Snow Day!

So, yes, we did have a big blizzard yesterday. We were blessed that all six of us were home and safe and we never lost power. I had stocked up on plenty of food, including junk food I don't normally buy the kids, I brought home dozens of books and DVDs from the library, our cars' gas tanks were full, and we were ready to ride out the storm.

This is what it looked like out our front window once the storm was in full swing...

The snow was blowing in sideways, covering our windows until we could no longer see outside...

...and the next morning, we discovered that the wind had been so strong, it forced the snow inside the storm door.

Notice how little of my garden chair is peeking out of the snow now!

This is a view of our backyard taken from the upstairs window. Notice the drifts...

Looks like it will be a while before we're barbecuing again!

Can you see Rachel? She's standing on a drift, her head above the monkey bars on our swing set!

The drifts were so high that the kids were able to do some sledding right in our back yard!

Meanwhile, I was inside working this small appliance...

...while Hannah, my indoor girl, worked on a design project for Girl Scouts.

This is what the yard looked like when they were all done!

And we have another Snow Day called for tomorrow!

Author Project

Rachel's third grade classmates have been researching various authors of children's books. Rachel chose Mo Willems for her project. Our family are huge fans of Mr. Willems' books, including "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus", "Knuffle Bunny" and the Elephant and Piggie series. His illustrations are delightful and his books make both parents and children laugh out loud!

Rachel researched Mr. Willems' life and work carefully and found lots of pictures of his works and characters on the internet for me to print. Just before her presentation, I wiped out the Sugar Grove and North Aurora libraries of all his works, including two board books, a couple of titles which were less familiar, and a copy of "Knuffle Bunny" in Spanish! Her finishing touch was to include her stuffed Elephant and Piggie in her display.

Rachel received a lot of encouragement from her fantastic third grade teacher, Mrs. Linden. Al and I were both able to attend the author presentations, and were so proud of Rachel's hard work!

I need to pick up a copy of this book for David. It's hysterical and practical at the same time!

Just Like Daddy

This Christmas, my mom gave Al and David these great sweatshirts. David loves wearing his "Guy shirt" with jeans and an undershirt, "Just like Daddy!"

New Recipe - Week 4: Layered Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas

I made Layerd Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas from Heavenly Homemakers at the end of a crazy-busy Saturday this weekend. They were fast, easy and tasty. Two big and 3 1/2 small thumbs up - good review! Totally Aldi-friendly and inexpensive. And did I mention fast?

Just a few notes:

• The 9x13 pan the recipe called for was just way too big - I used a 7x11 Pyrex I have.


• The original recipe says it makes 6 - 8 servings. Just barely, and four of us are on the small side. Next time, I'll double it and heat any leftovers for lunches.


• I might even make two and freeze one! Always looking for good recipes to freeze!

Simple Woman's Daybook - January 24th

Outside my window... cold, grey, damp.


I am thinking... through plans for some upcoming events here, including Rachel's Gotcha Day party and Abbie's birthday party.

I am thankful for... the wonderful, lifelong friends we made each time we traveled to China to adopt.


I am wearing... old jeans, bulky socks, navy turtleneck, LL Bean fishermen's sweater


I am going... to have to start making more lists so things don't fall through the cracks.


I am creating... a list of dinner ideas, since I always draw a blank when it comes time to plan my weekly menu.


I am currently reading... The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis.

I am hoping... that we all continue to stay healthy this winter. So far, so good...


I am hearing... total silence. David had a meltdown on the living room floor and cried and fussed himself to sleep!


In the kitchen... chaos. Dishwasher full of clean dishes, sink full of dirty ones, bags of groceries everywhere, waiting to be put away, remnants of the Sunday Tribune, tiny paper scraps from a school project, magnetic refrigerator letters... You get the idea!


Around the house... laundry, toys, projects piling up everywhere. I really need to stay home and get more done!


One of my favorite things... how David runs to me with a huge smile and hug when I pick him up from school.


A few plans for the rest of the week... morning visit with a friend, Tupperware party Thursday night, David's China group here on Saturday.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

(David's first taste of lobster; Maine, November 2010)

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember. Hosted by Soulemama.

Winter

Winters in northern Illinois are long. And cold. And dark. The stretch between Christmas and Spring Break can seem endless. And yet, I try to take a moment now and then to appreciate the beauty right outside my window...

David Goes To School

David turned 3 in November and "aged out" of the Early Intervention program, which was providing speech therapy for him. He qualified for the Early Childhood program at our elementary school. I was happy to hear that he would be getting services from such a qualified, caring team, but was apprehensive about sending him off to school four mornings a week. It seemed like a lot for such a little guy.

I needn't have worried. He loves school, loves his teachers, is making great friendships, learning how to work and play with other children, learning to follow directions. Best of all, after just a few weeks, we are seeing (hearing) a marked improvement in his speech. It's so great to hear what he's thinking!

So, David had his very own First Day of School. He insisted on wearing "stripes!", so I found him a handsome shirt for his special day. He loves wearing "Daddy shirts" (undershirts like Daddy's) under his special clothes. And he had a brand new red backpack from LL Bean that, even though it is "Junior sized", is still almost as big as he is!

"Don't I look handsome!"

"And check out my great new backpack!"

"Here we are at school!"

"What a great day!"

"I'm gonna have so much fun in school!"

"OK, teachers, I'm ready to come in now!"

"Pleeeeeeease let me in..."

"Off I go with Miss Kim!"

"Better wave 'Goodbye' to my poor Mama as she stands there crying behind her camera..."

Every afternoon during his first week of school, David fell asleep on the couch wearing his backpack!

New Recipe - Week 3: Potato Bacon Chowder

I can't believe it - we have another winner!

For some reason, I got it in my head that I wanted to make some sort of hearty "chowder" for these cold winter nights. I started cruising around allrecipes.com and stumbled upon this recipe for Potato Bacon Chowder. It fit all my criteria: Aldi-friendly, inexpensive, quick to make. Tonight was the perfect night to fix it as the temperature is already down to 13 degrees outside, and it's not even 7:00 yet. Brrrrrrr.

Al is on his way home from St. Louis tonight, so he didn't get to try it, but it got a big thumbs up from me and 3 little thumbs up. Rachel is not a fan of potatoes, so she didn't give it a thumbs up, but she "didn't totally hate it", and did eat a pretty full serving. The children sprinkled shredded sharp cheddar cheese on it because, as we all know, life is just better with cheese!

With second helpings, we scraped the pot clean, and Al wasn't even here to eat any. Next time, I will make a double recipe so we can all have as much as we want, and the girls can take some to school in their Thermoses for lunch.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... still very dark and very cold.

I am thinking... of how many "crafty" projects the kids have due at school in the next couple of weeks and how many trips to Michael's it's going to take to get them done.

I am thankful for... this three-day weekend and time with friends today.

I am wearing... Green Bay Packers flannel plaid pants (Al bought them for me many years ago in a moment of great selflessness), grey long-sleeve tee shirt

I am going... to a Tupperware party and am unusually excited at the prospect of not only meeting some new local moms, but also about new containers.

I am creating... a little gift for a friend.

I am currently reading... Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn

I am hoping... to finally get my desk cleaned up this week!

I am hearing... the early morning silence before kids begin to wake up. And Charlotte is puttering around in her cage.

In the kitchen... Magic Cookie Bars and homemade mac and cheese for lunch with a friend from Rachel's China group.

Around the house... a liiiiiiiitle less stuff as I continue my New Year's goal to purge and organize.

One of my favorite things... early-morning knitting while drinking my coffee and watching the early news.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Al's birthday Friday, working with kids on their projects for school (EC winter banner, 3rd grade author biography, Girl Scout dream bedroom plans), more cleaning/organizing, a Chinese New Year program on Friday, a haircut for me on Saturday, a preschool music program with David on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

(Christmas jammies - Christmas Eve 2010)