Snow Day

We had a snow day today! It was a thoroughly enjoyable day. The kids didn't have school because we got about 8 inches of snow. I know, it isn't that much snow, but they were worried about getting a lot more today (which didn't happen). Mark was on call last night so he got off around four o'clock this afternoon, which made our snow day even better. He was exhausted but wanted to play in the snow with the kids before dinner. I dragged out a stroller so Luke could be part of the fun while I took a few pictures.

Mark's ski clothes are still in Utah, so he wore his rain coat.

All of the boys followed their dad and dove into the snow.

Sledding down our round drive in front of our house is becoming a favorite wintertime activity.

Yes, we sled directly into the street........because we are crazy like that.
Our street isn't at all busy, so as long as I am out in the street standing guard, we are golden.



Benjamin went sledding a few times but got cold and tired and wanted to sit in the stroller with Luke. There must be something familiar and comforting about sitting in the stroller.

It sure made Benjamin happy, but the added weight made it impossible for me to push the stroller through the snow at all (although it was fairly impossible before he got in).

Grant did throw this snow ball at me.

Grant thought it was hilarious to threaten all of us with gigantic snow balls. He threw them at every one of us, except for Peyton. It was simply more fun to threaten her....keep her guessing.

Carston buried his dad in the snow after the rest of the kids and I had scrambled into the house to take off wet snow clothes and seek warmth from a cup of hot chocolate.

I came back out to take a picture of Carston buried in the snow.

It was very important to Carston that I get this pictures of him breaking out of the snow as a snow monster. I think he is pretty convincing with that face full of snow. Carston can brave the cold longer than the other kids because he simply loves the snow. He takes after his dad.

This was our first Snow Day and we loved it! Back to school tomorrow.....unless we get more snow tonight.

Luke's First Birthday

Our birthday boy all ready to celebrate!

Mark has been on a very busy vascular surgery rotation this month and has rarely been seen around our house. The kids and I really miss him! Miraculously, he ended up not having clinic until this afternoon and was able to stay home this morning (tender mercies). To celebrate Luke's birthday and having Daddy home for the morning, I kept the older kids home from school. I couldn't help myself! It was a family holiday after all.

Luke enjoyed our traditional birthday breakfast of whole wheat pancakes with pudding, cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. He was excited until I scared him by pulling his little hand away from the burning candle on his food. You can tell from the look on his face that he wasn't sure what to make of my panic when he had tried to touch the flame.

We took all of the kids swimming and ate lunch at Chili's, which was really a treat for the older kids who have begged us to take them to eat there since we moved here.

Luke colored his kid's menu.
We had fun with Daddy.

After naps and a busy afternoon at home, we ate dinner and had Luke's cake. Luke was scared of the candle on his cake because of the incident this morning.

It didn't take him long to get over it and dig into his own piece.

Once he finished as much as he wanted to eat, he threw the rest on the floor.

Luke opened his presents just before bedtime.

Since it was his birthday and he didn't get much time with his presents, I put the other kids to bed and spent some time just playing with Luke. We lost track of time, so Luke was still up when Mark got home from work.

So, I got one more picture with Daddy.

Happy Birthday, precious boy!

Carston's First Snowman

It is frigid here in Michigan and although the cold is plentiful, we don't seem to get plenty of snow. Granted, this is compared to Utah. Regardless, Carston has been dying to make his own snowman since it first snowed here during Christmas time, but the snow has been too dry to form. It snowed again last night. Luckily, the snow wasn't as dry today and Carston was anxious to make his first snowman without any adult supervision after school. Our cute neighbor, Will, agreed to help him with it.

Here he is, the snowman of the hour with his creators.

He isn't very big, but took the boys quite awhile to pack together. Carston was very proud of "Snowflake" the snowman and he has now acquired an orange safari hat as well. I think he'll be around for a long while. From what I've heard, we won't start seeing the sun until March.

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

The lyrics to this Louis Armstrong song keep playing through my mind tonight:

"Do you know what it means
to miss New Orleans,
to miss it both night and day
I know it’s not wrong
this feelin's gettin' stronger
the longer I stay away

Miss the moss covered vines,
the tall sugar pines
where mockin' birds used to sing
And I'd like to see
that lazy Mississippi
a’hurryin' into spring

Oh, The moonlight on the bayou,
a Creole tune that fills the air
I dream of Oleander in bloom
and find I'm wishin' that I was there

Do you know what it means
to miss New Orleans?
'cause that's where I left my heart..."

.......Just feeling homesick for our little house in Metairie, our neighbors (especially our sweet neighbor Caroline) and our friends there as well as those who have also moved on and are scattered about, some working unbelievably long hours as residents in hospitals around the country.

I miss the Big Easy! I miss trips to the Audubon Zoo, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the Children's Museum, riding the Crescent City Connection back and forth just for fun, walking along the River Walk, eating beignets at the Cafe Du Monde, the flowers in Jackson Square, seeing alligators in the wild at Jean Lafitte, safari rides at Global Wildlife Center, crawfish boils, Southern hospitality, warm weather, REAL rainstorms that drench the kids in seconds but are warm enough to play in, City Park, snoballs from Sal's, the French Market in the French Quarter, the street cars, old Southern plantations, the Mississippi River, flying kites and riding bikes along Lake Pontchartrain, feeding the ducks at Lafreniere Park, good music found everywhere, the FOOD, Mardi Gras parades and King Cake, Al Copeland's house at Christmas time complete with fake snow, did I mention the warm weather:)? and on and on. Mark says he doesn't miss the crack heads or the hos, since Detroit has plenty of those:).

Our experience with Katrina somehow cemented my love for the city that never gives up (although I admit living above sea level is a plus for us now). Making it through an ordeal brings people closer and we feel a kinship with those, most of whom had situations that were MUCH more dire than ours, who went through Katrina. We got to watch as everyone worked together to rebuild the city that we came to love.

The Super Dome has a new roof and the city a new hope.
Geaux Saints!
Count this as my love letter, New Orleans.
Here's to hoping for another hurricane free season next year.
Thanks for the memories.

Grant's Fourth Birthday

Grant was born four years ago this morning (at 5:36 am). I went into labor while Mark was with his dad in Houston, TX moving our things into an apartment near the Baylor College of Medicine, where he would be resuming his first true year of Tulane Medical School (we had already been at Tulane for the previous year as Mark worked on his MPH and was part of the ACP). Grant was a "Hurricane Katrina baby", born while we were displaced after the hurricane. Luckily, we were staying with my parents in Utah so my mom was with me for his birth and he was born at the same hospital where his father and eldest brother were born. Although it was difficult not having Mark there, Grant was born within an hour of arriving at the hospital and all went well. Mark was on the phone with me when Grant came into the world and was able to meet his newborn son late on the night of his birth.

I can hardly imagine what I would do without my Grant! He brings excitement and happiness to my life with his zest for living. He never slows down, unless he is asleep. I can hardly even tell when he is sick -- true story -- a high fever barely slows him down. He is also incredibly sweet and thoughtful. It is a privilege to be his mother. I am so grateful he was sent to me!

Today we celebrated Grant and his grand arrival into our family. His uncle Robb flew in for the occasion. Grant loves "Wobby", so having him with us to celebrate was extra special.

Grant's special birthday breakfast

Grant really wanted this new Buzz Lightyear. He was so excited that when we got it out of the box and handed it to him, he ran to let Buzz "fly" and accidentally dropped him on the floor and broke his arm off.....darn.

Grant has wanted these Lightning slippers for a long while.
He was pretty excited to get them on his feet.

A Grant birthday would not be complete without a visit to Chuck E. Cheese. Because Carston, Jackson and Peyton had to go to school, Robb and I only had three boys to chase after. Here is Uncle Robb with Luke (who is dying to get his food already).

We drove to Dearborn to go to the Chuck E. Cheese nearest Oakwood Hospital because Mark thought he might be able to slip away from the hospital to join us for lunch. He wasn't able to make it until we had already been there for over an hour and a half, so Robb and I were pretty ready to leave by the time Mark arrived, but of course, Grant was far from finished.

Grant is pretty good at air hockey, but he prefers if you play by his rules. If he wasn't able to score, he would scold me for blocking my goal. His rules specify that his opponent may not protect their goal so that he can have free shots.

Benjamin enjoyed all of the rides.

Robb played with Mr. Luke and kept him content....

while I chased Grant and Benjamin, who ran from one thing to the next, since we were the only people there!

Finally, Daddy arrived and the real fun started.
Mark gave Grant some pointers on how to race.

Luke even tried out a ride or two.

I love the smile on Grant's face in this picture!
He is so full of life.



We stopped at Toys R Us before returning home
so Grant could get his birthday balloon and crown.

We had Grant's favorite spaghetti for dinner (as shown around his mouth). For his birthday cake, we had homemade triple chocolate torte with chocolate cream filling and chocolate glaze over the top. I need to perfect how it looks, it looks like it is melting, but this cake is delicious!

Happy Birthday Grant! We love you!