Why I would KILL for a Snow blower

Why I would KILL for a Snow blower

We had a huge blizzard hit On Wednesday night into Thursday. When I woke up (from sleeping in, insert a giant Hallelujah here), I decided that shoveling needed to be done right away since we got over a foot of snow and I knew if we didn’t clear it now it would freeze over and be even more beastly.

I dressed appropriately: workout pants, compression socks, $1 Wal-Mart boots, a ratty thermal shirt, Tyler’s coat and Tyler’s hat. I was truly a beauty to behold. I asked my childeren for help, they all looked at me like I was an alien with a purple head. Tyler summed it up when he said, “Mom, it’s our day off so we shouldn’t have to work”. Good thing I didn’t have the shovel in my hand yet.

I shuffled my way out and started shoveling the foot of snow which I joyously found had an inch of ice underneath. After I was out about an hour, Bob made Tyler and Alayna come out. Part of the problem is that Bob can’t shovel because of his lung problems and we can’t afford a snow blower. Personally, I feel that when you move to the sucky state of Iowa, (that’s right-I said it) they should give you a welcome gift of “The Amazing Snowblower”. It should be a law.

We had huge gusts with 55 mile an hour winds and it hurled small pieces of snow into our faces which felt like daggers. It hurt. We kept plugging away. My nose was running down my face and then my snot froze. I resembled the guys in Dumb and Dumber….made me even more attractive. Alayna slipped and fell and then I found her just laying there eating the snow. That’s helpful. Then I turn around to Tyler who could NOT decide what to wear. Apparently snow clothes have to be the most comfortable. He kept “going in to change” which is code for “Mom, you freak, I don’t want to be out here with you”. He ended up with Sanuks, 2 pair of socks, workout pants, a coat and Bob’s face mask hat which pulled Tyler’s face and looked hilarious. I will say that for a strapping teenage boy, he wasn’t much help.

One of our neighbors took pity on us and helped me finish the bottom part of the driveway with his snowblower. I almost cried, but they would have frozen to my face along with the snot so I refrained. I took a hot bath and a nap, especially now that my back is dead, only to look out the window to see the driveway and side walk are covered again. Stupid, stupid snow.

There’s No Place Like Home

There’s No Place Like Home

The best news is that my family is whole again! Marisa arrived last night and we are so thrilled to have her home again. I have been feeling strongly about making this Christmas even more about family time, making memories, and being together. In light of the tragedy of the shooting this week, I am even more convinced that is what we should do. I have found myself in deep reflection over how much my family means to me. I truly feel blessed this holiday season.

Alayna has had quite the week. Her orchestra performed at Barnes and Noble and she did such a great job! She also auditioned for and got the solo for her Grace Notes concert this Thursday!

Tyler also had a great week! He had his big debut with the high school show choir on Saturday night and the 3 girls went to go see him. One of the boys in his group wasn’t loud enough so Tyler was chosen to sing in a duet.

Kayla has her very 1^st date (since she turned 16)!!! She is going out with a guy in our stake named Blake on Friday. She LOVES her photo shopping class. She is so gifted!! She is using the photo she took and painting it onto the computer. Here is a picture of what she has done so far.  She has so much talent!

 

Dog-sitting:

The Talented Boy and the Cookie Tosser

The Talented Boy and the Cookie Tosser

Tyler had a huge concert this week!! He played with the band and sang with the choir. He was also supposed to be honored for OPUS, but his conductor forgot. Oh well. The concert was great and we are proud of him and all his talents!

On Friday, Kayla, Tyler, and Alayna helped with our Stake Nativity. It has grown to become quite the celebration. I think about 1,400 people from our city came. Anyway, Kayla and Tyler worked the children’s room, helping kids to dress up and take pictures. Alayna got to go help Sister Kent in the refreshment area. I heard she did a great job and was a huge help. However, at 1:00AM, she woke me up covered in throw up (so was her bed). Apparently she had “too many” cookies at the nativity! What a goofball. She is feeling much better now. This a picture of her that she photo bombed with another family- she’s a wise man holding a sheep.

In Other News:

Marisa comes home Saturday and we can hardly wait!!

I had an interesting week at school. My boss passed out at home Tuesday night and got a black eye. She was so ill she missed 3 days of school. So, I covered 2 out of the 3 with no subs to help. Had to show my tough side a lot.

Christmas tree, Contacts, and a Cool Birthday Date

Christmas tree, Contacts, and a Cool Birthday Date

We are a little slow getting up the Christmas tree, but we did get it up. We called Marisa and put her on the iPad on the couch so she could be there with us- she thinks we are pretty crazy!

Tyler finally got contacts!! It took a couple of days for him to figure out how to get them in and out, but I think he has it down now. It makes life much easier in show choir (to not have his glasses sliding down his face!)

Bob had his birthday Monday!!! He turned 44. We had a fun little celebration and he opened presents (but I didn’t get pics). Bob and I went out to dinner, did some Christmas shopping, and went to Coldstone for dessert. We had such a fun evening and I just love that we still do dates. I think you must be doing something right if your heart still flutters, right?

Alayn made the 5^th grade Honor Fitness Roll!

Kayla loves her Photoshop class and I hope she will be able to share some of her projects soon.

What We Are Thankful For:

1. A quiet family Thanksgiving day full of movies and good food. 

Even though the Turkey started out frozen…

2. Game time as a family

3. Facetiming with Marisa (and family in AZ)

4. Talents

5. Husbands who fix computers

6. Glad that “Vinnie the Varmint” hasn’t found a way into our house yet!

7. Brave Children with No fear

She got about 1 foot away from Vinnie and they had a stare down

Marisa

 

I had a really good week this week. I only had to make it through about a day and a half of classes and then break! On Tuesday night, Jared and I flew down to Arizona to stay the week with grandma and grandpa Hart, who were sweet enough to fly us down and feed us for the week and let us sleep in :) We had so much fun and it was a much-needed break from school. The weather was perfect and sunny and I think Arizona is super pretty. We also got to spend a lot of time with Jeff and Grace, and Chris and Wendy + family. It was good to see them all again. If you know anything about the Hart side of the family, you would assume we would do all kinds of crazy outdoor activities, and you would be right. We played ultimate Frisbee, tennis, bocce ball, etc. and it was really fun. It was so nice to be out in the sun.

Now I’m back in Provo and it’s kind of boring to be back in my dorm and everything. I did miss my roommates, but it would also be really nice to just live in Arizona…I really don’t want to go back to classes but at least I only have to get through a few more weeks + finals and then I’ll get a nice, long Christmas break! It will be really nice to finally be back home and to see the fam again :) As annoying and weird as they can sometimes be, I really do miss them. I’m very lucky to have them!

Really???

Really???

Ok I am trying to write a quick update about Bob to catch everyone up.

He got both the flu shot and pneumonia shot over 6 weeks ago and has been on rotating antibiotics to prevent this very thing! He has had a regular cold all week, but starting Friday night he went down very fast! By Sunday morning, he went to the walk-in clinic. When they checked his pulse while he walked down the hallway, he went from 88 to 130! After tests, they found he was positive for Influenza A and Pneumonia! So, they sent him straight to the hospital.

They checked us into the isolation ward. He had a fever with body aches and chills. They started IV fluids and 4 different drugs, including another antibiotic to combat the pneumonia and tamiflu for the flu.

After dinner, I went home to take care of the kids. Kayla wasn’t feeling well and I knew I needed to get them into bed. I went down by 8:30 because I wasn’t feeling well, and then had a tough night with sore throat, bodyaches, headache, etc. Grrr! Woke up at 7 to find the older kids overslept seminary. I got them all up ready and got Alayna to viola. Then I came back here to the hospital.

Warning: Grumpy tone used ahead:

Bob just got another breathing treatment and still has fever. We still have NO results of new information since yesterday when we checked in which is making me mad. I do NOT like his day nurse. She told me I had to wear a mask, even though the nurse didn’t make me wear one yesterday and Im pretty sure I already have the flu. So, leave me alone dumb lady! I kept asking questions and she wasn’t giving any answers. Grr! I may need to go ask someone else. We have no idea if we will be staying another night. He says he can breathe a little easier and doesn’t feel as awful as last night. I guess we will see how today goes.