Let it SNOW!

It's coming down hard, and we had at least 5 inches already by 8:00am today! Boo, as usual, is not a fan o' the white stuff. Munchkin is fascinated by the look of it...she keeps saying "No-man" when she's never even built a snowman or seen one for real. So I'm glad she gets the concept.

She has a little sniffle right now and isn't in the best mood the past few days. So when I took her out to play for a bit she was all about it UNTIL she tripped into a drift and realized how cold snow is. And ran to the door, unzipping her coat and saying "inside" as she went. So, no Winter Games 2026 for her!

We also revisted a little fun from my youth. Mom made SNOW CREAM today. It was little tough without the giant yellow tupperware that we used to leave outside HOPING we'd get enough snow to make it. Almost never happened in Georgia. Munchkin got to help stir it all together and thought that was just so much fun. It was messy and I'm sure she still likes the real stuff...who doesn't snow only comes in a few flavors!!

Not much going on otherwise. Just waiting for Jason to come home and marvel about the snow. I sure wish there were somewhere around here to ski because this stuff is perfect. But, then again, since I gained all the weight with Munchkin and still haven't lost it...maybe not skiing just yet is totally ok.

WHY are we out playing in this really really cold wet stuff????? Mom is insane.

Munchkin and Boo seem to be on the same page about not liking the snow. She much prefers the beach.

And in later news, Munchkin and I watched Miss America tonight...and 'nuf said when she's watching that horrid beginning group dance number, she kept repeating "So silly". That pretty much covers it. And Boo is in the doghouse. After refusing to put more than a toe out the door I foolishly let him out the front to pee on an exposed non-snowy bush. And he takes off. Knucklehead. He's really lucky he didn't get hit, then he's really lucky I didn't kick his furry butt when I got him back inside.

YAY, headed home

Headed home to GA for a visit. Could be 5 days, could be longer. Just depends on when work calms down for Dad as to when we come back. I am taking the time to get down and visit with Annie while she's on the East Coast. (It's just cost prohibitive right now to get to San Diego where she lives!)

I keep thinking I should have packed already, even though I just made the final decision to go about 4 hours ago. But I own like 8 things that even fit (point being, I can hate how I look in things I already have, no need to buy new things to hate how I look) so I think I can get Munchkin and I in the same bag. I should bathe the Boo tomorrow before we go, but that may have to wait, I would HATE to have to clean the tub before I left.

Munchkin's been all over the place today. She had a haircut to get her bangs out of her face and handled that just fine. She has been saying "Good morning, and you?" all day long and it's adorable.























"Trash" is a malleable word for Munchkin. I can't just assume she will put trash actually in the trash.

Geez Mom, be happy I put the trash away (trash being a poopy diaper). It goes in the microwave, right? (of her pretend kitchen, of course).

"Put it in your pocket"

Ahh, children. You try to be a good example and not confuse them...but you just never know what they are actually seeing. Or learning.

Everyone knows where I keep my eye drops, and I guess I had never really thought about Munchkin seeing me get them or put them back. Until a couple of nights ago.

Katherine and I were bathing Grant and Munchkin at Nana's house. Munchkin found Yiayia's scented soap and thought it was fascinating. So once she'd checked it out and apparently decided to keep it for later, she stood up and reached over to me, gently placed the tube of body wash inside the Vneck of my shirt, and said "Mama, put it in pocket". We all laughed like crazy imagining that this was going to be hard to explain. Thank goodness that all else she wanted to put in "the pocket" was a travel shampoo or things could have gotten out of hand.

Then, the next night at home, she decides my "pocket" also makes a good cupholder and thinks it's great to keep her sippy there. And then further on that topic, she starts putting toys in HER pocket.

Ahh, children. My child will be shoplifting in her bra before she's old enough to wear one.

They're watching. Even when they are just saving the info for later, they are STILL watching.

Why are some pockets so funny and others aren't? I think I'm missing the joke.

Changes are coming!

Just had my ass handed to me tonight. It was my first night in yoga class with my teaching instructor. There is no way I will finish this 6 months and NOT be all hot and toned as hell. It’s not possible. I was working so hard in this class. There were times I didn’t think I could keep going or hold anything any longer, and at times I did have to come out and take a break.

I am holding on to things I didn’t know were there. When I was pushing forward into crow, and felt that tipping point get crossed to where my weight was all forward, I had a flash of realization. I don’t trust my body, and I don’t know when the last time was that I did. I guess it stems from being told not once, but twice that my body wasn’t reacting in the way it was expected to. I didn’t have the “right” symptoms for either the tumor or the ectopic. So I guess part of me rebels against that and revels in being fully ME even if that’s not textbook. But the other part of me is apparently afraid and distrustful because I feel like I don’t have that to fall back on. Like when you get a list of side effects or warnings from meds…how would you feel KNOWING that it was likely that your body wouldn’t react that way but it would STILL be in peril?


So I also understand part of why I have never let go of my face issues. I can’t forgive my body for being different, and now the different is on the outside for all to see. I can’t forgive my body for not recovering and finding a way around this side effect. Like, why will it be so willing to do the unexpected when I need it to be normal…but won’t do the unexpected and miraculous when I want it to.

Munchkin seemed to have a ball last night. We met Stacey at the coffee house to just talk and ask questions about training (though right now she's pretty much answered all of them). Then went over for class. I took Munchkin into childwatch and she never even cried. A cute little girl (I'm guessing about 5 years?) just took to her the second she walked in. All Munchkin said to me was "jacket off" and then ran off to play.

Lots of realizations...this may be better for me than talking to the health counselor (who I need to call back and make an appointment) but I'm still doing that too.

Mom sure seems tired and sluggish this morning. I wonder if it has anything to do with how hot and sweaty she was putting me in the car last night?

Dads teach some cool stuff

I had to laugh at Munchkin trying to play the harmonica! Jason got one for Christmas (he asked for a new one for camping) and was fiddling around with it. Munchkin crawled right up all fascinated and decided to give it a try.

Learned that she has so many more parts to her personality than I ever thought possible.

I can play the harmonica!

Munchkin and Kalynn

Because she is such a beautiful little girl, Kalynn gets her own post!

Munchkin is in LOVE with this living, moving doll. She had so much fun giving her kisses and helping to feed her. She has a little trouble realizing that the baby swing belongs to Kalynn now and crawled up into it a few times. Luckily, she is still under the weight limit; but this is not something we encourage her to continue!

One of the days we were visiting Alabama, I was taking Kalynn into her nursery and Munchkin was right behind me so she could help me change the baby. Ezra was in hot pursuit and poor guy got the door shut before he could get to us! Munchkin laughed and yelled "NO! MY baby." That didn't go over well, but luckily there was no bloodshed over the incident. Ezra seems more than happy to share his little sister as long as he can supervise.

Christmas recap

Well, it was a busy year for us at Christmas. We visited both Gigi and Grandpa and Yiayia and Buffy as well. Munchkin got to meet her new cousin, Kalynn (who will get her own separate post with pictures!).

Santa was very good to all, and Zoe is thrilled playing with all of her new toys and stepping out in all her lovely new clothes.

While at Aunt Karen's house, we got to visit Ezra's daycare and join in the fun during a craft project. SO much fun, and everyone seemed so very interested in Ezra's show and tell of Munchkin. Munchkin played with lots of new friends while Mom cooked dinner for the weekly Thursday night dinner gang. I need to visit for that more often because it really is lots of fun! Either the Moroccan chicken went over well or my lovely sister knows WAY too many good liars! Then we tried to check out Santa again but Munchkin's still not really sure about him at all. So we went home and "helped" bake cookies for Uncle Nate's office...Munchkin was much more fond of eating the batter with Ezra.

Back to GA, and Jason flew in just in time for the Straub Family Christmas party. Always a ball and one of my favorite days of the year...Munchkin had a great time and loved seeing everyone. And, of course, who doesn't love more presents! Then Mom, Munchkin, Karen, Ezra, and cousins Shelley and Gary all went up to Lake Lanier to check out the Nights of Lights. I think Munchkin still isn't at the pieceing-together-lights-to-form-a-picture stage yet but she seemed to like it. Then stopping to check out the marshmallow roasting, it sure was nice being close to that crackling fire! And Mom and Ezra took a short ride on a train and....Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...after that it was too cold so we piled back in the car.

When we went to Augusta, it was a great joy to see everyone there as well. Munchkin got Yiayia and Buffy to herself for a bit and soaked up the love accordingly! She spent part of the first night repeatedly making "Christmas trees" for snoopy to put on his piano as he played (musical Peanuts toy). She was so cute trying to get it all just right. Mimi made a stop by, and we all congratulated her on preparing to retire and actually "relax" which we know she won't but we hope she does anyway! Munchkin loves playing with "Buddy Grant" as she seemed to like calling him now. They are at about the same stage so it was fun but tiring at times playing with them and all of their new toys. And of course, he wants some of her toys and she wants some of his. What can you do? He is growing into such a sweet little man, and FUNNY! He was whirling around dancing like a madman with Uncle Jason.

Everyone was over the top generous with the gift giving season, so loading the car to come home was a chore I happily left to Jason and Buffy while Yiayia and I walked Munchkin and Nelson around the neighborhood! The drive home was long, as usual, and uneventful thank God.

It was tough being here and all alone again. Munchkin was NOT happy to wake up the first morning and find that Daddy had gone to work. Not happy at all.