Breaking records all over the place

We broke the all time snow record for this region. We've gotten 54.9 inches, barely breaking the old record that was set in 1898-1899 of 54.4. This year has gotten more snow than the last 5 years combined. I guess that's kind of cool to say that we were here during the snowiest season EVER!

Today is the first day that Matt has missed work. We woke up to blowing snow and whiteout conditions (not to mention the Blizzard Warnings). Yesterday they told everyone they would work on a 4-hour delay, so Matt was planning on heading out there. Then we saw on Facebook that friends had already tried and they had FINALLY closed the base. I guess that's very unusual, they never close the base!

And even though every news show (which have been on all day!) has said "Do not drive if you don't absolutely have to!," my husband absolutely had to. He and Christian chained up the Camry and drove around the neighborhood. Then, when more kids came over he took all of them out for a spinning fun time. So glad I have an excuse not to join the fun!

It's been another pajama day. I baked some bread and put some meat in the crockpot, my favorite way to cook. We've watched some movies and painted nails. Just another snow day!

And since I didn't take any pictures, here's the boys silly video. They took 4 and I believe this is #3. You can see them all on Matt's Facebook page.
(and even though it doesn't look like it, there really is a ton of snow blowing!)

Oh, and they canceled school for the rest of the week. No school till Tuesday!
Should be fun!!!

Snow fun

• 2 of the 10 worst winter storms in this regions history have happened this Winter season. The one we had this last weekend was #4.
  
• We're supposed to get another 10-20 inches today and tomorrow.
  
• They've already canceled my dr.'s appointment, church activities, and school for tomorrow and it hasn't even started snowing yet!
• The kids have been out of school since Friday. Tomorrow will be their 8th snow day.
  
• I haven't touched a snow shovel all season :)
  
• I wish I could say we've gotten a lot done since we've been stuck home all weekend, but we haven't. We have done some bonding and that's way more important than any household chores!

Watching a movie and cuddling.

The boys shoveling us out. Not sure why they waited till it was dark, but whatever.

Addie being silly in her babies bed.

Snow accumulation in our basement window on Monday. It hadn't snowed since Saturday night and this is what was left.

Our winter wonderland.

Good grade celebration

At the beginning of the year we bribed the kids. We told them that if they got good grades we would go with their friends family out to a Japanese Steakhouse called Asahi, our favorite kind of restaurant! They both got A's and B's for both report cards so we figured it was finally time to make good on our promise.

We went with the Rutkowski's and Neidermeyer's, some of the kids besties and neighbors. We love, love, love our neighborhood! Seriously, we are blessed with awesome neighbors!

Shannon, Robin, and Alexis.
These girls are absolutely inseparable!

Addie was very concerned when the chef lit the big flame. She held tight to daddy for a few minutes.

And then after dinner she rested her big melon on my big belly.
The baby started moving and kicking as soon as she put her head down!
They're already making each other crazy!

The grown-up table.
Sometimes it's so nice to have adult conversations with minimal interruptions!

And the kiddie table. Don't you just love how the boys are too cool for pictures!

We figured it was also a good night to go out since they're predicting another big storm tomorrow and Wednesday and I'm sure we'll be homebound!!!
Wish me luck...

Superbowl

We had our sweet friends the Utzingers over to watch the Superbowl with us. We ate lots of yummy food and had such a fun time visiting. It's so nice to have friends that are also neighbors and able to drive in this mess!

Lexi and Jenna had fun visiting.

Rob and Lana after their little cutie fell asleep.

The big kids watched the Superbowl for awhile but then they decided it was Wii time.

Me and my hubby.

My favorite commercial was this one for Google where the guys falls in love in Paris.
So cute it made me want to cry!
I owe Christian a 30 minute back rub since the Colts lost. Bummer.
But the food, company, and entertainment was good.
Not so bummer. :)

PS - They already canceled school for tomorrow.
UGH!

Boys

Christian is always coming up with new and clever ways to entertain Addie. Some safe, some not so much. Here is one of the more questionable ways. But Addie is a third child and I try not to sweat the small stuff.

And she loves her brother, and all the fun stuff he does with her SO much!

One of Christian's jobs is to go up the street and get the mail everyday. He usually takes Addie with him because of course she LOVES to follow and go anywhere with him! I was summoned outside after they had gone to get the mail so I could see how they had cruised.

That's when Christian informed me that he had dutifully bundled Addie up (this was a few weeks ago after one of our lighter snow storms), put her in her stroller, and pushed her while riding his skateboard. Then he let me know that they had planned another excursion up the street to show her the (at that time) almost completed Tot-Lot, so I broke out the camera.

Here they are getting ready to go. Notice Christians shorts, man, I'm making myself look like a pretty bad mom here! Oh well. Even though Addie doesn't look excited, I asked her if she wanted to come in and she screamed "NO!" I take that to mean she really wanted to go with her bubba! And who am I to deny such fun?!

And they're off...

And for all you critics out there, this is way better than him actually holding her while skateboarding, which he's been known to do as well!

C'est la vie!

Everybody poops

****Warning****

This posts is all about poop. If you might find this offensive in any way, please take precaution while reading.

This story started on Tuesday. That was the day that Matt and Addie found a half eaten bag of Plum Sweets in the pantry. Addie goes gaga for anything covered in chocolate so of course she was game to eat them, which she did. Probably 1/4 of the bag. Now anyone that has ever eaten Plum Sweets knows that they are not only delicious, but also very helpful if your having bowel issues.

Fast forward to Thursday morning. I checked on Addie at 6:30 at which time I smelled a foul smell coming from her room. It's pretty much unheard of for her to sleep with a dirty diaper, so I wasn't positive the source. And she was still asleep so I let the sleeping baby lie.

Fast forward to 9:30 Thursday morning when she woke up and I discovered that the source was, indeed, her diaper. Slight red bottom, but nothing too terrible.

Then there was the ill fated trip to the commissary where she waited at least an hour for a diaper change. Little more red bottom, but still not too terrible.

Then the ill fated trip to Wal Mart. You guessed it, upon arriving home I found another mess in her diaper. An even redder bottom, to which was applied a healthy dose of rash cream.

There was another dirty diaper mixed in there somewhere late afternoon.

Then I went visiting teaching that evening. When I got home I noticed Addie walking, feet wide apart. I picked her up and she was totally stiff. Poor girl didn't want to let me anywhere near her diaper which was, indeed full.

Her bum was as red as a fire truck. She cried and cried and cried and the rest of the night we let her roam "free." She was happy about that and even asking to go to the potty!

Since we've been snowed in all weekend, we decided to make the best of it and seriously push the potty training that I've been just lightly pushing until now (and also let her bum air out). She's been in undies all weekend and doing good!

She's still working the Plums out of her system so we've still had lots of poo.
But, the good news is that she's pooing on the potty!
She prefers the big potty to her little potty and instead of having us hold her on, she's decided she can hold herself up. When I ask if she's done and she's not, she'll tell me "no," and continue her business until she is done.

Love it!!!

Getting 'er done!!!

Checking her work.



Then she decided she really meant business and kicked off her pajamas all together.
(she was also playing with her hair, that's why it looks like that!)

Such a happy little pooper!

And every time I don't have to change a diaper I am a happy big mama!

Totally random

It started snowing this morning at 10:15, right on schedule!

It snowed last weekend so they canceled church. Then they canceled school on Monday. Tuesday brought a 2 hour late start, and then Wednesday started late too. Thursday was an already scheduled 2 hour early dismissal. And then, even though it hadn't started snowing yet, they canceled school for today too. Of course they don't make the decision until the wee hours of the morning, so we get the call around 5:30 and then usually can't go back to sleep. Pregnancy woes.

Speaking of pregnancy woes, here is my list:

• pregnancy induced carpal tunnel - I wake up ALL night with numb hands
• not being able to walk up the stairs carrying Addie without having to stop and catch my breath
• being out of breath from just rolling over
• bathroom visits every 20 minutes. Seriously, I go, brush my teeth, go again, put lotion on and put my hair up, go again...

I could go on and on, but I won't. I really am thankful to be able to be a mom. Truly.

Matt got up with Addie this morning so I could sleep in. Then at 9:30 Alexis, Christian, Matt, and Addie brought me pancakes, eggs with ham and cheese, and orange juice in bed. Then they dropped it off and let me eat all by myself and watch my programs. :) It was soooo nice!

The kids have been at friends houses all day. We told them both that tomorrow they can all come over here. Should be fun!

Matt took Addie out for a long walk in the snow. I stayed inside and napped. :) I'm hibernating I guess.

My sweet friends were throwing a baby shower for me and two other ladies at church. Unfortunately it got canceled though. Along with everything else this weekend. School, Matt's Navy weekend, all school activities. I asked Matt when he thought they would cancel church. Will they do it early tomorrow or try to wait a little while?

I'm thankful we're all healthy and safe and with no reason to be out in this weather. And that we have electricity. That's a big blessing in this mess!

And to add to the randomness, a few random shots.

Christian is all the time coming up with creative ways to entertain himself and Addie. Here's one he came up with a few weeks ago and they both loved! He dragged her around the house wrapped in his blanket. I don't even think they had any crashes, which is always the test of a good Christian/Addie activity.

Matt out this morning documenting the beginning of the storm.

Preggy shot, week 34.

Alexis got her split! Not sure who took this pic or why her hands are cut off, but it's still cute. :)

After spending (almost) the whole day inside, Addie had lots of energy. So Matt chased her around the living room. I love, love, love the look of pure joy on her face! She's a happy girl.

The worst idea ever

=

going shopping the day before the "Big Storm" hits this weekend. 

(we're supposed to get 24 inches+)

Along with everyone else in Southern Maryland.

Addie and I headed out to the commissary at 9:30 this morning and didn't leave it until 12:30. The check-out line wrapped around 3/4 of the store. Addie was really good right up until we got in line. Then she dirtied her diaper and I hadn't brought in the diaper bag so she got to sit in it. And then she decided she didn't want to be in the little car part of the cart. She wanted me to hold her or she wanted to run around. 

Ugh.

Then we even braved Wal-Mart. 

I'm pooped.

PS - Just to kind of clear my good name, I didn't go to stock up because of the storm, I went because I haven't planned dinners and done a big shopping trip since Christian was in the hospital and it desperately needed to be done. Does that make me sound less lame? 

Just like Sis

Ever since Alexis made the cheerleading team she's been stretching and doing cheers all around the house. So ever since Addie has seen Alexis, she has also been stretching and doing cheers all around the house.

And Addie going down in an action shot.
So funny.

She wants to be just like sis.

Can I tell you...

how excited I am for this!!!!

Stars Banding Together to Record New "We Are the World" for Haiti

I'm sure it won't be as good as 

this 

- but I'm still wicked excited!!!