last night and threw up when we tried to give her medicine. She has spent spurts of the day playing with Jack followed by quiet time sitting with me or Tony. She has had a couple of outfit changes due to other puking experiences and we are praying for a few things: 1) for the fever to break, 2) that she will keep eating so she doesn't dehydrate, 3) that Jack won't get sick.

Speaking of Jack, he took a spill today. He was trying to crawl and maintain his grip on his football, unfortunately, he slipped and whacked his head on the window sill. It was just a small cut, but it bled and required some ice, which he wasn't fond of. Still, the boy was smiling ten minutes later and up and playing. I suppose I should get used to bumps and scrapes with these little movers and shakers.

So, tomorrow will be day 4 of house arrest, and I think Tony is going to try and make it to the store. We're hoping that temperatures will be above freezing by noon and can help clear out all the ice.  I'm thankful we're safe and warm and have each other- even if we've all got cabin fever.