The three snow monsters, effectively defrosted, still displaying rosy cheeks. (I don't know what game they were playing here, but it was too cute to pass up)

The snow didn't last that long, maybe 4 or 5 hours, but the boys were out there as long as it was. They came in soaked, head to toe, as the snow they had been playing in turned to water. It was really interesting to watch the landscape change. So quickly. . . from a winter wonderland, to green grass, buds on the trees, and birds chirping.

Soon, after all of the snow had melted, birds descended on our backyard. There were probably over 30 birds in our yard, greedily snatching up worms from the lawn. I am sure they were all starving, just waiting for it to thaw enough to eat. There were robins, blue jays, little brown song birds, and little song birds with pitch black heads and yellow beaks. Our whole yard was alive with them pecking and singing, hopping and flitting from one place to the next. They were in our trees, on our rocks, in the grass, everywhere. I stood inside the warm house and snapped shots of them, going about their business, mostly unnoticed.

Sometimes they worked in pairs. They would hop along together, pulling worms up and then fly up to the safety of the trees, then back down again for more.

These two guys were they only two that noticed me through the window. They will be the ones to live a long full life. Each would watch me for a few seconds, do their hopping and pecking, peek at me again, and so on. They were so fun. Aren't they all beautiful???

Tonight it is snowing again. We already have about 3/4 of an inch on the ground. They are forecasting that it will snow 2-4 inches tonight. Will tomorrow be a repeat of yesterday?

This week has been quite a crazy collection of stories. It took a turn for the worse right at the start, on Monday. We were all having such a fun MLK Day, no school and all, and were all going to Clubsport for FHE. Right before we got in the car, Calder started complaining about a stomach ache. Unfortunately for us, he will frequently use this as a ruse for getting out of things he doesn't really want to do. So I did the usual tests. . . "Does this hurt, . .how about this?" and taking temp, etc. He passed with flying colors and so I thought to myself, he probably just has tummy bubbles, if anything at all.

We all got in the car, and had the FHE lesson on the way. When we got there, and were about to check in, Calder turns to me and says "I can't do this, mom, I can't do this!!" And then turns and starts walking away from me. I am standing there thinking "Whaaat?. . . . . ." And then I hear the noise. He runs over to what he thought was a trash can (turned out to be the recycle bin) and starts puking!! AHHHHH! I have never seen people move so fast! Mom's pulling their kids to the walls and Calder retching away in the recycle bin. The check out lady says to me "That isn't a trash can!" And I say "I know, but it is too late!!" Yuck, those aren't going to be recycled anymore!!

Obviously, a big change of plans at the last minute. We make our apologies, clean up the mess, and hastily leave the building. Poor Calder, he looked dazed. When we got in the car, I asked him how he was feeling and he said much better and started acting himself again. So okay. We continue on with the rest of the plan, the part that doesn't include Clubsport, and hit Jamba Juice. Logic wasn't really with me at the moment. I was really feeling sorry for Calder, not believing him and all. The thought of all of his brothers getting a Jamba Juice except him, was too much. So I let him get one too. He LOVES chocolate, so of course he chooses "chocolate Moo'd".

Fast forward an hour and we are now at home. I need to go back to Clubsport, to exercise for my Healthy Living Challenge, so I leave Joe with the kids and head back towards the gym. Five minutes into my drive I get a call on the cell phone, it's Joe. He tells me that Calder just puked Chocolate Moo'd all over the carpet. Great. . . . . I proceed to tell him how to clean it up with the carpet cleaner and then go on to work out. Poor Joe, doing Chaos, solo, isn't his forte. I hope all is going to go well.

When I get home I walk into a drama unfolding. Kaelan is screaming, Calder is crumpled on the couch, Levi is trying to help with Kaelan, and Ansel (who is feeling left out and wants attention) is spitting milk on all the walls and doors! That little stink!! Joe is FRAZZLED and on his VERY last straw. He is so tired, and says that he is going to go straight to bed. But, he still puts all the kids in bed, while I clean up the rest of the puke that didn't want to come up (chocolate puke is apparently the worst kind) when Joe was cleaning. I get to bed around 11pm, and then up 5 more times between Kaelan and a puking Calder. What a day.

Calder continues to be sick though Wednesday, missing school, and living off of Diet Caffeine Free coke and Saltine crackers. The only two things that don't come right back up. Poor baby.

Thursday is finally a normal day (sort of ) Calder is back in school, and I am doing the regular drill (except for the fact that I am way behind). But the reprieve wasn't meant to be. That night was cub scouts (for Levi) and Achievement activities (which I am in charge of), so Joe is home with the 3 little ones again. Apparently, while I am away, things are once again erupting out of control.

I get home to find the house clean, yes my husband is one of those who cleans, and no one around. Levi and I go around to investigate. We find my laptop on the counter on it's side, with a paper towel underneath. Uh oh, that doesn't bode well. Eventually we find Joe and the boys, laying down, in the dark, in a spare bedroom. All seems well, until the events of the evening start coming out.

I ask why the laptop is on its side and Joe says "Ansel, why don't you tell mommy?" Here it comes. . . . First everything is going well. The boys help Joe do the dishes and he tells them that when all the work is done they can do something fun together. They work hard, because they love spending time with dad.

Later, Joe, trying to do laundry, leaves the boys in the kitchen to watch a movie on my laptop. Ansel, being the ever independent child, decides that he wants Superfood. But, not wanting to miss the movie he decides to pour it at the desk. Of course he spills it, and not just a little bit, all over the laptop. SUPERFOOD!! In the LAPTOP!!! Joe does his best to clean it out, meanwhile having Calder watch Kaelan.

Calder decides he wants to play with Kaelan in his bedroom, so he carries him to the room and trips on a shoe catapulting Kaelan's face into the train table. (I swear that baby must be made of rubber- the last scout/achievement night Kaelan fell down the stairs when Joe turned his back on him for a minute). Joe abandons the computer and attends to Kaelan (who is fine, thank heavens). By this time it is 8:30pm and time for bed. Joe says so and is met with sad little faces saying "We didn't get to do anything fun with you" They had tried hard inspite of all that went wrong. His resolve melts and he tells them that if they get ready for bed, he will tell them stories. And that is where I found them.


Joe, later that night, says to me "Cami, with everything that has been going on EVERY TIME you leave, I am starting to get nervous at the thought of it. I really think that I must need to learn empathy for a mommy's job!"

So I have been having some time to doing a few drawings. Kaelan has been my subject matter (he is so cute, who can resist?). I have drawn a couple of him, and right now I am working on one of Levi, hopefully I will finish soon. In the queue I have another one waiting also. It is for an auction Joe had at work. He had my drawing be the service to be auctioned with all proceeds going to charity. The lady that won has two kids she wants me to draw for her. I am excited to draw them, they are really adorable. This one of Kaelan was scanned into my computer, so unfortunately it is a little grainy and missing some of the more subtle details, but I think you can still see it well enough. Hopefully, I can do a few more of these in the coming months. I want to have a wall of portraits of my kids. I think that would really be a fun focal point for our family room. Of course, I also have a million other projects I would like to do. So we will see if this one comes to fruition soon. PS. If you want to see a bigger version of this or any photos on this blog, just click on it.