...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:25

The whole fabric of society rests upon the home.
-Theodore Roosevelt

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

a whole lotta nuthin' goin' on!

We've had a lot of requests lately for another blog post, but we've been busy.

"Doing what?"you say..."Nothing!" I reply.

I wish we had spectacular adventures to regale you with, but it's winter, and it's cold, and we haven't bought our snowshoes yet! (We recently attended an introductory class, and once we get another good snowfall, we'll be out trekking for sure!) We still have schooling and ballet, and church, and all the little things that come along with owing a home and running a business that keep us pleasantly occupied.

"Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family... Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

That said, live is always full of little adventures that are worth celebrating:

Kyra has learned to use the potty! I was so glad that the diaper bag no longer needed to be stuffed with cloth, but we've just exchanged the fluff with books, food, and toys which are much heavier, so I'm not quite sure if this is a victory or not! She loves her big-girl panties, and we are glad she can wear pants under her dresses now...leggings don't fit over cloth diapers!

We lost power on Christmas day, from about 4 pm, to 4am, so our goose did not get cooked till the next day. Our power went out again the evening of January 1st, though not for quite as long. The girls were delighted with their LHOTP-style candle-lit games and crafting on those evenings and it was a perfect excuse for Steven and I to curl up on the couch with some cocoa and a warm blanket! Both gave us excellent opportunities to enjoy our new fireplace, which, as you can see, is not quite finished yet!



Our new dining-room table and chairs arrived in early December, so the Kitchen Table Academy gratefully welcomed back the kitchen table! Our three students are glad for the solid work surface and I'm glad to have a place to set my sewing maching! (now, I've got find the time to USE it!)


Other home improvements include painting the girls' bathroom, new light fixtures for the kitchen, and feeble attempts to de-ice the driveway!






We all went ice-skating on Emma's half-birthday, and Maya enjoyed it so much, we enrolled her in lessons. Two days later, Maya's friend Lydia gave her her old pair of skates which fit perfectly! She's doing very well, and it is a lovely way to spend our Saturday morning while Emma is in ballet. Her balance,  grace, and confidence improve each week The rink also has an inside walking/running track and I'd get some excercise except...





...for the nasty fall I took on Sunday. I made a hasty and poor choice in footwear and my knee paid the price. Kyra was in my arms, adding 32.5 pounds to the impact! Inspired by the lovely bruise, and a funny comment made by my friend Beth, I've written a poem:

I bought a lovely skirt to wear
with yellows, blues, and reds
I'd wear it when the weather's fair,
but all my shoes have treads.

I have some pretty dresses
with lovely silken threads
but the icy streets are messes,
so all my shoes have treads.

The weather's cold, the sun is low,
we've hats upon our heads,
we're going to play in all that snow,
'cuz all my shoes have treads!

The ice is a result of an unseasonably warm week in December. While the rest of the country was unusually cold, we enjoyed balmy temperatures in the upper 30's and 40's. How strange it was to go outside without  needing hats, scarves, or gloves! We'd been working on an igloo in the backyard, and watched in dismay as it slowly wilted in the relative warmth. Once the weather got back to "normal" everything froze, and the backyard is now rock-hard and no good for sledding, snow-angel making, or anything! (since I wrote that, there was a small 3" fall, and it is snowing right now!) We're planning a second attempt at igloo building, (once we get a nice foundation of snow again) and the blocks are stacked and ready on the deck.

before...
...after!

Emma's new teeth are poking through the gums, and we're happy to say that probably the worst pain of her orthodontic treatment has passed.


Steven has joined a local curling team with his colleagues at work, and that has proven to be a very pleasant diversion for him. He has also found the time to do a few woodworking projects, and we are so glad to see his tools being put to good and creative use.

Today, the Emma and Maya added swimming lessons to their weekly repertoire. Both can already swim, but this clinic will help perfect their techniques and it gives them some play time in one of the warmest pools in town. Still, we bought wetsuits for all of us, and were thankful for their insulation after noticing that 30 minutes into the 90 minute session, child after child reluctantly climbed out, lips quivering and purple.

Other than that, not much is really new.  We hope and pray you are all well. The girls are always thrilled to receive a letter or a postcard or even an e-mail from friends far away, so please consider making their day and dropping a little note in the mail.

Stay tuned for Wordless Wednesday, Thursday Thirteen, and "Did you knit that?"