Ew. Snow.

Don't get me wrong, it's pretty and everything, and the kids love it, and I love watching them have fun in it, but when you get right down to it snow is just cold and wet. No getting around it. Those are definitely two things I do not cope well with. Thank goodness I invested in some good snow boots last year because we got maybe a foot yesterday, and regular shoes, or even substandard boots were just not gonna cut it, especially considering the few inches of ice under the snow. Ick.

But like I said, the kids are having a blast playing in it, and John is perfectly willing to be the man and go play with them, leaving me to be the mommy who stays inside where it's warm and serves hot cocoa when everyone comes in. It's a role I do well.

Jonni didn't have school for Tuesday or Wednesday, and you won't believe it, but she was mad. She really likes school, and hates it when she can't go, so she was particularly surly and difficult the past couple of days. Add in a brother who has learned to push big sister's buttons, and who decided to take it upon himself to make her as angry as he could possibly manage, and I was hugely relieved that school was back on today. Even with the factor that I had to get up early. Yes, even with that I am super happy to get that girl out of the house, lol!

In other news, my poor Erik is sick, of the intestinal kind. I have gone through more diapers since yesterday than I have in the past month. I kid you not. I had to ask a friend to go on an emergency run for more, because I was about to run out! Poor, poor Erik. He's not having much fun with this. Neither am I, come to think of it. I'm a little sick as well, which is why you won't see me on SVELTE for a bit. Just a fever, and no other symptoms, so maybe this one won't last long. I will be so very, very glad when flu season is over. It is seriously interrupting my recovery processes.

Other than that, life goes on pretty much as normal. We have not heard anything about the Peoria house (for those of you who don't know, we are sporting two mortgages since we moved, and we have an interested party for the first time in eight months who is trying to get approved for a loan so they can bid on said house. Prayers would be appreciated!), but we might be getting rid of our faulty car next week. If we get rid of the house, needless to say, getting a new car will be a cakewalk. Here's hoping today is the day we get some great news!! If we don't get any great news, then I will just settle for having an almost perfect life. ;)

The Almighty Liz

P.S. For your viewing pleasure, I have included some pics of the snow. Also, a picture of Jonni in her brand-new glasses. Enjoy!

I just think this little snow covered plant is funny for some reason. He just looks so pathetic out there all by himself!

Here's one of our cars almost covered up. John dug it out yesterday to go to the store. Yay that I didn't have to!


Our backyard, or part of it anyway. Our fence is like almost half as tall as it should be.

Here's my cutie. The glasses are hot pink, but it's hard to tell with the red shirt. And yes, we got her a granny chain to keep them from falling off. After the last fiasco, of having them for four days and then losing them on the playground, only to find them again but smashed, I deemed the chain necessary. I let her pick it out though!

My Awesome Daughter

Well, I just got back from dropping off a new winter coat for a little boy in Jonni's class who doesn't have one. I'm not tooting my own horn here, I'm tooting one for Jonni, the best little girl ever.
It started last week when Jonni came home from school. She told me about a little boy in her class who was wearing pink gloves. "He's a boy, mommy!", she laughed. "And he's wearing pink gloves, isn't that funny?!" I sat her down to explain that they were probably all that little boy had to wear in the blistering cold we were getting, and she really shouldn't laugh because it would make him feel horrible. She got really quiet and thoughtful and didn't say anything else about it for the rest of the day.
The next day she came home and said "[That little boy] doesn't have a coat mommy. I think we should get him one. He says he wants a really warm coat with Spiderman on it. We can use my piggy bank money." Jonni has about three dollars in her piggy bank that she has been saving forever. I bawled, and said I would talk to her daddy about it, and see what we could do.
John and I were unanimous in our agreement that this kind of generosity should be supported. We both believe that welfare would be unnecessary if only we all would take care of our brothers and sisters. I contacted her teacher to make sure there was a need, and Jonni was right; the little boy was wearing an older sister's coat when he couldn't sneak out of the house without it. Otherwise he wore nothing.
Jonni and I went that same night, last night, and picked him out a warm coat. They didn't have any with Spiderman on them, so we got one in Spiderman's colors. We got him some black "boy" mittens and a bright red hat for good measure.
When I dropped the stuff off at the office, so we could all remain anonymous, the whole staff was in on it. Jonni's teacher couldn't help bragging to her co-workers about the stellar little girl in her class. Jonni is a hero to the teachers and staff in her school. What a wonderful thing to be a hero for.
So here's to my Jonni, the hero to one little boy, her school, and most definitely, the parents who love her and are honored and blessed to serve her in that capacity.
The Almighty (and for once completely humbled) Liz
**Update** The little boy adores his new coat, his teacher tells me, and Jonni (who didn't say anything to the boy, but she's his friend so he talks to her) says he can't wait to tell his mom and dad all about how he got a new coat at school today! Wonderful stuff.

In a Flash...

I just wanted to jump on here real quick to let everyone know I'm not dead, although that prospect is looking more and more appealing as time goes on. Also, I have much to post about, Christmas, visits with old friends, New Year's....but I also have bronchitis, which I've never had before, and which is turning out to be No Fun at All, so I will have to post all those goodies when I'm feeling a little more human, and a little less like I exist only to cough. (I now understand how Renae cracked her rib last year) On the up side, all the hacking is seriously good for my abs. Really. I don't think they've been this toned since before I had babies, and I think I've lost some inches even.
Hey, there has to be an upside right? I can't be going through all this suffering for no reward, that would just be Sick and Wrong.
The Ill but Still Nonetheless Almighty Liz

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas! Try to take the time out sometime in the next couple of days to remember what the day is all about. Then forget it and get down to some serious present opening! (totally kidding there)
The Almighty Liz

Bits of This and That

Well, do to a supremely stupid computer, I haven't been able to post. So, some updates are in order, and as an extra special treat, I even have pictures! Your welcome.
We haven't really been up to much around here. It's flu season and it seems we have something or other every week. This puts a damper on our social agenda, but we soldier on.
Had my dad up a couple of weeks ago, and we put in some new lighting. We are going to do some other things as well, but don't feel it is wise to blab about it to the World Wide Web.
Had a big ice storm last night, and everything is slick as snot today. It took John quite awhile to break his car out of the garage, so he was late to work. So was everyone else, so it wasn't a big deal. Jonni is having a snow day, and the kids are uber squirrely and driving me nuts, but I can't send 'em outside, it's too cold, so what're ya gonna do? Throw 'em in bed for naps early, and hope they sleep until their daddy gets home to play with them, of course! (I'm a bit under the weather, and so have no energy for cool and creative snow day activities.)
John had a Christmas party at work that I attended last Friday. I got to see where he works and meet all of his fellow employees as well as some of the company big wigs. The cool thing was that I couldn't tell the big shots from the peons. Everyone was so nice!! We also got a year end bonus, our first ever! I tell ya, I really like this company.
We finally got our Christmas tree on Saturday, and I think it's my favorite so far. It's huge, and I think the best smelling tree we've ever had! The whole house smells like a pine forest, it's great!
So, on to some pics, and I hope everyone's having a merry Christmas so far!
The Almighty Liz

Some random shots of the kids because I think they're adorable, and it's been way too long since I posted any pics of them.

Our new handy-dandy floodlight. It's way bright. Look out intruders! You could play basketball out there! If our driveway weren't so crappy, that is.

This is our cat, Cloud. I don't think I've ever posted any pictures of her before. Isn't she gorgeous? We sure do love her.

This is our backyard covered in ice.

This is a random UPS guy out doing deliveries. I felt super bad for him. He can only go like 3 miles an hour on on the ice. It's going to take him forever to get his job done.

This is the car that is still locked in ice. Ain't no movin' that baby 'till things thaw in my opinion.

This is our Christmas tree. I dunno why you can't see the lights. What a rip-off. We love it though. And John and I made the star on top our very own little selves. Aren't we crafty?

Drumroll Please...

Well, I had a Doctor's appointment today, and there is some good news and some not so good but not exactly bad news either. Which means there IS no bad news, yay!
Good news:
I'm off the penicillin!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!! I'm so sick of taking that stuff, (seven months now!!) and I seriously don't think my digestive tract will ever be the same.
My doctor is super happy with my obedience. He says that my recovery wouldn't have been nearly so quick if I hadn't been doing so good with my diet and exercise and everything he tells me to do. To which I riposted (of course), "That was a fast recovery?!" He replied that he was full on expecting to be treating me for at least a year, because I had had the R. Fever for four months. Yikes!! Perhaps I should learn a little more patience especially because of the not so good news:
It will be another year before my endurance and resistance to disease is back to "normal". Which means that for a good bit more I will be sleeping a lot still, and getting tired easy, and getting whatever illness decides I look tasty. And that is if I keep at the exercise full throttle like I have been. (although that is just my life now. I will never be able to slack off in that area again. Period.)
I also had to get a flu shot, as did my son, and my husband and daughter have to get one ASAP as well. This is in part because Erik is three and in the "danger" group, but mostly because I'm horribly susceptible right now (as I will always be, but right now is just worse), and the next couple of months it is critical that I don't become super-duper sick. My arm is sore. *sigh*
But, all in all, I'm happy with this news. As soon as I started working out, I knew this was going to be a long, hard slog, and so how depressed can I get that I was right? Not very. And getting off the #$^% meds is a HUGE plus. I simply cannot complain about anything since I got that.
In other news, it was also Erik's three year check-up, and *shocker!* he's perfect. No complaints, and no problems. Hoorah!
The Almighty Liz

A Very Exciting Thanksgiving Indeed

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was...eventful, lol! It started off normal enough for us. Having both sides of the family close, we do two Thanksgiving dinners every year. The only real difference this year was that Jonni decided to be sick, and missed out on both dinners, poor thing. After being stuffed silly, me and the kids headed home, leaving John in Illinois with our recently sort-of repaired car, to hang out with his brothers on Black Friday. I got home with two sleeping children, hauled them inside and into bed, called John to let him know we made it safely home, put some things away in the kitchen and went to lock the door. Why is that significant, you ask? Because somebody else grabbed the doorknob on the other side!! I quickly put my shoulder to the door and slid the deadbolt home, just as that somebody else put their shoulder to the door and tried to bust in!!! Luckily, I got the bolt shot, and I called John. (yes yes, I know, it should have been cops first! it's just a knee-jerk reaction for me) I called them from our cell while John stayed on the landline, and they got there about a minute later. (we live in a very very small town) They didn't find anything or anyone, much to everyone's relief, and John came home after all.
We decided to spend the night at Bruce and Renae's the next night. John still wanted to hang out with his siblings, and I had a hair appointment with my mom on Saturday, so we deemed this a good compromise and I didn't have to spend the night alone in my house. *shudder* Also, my dad is coming this Saturday to install a LOT more light in the front of my house with motion detectors in front and back. I haven't ruled out an alarm system yet either. We'll see.
John and his brothers and sisters went out on Friday night to ogle the crazy people at the malls, whilst Bruce and I manned the fort at home, and kept the kids from burning the place down. We watched a truly stupid movie, Journey to the Center of the Earth, (don't waste your money or time on it), and got the kids in bed just as John and Renae got back. We then watched Get Smart, which was the funniest movie I've seen in awhile.
The next day, while Renae and Bruce were at a race (Renae participating, Bruce volunteering), I got my hair done. I got my blue streaks!! I've wanted to do them forever, and I finally talked my mom into it! (thanks mom!) I totally love it, as do my son, Todd and Suzanne, and maybe Renae and Bruce. (and can't remember their reactions.) Jonni keeps asking me why I had to go and color my hair with a crayon, and John quite simply abhors it. He hasn't been able to look at me without disgust since it was done. It's getting on my nerves. It's already fading though (after only three days!! I'm totally bummed) so that should make him happy. (mean-hearted *grumble-grumble*)
We went home that night and everyone except Jonni woke up sick on Sunday. We're still sick and miserable. I hate flu season!!
So that's about it. Oh! Along with the pics of my hair below, I put the one and only good shot I got of Erik on his birthday. My batteries ran out before we even got to the cake! Also, my mother-in-law recently reupholstered my couch, so I threw in some before and after shots of that. Enjoy!
The Almighty Liz

Erik opening his first present.

The original fabric on the couch.

An in-progress shot.

Finished product! Doesn't it look great?!

One shot of the hair. See how much it's faded? It was a really bright peacock blue. (we were shooting for navy, but didn't quite make it.)

A slightly better shot maybe. None of the pics I took turned out super good. Sorry!