Thanks - blizzard of '13 edition

Giving thanks,

-for safety, electricity, a nice warm Sea Kettle to be being stuck in for a couple of days.

- Brian grilling steaks in the middle of a blizzard

- a snowy walk to church with Levi, Ariel and Elsie; the beauty of a snow-laden Salem

- time to paint

- helpful advice

- 2 strong men to shovel us out

- a healthy dose of painterly chaos with kindergarten and 1st grade

- a fun night at the "servathon" kick-off night at New Hope

- pumpkin bread spread thick with honey apple butter

- a McKenna family party celebrating the (almost) end of Dad's treatments 

- visiting with some old friends

- Levi's charms

- skyping with Kimmie; Levi and Kimmie playing a form of "simon says"

- only a week 'til February vacation

snow days

Apparently there's snow a'comin our way. Like, a lot of snow. So much snow that pretty much everything is called off and Gov. Patrick says to stay inside.  Done, Govenor. You don't have to ask us twice. 

Before we were married and we were both in college studying to become teachers, we used to dream of days like this. SNOW DAYS. We'd dream of what we'd do on these unexpected days off when you really just had to stay inside and you surely didn't need to get anything done, since you were supposed to be at work anyway. A freebie. A mini stay-cation. Through the years we've definitely tried to make the best of these days and we're still living the dream today. A baby makes it all the better; sure, we don't sleep in until noon, but getting up at 5:30 just makes the snow day longer, right? (at least that's what we try to tell ourselves!)

On the snow day(s) docket:

- early morning cuddles in Mama and Papa's bed, as long as we want or until the baby escapes (check!)

- big waffle breakfasts

- hot chocolate

- hanging and playing with Uncle Chris, who's riding out the storm with us here in the kettle

- mid-blizzard snow walk down to the wharf, possible probable snow fight

- lots of blankets, maybe an episode of "Curious George"

- lots of books

- look out the window, listen to Levi exclaim "snow! snow! snow!" over and over again

- fuzzy socks, cozy pants, hoodies

- pumpkin bread

- me, painting; Brian, guitar noodling

- a possible neighborhood highrockers get-together

..time to get to it!

Stay warm, safe and seize the (snow) day, friends!

decorating for valentines - 15 minute edition

Usually I try to at least cut a few hearts or make a banner or even plan a date for every day in February (ok, that was ambitious), but this year I'm just trying to keep my head about water. Lesson plans, end of quarter evaluations, 3 paintings to start and finish, a big community art show/auction to help plan and execute, a husband to love, a toddler to chase...oh my! This year, a 15 minute pink and red treasure hunt around the kettle and a little rearranging had to suffice. Sweet and simple but it does the trick. 

chores

Levi loves helping out around the house. Emptying the dishwasher, putting his toys away, sweeping and vacuuming (his favorite).  I'm assuming this won't last forever, so I'm recording this information so I can dig it up when he's, oh I don't know..12.  :)

to remember - 18 months

Dear Levi,

There are so many things I want to remember about (almost) 18 month old you.

Like how friendly and out-going you are and your constant joyful energy. The way you love the older kids and follow them around giggling happily, trying to imitate everything they do. How you stop and dance whenever you hear music and how you sing when you play the piano or before you go to bed.  The way you get tickled when we pray and try your best to close your eyes and bow your head, the way you snuggle in bed with us every morning and insist on having a hand on both of us.  How you started calling your Papa "Paaaapy!" and how you giggle uncontrollably and run around the house not knowing what to do with yourself when he comes home. How you happily and easily go to and from your various care-givers and how you like to walk on my feet. The way you try your best to do what the adults are doing and how you try to insert yourself into adult social situations (nodding your head at the appropriate times and giving your two-cents) How when you cuddle you nestle in my neck or gently pat my head. Like how when I ask you "what are we doing tomorrow?" you always happily reply "church"! How you jog around the house pumping your arms up and down like a chicken. How you make the funniest expressions and have a great sense of humor - how you are so clearly your father's son. I love your sweet voice, your warm hugs, your sloppy kisses. Every bit of you.

Love you baby boy (I can't call you that much longer, now can I?)

Mama 

gifts

“..all of life is a pure gift...the discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.” 

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

Celebrating with pure joy - 

- my boys, singing through the nursery rhyme book
- Dad, done with his first round of cancer treatments (a bit more chemo to come)
- an astounding piano recital; my talented friend, the beautiful view, my very enthusiastic and active-listener husband, filling my sketchbook to the lovliest of music 
- art projects coming out of my ears, in a good way
- "maama-y!" and "paaappy!"
- church online, when I'm home on Sunday morning with a coughing baby and a challenge
- an alone morning at Starbucks working on evaluations
- Nick's Roast Beef
- early morning family cuddle puddles
- a musical morning with the highrock playgroup
- dinner with my siblings (minus Kimmie), shepherd's pie, rollicking debates, strawberry shortcake and a game of "Wits and Wagers"
- Brian, home and warm after his polar plunge into the Atlantic (I can't even swim in the ocean in July!)
- Superbowl party at my sisters'; mostly cuddling Elsie, the puppy chow and Levi's dance to "Single Ladies"

a thurs-date

{Joining with SouleMama}