Our COLD week

 My days fly by, and this blog sits here waiting.   This post will be about our coldest week of the winter, but today as I write, it is 58 degrees and sunny!!  I sat out on the porch a while ago just to soak it in!

Going back to Monday, January 15.  It was Martin Luther King Day, so there was no preschool and Destiny had off work.  She had several appointments that day, so I went over later in the morning to get Elizer.  At lunch time I met her at Wegman's Cafe to have lunch.  I brought Elizer here for his nap.  In the evening Dick had a meeting at church and Elizer and I played and played and played.  Destiny came here overnight because there was snow predicted for the next morning and I didn't want to drive in it to pick up Elizer in the morning.  

There WAS snow the next morning (Tuesday), and I was so glad to stay home.  Dick followed Destiny and she had no problem navigating the snowy hills.  She had just gotten new snow tires.  

So of course Elizer was here all day again.  At one point we went outside so I could shovel a bit.  I taught him how to make snow angels.  We also collected snow to make ice cream.  I stirred in the half and half I had on hand, some vanilla, and a bit of sugar.  It was good!

When Dick came home after work he used the snow blower on the driveway, and Elizer had fun watching from the window. 

My friend Peg had tagged me in a FB post that she thought Elizer and I would enjoy.  Making ice balls in balloons!  So that evening we filled a little red balloon with water and a few drops of blue food dye and put it out in the snow.  

On Wednesday morning we brought it inside, peeled the balloon off the ice, and voila!!  A beautiful ice ball!  We probably should have shaken the water-filled balloon so the food dye would have distributed more evenly.  

Preschool had a two-hour delay, so the time to get my own stuff done seemed short between drop-off and pick-up.  

Unfortunately, Destiny was beginning to feel really, really horrible.  She somehow managed to work on Tuesday and Wednesday, but by Wednesday evening she was desperate to see a doctor.  Her mom took her to urgent care (now called convenient care).  She arrived at 7:25 pm and they told her she was too late, even though they were open till 8:00.  She called the ER, and they said their waiting room was full.   She decided to wait till morning and arranged to take off work.  Her mom was there with her, thankfully. 

Meanwhile we were at Austin's birthday bowling party.  Just them and us, but so much fun!  Austin turned FIFTEEN that day!!!  I can hardly believe it, except that he is so tall, it IS believable!  He's a very good bowler.  Quite a few strikes! 

 

Hunter did pretty well too.  We had Elizer along.  He used the ramp for his ball.  He would much rather have run around, especially to the game area.  

It would have been fun to go to their place afterward for Austin's cake, but Elizer was being a handful and it was getting late.

On Thursday preschool started on time.  The weather was so bitterly cold.  I was looking forward to a day to get a lot of my own stuff done, but that was not to be.  Destiny got an appointment at the convenient care place, but her insurance card was in the diaper bag, which I had, so I took that to her.   I went home and started getting to work on choir prep and laundry, but then I got a call from preschool around 12:30 to pick Elizer up because of aggressive behavior.  He took a nap here and I was able to get more choir prep done.  We had choir practice that evening.  

Dick and Elizer had a lot of fun building after we came home from practice.  Destiny was really sick with sore throat, chest pain and coughing, fever, headache.  The doctor had prescribed Prednisone, but she wasn't supposed to start it until Friday morning.  I was so thankful her mom was there with her.  She actually found out on Friday morning that she had tested positive for Influenza A.  No wonder she felt so horrible!

More snow on Friday!  So no preschool.  What a week!  But we actually had a really fun day.  More shoveling, playing in the snow, and making snow ice cream.  More building and playing inside.  We had  hot dogs and baked beans for dinner.  We could at least pretend it was campfire weather, haha!  Far from it!!

We tried napping on the couch as we watched the snow fall.  But he was full of tricks and liked blocking my view, haha!   So napping in bed it had to be.  

In the evening we took pictures and videos for Destiny.  She was missing him so much.  He was showing her the wooden hammer I had found that day - something I had hidden a long time ago after he had misused it and then forgot where I had hidden it, haha!

Gotta show you this flower arrangement that Dick had gotten for me the previous Saturday.  As the week progressed those beautiful lilies bloomed.  Ahhhh!  Can't wait for flower weather!

On Saturday morning I got to sleep in until 7:00 and had time to get some bookwork done in the morning while Dick played with Elizer.  Later in the morning we took him to the birthday party of one of his preschool classmates.  He had the greatest time!

In the afternoon we drove to Duncannon (an hour-and-a-half from here) to meet Alex. Elizer took his nap as we drove.  He was very happy to see his dada!  Alex and his dad were going to be keeping him till Monday.  

It was a VERY COLD DAY!!!

Dick and I went to Sam's Club and Walmart after we got back to State College.  While there I decided to get my COVID shot since I wouldn't have Elizer for the next couple of days.   We got a rotisserie chicken and Mediteranean pasta salad at Sam's Club for our dinner.   I got all my music prep done for Sunday morning.  And I was so glad to get under my warm blankets at bedtime.

I should add that Destiny improved dramatically after starting the Prednisone and was able to go back to work on Sunday!  So thankful!  

Our second week of January

Today (Tuesday, 16th) was a snow day!  We got the light, fluffy snow this time and it did NOT turn to rain!  It is TOO COLD for that, and too cold for me!

And now, back to Monday (January 8).  When I took Elizer to preschool I had barely walked out of his room when his teacher texted me these pictures! He is so sweet and tender with this little girl!

I cooked for Anthony and Lori and worked on the music for the following Sunday.  After I picked Elizer up from school I took their food to Dick at his work so he could take it to Anthony's place.  I wasn't sure if their road would be cleared enough from the previous weekend snow.  I'm not brave at all anymore.

Elizer stayed overnight since Destiny had to work until 11 pm.  He made a silly video for Mommy before he went to bed. I also took this sweet picture.  

We had snow overnight, and his preschool was cancelled on Tuesday (9th). We did some fun things together, he had a Zoom meeting with his teacher and a few friends, and we went outside to shovel for a while.  But his behavior was pretty challenging at times that day.  Thankfully he eventually fell asleep for a nap and I had some time to catch up here on my blog while he slept.  

Destiny was going to TJMaxx after work, so we met her there to give her Elizer and we went across the street to Walmart for a few things.

After we got home I made the craziest discovery.  For two days I had been applying corn and callous remover on the cracks on my thumbs, mistaking it for New Skin!!!  I was wondering why the skin around the cracks was turning white, hahahaha!!

Wednesday (10th) was a little crazy because I had a dentist appointment at 11.  So after taking Elizer to preschool I came home and started prep for the meal I would be making for Anthony and Lori.  Then I went to the dentist.  

There I was told that I have decay in the tooth under a crown.  I will need to have the crown removed, the cavity filled, then a new crown "installed."  Not looking forward to that procedure.  

Then I came home and finished the  meal and got some work done here at my desk, went for Elizer, took the meal to Anthony and Lori's place, came home and had fun playing with Play-doh and blocks.  After dinner I gave him a bath, then we took him home to Destiny.  

 Thursday (11th) was my laundry and choir prep day.  After I picked Elizer up from school I decided it was an ok day for him to ride his new bike.  It was cold, but not extreme.  He had fun riding in circles around our driveway for a while, then he was cold and ready to come inside.  How we miss the warm weather and going to all the wonderful parks around here!!  Destiny came for him after work, and Dick and I went to choir practice.  

Earlier in the day a big truck had delivered chairs to the new church building.  Neither Dick nor I were able to help, but many others were available.  These are a few pictures that were taken.  They said the chair stacks were HEAVY!!

Friday (12th) began with a glorious sunrise.  I took this picture as I was leaving our community to go for Elizer.

Another busy day of cooking, transportation, childcare, and folding laundry.  

Meanwhile in COLD Louisville, KY Sophie was participating in her first collegiate indoor track meet.  In her first round of the 60-meter she got a personal best time and qualified for the next round.  In the second round she qualified for finals. However, her coach, like many other coaches, does not want athletes to run three rounds this early in the season.  But she DID qualify, and that's pretty awesome!

Does your Facebook show you these things sometimes?  I decided to do it when that little picture of Sammy came up from ten years ago.  He was such a chubby little guy, and now he's so tall!!  It happens so fast!!!

I guess I didn't take any pictures on Saturday (13th).  It was a quiet day at home taking down and putting away all the Christmas stuff.  Later in the afternoon I went over to Destiny's to have a "laundry-folding party."  Dick took Elizer for a drive so he would take at least a short nap.  He resists naps so bad anymore.   He came home with us for the night because Destiny works on Sundays and he goes to church with us.  

Sunday (14th) was church in the morning of course.  We came home and had lunch.  We have both Little Mermaid and Little Mermaid 2 on VHS, so we pulled them out for afternoon entertainment.  Elizer actually fell asleep while watching the second one.  I got my music selections finished for the following Sunday. 

In the evening we went for groceries and then to Burger King for ice cream cones.  It was COLD outside, so it seemed crazy.  But they were so delicious and we had fun.  Afterward, when Destiny got off work, we met her at her parking garage to give her Elizer.  

So I started this post on Tuesday, and now it is Friday.  This week has been crazy with snow and extreme cold and a holiday and a birthday and preschool off all the time, but that will be my next post.  Sometimes I just can't keep up with my life. 

Snow and parties

We had the look of a winter wonderland this morning.

It came down heavily in big white flakes, but now it's raining.  What a mess it will become!

Going back to last week.  On Tuesday evening (January 2)  I took this cute video of Grandpa and Elizer jammin' on their guitars.

On Wednesday morning I was called at 10:30 AM to pick up Elizer from preschool due to his aggressive behavior toward other students.  Ugh.  So he was my boy for the rest of the day.

In the evening I had a meeting at church to plan our services for the Lenten season, Palm Sunday, and Easter.  I discovered last week that Easter Sunday is on March 31, which means that Ash Wednesday is on February 14 - Valentines Day!  What an odd combination!  I really don't like when Easter is so early.  

On Thursday morning we got a notification that preschool would be closed due to teacher illness.  So I had Elizer all day.  He lounged in his jammies half the day.

In the evening the choir had a going-away party for one couple who are "snow birds" in the winter.   We had the party at the new church!

    

We even had a mini practice with my electric keyboard. 

As you can see, it's not finished yet. But it's getting there!

The future kitchen.

On Friday I blogged, did our laundry and weekly bookwork.  All day I kept praying that our plans for the weekend would work out.   There were several "ifs."  

In the evening I made a chocolate mayonnaise cake and frosted it.  As the impending snow storm seemed like it would be worse here, we decided we would leave early Saturday morning to get out of here ahead of the snow.  

So Saturday morning we picked Elizer up from Destiny's place around 9:00 and we hit the road. He would be spending the night with Alex's family.

 We hit the first snow around Harrisburg. 

Because we were way ahead of schedule, we first of all went to Park City Mall in Lancaster.  Our mall in State College is all but dead, so it's a real treat for Elizer to go to a mall that has fun things to do. 

We got pizza for lunch.

Then we walked through the mall so I could do a bit of shopping at Boscov's, my favorite store.  I told Dick that if anybody asks him what to give me for a gift - tell them I would like a gift card for Boscov's and the gift of time to go there without time and childcare restraints.  Saturday was just a tease!

When we left the mall it looked like this!

And our backseat passenger looked like this!

It still wasn't time to drop Elizer off, and Dick was sleepy too.  So we went to my sister Mary Ellen's house nearby, parked in front of it, and napped!  She wasn't home.  

After we dropped him off we headed toward our first event of the weekend - a pig roast!  Lowell Graybill, a good friend from our home church in Manheim, was turning 60 years old.  He wanted a pig roast for his birthday.  And I don't mean he wanted to be treated to a pig roast.  He wanted to DO a pig roast!  Of course an impending snow storm was not ordered, but it did not deter him!  His daughter posted this picture earlier in the day.

The location of the pig roast at a Sportsmen's Club was very rural, and the snowy roads were a bit tricky as we got closer.  

We had a wonderful time reconnecting with quite a few friends from Grace Community Fellowship.  I was too busy talking to think of taking many pictures.  I did take this picture of Lowell.  He was working at cutting up the pig most of the evening, chatting with folks as they came by for their food. That's the way he wanted it.

Here's a picture of Lowell and his wife Tracy, taken by their daughter.  If you know Tracy's laugh you can imagine it just looking at this picture. 

The snow had turned to rain while we were there.  It was a sloppy, miserable MESS!!  We went to my sister Mary Ellen's for the night.  I had asked to have Sunday off from church.  As it turned out, they cancelled services anyway.  The snow in State College was heavier than in Lancaster. 

Dick went to bed by about 9:30, but Mary Ellen and I talked for about an hour.  This is the only picture I took of her.

On Sunday morning I took a few pictures at her house.  This was the beautiful view from her dining room table.

This little tree was at the top of her stairs.

Mary Ellen went to her church.  Dick and I decided to go to Grace Community Fellowship.  We had not been there for a worship service in about four or five years.  

On our way from East Petersburg  (where Mary Ellen lives) to GCF we passed this house - our former farmhouse on Hossler Road (minus the big maple trees we had.) 

It felt a bit deja vu.  On the first Sunday of January in 1987, we drove from our home in East Petersburg to our first service as praise and worship leaders at Grace Community Fellowship.  As we passed this house we noticed a "for sale" sign.  And the rest is history.  We bought it and lived there until we sold it in 2005.

After the church service we went to Manheim Kountry Kitchen for lunch.  As we sat there I scrolled through my FB memories and discovered that we had eaten there on that date in 2017 with some of my siblings!

 Wow, that makes me miss our brother Dick (last one on the right side.)

From there we went to our second birthday celebration of the weekend.   Grandma Arlene's 92nd!!  Isn't she beautiful?

Dick's brothers and wives were there too, except for Bob and Doris who live in Minnesota.  

On one side of the room - Carolyn, Grandma Arlene, Deb, Fred, and Dick.

On the other side of the room - Faye and Steve and Jim. 

This was the reason I had made the chocolate mayonnaise cake.  Last year I made that for her 91st birthday celebration, and we all loved it so much I decided to make it again.  Warning!!  It puts on the pounds quickly, because it's way too moist and delicious!

We had such a great time together in Arlene's apartment at Pleasant View Retirement Communities.  We hated to leave, but we had a lot of driving to do.

We went to Mary Ellen's place to get our "stuff" and say good bye to her, then we picked up Elizer from Alex's family.  

Destiny was at our house waiting for him when we arrived.  

Dick and I were two tired old people and glad for our beds!