Fa la la lazzzzzzzzzz

I am tired. My husband and I passed out at 9pm last night and it felt great. We all got double digits of sleep last night (except for Clark who actually got up to go to work this morning, poor baby.)
We have just arrived home from a much anticipated trip to Houston for Christmas and a wedding. The suitcases actually got unpacked within 24 hours which would be quite impressive had we not all stayed in our pajamas ALL DAY. It is so sad to have this trip behind us. It's one that we have been looking forward to since we found out that Clark's little bro was getting married and we knew that we had a good excuse to be in Houston for Christmas.
Clark pulled in from a short underway last Sunday and by Sunday night we were on our way. We drove up to the airport the night before to outsmart the winter storm that was threatening to cancel our trip. We decided to camp out for a few hours at a hotel near the airport and brave the icy roads in the evening instead of 3 in the morning (our flight left at 5:45am.) We were very lucky to have made all of our flights though we were mingled among all the irate passengers who had their flights cancelled for 2 days prior. We were grateful to make it in one piece though I wish I could have said the same for our luggage. The downside is that I spent 2 days worrying that our suitcase full of every Christmas gift of the year was not going to make it. The upside is that we finally got it all Christmas Eve morning AND Delta had to shell out $250 to compensate us for our daily necessities. Nice. Delta bought Clark a new shirt and Abby some nifty boots, among some other "necessities". We totally lucked out with that one seeing as how we were spending the week at his sister's house who has four girls (and an equally adorable little boy) in corresponding ages to our own. They may not have had any of their own clothes but they looked adorable and well fitted nonetheless. Megan and I got to know each other very well through some borrowed undies and shirts that were so cute I continued to wear them even after our luggage arrived. The accommodations were phenomenal and I recommend them to anyone visiting the Houston area-- but that might be slightly awkward if you don't really know them. We had my favorite truffles and darling slippers waiting for us in a welcome basket, not to mention much needed shampoos and deodorant when she found out that our luggage was not with us.
As we made our initial descent into Houston, Clark and I agreed that though it's not much to look at (compared to the beauty of New England) you sure can't beat the people. It always feels like we are going home when we visit.
So let me fill you in on some of the highlights, though I realized when I got home that I hadn't taken nearly as many pictures as I should have. I was too busy enjoying myself and not doing much of anything.
We gorged ourselves silly on delicious Scharman feasts of favorites. Clark and I adopted a six-meal-a-day plan mandatory for fitting in all of our favorite eating establishments that are scarce here in Connecticut. At least two meals at Los Cucos and a breakfast and lunch at Chick-Fil-A, with a midnight run to Sonic one night for onion rings and a limeade. I promised Clark that we would eat Los Cucos until our sides split open and green sauce spilled out all over the floor. We nearly did. Man, even the burps are good.
The girls all ravaged the remains of the carrots in the garden. It kept them occupied for a really long time. I felt like such a good Mom all week, mostly because my kids were so content playing with their cousins that I didn't have to yell at them.
We took walks and basked in the balmy warm weather of the South. See my bare legs? I particularly loved this walk. We had 3 girls on bikes, one in dress ups pushing a doll stroller, two in winter beanies and one on a pogo stick.
We shared Christmas. There might not have been anything more fun than to wake up Christmas morning to 8 adorable little girls (and one adorable little boy) excited and enthusiastic with Christmas cheer. The girls missed their cousins so much. They have a special bond with all of these girls and it is a true treasure and a treat to be close to them. It is so difficult to say goodbye. Oh these cousins.
A couple of days after Christmas, Ethan and Marisa were married in the Houston temple. It was happy and fun...just check out her fabulous shoes. Once again, the children all looked darling and we had fun at the reception catching up with friends and family.
With the vacation hangover wearing off this evening I am sad that this much anticipated trip is over but so grateful for the amazing in laws that I have. I love them so much and feel so blessed to be a part of a family that I truly love and appreciate. Thank you for such a memorable time!!

A most peculiar snowday...

Every school in Connecticut was closed before our day even began. So the kids naturally woke up in a bored state...or maybe they were just super disappointed that they didn't get to go to school.

So we opened all the curtains and waited for the snow. We waited...

and waited...

and finally at about 2pm (when they actually could have gone to almost a full day of school) we saw our first snowflake of this alleged "winter storm".

and then we proceeded to get 6 inches in a few hours...and it is still going.

My job was to supply luke warm "hot" chocolate when they got too cold...then help them with their boots and send them out again.

I stayed nice and cozy inside with Hazel who had a ball watching Haley attempt to shovel the driveway.

I am so glad that I finally decided to invest in some knee high rubber boots. Where were these when I needed them last year? They will come in handy when I shovel the driveway tomorrow with my new snow shovel.

*It stirs up memories of a year ago. I wish I had a picture of me last year, living with my parents in Utah and shoveling a foot of snow off of their driveway of death in my black velour jogging suit, 6 months pregnant and wearing my Mother's adorable polka dotted boots. Good times, good times. (My parents didn't allow me to shovel the driveway when they were there...but more than one occasion did call for it.) I am so happy for them that the "driveway of death" is no longer in the family. I'm sure that this winter, the snow is much more beautiful to them. Was that randomly long explanation of something totally unrelated to my post?

Sometimes I oughtta....

Nevermind, scratch that.

Remember when I first moved here and I said I hated Connecticut constantly for the first three weeks? Well, maybe I didn't say it loud enough for anyone to hear, but I was thinking it for sure. Every time I wanted to go somewhere, or do something. I felt constantly lost and in the middle of nowhere. I was alone and everything was unfamiliar. Nothing was convenient and there are no familiar stores or restaurants.
I changed my mind.
Today we went to our little town post office where the snow globe was taped to the counter, there were outgoing packages and mail casually stacked on an office chair behind the counter where the smiling post master chit chatted with me and gave us candy canes. The summers were delightful, the fall unbelievable and I think I even like winter. Is that weird? It has been wicked cold and the bus stop in the morning can be tortuous (mostly because the little people whine) I was raking leaves the other night and when I came in my cheeks were so cold that my speech was slurred. But the lakes, ponds and streams that are everywhere are beginning to freeze and its beautiful. The grass and leaves are crunchy in the morning as we walk across our yard to the bus stop...covered in little white crystals..."kissed by the frost fairies" as my girls like to say. Remember that cartoon from the first Fantasia where little fairies are frosting everything with their little wands to the tune of The Nutcracker Suite? That's what we imagine. Things may change when we receive our first real oil bill...we are downright scared. But the fires are cozy and I try to keep a supply of herbal teas, hot chocolate and wassil on hand. We have flannel sheets to snuggle into at night and we don't have to mow our prairie/yard for several months! Most of church was cancelled yesterday because the heat wasn't working. Don't tell Texas, but I think I love Connecticut.
(I actually wrote this post a couple of weeks ago...I still love Connecticut despite the fact that church was cancelled for a second time because of the heat issue, we HAVE received an oil bill, I heard coyotes two nights ago and we have a mouse living under the front step...)

Every once in a while...

you have to take a chance at doing something that has the potential to be really cool...if that is what you are expecting to read about, perhaps you should come back later.
We are quite fond of Ty Pennington (I mean, who isn't?) and the show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. So when we found out that they were filming up in Voluntown we jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it. So what if I had to take Haley out of school a few hours early? So what if Clark wasn't there? So what if it was 40 degrees and raining? We sat outside on 4th of July in the rain for about 9 hours on the mall in our Nation's capital and it was fun, a memorable experience!
We were totally decked out with leggings, pants, snow pants, hats, boots, snacks, baby carrier (no strollers)....Hazel was happy in the carrier for all of 15 minutes and I left her binky in the car. My left arm is actually sore this morning from holding her for 2 hours as we stood in the rain against the barricade waiting to yell "move that bus!" The girls and I watched an episode the night before to get ready. We were so excited but our enthusiasm waned with each. and. every. take. of the empty limo driving by to get the shot of the crowd cheering. After those two hours (and lots of pleas to leave) we cut our losses and got back on the warm shuttle to go back to our car. Here is our very exciting video of us yelling "move that bus" for real....psyche...they didn't move that bus. Just kidding. I was loading it but it was taking 4 years and then suddenly it was gone. Let me set the scene...it looks just like the pictures but add a thousand or more people chanting "move that bus" with the obnoxious group of middle school girls behind us saying "whooo!" after every phrase. I think I know why they had to do so many takes. I don't tolerate obnoxious middle-schoolers well...(you don't count Sadie...you may be in middle school but you are very mature and cool, not obnoxious.) See how that works?

TV is not real, you know. When we got home and everyone got bathed and warm we turned on the TV only to find reruns of Extreme Makeover Home Edition on at that very moment. I was too irritated to watch. I felt a little deceived at the TV magic of it all. The girls were such troopers. No one had a major breakdown, just minor whining and Hazel definitely wasn't happy to be missing a nap while being held in very stiff baby bunting for two hours. Did I mention my arms were sore and I didn't even get a glimpse of Ty or even Paige and her pink tool belt? This episode will air on February 8th. Tune in to possibly see the look of pained enthusiasm on our faces.In short, we did not "move that bus".
Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

In other news:
We had our first snowfall last week...it lasted for a couple of days and made everything real pretty-like.
The girls typically get a new ornament for the Christmas tree every year...this year we made our own. I have decided to store the super glue with the ornaments...I've glued more than I can count already. These however, are all still in one piece (so far.)

Just love me!

It's OK, you can say it...my baby hates me. I mean after all, I do let her fall over about a gazillion times a day bonking her head and eliciting at least 2 minutes of pathetic "I fell over" crying.
Baby learning to pull herself up to standing + fuzzy socks to keep 'said' baby's feet warm in the frigid CT winter + wood floors = a baby who falls down, a lot.
But that's not even the point. For the first time in all my motherdom, I have given birth to a non-cuddler. Anyone who knows my husband or the family from whence he sprang, knows that we, by right, are physical people....my husband more than me. They are just touchy feely, and that's OK. I mean, I rather like it. I have given birth to three "little touchy feelers". Haley tries on a regular basis to coil her lanky 7 year old legs up and crawl into our laps (which consequently are shrinking due to our age and slowing metabolisms.) Heck, our 5 year old still crawls into our bed nearly every single night (as she has done her entire life) and claims that she can only sleep when she is touching someone. And Mia is always up for a good cuddle. Her favorite game is to tell me to stand still, then she backs up 15 paces and runs to me with her arms open expecting a swing up into the air and a hug that crushes her ribcage...and we do that 4 times a day.
Occasionally we even find them all in bed together even though their own beds are all of 3 feet away from one another.

But my baby is no such cuddler. When I take her to bed I put her blanket on my shoulder, she lays her head down for 1.4 seconds before arching her back and looking longingly at her bed. Hey, I'm grateful that the girl likes to sleep and I'm sure I understand her need to "personal space" better than anybody but when was the last time she let me rock her sweetly to dreamland? Like, never. So imagine my bitter disappointment on Sunday when she was cranky all through our first meeting...I handed her off to a darling and willing girl that offered to watch her while I taught primary and came to retrieve her at the end of church peacefully dreaming in her arms. "Oh she is sweet, she fell asleep like 5 minutes after I got her." Great. Do I smell? Am I bristly? Is she punishing me for not nursing her as long as the others? Whyyyy?! (imagine me shaking my fists at the heavens.) I think this just instills a fear in me that I am simply going to have to have more children. I mean, I can't tie up the end of our offspring with a non-cuddler, I haven't had my fix of snuggling sweet Scharman baby heads...though I do sneak a whiff or two in when Hazel is not paying attention...and I squeeze her as much as possible while she makes the the-air-is-being-squeezed-out-of-my-lungs-but-it's-kinda-funny sort of giggle.
I really have nothing else to say except "Love me Hazel! Just love me!"

The best kind of date...

includes:

1 husband

1 roaring fire

delicious food (red meat is always a plus)

comfy couch with cute winter blanket from sister

warm feet
a good movie to fall asleep to


and no babysitter to pay or drive home.

Gratitude

My sister put all of her sentiments so eloquently...to read how I feel about my family please just go here and pretend its me talking...

Here was last week in pictures. My parents, little bro and his wife, and a cousin with her husband and daughter all came to enjoy Thanksgiving with us. I was in Heaven. There was minimal stress, amazing company, roaring fires, plenty of wassil, games, outings, delicious food, and again- a trampoline. It could not have been more enjoyable for me. Thank you so much for coming!!Martha Stewart, eat your heart out. I finally had occasion to set an adult-looking table. I was quite pleased. It just made me happy.

Hazel didn't miss out on a thing. It just wouldn't be right.

We live just-enough-in-the-country to see a lot of stars at night. Sometimes I just go outside at night to look at them. I do.

The girls made a picture storyline of the first Thanksgiving. I think my favorite part of this activity is when I was explaining ever-so-absent-minded that the pilgrims came over on the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria...until my 2nd grader delicately pointed out "wasn't that Christopher Columbus?" yikes. Looks like its back to elementary school for me.

The gang entertained me with a little Turkey Bowl on Thursday. It made me tired (and cold) just watching.

Uncles are great. We are glad to have this one close by. He's a good one, he is.

This woman has 7 kids and 16 1/2 grandchildren. I am impressed.

Aunts are a good thing too...especially really cute ones with orange shoes.

We like this Uncle too.
We visited an amazingly beautiful Christmas Tree farm and let the boys cut down a tree. They even have complimentary hot chocolate and black currant juice. We will visit that one again.

I am indeed, so so lucky.

Then one day we took everyone to the Cider Mill. Unfortunately we hit it on a day that the steam powered press was not running...but we did get cookies and fresh cider out of it.

My adorable cousin brought her little family to visit. Aren't they the most darling people ever? I love how they meshed so well with us...I loved having them!

This is probably the reason that my Christmas cards aren't done yet. But it was worth it...don't these ladies look smashing in their Thanksgiving Day aprons?

Sometimes I threaten to put my kids in a crate and send them to China. I just might. But not this week. What? I gave them a bag of cookies for the trip...

Clark took us all on a tour of his sub. I am amazed that more submariners don't go crazy. Honestly, bless the man. I think I would rather be alone with four nutso little girls. I'd show you more of these pictures...but then I'd have to kill you, and then who would read my blog?

Thank you family! for coming to visit us, and play and love me!! Come again soon!!
and Thanks Mo and Spencer for the pictures!