tsnownami - snowmaggedon - snOMG - snophoon - flurrycane - snowtastrophe

We survived the Blizzard of 2010! It was kind of fun actually!  Our generous neighbor Delores started snow blowing our front sidewalk for us.  We had enough of that, so Reid went out to do it so she didn't have to.  When I saw her following Reid with a shovel I opened our front door as far as I could (maybe 6 inches) and shouted "Delores!"  She came trudging through the snow to our house. I made her come inside so that I could be the one to follow with the shovel.  She appreciated being able to play with Sally instead of shoveling! I think Reid put in a total of 5 hours outside shoveling/snow blowing!

We made it to church Sunday morning.  It was quite the adventure.  The plow had come through our alley earlier in the morning and then the street plow came by.  That means there was a large blockade at the end of the alley.  Our neighbor gunned it and made way for the reset of us.  We didn't want to miss the Archbishop presiding Mass!  Plus, Sally was excited for her first experience in the Nursery, so mommy and daddy could actually listen to Mass!

It was so great seeing all the neighbors helping one another out!

Reid helped me bake cookies while Sally was napping!

It wouldn't be Christmas with out "Sticks" a family tradition!

Thank you Daddy!

"SNOOOOW!"

"Brrrrr"

So much snow, so much fun! We love it!

The final product, roof raking and all!

Flippin' Friday!

Get it?  Flip Video Friday :) Here are a few videos for your viewing pleasure:

Reid recorded her "I don't know" phrase:

We often have dance parties.  Sally created this one, all on her own.  Keith Urban was performing on Ellen:

Henry and Sally were away from each other for 11 days.  This video is from Monday, their first day back together. I was cleaning up the dishes, turned around, and this is what I saw:

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.  If you leave near us, enjoy the snow! We love it! If it's going to be cold, it might as well be pretty to look at, right?!

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

I know a few of these photos were in yesterday's post, but she looks so cute!

We got our Christmas Tree last Friday! We've gone to this same place for three years now.  They also sell  fruits and vegetables during the summer months.  I think they  recognize us, especially now that we have Sally.  Reid does a great job of letting me pick out the tree.  He has to okay it of course, but I really get to decide.  The kind we usually get is only $25 and we've had really great luck, the smell and the longevity!  When we realized there were only two left of the kind we liked and they both weren't the greatest, we decided we'd come back another day or check another location.  Plus, it was chilly outside and Sally wanted to run around and she kept falling and getting wet and full of needles. 

One of the workers wanted to chat with Reid before we left, while I put Sally in the car. As I sat in the car, a bit sad because I thought today was the day we'd get the tree (we were excited for Sally to have her first tree that she would kind of understand), I saw Reid waving me over.  He was in the $45 section.  Uh, no sir, we are not paying $45 for a tree.  Thank you, but sorry.  With a twinkle in his eye, this ever so kind man said "No no, these are the same price as the one you're looking at."  I got all excited, "Oh you mean we only have to pay..." Reid: "Shhhh shhhh shhhh get back in the car, I'll take care of it!"

Yep, that's right! That ever so kind worker gave us a nicer tree for our original price.  Reid, being the analyzer he is said "He really did a smart thing there.  Even though they may have lost some money on the tree, they at least got $25 from us rather than nothing, plus we feel we owe it to them so we'll continue to go back there"

Fast forward to the tree in our living room all decorated.  Sally wakes up from her nap, we're so excited to show her the tree.  She walks right.past.the.flippin'.tree.in.her.living room!  As if it's been there all along.  After about 5 minutes she turns around with no emotion points and says "Staaaaar"  turns back and continues to play.  I guess the plus side of this is that we haven't had to teach her that she can't touch or pull the tree.  She does have an ornament that she likes that is on the bottom branch for her viewing.  She lays on the floor, pokes it and says "Hiiiiooooh" {Hello} I'm trying to get it on video, but as is in most cases she stops doing in when she sees the camera out.  Here's a video of her talking about the Tree/stars.  She's doing the hand motions for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

She got a wet butt that's full of needles from falling and she's still smiling!

19 Months!

We're loving up our little. Yesterday, I got a sneak peak of what our toddler years may be like. She would do little naughty things that she knew she shouldn't and when I'd tell her no and explain, she'd look and me and stare with a little smirk on her face until I'd either start laughing or look a way. What a little stinker!

We're loving how much she's able to understand and how much she's able to talk in order to get her point across. Our favorite phrases are "All done" and "I don't know." She especially has figured out the "all done" and how she can use it in other ways. If Daddy is wrestling a little too much she'll say "All done." When we get back from communion at church she'll say "All done."

Crazy to see and think about how much she has learned and grown in a year!

Happy 1st Birthday to Bryn! Can't believe it's already been a year!

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Sally got to meet the Big Guy twice this week! The first was when we were in Alexandria over Thanksgiving break.

Waiting in line with Daddy. She kept saying Ho Ho Ho!

The Mr. & Mrs.!

Let's try with Mommy...

William's trying to get Sally to smile.  Lucy looked at both Mrs. Clause and Mr. Clause and said Hiiiii.  Sally, well, Sally was sensitive Sally :)

We had another opportunity to meet Santa.  Our church has a "Breakfast with Santa." It was a big production.  They have a room where people donate gifts so that kids can go shopping for their parents and siblings.  They'll even wrap the gifts for them.  Then there was the picture with Santa.  They printed the pictures out for you. You could decorate a frame to put your picture in, and then there was a face painting table.  The Knights also held a pancake breakfast in the gym.  All of this free of charge.  We were very impressed.  Sally was in a great mood.  Running around shouting ho Ho HO! Watching the kids sit on Santa's lap, you know, to warm her up and get a preview of what she was about to do.

Chatting it up with Santa before the big transfer...

Classic! The ladies printing out the pictures were laughing so hard.  They asked if they could keep a copy.

Of course everyone said mommy should try it with her.  Reid is convinced that she's not necessarily afraid of Santa, it's just that we're setting her in some one's lap and walking away.  Who knows, either way they're pretty funny pictures that will make it to her baby book!

Did you Miss us?

While we were away we:

!Sally got the Flu
!We Celebrated Thanksgiving with wonderful Family!

!Reid got the flu
!Visited Mr. & Mrs. Clause



Fuzzy hoods (sorry for the blurriness)


!Mommy got the flu
!Listened to Christmas music
!Danced to Christmas Music
!Sang to Christmas Music



!Got out the Christmas Decorations
!Got a real Christmas Tree

!Gophers beat Iowa

!Had fun playing with cousins

Can we say Dumb and Dumber?

!Waited in an insanely long line for Security (no pat down)

!Saw Brad Childress boarding a plane

!Mommy relaxed in the sun in Tucson
!Daddy worked hard in Tucson

!Mommy and Daddy Missed Sally terribly, but we survived!
!Sally had fun playing and reading books with Grandma and George (Thank you!)

I want to go skiing...

!Sally had fun playing and exploring with Nana and Grandpa (Thank you!), even if it did get cut short with a snow storm!

As if the Pilot didn't know where he was going...

!Sally fell asleep in the car with Uncle Joe Joe (Thank you!)

You know how we love our monkeys! This was the menu for one of the restaurants we ate at.

!Soaked up our little ladies love-she fills us up!

!Shared lots of giggles

!Met Santa...again

!Got a few items crossed off our Christmas List

!Put up a new title-you like??

Any many more special moments and memories.  Stay tuned, tomorrow will be the pictures of Santa...they're classic!

Ring Around The Rosie

Sally's new trick for the week is "Ring Around the Rosie!" (sorry for the quality it was shot from my phone)

To see another, longer version, click here