We do it every year...

Our Gingerbread Compound has become a fun little tradition around here.  Right before our big blizzard hit in December, I stocked up on supplies for this little big project.

We spend a day or two at least just building the foundations.  Every child gets their own section and they can build however and whatever they want.  I love to see what they come up with.  Some years we have 'A' frames, other years we have people in beds and firewood.  This year Matthew made "a house that is messy".  It was clumped with tons of candy!

These pictures make me happy.  They are so colorful and represent our family well.  Something they look forward to every year and will perhaps (or perhaps not) carry on with their own families.  After about a month of our beautiful table display I let them have at it, and they spend a day picking out the different candy they still deem edible.

And that's the end of the compound for one more year.

I love the snow...

We finally got a substantial snowfall a few days ago.  It was way more than we expected coming in at 14 inches.  It makes everything around us white, white, white.  This 'ol girl forgot how hard it is to shovel snow.  It's hard but rewarding for me.  I love the time outside and I always play a little game with myself to see how much I can get shoveled in a short amount of time.  Except that I don't own a watch and an not keeping track of the minutes.  I'm my own worst enemy.

This picture is so sweet to me.   It says curiosity to me.  Sara had her Christmas program at school last week and during the refreshment time St. Nick comes to say hello.  My kids have never sat on Santa's lap.  They've never asked to, and it's just something we have never established as a family.  But when the pastor was telling us about St. Nick and how all the kids could line up to sit on his lap, well, mine jumped at the chance.  Actually, Matthew jumped at the chance and the rest followed suit.  I knew they wanted to too, but were never going to brave it without big brother.

 Sara's expression says so much to me here.  She's amazed I can tell that she's that close to Santa!

 I know they had a lot of fun and it was a unique experience for us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

After I take the kids to school I come back and have coffee and hot chocolate with this little one.  Here she is wearing my hat.  I love this picture too.  I love everything in the background because it says so much about our daily life. 

Sara and I have been doing an advent scene for the month of December.  Each day adds a new character or animal or tree.  That little elf guy is usually by the front door but Sara wanted him to watch.  So funny.

And then here we are enjoying an early pretend lunch.  Sara was cooking of course.  It was very yummy.

The kids are all outside and it's snowing.  It's beautiful and I'm so grateful my kids are growing up here.  I've spent the day priming Ella Jane's bed because it will get a fresh coat of paint along with her walls.  Her room is a refreshing blue now.  Robins egg blue.  Beautiful blue.  It's peaceful right now.  The heater hums and I can hear the ticking of the clock.  I feel like I want to sit still so it will stay just a bit longer.  Alas, it's time to get up.  I think I'll go check on those kids!

Actually...

I think it was Rachel who was referring to Bruce Willis's character at the time and the cry like a little girl line. I've been thinking about it all day and I think I goofed it up.  Anyway.

I love that Jim has been caring for the kids all weekend and yet they still come to me asking "What's for dinner?" Oh sweetie.  Mama doesn't make dinner on days like this.  Daddy brings home pizza instead.  Happiness abounds.

Like a little girl...

... is how I cried at the doctor's office yesterday morning.  Jim and I are still big fans of the t.v. show Friends and although I can't recall the season, I'm pretty sure "like a little girl" is something Monica said.

It feels as if I've had either an infection or virus of some type for the last 6 weeks.  Bouncing back and forth from one to the other.  Pneumonia is my latest battle.  Of course, costochondritus doesn't help my cause.  That occurred after my first bout with the nasty cough and mama, is that ever painful stuff.  Trying to cough up the junk that pneumonia brings makes it even more painful.  Hence the tears for the lovely doctor at Acute Care yesterday.  She was very kind, knowing I had pretty much hit rock bottom.  I sure did look the part.

As miserable as it has been, I know in my head that I'll get better.  It's just hard to imagine it.  And very weird that no one else tenses up when they have to sneeze or cough.  Yesterday was spent in bed.  When Jim is in charge, the kids are like little soldiers and he puts them to some serious work.  Because usually by the time I'm this sick the house has gone to the dogs and I'm in no shape to help out.  Thus, the kids get more than their fair share.  He somehow manages to make it fun though and even in the midst of one parent down, the family is still running.  

I heard a lot of "Go Team Gunn!"(s) when I was up in bed.  It's our motto especially in times of trouble.  The kids came in every now and then to care for me in their own special ways.  Matthew made my bed up with a ton of pillows all nicely arranged and made sure the phone was right next to me so that if I needed to conference call him on the other phone I could.  Which I totally did.  My son is genius I tell you.

Ella Jane drew me pictures.

Sara let me snuggle with one of her animals.

Thankful for my husband who cares deeply.

And really looking forward to being healthy again.

Around here...

I am:

: painting a child's bedroom

: trying to capture everyday life

: letting kids sleep under the Christmas tree

: finding myself amazed that Sara can get herself completely dressed for the snow

: pleased that Jim took his cup of coffee with him to shovel the driveway

: enjoying scenes from our 1st snowfall

Suckerpunched...

by the supercold of 2012.

I'm not kidding folks, it's a bad virus out there and it decided to camp out at our house.  Except most people camp for a weekend or just a few days at most so perhaps we should think of our house as the Grand Hilton or something because this virus, I tell ya.  It likes it here.

I'm a great hostess too it seems because you guessed it, I feel like I've been suckerpunched by this thing. 

I have a feeling my ear might unplug today although once when I was in college I went a few weeks with a plugged ear and thought it was the coolest thing ever.  So maybe it won't unplug today but it's starting to crackle in there so maybe I'll be set free from my cloudy existence as of late.

Because a cute little glass makes gargling with warm salt water much more fun.

Perhaps Ella Jane's favorite part of the day...when she gets to put eye drops in her MAMA's eye.  We tag team she and I.  Pink eye likes to hang out here too and it seems I've caught a bout of it from her.

Because wearing your daughter's jewelry makes the day a little happier. 

Hoping you all are staying well and that we kick this darn thing to the curb verrrrry soon.

Camp Wellness...

Here at Camp Wellness you need to have suffered some sort of ailment for weeks on end.  And passed it on to at least one of your siblings.  

If you don't meet the above criteria and still want to enter in, well, a friendly relationship with germs is a must.

We do adhere to strict rules...

Earlier bedtimes.

Cancelled activities.

Home from school.

Consuming mom's new concocted vegetable/fruit juice and or smoothie.

Quiet times.

If you are not happy with said rules, there may be a few tears.

That's okay.  We have beautiful, personal, suites in which to lay your head and have a good cry.

And when you're finished, we're glad to have you back.

We hope you enjoy your stay.

Let's get a little caught up, shall we?...

First off, Fall has been brilliant here in the Midwest.  Beautiful colors and fairly mild weather.  Photos of my kids coming and going from school isn't something I have an abundance of so I was glad to capture this a few weeks ago.  The leaves are long gone by now, but this is fantastic reminder of what the walk to and from school is like for us this time of year.  Very fun.  And loud.  And crunchy.

Good heavens, this girl likes to play babies.  You know the game right?  "Mom, do you want to play babies?" she'll ask.  Which translates to her making her bed on these chairs and falling asleep and then telling me to come get her because she woke up.  And then rocking her and feeding her.  So, really playing "babies" is her giving me intructions on what to do with her.  Mmm.....

Doesn't she look funny all scrunched up?

I get to eat lunch everyday with this young lady who is flourishing in preschool.  I haven't seen a helmet at the table since Ella Jane rocked it way back in 2010!  Wow, where on earth did that time go?  Going through old photos to find that one of her in the helmet took me back to when those girls were itty bitty.  That was a great year by the way.  A remember it fondly.

We switched seats not too long ago so Sara is the one who stares back at me from the same seat Ellla Jane did and the first few times it made me look twice.  I love lunch time with Sara.  It's our time to catch up and chat, talk about the afternoon, or sometimes to just be quiet with each other.

Our days always involve coloring or drawing of some sort.

A couple of weeks ago we ventured down to the river to enjoy the warmth.  I think it was close to 80 this day!  We each had an apple and strolled the riverwalk.

Meanwhile...while Sara and I are having lots of playtime in and outside of the house...

these two big kids are working hard at school. 



These were taken at open house.  Do you remember being proud of your desk?  Mine never lifted up like these ones do.  We just had to stuff everything in from below sort of.  Hard to explain but I love how every year it's a big deal for them to show me their desk.  "Take a picture of me and my desk mom".  And so I do.  And here they are, very proud in front of their desks.

And with that I'll sign off until another day.  Hopefully, sooner than the last.  :)