Maggie's Future Plans

A few weeks ago Maggie informed me of her intentions for the future. She figures she'd like to be a mom in the mornings and a ballet teacher after lunch. Then when the kids are asleep she'll be an artist. I'm guessing she'll need to reassess these plans now that she's interested in learning how to make calculators when she grows up. She realized she had this dream when she found a little calculator Grandma Charlotte had given to the kids a couple years ago and discovered she could take it apart. I asked her if she also wanted to work on computers. She said, no, but she was impressed that Brian could take one apart.

Maggie is getting really good at reading. I'm anxious for my parent-teacher conference with her teacher next week. Maggie will read a "Magic Tree House" book all by herself, and she is reading her own scriptures for family scriptures. At night I've been reading The Secret Garden to the girls, although they'd much rather read about "My Little Pony." :) I'm grateful that the boys have set a good example of reading for her to follow.

The love of...

Valentine's Day...

Amy washing dishes...

Roasting tomatillas...

School musicals...

February has been our month of spread out love. Scot's 5th/6th grade musical was a huge success. I was really impressed with the story line--good teaching for the kids, easy for them to perform, fun for parents to watch. Amy went with me the first night--she enjoyed the clapping. Maggie got to go with Brian for the final performance. She took a nice pictures of Brian taking a pre-show snooze (I chose not to post the picture; I'm sure you can use your imagination).

The kids enjoyed their school Valentine parties. I had to take James' cards to school since he forgot them. Maggie really enjoyed making valentines for every person she knows and is very sincere in her love. I'm sorry if you didn't receive one--there are only so many pieces of paper that I can handle floating in this house. She addressed all her own school valentines, but the kids at school helped her hand them out since she took them on the last day possible.

This week my project was going through clothes and changing sizes. I need to invest in knee patches. James didn't have one pair of pants without holes and Scot's weren't much better. Amy was very sad to see her rose dress in the "too small" pile. She would wear that dress everyday if she could. Perhaps now you can understand why it is in the pile.

Yesterday I attended an incredible training session for scout leaders in Central Ohio--our area's Little Philmont. President Dalquist, YM General President, presided. What an amazing leader and example of scouting spirit. The whole day was full of insight and inspiration, but my highlight was getting to sing "Back to Gilwell" with Pres. Dalquist as an antelope after a woodbadge bead ceremony. I realize this probably means nothing to you, but when the day comes that you are called to lead the youth in scouting, you'll understand why it was a great privilege for me.

Dissolving Objects of White

Scot reaching the summit of "Mount Nielson." James' legs are sticking out of the snow cave.










Entrance to the cave.









The girls playing in the back yard. We had to wait until the snow melted to find the shovel they were using. Two days later we looked out their window and saw it in the middle of the yard.



You would never have believed that all of our snow is gone from these pictures, but it's true! This week we had another big storm--the kids missed school again on Wednesday. That makes it two weeks in a row now that we've had to cancel scouts. I guess we should count on the school year being a few days longer than scheduled. The upside was that the snow cave did get finished, but they only got to play in it one day before the average temperature dissolved it over the weekend.

Saturday the boys participated in the school district's science fair--a first for both boys. They had a lot of fun with their project, which they worked on with two other boys from school. They received 2nd place ribbons for showing which acids would "burn" through styrofoam. Let me just say that a strong vinegar smell filled the booth they were in. Congratulations, boys!

Ice Forests

After being trapped inside all week, I jumped at the chance to run up to Costco on Saturday. Scot and the girls came with me, and we were able to hit Old Navy as well for some new t-shirts for Scot. In Costco we did very well with our one cart, making everything fit. I felt like Curious George bagging groceries like a jigsaw puzzle artist.

The drive there was awe-inspiring. Looking out the window at home I couldn't see the delicate ice sculptures of the trees surrounding us so I was so surprised by what I found just a half a block from our house. Driving through a wooded corridor I felt like I'd driven into the wood of the White Witch. I half expected to see a faun trotting away or Reepicheep standing on a tree branch. Houses and pavement kept my reality in check: I could not imagine mythical creatures crossing double-laned highways or flagging down semi-trucks.

I know this picture does not come close to showing the beauty of the ice. One moment each tree looked like it had hundreds of white christmas lights strung on every branch; the next instant each would be covered in prisms.

The weather finally warmed up this morning--not a lot, of course, but enough to start melting the ice just enough to slide off the tree branches. On our way to church this morning we got pelted by every overhanging branch. Hundreds of 5 carat icicles shattered on our windshields, with some as large as real carrots. Glad we weren't walking!
At home I couldn't figure out what was making long ski-like marks in the back yard, but it was the ice falling off the power lines.

Post Script: Scot finally got his birthday dinner on the red plate. We enjoyed a great spaghetti & meatball dinner with the Ritzmans this afternoon. The kids enjoyed playing dinosaur monopoly and eating Henry's leftover banana cake. After everyone went to bed Brian & I enjoyed a little high-def Super Bowl action. All I have to say is, "wow."

More Snow

Two more snow days...which leads me to ask, "WILL IT EVER END?!?" Perhaps you've picked up on my slight tone of despair, discouragement, gloom, despondency. The kids ended up only going to school on Monday this week, and that start was pushed back an hour. I'm pretty sure we've used up all our snow days. Hopefully they won't have to make any up. The forecast for Monday: more snow, dullness, tedium, monotony, and weariness.