We're here.

I'm not sure where the week went. Suddenly, it's Friday night. Theo is downstairs watching a bit of "Frosty Returns" before bed. Emmett, who only napped for about 30 minutes this afternoon, turned in for the night without protest about a half an hour ago. My night is still young, as I have 25 Christmas cards left to address, and a few dozen sugar cookies to cut out and bake. I'm going to try to squeeze this post in, while waiting for space in the oven.

Despite the freezing cold weather, the boys are slowly getting back to good. Runny noses have cleared up, and scratchy coughs are nearly nonexistant. Of all of the sickness, only mine remains. I've never had an ear infection before (not since childhood, at least...) but I'm starting to think that, maybe, there's something going on in there. My left ear has been just a little achey, a little tender to the touch for the last two days. I have a wicked cough, which produces "lung muffins" (as Dave refers to them... very gross, I know.) I'm spending lots of time with our neti pot, and a tub of Vicks.

Despite how awful this must sound (especially the boogery pastry part... and, the tub of lube) we did have some fun this week. Tuesday we were blessed with a snow day (true to the forecast below)!! Dave had the beginning of the week off, and in the absence of school I used a little vacation time that somehow escaped me this summer. We were quick to bundle up in the morning and head outside, as it had snowed a few inches overnight, and continued to snow throughout the day. Dave got busy shoveling (for once), and the boys and I raced across the street to play with M, A, and S. Emmett was a good sport, but only lasted in the elements for a little over 30 minutes. While he's well versed in walking, and even running, now, accomplishing the same movements while in a snow suit and boots is a different story. I parked him in the garage for a bit in order to take my turn tugging the bigger boys through the fluffy stuff in their sleds. When Emmett reached his breaking point, M volunteered to keep her eye on Theo so that he could continue to play with her boys while Dave finished up his shoveling. We have such great neighbors!!

My parents were in town for less than 24 hours as well, and they spent Tuesday afternoon here with us. My mom, on all fours playing cars and building legos with her grandsons, and my dad curled up on my couch, supervising us all while "reading" (sleeping) his book.

We've been eating a lot of "comfort food" (as Dave keeps calling it...) Warm, stick-to-the-ribs, yummy meals like homemade stroganoff, a Door County cherry marinaded pork tenderloin with mashed sweet potatoes, Aunt Jessica's "chuck wagon" soup, followed by hot fudge Mary Janes.... Mmmmmmm.... I'm working hard not to over indulge, as working out is the last thing I feel like doing with this nasty cold. I'd been running close to 20 miles each week, and this week I'm down to 12. Ugh.

Wednesday night Theo and I, with M and A, rang bells for 2 hours for the Salvation Army. I haven't done it in years, and it was so much fun with my friend and our boys. And tomorrow, the S family and the C family are coming over for our 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Decorating Extravaganza and Exchange (I just thought of that name. Brilliant, huh?) Hence, the baking tonight... We're going to make an evening out of it, order a few pizzas, have a few drinks. Theo (and his mama!) can't wait.

For now, I'll leave you with a few of our snow day photos. Good night!

Dave, stocking the bird feeders, and bundling up on our snow day.

A contingent of the neighborhood gang, doing their thang.

A view of our yard/circle from M's yard. That small red dot is Dave, shoveling.

Emmett, immobile in his winter garb, waiting patiently for Mama.