(we've had more of this...)
(and more of this...)
I have been thoroughly enjoying our holiday break. OK, thoroughly might be a strong word, rather, I have really been enjoying most parts of our holiday break. We have gone out, we have stayed in. We have played, we have snuggled and drunk copious amounts of hot chocolate. We graze all day and have a sensible dinner (most nights.) And with the exception of Clark being back at work, we are having fun.
We are having the perfect snow situation as of late. The two feet that blew in overnight last week was fun and came at a good time. However, it really came in just like that. It literally blew in, 6 inches at a time all while we were asleep. We had food and no where we needed to be so it was a lovely shut in.
This week we are actually getting to enjoy watching the snow come down gently. It snows through the night and the first part of the day but by afternoon the roads are perfectly clear. The wind has died down and the temperature is tolerable. I love snow like this.
On New Year's Eve we were having one of those mornings and instead of hunkering down in our house and staying in pj's we ventured out onto the roads. Why you ask? Why for two pounds of bacon, naturally. No road is too treacherous for bacon.
And even though Clark ended up having to stay at work, we still ventured out to a friends house to enjoy delicious snacks (which included some of the a fore mentioned bacon) and good company to celebrate the New Year (or the first part of the evening anyway.) We went easy with the celebrations though I was prepared seeing as how I don't go anywhere without noise makers...four little noise makers to be more precise.
(I love taking pictures of groups of kids. You kind of have to just go with it. I think half of them are in the starting positions of making a silly face and while Mia looks disgruntled, I can assure you she had a lovely time.)
We left to come home before anyone had an official meltdown,
and then against my better judgment, I allowed the girls to stay up and watch the ball drop.
On our way home from our friends, we stopped off at the boat to leave the boys with some yummy snacks of their own.
Do you see the 2-0-1-0?
The girls were so excited to stay up at first. I rather like this sequence of pictures which depicts how I feel approaching midnight. Partying just isn't the same as an adult, if you ask me.
By 11pm we had lost Mia completely and Haley and Abby were mystified as to why people stay up so late to watch the ball drop. Maybe I didn't make enough noise or jump high enough on the bed. They thought it was all very anticlimatic and didn't understand why New Year's had to include so many people kissing. As they were watching couple after couple kiss in Times Square, Abby looked over at Haley, stared at her for a second, then planted one right on her forehead. That's the spirit Abby!
(They were also wondering why Jennifer Lopez was wearing a sparkly body suit and acting like a crazy person next to Ryan Seacrest. I was wondering what has happened to dear Dick Clark and why does his poor voice sound so wrong? But I am glad he was there, it just wouldn't have been the same without him.)
Earlier thar evening, when I was up to my elbows in delicious food preparations I had asked my overly responsible 8 year old to bathe the two smaller kids. The situation was humorous.
I was getting panicked yelling from upstairs that first, Mia wouldn't get her hair wet, then someone dropped a towel in the water, then Hazel tinkled in the water, then Hazel was kicking her legs and wouldn't let Haley put a diaper on her. All ended well though, I can assure you (though I had to rinse dried shampoo out of Mia's hair the next day.)
I would still ask her to do it again. She really is quite reliable.
And this is what Haley brought downstairs after Hazel refused her diaper.
A hand towel, the little dear.
And today, after shoveling the blessed driveway for the tenth time this week, Abby and I made this as a surprise for when Clark gets home. Arrruuuugga! Go Navy!
(It's a submarine, just in case you couldn't tell.)
18 comments:
Well that was a very thorough New Year post, I must say. I love it that Haley is getting big enough to really be so helpful. It just gets better and better from here on out! Also love the snowsub. Very creative. HAPPY 2010 TO ALL OF THE SCHARPEOPLE IN CT!!!
Love the Submarine! Happy New Year.
I think the sub sculpture is contest worthy. There's got to be an patriotic snow sculpture contest out there somewhere surely.
Emily, I'm so glad that you guys are getting on well enough without me. I was worried everyone would be all mopey and too sad to do any thing but sit and watch Harry potter for the 39th time. Is that sub up to specs?
I laughed through that entire post. Hits so close to home! Love the submarine snow sculpture...that is way cool!
Ah, playing in the snow-way cool sub. I want to sqwuish Hazel's chubby cheeks.
Ah, playing in the snow-way cool sub. I want to sqwuish Hazel's chubby cheeks.
Ah, playing in the snow-way cool sub. I want to sqwuish Hazel's chubby cheeks.
You make me feel like such a bad mom. I need to find my enter Emily. Oh and Hazel in the towel is really cute.
I feel like a really lame mom for putting the kids to bed at their usual 8 PM bedtime now. OK, not really. But what a nice mom you are to have a party with your girls! Everything is more fun with Emily!
I love the snowy submarine. It looks exactly like our propane tank next to our house, except ours is covered in mossy green stuff and not pretty white snow. :)
I would have helped with those baths and gotten all the shampoo out of the hair. Sorry I couldn't have been there to help Haley. She is such a good big sister.
LOLing big time at Hazel's post bath getup. Love the hair clip holding up the towel (It's ok, Hazel, I can't hold one up on my own either!)
And might I say, amazing submarine! You'd better watch out for the enemies (you know--the enemies) but it looks very quiet...
Love the sequence of New Year's pics. We watched the ball drop too--at 9pm here. You gals are so much fun.
I love the Sub! How many of us made it till midnight? Peter did. He walked in the door at 5 till and woke me up. Just in time to wonder the same things about Lopez. I forgot to tell you that night, but Matthew used to wear the hand towels all the time after baths. He liked them because he could wear them around his waist like his dad.
As long as it's not a yellow submarine - ha! get it?
Sometimes I don't like reading your blog and seeing the adorable pictures of you and your beautiful babies because it makes me sad that you are so far away. What ever happened to our compound idea? Are you making any progress on it?
What a party! And I loved the party hats where everyone had a number...watching the ball drop is SO anticlimatic but JLo's cat suit was definitely eye popping.
I can't believe you have a child that you let go near other children with water involved...there definitely is a difference between oldest boys and girls!
Love Hazel's handtowel!
I love the hand towel and the submarine. It looks like you guys have had a great holiday. I feel very out of the loop since I haven't had reliable internet for ages. Not to mention all the back blogging I will have. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my new year, but what can you do?
By the way, I can't believe how old Haley looks skating with her Dad. I used to love skating, but I admit that my back can't take it anymore once you get three kids hanging on you.
New years eve really ISN'T the same as an adult...boo! LOVE the baby in the towel and the submarine snow(man?) is really cool. I love taking groups kids pics like that. always funny.
If I had to pick one person to be a fly on my wall, it would be you. You've always been so clean, you'd probably fly around sanitizing stuff for me. :)
Nothing like partying at the Scharmans!! Hazel looked like she was at the spa. What a great big sister Haley is! I let my kids stay up as long as yours this year. Of course, we live in a different time zone, so it wasn't really the same. . .
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