Snowmen and Sledding

Santa brought Ellie and snowman kit for Christmas and her dang parents got sick that same day, during one of our biggest snow storms, and she's been begging to build one every since. J.rue has been begging to go sledding since...well forever.

Lucky for both of them, it dumped snow yesterday, and both of their wildest dreams came true. I think J.rue shoveled and snow-blowed 3 times yesterday. It was a good snow day. After most of the snow had been cleared, we bundled up the kids (not a task for the faint of heart) and met in the front yard. Fitz is the best, he'll just find a nice cozy spot in the snow, take a seat and try to eat the snow. It's particularly hard for him because his mittens don't even have thumb holes, rude. He is the most laid-back kid and I kiss his face daily for it.

J.rue got to work creating the snowman's bum while Ellie and I worked on his torso. Fitz continued to eat his snow. We stacked him up and Ellie strategically placed every eye, button, and scarf on him until he was deemed "the best snowman ever!". Ellie wanted to name him puppy but I convinced her Ralphie was a tad bit more fitting.

Soon after we headed in for lunch and naps. J.rue was dead set on going sledding so around 4:45 we headed up to the elementary school. We forged down an unplowed driveway and...got stuck. Let the record show that this was no doing of mine. So we spent the next 30ish minutes trying to get ourselves out. By the time we escaped the snows slushy grasp we had about 20 minutes of daylight left. Did that stop j.rue? Never! We pulled to the side of the road, unloaded the kids and J.rue made us quite the sledding path. Ellie went down a few times on her own and she caught some major air, which she didn't find fun. At all. She kept saying, "I don't like going fast. Fast isn't fun. Slow is fun. Fast is boring." She was trying to be tough because right after her aerodynamics she burst into tears.

After a quick 20 minutes, Fitz and Ellie were done. Jeremy made a few more runs, we loaded up, and headed home. While it didn't go exactly as planned, we loved spending the time playing together. J.rue really is the best at making any situation a good one.

LAST NIGHT I MADE PEACE WITH THE SNOW

Last night j.rue and I spend the evening watching our most beloved Cougar Town with the TWIN-laws (haha, get it?) Well, and actually J.rue was working, but he was at least in the same room. With his headphones on. Nose glued to the computer. But he was there, and that's better than most times.  After 3 rousing episodes of CT, some sinful rice krispies, and some New Girl, we decided it was time to make the trek home. It was 10:30 and way past my work week bed time. We walked out the door and I could feel tears quickly fill my eyes. It had snowed. Tons. In 3 hours. Also, we had no ice melter salt and the post-person had not been very happy with the ugly state of our sidewalks that he. He'd left a note. Not a proud moment.

We got into the car and slowly slid along to Wal-mart and got the last bag of ice melt that they had. So if you're looking for a positive, there you have it. Last bag. Oh, and back to me getting all bleary eyed, my morning commute since Monday was what it was all about. It's been painstakingly slow and slippery and slushy, and I know I live in Utah, but my friends, that wears on a person, and not in a pretty way. This storm has been relentless and it hurts a little. Each storm for the past 3 days has had it's own personality, bringing something new to the table.

By the time we got home from Wal-mart it was 11, and we decided that since it was past our bedtime anyway, why get up early to shovel? Let's do it now! So, j.rue got the shovel and I followed with the bucket with ice melt. I wanted to make it safe so that our post person will keep delivering the boxes that I so look forward too (I have some goooood stuff coming!).

After the walks were shoveled, de-iced, and deemed worthy of any mail-person's feet we took a moment to stop and admire our work. After a moment I decided that it was high time that I make a snow angel. It was lightly snowing, covering up what we had just removed of course. I was laying in the snow in my jeans and I decided that this winter and I could be friends like all the winter's past, even though this one was a little more rough around the edges. Golly, because really he sure can be dapper, especially at 11:30 at night.

And now we're okay. Spring can wait a tad bit longer.

FREEZING RAIN, OH WHAT A SHAME

...and apparently us Utahn's don't know how to handle it. In our defense it hardly ever happens here. The freeways were closed, there was spinning at 15 mph and UDOT was basically begging people to delay their commute 1-2 hours. My windshield was freezing over and it was a grand old time. That's all I'll really say about that, I just wanted to remember it, because you know, this NEVER happens. Except that it will probably happen again next Tuesday. So...

Now down to business. I promised pictures of my tiny brightenings up at Ruesch Manor, and guess what? I'm actually going to deliver. Please don't pass out from the shock. We consider Ruesch Manor as our starter home, so we're not wanting to put her through any major cosmetic surgery. I think the most we're willing to do is throw some paint on the wall and change up the decor once in a while. Okay, when I said tiny, I really did mean tiny, as in our bathroom. Each wall is the length of the bathtub, if all 4 bathtubs are overlapping. Make sense? No? Let's just say J.rue and I get grouchy if both of us have to be in there and one of us isn't in the shower.

Okay, so a few things:

1. Once we replace the door, hang some hooks, replace the picture, and steam the wrinkles out of the shower curtain, there will be before and after photos. It might be a while, but it's a start!

2. Isn't our bathroom just the most miniature (full) bathroom you ever did lay eyes on? Me too.

3. If you are ever re-doing your bathroom don't use slate in the shower. Just trust me on that one.

I've always had a thing for yellow, but it's sometimes a little much. Luckily in our tiny bathroom it's just enough to pack a tiny punch, especially at 5:30 in the morning. Unfortunately  I've now woken a monster and am coming up with gobs and gobs of house projects that I'm pining to do. Let's just say that there will be lots  and lots of painting projects once it warms up a bit and proper ventilation measures can be taken. I want a warm calming living space with little pops of color. 

My inspiration:

More to come!

10 TO 23

...as in degrees. It's cold and hazy outside and I'm just not loving it this year. I do have to say that our icicles this year and like none I've ever seen, and those are purty. Usually, I'm an advocate for equal treatment of all seasons. Sorry winter, not this year. This has got to be one of the first years where I actually craved warm weather, no jackets and sandals. I dream about them. Day and night. Isn't it awesome that it's still January and the snow doesn't really disappear until May?

Has the cold put anyone else in a funk? It's so cold here that I have zero motivation to do much, especially anything outside. After we got back from sunny southern Utah (Pictures by Friday, promise!) this last weekend I decided that since I couldn't change the nasty outside conditions I could at least brighten up our own Ruesch Manor to reflect the sun and warmth I've been craving. Since then, I've made some tiny changes that have made ALL the difference. I think those details will be a post for tomorrow though.

^^just because I think this is a grade A photo ^^

Other things that have made this frigid winter a little more bearable? TV. Not ashamed to say it. Sometimes when it's this cold out, there's not much better than hunkering down on the couch with your electric blanket and listen to the soft sounds of Jillian Michael's verbal lashings. The puppies and I have especially been doing a lot of hunkering. We've also been talking about all of the grand and adventurous walks we'll be taking once it's not cold enough to freeze your eyeballs, instead of the whimpy one blockers we've been sticking to lately.

Also, it seems that the folks over at Samsung have finally decided to upgrade their phones to the actual SWYPE texting instead of the ghastly Samsung Keyboard. I really do wish I had a list of words that that darn thing just wouldn't let me type (queue throwing phone against wall). Mine and J.rue's phone made the transition last night and we did a little happy dance in bed. It's the little things people

This cold has also got me grabbing for lots and lots of cozy layers. These two are currently on my wishlist:

/1/2/

That's enough glum and bla for today. Bright colors coming tomorrow!!