Long Winter Week

Did this week seem to last FOREVER to you?  It did for me for the following reasons:

1. It's February and the 4th month of winter in Virginia.

2. Its been gray outside ...blah.

3. The upper airway disease in the kids fight the cold air (again for like the 4th month in a row) and it seems we've been hooked up to a nebulizer every 4 hours...(for like the 4th month in a row)...

4. The anticipation for spring is in the air, but no spring in sight except for in the Target candy aisle.

5.  Friends were in the ER this week.

6.  The kids have been stuck inside bored of their toys, getting into things which equals getting into trouble!

Enough of that.  There have been lots of positives this week as well!  In fact I made a top 11 list of great things about this week.  And the positives far outweigh the winter blues.

1.  Brigg LaBarbera got a name and blessing in Jodi's ward in San Diego!  Uncle Rocco in LA was in the circle too!

2.  Austin and I went on a date this week and I got a sitter for Ash.  We saw  The Spiderwick Chronicles.  Ever since the Cheerios box had a paperback Spiderwick book in it, he's been so looking forward to the movie!  It was good, however a little violent and mature for a 5 year old.  After our movie, we went to Austin's favorite restaurant that he picked  which is Cracker Barrel.  After perusing the toys for 45 minutes, we got seated.  After they sat us close to the smoking section and Austin coughed himself into a bronchial/gagging spasm and people were staring at us across the restaurant, we finally ordered.  He ordered a "big boy" root beer.   That means we want it straight up-served in the bottle!  After a few manly swigs, he poured some for me in my cup and asked, "Would you like a cup of Joe?"  What?!? It was hilarious! I  don't know where he comes up with this stuff!

3.  Uncle Grant (Uncle Julio) received two very competitive job offers this week and accepted one with Frito Lay.  Congrats Grant!  He'll be based out of Miami as a Marketing/Sales Leader.  Bienvenidos a Miami Granny!

4.  Ashley did her Munchkin Movers tots class.  She loved it!  Although she seemed  to be the biggest one, there were 11 kids and Ash enjoyed every second of being around other little tots!  Her favorite activity was the 'cuckoo clock' and we throw her in the air when the clock strikes a number and yell 'cuckoo'!  She would say More! More!

5.  Jonathan came back this week from the African trip.  One of his stops was Tanzania and there he bought me some JEWELS!  Some beautiful deep blue/purple stones called Tanzanite that are mined directly there in Africa.  They're beautiful!  I can't wait to set them.

6.  He was home for 24 hours and now he's in Beijing, China. Sniff sniff.  The man's been to  14 COUNTRIES IN 6 WEEKS.  And is Condoleezza slowing down? No.  

7.  Austin scratches my back and tries to massage my back with his little pudgy fingers when he gets something good.  It's like that's how he says thank you-a  little back scratch!

8.  We had the opportunity to play with Lottie Crowley on Wednesday when Gabe was at her class.  It was fun being with her.  Ash called her Blottie.

9.  With the kids getting what I call 'cabin fever' we've played  TON!  Dart-tag, all of our board games, hide and go seek, PSP, building blocks, imaginary games, dress up, the list goes on!  It's been great actually doing all these things with the kiddos instead of having them build blocks by themselves and then showing me what they've made as I'm busy doing something upstairs.  I wish I would have done this more.

10.  On Monday it was actually a beautiful day.  We got Wendy's and went out on the deck and enjoyed a picnic lunch.  Very fun!

11. Almost 3 years ago when we first moved back from Africa, there was  nice little dwarf that worked at Target that Austin was quite afraid of.  This week as we were leaving, he looked at her on his way out (and I thought, oh great-don't stare) but Austin finally said 'she looks beautiful'.  At first I chuckled all the way out the doors, but then on a mature note, I thought I wish I had the childlike quality of seeing people for who they are and not just what they look like or how tall/fat/short/ they are.  It made me want to be more like our Savior.  Don't children always bring out that side? 

Let's pray for some good old sunshine this last week of February!

Love,

Angie