Dancing Queen and a Twist on Guacomole

A local coffee shop has been advertising Obama Java for months now, they even offer a coffee cup with Obama's "mug" on it. It's cute, but I think Loretta came up with one better. Loretta knows who Barack Obama is and recognizes him on TV, etc. She's very excited about him b/c her class talked about him. The other day when I dropped her off at the Y one of the teachers there was talking about "Obama" and she chimed in with total authority "It's BARACK Obama" and the little 3 year old next to her said "I LOVE Barack Obama, I voted for him!". It's pretty amazing when our toddlers can feel the history in the making around them. The other night at dinner, John had made Mexican, she was a little mixed up when she declared she didn't like having barackomole on her plate. John and I just about died. I think she's on to something. Use avocados and other ingredients from Hawaii, jar it and SHIP IT! It would be a huge hit.

Caroline has become quite the dancing queen (video below). When she's not forcing us to read to her constantly, she's pretty much either reading to herself - using an adorable rhyming sing song OR dancing. The girl is a total ham and more than anything loves to get a reaction out of you. If she can get you laughing she can hardly contain herself. The one thing she can't handle though is John saying no to her. I can say no all day long and she'll shoot me this, "I'm too cute to kill me so I'm going to do it anyway" look. But with John, he can say something completely calm and pleasant, like "Caroline, don't lick the refrigerator" and the waterworks begin. Real tears streaming down for 10 minutes or more. Sobbing for Mommy and seemingly in total shock and disbelief that her Daddy could possible have said no to her. She's a riot and she's going to be just as much as a hand full as her big sister. The two of them together will cause havoc without a doubt.

Here are a couple pictures of the girls painting:

John and I are doing well, he's been a huge help to me since I have zero energy and I'm still suffering from morning sickness much of the day. I actually feel worse in the evenings. But, I'm nearly 11 weeks and hopefully this part will be behind me soon enough. I know what would help me most would be to start exercising again so that's high on my list. It's hard though when it's so brutally cold and all you want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket and sleep until spring. Baby #3 is doing well and we even got to see him/her lounging on his/her back and kicking legs and arms at last weeks ultrasound.

The biggest unknown we have right now, or I guess I should say the most immediate unknown, is whether or not I'll be employed next week. Seems to be general agreement that next Tuesday will be the day for layoffs at work and while I'm not agonizing over this b/c it wouldn't help if I did, I'm certainly anxious to get this next round over with. I know I'm not the only one in this position these days, in fact those who aren't are few and far between. But, whatever happens, we'll find a way and I believe that some times these things can be a blessing in disguise.

Love to all!

Shades of Gray

I had hoped I would get use to the cold. That living up here long enough I would eventually tolerate it, maybe even begin to enjoy aspects of it. That seeing my girls in snow suits making snow angels would be all it took to get me excited about the weather. That I could find pleasure in it through their eyes.

I wish that were the case. Each winter it gets harder instead of easier. I find it depressing to be honest. The holidays get me through to exactly January 1st and by January 2nd I'm dreaming of spring. Everywhere I look are shades of gray. Salt residue covers every inch. The roads, snow, sky, trees, cars, street signs, even the sunshine; everything...different shades of gray.

And don't get me started on the cold. I can't shake it, it's deep in my bones. It reminds me of when I had to get fluids by IV when I was pregnant with Loretta. They store those fluids in refrigerators and talk about literally having your blood turn into ice. There is no blanket warm enough. That's how I feel in my own house and at work. Never warm enough to thaw my bones completely. We had an ice storm recently and hearing those huge 100 year old limbs snap under the frozen wait on them was disturbing and impressive at the same time. Mother Nature and her uncompromising glory.

But, luckily, I do have one constant and brilliant ray of warm light to help me through this long, cold, bitter winter. My children. I can't look at them without feeling privileged and beyond fortunate to have them in my life.