Ode to Snow No. 2

Snow, oh snow, off to Maryland did we go.

Thoughts of not seeing you for a year filled us with glee,

go figure we'd move here & it's record snowfall for DC!

...So we thought we had seen the most MD had to offer as far as snow went - we were told it would maybe snow a couple times and even then wouldn't stick around for that long - yesterday we got about 25-28 inches in 24 hours!! This is literally an all time record for the DC area. And I can only remember maybe 1 time in the 11+ years we've lived in MN seeing this much snow fall at once.

Friday was Nate's last day of class until the 4th, so most of our friends were heading out that afternoon to drive to their destinations or were flying out the next day for the holiday. It was great for us, the storm started late Friday and we don't leave for AZ till Thurs, so it was perfect hunker-down-with-the-fam-cozy-in-the-house weather. For those traveling, some had to turn around and come back or were stranded on their way. All flights were cancelled and rescheduled for Sunday. Church was even cancelled this morning! God is sovereign over ALL things including the weather, and I am eager to hear our friend's testimonies of how that all came into play with their trips and how God met them even through the delays.

Here are some pics I shot while out with Sophie, it was literally up to her waist - Chason didn't come out cause he would have literally been up to his neck in snow, lol! 4 more days and it's AZ or bust - 6 hour flight leaving at 6:50am (meaning we have to leave our house at 4:30am!!) - reminding myself "God is sovereign over ALL things", even flights like this with 3 kids :). I'm sure I will be blogging about that upon my recovery, ha!

The PERFECT "Mommy, Thank You" Saturday ...

When I came downstairs to get Chason his 5am bottle on Saturday, there were lights strung above our fireplace and a colorful handwritten banner saying "Thank You!!!". I thought, how sweet is Nate. He knew that I was having a really rough week with the kids, what a thoughtful thing for him to do. Coincidently, I also had my PC Ladies Christmas Tea that morning, and he volunteered to keep Calvin for me along with the other two kids so I could have some mommy time to myself - awesome. So i'm getting ready for the tea and he tells me that it is "Mommy, Thank You Day" and that when I get home from the tea, I am also free to go out for a couple of hours and do whatever I wanted - kid free!(Granted I had to make sure I pumped enough milk for the baby). Then he ran out and came back with flowers and my favorite drink from Starbucks. (Note: Saturday's are usually a school day for Nate, he studies at the PC and tests out for that week, so he was sacrificing that to serve me that whole day).

The tea was AMAZING! I am in awe of how much I love each of these ladies so much already and it's only been 4 mos! (I don't say that lightly. I feel like just yesterday I was crying b/c I had to leave MN, now just the thought of having to part ways with my new friends brings me to tears). We were spoiled as usual, and even got letters from some dear friends at home to top off the morning.

Then I walked around the mall, got my haircut - I had to explain to Nate that getting my haircut was not an "errand", but ladies actually enjoy getting that done, lol - and concluded the evening off with a wonderful date night with my hubby and a delicious dinner at Maggiano's (thanks Legans!).

It was the perfect day and I felt refreshed and ready to face another week of mommy 24/7. Reminded that in this "season" of my life, I AM fulfilling my purpose by just caring for my children and husband. When all I have done in a day is feed kids and change diapers, correct and correct and correct my toddlers (LOL!) and attempt to provide a decent meal of frozen pizza for my husband when he gets home, the Lord is pleased. No matter if the laundry basket is overflowing and there is a toy explosion in the living room. I am fulfilling my God given role as a mom and wife - thanks Nate for affirming me in this and being sensitive to remind me of it when I need it, I love you!

Chicky-Boy

That's what Sophie has lovingly dubbed Calvin :). He's already 7 weeks old! It's fun because he is really starting to smile and try to coo when you talk to him. His favorite person to do this to is Sophie, of course. I love to watch her face when he opens his mouth up so big to give her a grin, she just lights up! He is doing great - falling right into suit with the other two kids (for those of you who have been around my kids as infants, you know what that means), but God is supplying MUCH grace. I'm finding the third time around the crying just doesn't phase you as much. And moments like these ones seem to make everything else dissipates in light of his smiles and those big blue eyes ...

Ode to Snow

Snow, oh snow ... um, just kidding ... do you think with 3 kids I have time to sit around writing poetry about snow, lol! Just wanted to share some pics from the 1st snowfall here in MD 12/5/09. It was pretty much Chason's 1st time in it since he was only 6 mos old this time last year. It was a lot easier to get out and enjoy it with the knowledge that it would not be staying for long. Unlike MN, where we seem to have snow for 1/2 of the year, they only sporadically get it here in MD and it stays only for a day or two. I guess this was actually way more snow than they usually get in a day. I think it was to bless all of our PC friends and their kids from Florida who have never seen the snow :). Miss you my dear friends in MN, not missing the sub zero temps or the snow!

Thanksgiving with the Kauflin's

Some of you may be wondering where we spent our Thanksgiving holiday. Well, we were here in MD. Nate's classmate Jordan and his family are from Covenant Life Church and his mom and dad, Julie & Bob, graciously opened their home to us and 4 other PC families and ALL 21 of our children. Not to mention that they have 6 children of their own and all of their families. It was a sweet blessing to be able to partake of such a special meal with such precious people. Another wonderful memory we will take with us from our PC year.

Just for Fun

(Click on photo to enlarge image)

This is all 3 of the kids: Calvin, Chason & Sophie - we didn't get Calvin's taken as soon as the other 2, he's probably a couple weeks older than them in this pic. Fun to see the similarities. Sorry Soph, I think the boys have you beat in the newborn-cuteness department though, lol!

Three Beautiful Babies ...

These are some of my favorites! Chason holding Cal for the 1st time, too stinkin' cute!! And then of course sissy had to get in on the photo-op! Glad she did, man I love these guys, even though it's a bit crazy around our house these days, lol!

Date Night in DC

For our belated 8th anniversary date night we went to DC! Nate set it all up and the Dufrin's graciously served us by taking all 3 of our kids, so no baby Calvin tagging along! It was our 1st time leaving him, but he was in very good hands :).

I had no idea we were going there until we got into the car. All Nate had told me was that we would be doing some walking outside. I was beyond thrilled when I found out, I had never been to DC before! We had reservations at Old Ebbitt Grill (est in 1859, across the street from the National Treasury building and The White House) at 8:30pm, so we power walked about 2 miles before dinner to see all that we could see - here are some pics (in random order b/c it's late and I am getting frustrated trying to cut and past them in order b/c I keep loosing pics - i'll perfect this art of blogging one day, just not when i'm sleep deprived, lol!). Thanks again Sandy & Moriah for loving on our kids and caring for them, and thank you Nate for making our 8th such a memorable one ...