Ice, Ice Baby

Last Friday we had an ice storm pass through the Midwest. Though the ice is beautiful, it has resulted in several branches falling off our trees and power outages. It's still so cold that most of the ice is still on the trees. Aaron went out Saturday with the trees and was able to clean up most of the big branches.

The boys thought the ice was pretty cool and went out to explore last Friday. Our neighbor was telling us that she witnessed a miracle. I went out to take a few pictures and shortly after I came in, Will came in telling me that another branch had fallen. He had been playing right where the branch fell, and it was the biggest branch that fell that day. After that, I kept the kids in the house! This picture is of the tree the branch fell from just moments before.

Santa, Shmanta!

We visited Santa at the mall last week. Madelyn has been so excited about Santa ever since we put up our Christmas decorations. We arrived at the mall and I asked her if she wanted to go see "Tanta" (as she calls him). She excitedly shook her head and we went in. As you can see, Santa wasn't quite as exciting in person for her. Will and Bruce, however, were quite thrilled and had a nice chat with him.

Snow bunny

We've had a few snowstorms this year already - each with only two or three inches of accumulation, but it's enough for our kids to play in. Madelyn just loves going out with everyone to play and is pretty brave in the cold. She loves to be pulled down the little hill in our yard on a sled or roll around on the trampoline. I say roll because she can't stand up very long before she falls and can't get back up with all of the layers of clothes on! I am amazed that she stays out as long as she does.

All I want for Christmas...

is a new crown! Last week I went to the YMCA to "workout" (if you can call a 7-month pregnant lady on a treadmill a workout). When I dropped Madelyn off at babysitting the women who work there started talking to me. I unzipped my jacket and one of the ladies immediately said "whoa, where did that come from? You didn't look like that last week!" Yes, baby is growing and so am I. She remarked how great I look to have all of my hair and teeth after five, almost six kids.

So I finish my workout and come home. I decided to indulge in a rice cake and felt something hard as I bit down...a piece of my tooth. This morning I went to the dentist for an exam. The result: a $1200 estimate for a crown. The good news is I don't need a root canal...or so she hopes! I had never had major dental work until two years ago and now I've had two root canals and going on my third crown. The price we pay for having kids. I haven't been back into the Y since my visit last week due to the many doctor and dentist appointments, Primary meetings, etc. I've had, but I'm going to be sure and thank that woman for cursing me with her comment next time I go!