Sledding Fun

One of the funnest day's I've had in a long time...

If you've been reading my blog(which if you do...shout out a comment or two to let me know you read this!!), you already know today was our second Snow Day. I was expecting a rather dull, tedious day.

Well, my mom, who did read our blog this morning (yay!), knew Saiah and I were home, so she called to see what we were up to. Next thing I know, Saiah's wrapping up her ballet performance to "The Gameplan" and we are off to borrow sleds from my dear friend Maria to head on up "Cherry Hill" to go sledding.

Let's back up.


Maria, my mom just knew, would be my one friend that for sure would have sleds. So, a quick game of phone tag and wa-la! She did indeed. So, we're off.

Saiah and I get to Maria's (it's now snowing) so I tell Saiah just to stay in the warm car and I'll just run on up to the door to grab the sleds. Nope. Maria comes out..you see, there is a small problem. The sleds are in the garage and are up in the top attic area and she's scared of heights. OK...I can do this, no problem. I quickly glance back at Saiah and think she'll be fine, it will just be a matter of a quick climb up a ladder and voila!. Ah, no. The slides are crammed back into a dark recessed corner that is VERY difficult to get to. I mention I really shouldn't leave Saiah out to be grabbed by some carjacker, let alone a kidnapper and hurry off to bring her inside the garage.

Back to the sleds. I quickly realize that the problem is having to deftly maneuver oneself across a hole to get to this one area that is blocked off from the main area by a wall. So, I must crouch down AND step over a gigantic hole (Yes, it seemed gigantic even though my sweet daughter was saying.."What's wrong Mommy? It's nothing...I'm not scared of heights!").

As I am about to step over the hole, I notice that Saiah is directly below me..."Umm..sweetie, I would like you to move, in case I fall - I don't want to crush you". I get to the other side, but not before I first ask if they have any gigantic rats up here (Maria quickly reassured me no, no rats - she's a VERY honest person, I trust her with anything). I pull out two sleds and as quick as I can, I get BACK over the hole and climb back down the ladder. PHEW...we are good to go!

So...all this for a wonderfully fun filled day of sledding with my dear sweet daughter and terrific mom. We truly had such a blast. It was Saiah's first time sledding and she just loved it. Even ate some snow going down the hill a few times, which didn't discourage her one bit.

I cannot remember the last time I went sledding. It's times like this that I just really wish we could be out doing active fun stuff all the time. Cold, yeah....wet, sure....but the fun surpassed it all.

Sledding Fun Pics

And, some video of the excitement, one of which shows me running over my own daughter! Yikes.

Snow Day 2

It hit me today....I like school days better than snow days. What? When did this happen? I used to LIVE for snow days! Sleeping in...lounging on the couch...laziness. Aaahhhh....

So, reasons I like school days better than snow days:

1. I really do like my job and fellow co-workers (friends).
2. Saiah really, really, loves school.
   
3. Saiah is upset when she cannot go to school whether it be a snow day, or a sick day:(no, mommy...I feel fine, really...see, I can breathe :loud plugged up noise:)
4. Yes, since I'm not of the homeschooled mind any longer (for now), I do find that Saiah gets very restless and bored at home...which in turn..drives me a bit batty.
5. And lastly...when it's a snow day on any day except Thursday or Friday, I then in turn, miss getting paid for that day. Yep...the money is very helpful right now.

Yep. Snow days are good occasionally. But two days in a row is a bit hard. It would be different if there were actually some SNOW on the ground for her to play in. The snow from Sunday is very patchy at best.

Why then is it canceled you ask? Well...Ashland currently has streets of ice and schools are on a 2 hour delay. A 2 Hour delay is a cancellation for us, as what good is it for kids to come to Kindergarten at 10:30 to be done at 12:00?

It is supposed to snow again today. That will be wonderful, for then, Saiah will be out frolicking in the powder, laughing and having fun.

Until then, it's hot cocoa time as Saiah has just now stumbled out of bed (and yes, upset that school is canceled "but it didn't snow!"). A little bit of Curious George and Clifford. Then, a little bit of baking. Oh, yes - and some reading and homework.

I'm wondering if there will be a Snow Day 3.....

Snow! Finally.

Here in the Rogue Valley you get used to the numerous forecasts for snow. Very often we are told to "expect up to 4 inches of snow on the valley floor" only to wake up excited to look out the window and see....no snow. Nothing, not even a trace. It's quite comical in fact and many of us have just learned to believe it when we see it.

This weekend turned out to be one of the rare times that the weather people were :gasp: correct! Ok, so it was a day late, but nonetheless, we had SNOW!!! Not just a skiff of snow, but actually inches of the white stuff. It was perfect snow too...the kind that rolls into a wonderful snowman quickly and with ease (or, as in our case, a snow bear).

It's supposed to snow for the rest of the week. Truly, we'll believe it when we see it....

Saiah enjoying the snow

Saiah Mountain

Making the Snow Bear

Our Snow Bear

The fam and the Snow Bear.
To be perfectly honest, he was supposed to
be a snowman, but upon making him, decided
he made a better bear!

Diarrhea

I had never heard such a request!

Saiah: Mom, when can I get diarrhea like Annie?

Me: What??

Saiah: I want diarrhea like Annie.

Me, completely dumbfounded: Why on earth would you want diarrhea? That isn't anything that any person would want!

Saiah(very exasperated at this point): NO...I want DIARRHEA like Annie has.

Me(lightbulb goes on): OH!! You mean DIARY...a journal like Annie!

Saiah: Yes, I want a diary like Annie has.

Wii gotta get this

I had my first taste of Wii last night and I'm ADDICTED. Saiah loves it. Jason WILL love it - I have no doubt.

My friend Becky had a bunch of us all over for a night of Wii. This is the first time Saiah or I have ever played it. Jason was unable to join due to his eyes being hugely dilated - poor guy.

Did I mention it was on a gigantic drop down screen, with surround sound to boot? I couldn't get enough of Guitar Hero - man that thing is crazy fun.

I have Jason convinced that we need to get a Wii...you know...tax refund and all. It's a good way to spend quality family time, right? Good exercise as well, and improves hand-eye coordination. It's totally a legitimate purchase.

Now...we just need to find a place in this valley that actually has it in stock. Circuit City informs me that they have 10 coming in tomorrow morning and to be there at least by 9:30. Oh, the dilemma. What to do....church....Wii.....church....Wii. I know, I know. Church.

Until we have our own family Wii, enjoy our pics and videos of last nights fun!

Saiah bowling


Keith and Dave boxing...notice the BIG screen.

I'm confident with some practice Saiah will be a Guitar Hero soon.

Becky was helping her to hit the notes - kind of.

I Rock!! First time ever and I got through the song. Bring it on baby.

Saiah on Keith's Monster Truck team - she really got the hang of Wii pretty quickly.



Lacey hitting us with her Best Shot
Fire Away!

Lapbooks Are Awesome!!

Lacey, errr, Ms.McDonald has implemented this amazing new feature at school called lapbooks.

These nifty little books have inspired Saiah to desire MORE homework, although, she has always enjoyed her homework time with Daddy. In fact, after their homework session was done the other night, Saiah was so upset that they had to stop! Yay for the desire to learn! Having an amazing teacher that your daughter adores helps to0.

You will have to go check out the website that Lacey's friend has on these nifty little things - Lapbook Lessons, and her blog Valerie's Lapbook Lessons. Her blog has some great ideas on how to make the lapbooks and implement them.

Saiah's Homework Lapbook

Flaps to put different lessons

Opens all the way for even more room.
Saiah loves the little wipe-off writing board.
Notice there is a pocket at the top for even more papers and lessons.

Ballet, Rodeo and a Winter Wonderland

Who knew Yreka could be so full of excitement and culture? Jason, Saiah, our dear friend, Lacey(really, she's more like family) and I loaded into the truck and went down to Yreka to celebrate mine and Bill's birthday last Sunday. Our day was loaded with great things!

Every good celebration has CAKE!!




Our very own special performance of "The Nutcracker"
presented by the Merrihew girls




Uncle Jed's PBA

Disclaimer: For your viewing pleasure, you may want to turn down the volume. Two girls shrieking has been known to cause severe hearing loss





Grampy's Flamingo
by Saiah

Supposedly Bill likes Flamingos..perhaps he said it in jest one time, but it stuck and now we all think of Bill when we see flamingos!





Winter Fun
Can't beat sledding in your cousin's front yard!





Kylie, Brianna and Saiah

A Birthday Surprise

I came home to this wonderful Birthday surprise last night:

A very clean house

And a Birthday Banner
(note the little homemade sign on the wall!)

I am blessed with a wonderful husband and daughter. They took it upon themselves to clean the house, make some cards for me, and hang up the Birthday banner while I was away at Bible Study. It was a wonderful thing to walk into! A perfect start to my birthday. It continued this morning with Saiah telling me we need to leave a bit early because I get a coffee this morning...Daddy says! So sweet.

I remember my mom saying a few years back that she doesn't mind getting old as it's a reminder of how many years the Lord has blessed her with. I love that. It helps me to not get discouraged as I feel my youth slipping away. Ok, so some of you will need to remind me of this as I get closer to 40 though!!

Saiah and the Piercing Pagoda

Saiah has been waiting for a long time to get her ears pierced and the day finally came for her last week. She was able to use some of her Christmas money to choose the earrings and finally get her ears pierced. She was an incredibly brave girl. I was told by a couple of friends to call ahead and see if they would have two people available that can pierce BOTH ears at the same time. Sounded brilliant, except for the fact that it was a spur of the moment, end of a 4 hour shopping spree with Grammy and the Piercing Pagoda only had one lady available to pierce. One ear at a time it would be. Saiah was confident she could do it after asking twice, "so, it will only feel like a pinch?". She was GREAT. Way better than I would be. Sat there as still as could be and didn't even jump when her ear was pierced.

"You okay honey?"I asked.

"Yes" in a quiet voice

"Did it hurt" - I just wanted to hug her, but stood back

Shakes head

"You ready for the other one Scoot?"

"Yes" said in a confident voice.

Same thing with the second ear. Wow. Impressive.

Saiah's pretty earrings that she picked out.




Saiah with Emily (notice same hair do)

Do not eat Chinese carrots

This bag 'o carrots that came in an American Girl gift for Saiah was too much. With all the recalls on toys and all, I just loved the wording on this bag. Good for a chuckle.

Christmas Crackers

The Walshes have this wonderful Christmas tradition of Christmas Crackers. I love them. They are little packages that you pull on both ends until you hear a pop and usually, a small little prize comes out. This years crackers, however were MUSICAL!!! They didn't have prizes, but rather each one had a whistle numbered from 1 to 8. A baton and musical "score" was included and Joel was declared Maestro and we were off!! Elizabeth and I could hardly believe that everybody participated for the symphony. Those of you who know the Merrihews would be shocked to watch such a performance. It was so much fun. We attempted Jingle Bells, Good King Wenceslas, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!! Okay, so me might need some practice, but Jingle Bells was actually recognizable. I cannot tell you how much fun we all had. We even have it on videotape. Maybe we'll release a CD someday....

Saiah and Annie popping a Cracker

Checking out her whistle number