Sometimes I am such a nut! Last night, after exercising, I wanted to relax and watch TV for a bit before bed so I scrolled through the channels until I found "A Walk to Remember." It had been going for about 15 minutes but I started watching it knowing it was way too late to start watching a movie but I got sucked in and couldn't stop watching it. I read the book several years ago but I didn't remember much about it except I didn't like the end. I normally don't like sad endings in books or movies but I really enjoyed the movie, despite the tears I shed. Now I've got to rent the movie so I can see it from beginning to end!
Unfortunately, I got to bed in the wee hours of the morning so now I'm sporting a migraine and no energy! I still think it was worth it. And, surprise, surprise: School is in session today! Hooray!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Who needs entertainment when you're a kid?
There's no school again today. If I would have known that we'd have three extra days of vacation, I would have planned some sort of an outing! Although I do get it. I went out to the car to get something today, slipped and nearly fell flat on my back. Freezing rain is dangerous because you think the pavement's just wet when it's really a sheet of ice frozen to look like droplets of rain. We'll enjoy having fun in the warmth of our home.
I forgot to write this cute story! Back when we had a bunch of snow, Caitlin and Courtney ran outside carrying spoons. When I asked them what they were doing, they said they were going to eat the snow!
The twins are very creative in their play and make up the most interesting games to entertain themselves. Today they were in their bathtub, fully clothed, sliding down the slightly curved edge over and over again and were laughing and having the best time ever. They also played hide and seek in my closet. Even when one could immediately see where the other was hiding, they still got all excited when they found each other. This morning, they stepped on a crocheted blanket and glided around the hardwood floor like it was an ice rink. I even tried it! With my sore body (from Wii fit) it seemed like a workout but fun! Why didn't I ever think of it before? Oh, yeah, growing up somehow destroyed my ingenuity and ability to entertain myself without t.v., books, computer, etc. That's one of the great things about being a parent--you get to see creativity in your kids! To observe children absolutely fascinated watching squirrels running up and down trees or an ant colony reminds us of the amazing things right in front of us that we don't notice as adults as we're hustling our kids off to the next activity designed to entertain and keep our them busy. In reality, we have plenty of fun and excitement right in our own homes and backyards if we just take a few minutes to discover the world around us and be creative in our play.
I forgot to write this cute story! Back when we had a bunch of snow, Caitlin and Courtney ran outside carrying spoons. When I asked them what they were doing, they said they were going to eat the snow!
The twins are very creative in their play and make up the most interesting games to entertain themselves. Today they were in their bathtub, fully clothed, sliding down the slightly curved edge over and over again and were laughing and having the best time ever. They also played hide and seek in my closet. Even when one could immediately see where the other was hiding, they still got all excited when they found each other. This morning, they stepped on a crocheted blanket and glided around the hardwood floor like it was an ice rink. I even tried it! With my sore body (from Wii fit) it seemed like a workout but fun! Why didn't I ever think of it before? Oh, yeah, growing up somehow destroyed my ingenuity and ability to entertain myself without t.v., books, computer, etc. That's one of the great things about being a parent--you get to see creativity in your kids! To observe children absolutely fascinated watching squirrels running up and down trees or an ant colony reminds us of the amazing things right in front of us that we don't notice as adults as we're hustling our kids off to the next activity designed to entertain and keep our them busy. In reality, we have plenty of fun and excitement right in our own homes and backyards if we just take a few minutes to discover the world around us and be creative in our play.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Another Snow Day (even though it's not snowing!)
Get this. . .it hasn't started snowing yet, but they cancelled afternoon kindergarten today and Rachel came home from school at 11:40! Sometimes I wish we lived in Utah, where when there's three feet of snow, they still have school. Oh well! We're supposed to get snow/sleet and freezing rain so they'll probably cancel school tomorrow as well! Even though it snows every winter, people here are winter wimps!
No School Again!
Yesterday was supposed to be the day that we got back into our normal routine. However, the school district called last night to inform us school was cancelled because of the lack of water service. Our water supply was possibly contaminated on Saturday when one of the filters at the water treatment plant malfunctioned so we've had to drink bottled water or boil our water since then. So they cancelled school AGAIN! Of course, about 10 this morning, the water company called to say that the water's okay to drink now.
We've already had several snow days this year. They add extra days to the end of the school year to make up missed days. Rachel was so upset when we got the call. She said, "we're going to be going to school all summer" and it certainly seems like it! But it was a nice, lazy, relaxing day. I got caught up on all my laundry and the kids just played and had a good time. Rachel had basketball practice tonight so I got all the kids ready to go and we headed out to the car, only to discover that Paul had moved my car out of the garage to get the Christmas tree boxes out and locked it with the keys inside (it wasn't his fault--I shouldn't have left them there but I was carrying sleeping twins in and forgot to bring the keys into the house.) So I had no way of getting Rachel to her practice. I felt like the worst mom ever, especially when I had to call the coach to tell him she wouldn't be at practice because I locked my keys in the car! She has two games this week so she could really use the practice. Oh well. . . mommy messes up again! It's not the first time and certainly not the last.
Speaking of the Christmas tree. . . Paul took it down, but once again, the bottom will not come apart. Last year it sat in the office until March when Chris (our nephew) and Paul were finally able to get it apart. I guess the weight from the rest of the tree really wedges it together. It is a very tall tree so that's probably why but it's aggravating. I love the decluttering feeling I get after I get all the Christmas decorations put away but this tree business drives me crazy. We had the missionaries over for dinner last night and I hoped with their combined muscle power, they would get it apart but it was not to be. So half the tree is put away but the other half is still sitting in my kitchen. I dragged it out of the family room so I could vacuum the needles off the carpet in the family room. Yes, even our artificial tree drops needles, albeit fake ones. It's better than the real ones. I remember once taking down our real tree one year and burning it in the fireplace and it practically exploded into flames with crazy sparks flying everywhere. And just a few minutes earlier we had it covered in electric lights--not exactly the safest thing in the world--but it sure smelled divine! Now I cut fir boughs from the yard to put on the table so at least I have some of that Christmas scent floating around during the holidays.
I'd better go and get something done before the kids wake up and we begin the school routine again for real today!
We've already had several snow days this year. They add extra days to the end of the school year to make up missed days. Rachel was so upset when we got the call. She said, "we're going to be going to school all summer" and it certainly seems like it! But it was a nice, lazy, relaxing day. I got caught up on all my laundry and the kids just played and had a good time. Rachel had basketball practice tonight so I got all the kids ready to go and we headed out to the car, only to discover that Paul had moved my car out of the garage to get the Christmas tree boxes out and locked it with the keys inside (it wasn't his fault--I shouldn't have left them there but I was carrying sleeping twins in and forgot to bring the keys into the house.) So I had no way of getting Rachel to her practice. I felt like the worst mom ever, especially when I had to call the coach to tell him she wouldn't be at practice because I locked my keys in the car! She has two games this week so she could really use the practice. Oh well. . . mommy messes up again! It's not the first time and certainly not the last.
Speaking of the Christmas tree. . . Paul took it down, but once again, the bottom will not come apart. Last year it sat in the office until March when Chris (our nephew) and Paul were finally able to get it apart. I guess the weight from the rest of the tree really wedges it together. It is a very tall tree so that's probably why but it's aggravating. I love the decluttering feeling I get after I get all the Christmas decorations put away but this tree business drives me crazy. We had the missionaries over for dinner last night and I hoped with their combined muscle power, they would get it apart but it was not to be. So half the tree is put away but the other half is still sitting in my kitchen. I dragged it out of the family room so I could vacuum the needles off the carpet in the family room. Yes, even our artificial tree drops needles, albeit fake ones. It's better than the real ones. I remember once taking down our real tree one year and burning it in the fireplace and it practically exploded into flames with crazy sparks flying everywhere. And just a few minutes earlier we had it covered in electric lights--not exactly the safest thing in the world--but it sure smelled divine! Now I cut fir boughs from the yard to put on the table so at least I have some of that Christmas scent floating around during the holidays.
I'd better go and get something done before the kids wake up and we begin the school routine again for real today!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Twilight Spoof
For you Twilight Fans, click on this youtube Christmas Twilight spoof. It made me laugh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK0Vz7sLfXQ&eurl=http://www.thehigbees.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK0Vz7sLfXQ&eurl=http://www.thehigbees.blogspot.com/
Christmas Cards on the door
Basement Door covered in Christmas CheerOne of my favorite things about Christmas is receiving Christmas cards. I can't wait each day to get the mail and read all about my friends and family and see the pictures they send. If we get a card or a picture, we tape it onto our front door until it's full and then we put them on the basement door. So if you sent me a Christmas card this year, thanks! You made my Christmas special.
Front door covered from top to bottom with Christmas GreetingsThursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year 2009!
3, 2, 1. . . and the poppers go off!
Spencer blowing his horn at midnight 
Josh and Tammy Vallem
Confetti time!
We love these things!
Brad and Paul chitchat away.
Rachel with her friend, Madison in their Aero Shirts
I love my friends, Ginny and Tammy.
Caitlin gets ready for midnight after eating a ton of candy from the pinata.
The kiss at midnight!
All the kids were tired by midnight but they still stayed awake!
Time to celebrate!
Our New Year's PrincessMusic Corner
