Some Winter Fun

Needless to say, this family has been on the move the past couple of weeks, and this Mommy has yet again fallen behind on posting.

We have spent our days playing and preparing for baby Sally.  A lot of nesting has been taking place here, and with my Mom's help we painted the bedroom upstairs (unplanned) as well as cleaned some walls and cleared out some clutter.  It is quite freeing to see that stuff move to the garage sale pile - now to get it out of the house!  The girls have been full of help the past weeks, assisting with their little broom and mop, proud to be a part of the action.  Poor Daddy has been a little afraid he'll be next on the project list :)

We were able to get outside two weekends back and enjoy a beautiful, sunny weekend.  The girls spent several hours outside each day climbing and sledding, exploring and just enjoying the time in the fresh air.

 Ezri is quite the little adventurer, going straight to the top of the huge snow pile that has been plowed by our neighbor's backhoe over the past weeks.  Towering well over my head and into the tree, she goes right up with no fear at all.

 Alora was happier to stay down and truck through the yard, determined to get to the garden to get strawberries.  She was quite angry with me and did not believe when I told her there were no berries out there!

 Uncle Andy and Daddy were able to get in on the fun for a while too, which was quite nice as the climbing and sledding are not really the best for me right now.

 The snow was not snowman worthy, but not to be deterred, Ezri began to build snowmen out of snow chunks instead :)

 Some leaks due to ice build up on the roof had us dealing with the ice a few different days, and very grateful for the thaw that came our way mid last week.  We were finally able to get the ice all down and the roof cleared off, just in time for more snow and sub-zero weather this week.  It seems endless!

Alora made a big move last week Tuesday.  We made the transition from the nursery to Ezri's room, and the girls were quite excited to help move the crib and re-situate the room.

 We are still in adjustment mode, and naps sometimes happen, sometimes do not due to the chatter and playing.  Bedtimes are taking a bit longer and there have been several nights Alex have listened to the chatter and giggling for over an hour past when we put them down.  Still, they both seem to have adjusted pretty well to the change, and we know the sleep will eventually work itself out as the newness wears off.

This past weekend, we took a last minute trip to Pentwater - one last time before Sally makes an appearance.  It was a wonderful time away.  I was treated to my first pedicure with the gals as well as lunch while the guys braved the mass of children.  We made it out to the beach to check out the ice as well as get in some sledding and play time outside with our friends as well.

It was great to get away and be with our friends for the long weekend!  Now, back to the final days of preparation for Sally as we are mid way through week 37 :)

Is it Spring yet?

Still stuck in this seemingly endless winter, the lack of warmth is beginning to cause issue for our home.  After discovering a leak in the garage roof this weekend, Alex climbed up to shovel off what he could and break up the ice.  Of course, it snowed the next day and we were back to ice forming again. 

Monday found us with leaks inside the house from the foot of ice on the roof edge and snow that kept adding to the mess.  So, we scavenged to find a roof rake, getting lucky at a local hardware after finding the big box stores sold out.  An hour and a half of chopping at ice with an axe and sledge hammer from the ladder as well as tons of salt, we cleared much of that away... only to find another leak later that night in a different spot.  We are more than ready for this crazy winter to be over!

Weather created a very long and scary trip to our midwife last week as well.  Thankfully, Sally is doing great and we're all healthy.

Last Friday, I was blessed by my MOPS group with a shower in honor of Sally's coming.  We had a lot of fun and laughs together and I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for these women God has placed in my life.  

We made some more progress on our bathroom as well.  We now have a working whirlpool tub!  Alex installed our new faucet and we scrubbed away the construction dust so we could fill it and test the jets - success!  The girls thoroughly enjoyed bathing in it Saturday night.  Ezri is so excited about having another potty and tub :)

It seems as though turning 2 has created a new personality in Alora and we are always laughing about something she says or does lately.  She's quite the character and the attitude is growing faster than she is, I think.  While her hair is growing a bit slower than her attitude, we were able to squeeze in a couple of pig tails for the first time this past week, a seriously exciting thing for her.

Happy 2nd Birthday Alora!!!

 More bathroom progress was made in the past week!  The girls helped Daddy put in the flooring...

 And the toilet got installed and hooked up.  Ezri  was so excited to use the potty upstairs and continues to want to go upstairs instead of downstairs now :)

 We had plans for a Birthday party for Alora last weekend, but more bad weather and sick family members put a hold on that.  So, we let Alora open a gift a few days early and had a family movie night on Sunday night instead.  A "new" Curious George movie and both girls were happy :)

 This past week, the wind and snow pounded the area yet again.  Of the 5 school days last week, the area schools were only open on Thursday.  So, this Mommy, thrilled not to be out in the miserable cold and wind, took advantage of sleeping in and un-interrupted days with the girls.  One of the favorite things to do right now is color.  The floor pad has been filling up quickly in the past days.

 The snow we got, along with drifting, kept us busy clearing all week.  It was pretty unbelievable to see so much snow pile up so quickly again, and even deeper than the last big storm...

Daddy tried to keep up each day with blowing snow, but even at that it was unbelievable how deep it got so quickly.

 Our little fence is nearly buried...

 So, since it was terribly cold outside, not good for playing, we made some fun inside by exploring the frost on the windows and making some artwork in a new place.

 On Tuesday, Alora's 2nd Birthday, we got busy baking cake!

 And took some pictures...

Alora's 2 Year Pictures...

And then, after naps, we had supper together and the long awaited birthday cake - purple with pink frosting and sprinkles as requested :)

 The Birthday Girl approved!

 As did big sister :)

 A few presents and then we enjoyed a little snuggle time before some tired little girls headed to bed.

 The girls had more birthday excitement at the end of the week.  On Saturday, they were invited (as well as Sally) to go to a party for Allie, one of their little friends from church, who is the pastor's granddaughter.  So, Mommy and the girls spent the afternoon playing and enjoying friends and more cake.

Sunday, we finally got to have Alora's party after church.  Great Grandma, Grandpa & Grandma, Opa & Oma and Uncle Andy joined us to have lunch and celebrate little Alora.  Soon into the gifts, Alora was quite disappointed when there were no more to open.

 Soon, however, she was busy helping Daddy and Ezri assemble her new baby bed.

 And eating limes...

And more Birthday cake, thanks to Uncle Andy!

After blowing out the candle on her cake Tuesday, she was all practiced up for Sunday's cake and tried her best to get that flame blown out.

As Mommy apparently took too long to cut her a piece, she dug in to the cake and helped herself to some frosting while she waited.

A Super Bowl party to wrap up the day, and our girls were beyond wore out.  2 days without naps and lots of play time and interaction has left them a little on edge and less cheerful than usual for today.

A few weeks to take a break and we're back at the birthday party stuff again for Ezri, followed by Sally's eventual arrival.  Time is flying!