“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? Christmas came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” —Dr. Seuss

Food. Family. Presents. Laughter. Christmas may have come, but it is not gone. We enjoyed a big lunch with my family yesterday - a nice, relaxed afternoon of Christmas cheer. It is the day after Christmas and we are expecting family in a few hours. Troy's parents are on their way...Yay!

Our very own Cat in the Hat...or Rapper Spazzy Jazzy (you can pick)!
Isn't she adorable?

We woke up Christmas morning to many inches of new snow, which meant we needed to shovel (again).

I know there is a Jetta under there somewhere.

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugarplums
danced in their heads;
And Mama in her kerchief
and I in my cap
Had just settled our brains
for a long winter's nap -"

White Christmas!

The hazards of the snow plow...

My own slaves...ooops I mean shovelers!

"Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good night!"

“Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.” - Jeff Valdez

It is "oh so sad" at our house right now. The girls (aka Ellie May and Jazz) do not enjoy the snow. It was bad enough when it was just cold. They didn't like that, but this horrible, wet, white stuff is just too much for our sweet cats to stand.

Jazz spends a lot of her days sitting on a chair (so she can see over the drift) alternately looking outside and at the door nob (or in this case the door handle). When she wants out she goes to a door and just looks at the handle. If that doesn't work, you know, like...when no one is in the room, she will cry - not meow, but cry. It is sweet and sad at the same time. She has spent a lot of time crying this week. She wants out so bad.

See? She wants me to make the snow go away. I think she would even ask please if she could. Her little face is so sweet...she just wants to go OUT!

In between asking to be let out, then recoiling from the nasty that meets her when the door is opened and checking all the windows for snow around the house...Ellie May has become a tad depressed. She has been asking less and less to be let out and has been spending more time right here on Archer's bed asleep (probably hoping that when she wakes up the snow will be gone).
Poor girls. Too bad they don't like cocoa and Christmas movies...

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet."

In the heart of Christmases past I share with you Christmas memory #78 - visiting the Yeager's Santa. Yeager's is a local sporting goods store and we would take at least one trip every year to go visit Santa. Santa was known the rest of the year as Grandpa Glen. He was a good friend's grandpa and I grew up with him...he was the perfect Santa. Always jolly. Kids loved him. And he always gave me extra candy canes!
1988 was a fine, fine year. Obviously. Look at that hair. We could de-construct this photo and have a field day, however we will just say that I was an adorable high-schooler and leave it at that. Ok? No? Let me give you the run down. The hair - peroxide and perm ('nuf said). The clothes - the sweatshirt belonged to my friend Simon and said "Whoa Chill Out Dude," and the shorts (which thankfully you can't see so I'm not sure why I am sharing) were, well, shorts in December (wonder where Archer gets it?). They were cut-off black and white tie-dyed stretch pants (from New York people)...They were glorious. Anyway...I think we can all agree that I was super cute!


This picture mixes a bit of this year's decor in with a Christmas past picture. One of my project this season was this cute little 7-gypsies frame. I have wanted to frame this adorable picture of Archer from his first Christmas. It is one of my favorites. I converted the pic to black and white since the reds of his suit and the frame didn't match matted it on some cute Making Memories paper threw a couple Creative Imaginations stickers on there and wa-la finished! And I love it. My sweet baby boy!


On another note: We got some SNOW today and tomorrow is a SNOW DAY - yay! no school! I say yay - I know there are other parents out there that aren't quite so thrilled. I still love snow days...there is something magical about them. I don't even mind the kids making them up in the summer - and Archer doesn't either by the way...He is a proponent of year-round schools, but that is a post for another day. Maybe I will sit down with him and we will do a post about it.
Our cats hate the snow. Makes them housebound, like the rest of us. The wind the past week has driven them crazy and now the snow...I think they need extra treats. This is a cat's view of the outdoors when we open the door. No wonder they slink away in defeat.

Happy Snow Day (if you get one tomorrow)! Enjoy!

Snow Boys

Archer really wanted Calob to come over today - he wanted someone more fun than mom and dad to hang out with evidently! So, after much convincing I gave in and went to get Calob as his mom didn't want to get stuck in the alley - whatever. So, in my jammies (I said it was jammie day) I braved the streets and the other drivers so the boys could hang out.

They went out to build a snow fort (and throw a couple snow balls). I, while I love the snow and snow days, do not enjoy being outdoors in the snow. I usually only venture out to take a few pictures and occasionaly pick up or drop off a kid.



And the cats finally mellowed out enough to slumber their way through the day. Ellie May is quite upset about the snow - she really wants to go out, but this snow is making it difficult. Jazz has been sleeping most of the day with a few moments of being tempted outside, but stopping short when feeling the snow on her paw. And Horton...Horton isn't really interested in the snow as he is a fully indoor cat (oh, he does like an occasional jaunt out with us in nice weather, but that is unusual)...He has been sleeping the day away.


By the way - I did finish cleaning my room - picture to come! :)

Snow Day. Jammie Day. Project Day?

Today is a snow day. Therefore it is also a jammie day for me. Staying in my comfy cozy jammies all day. That is my plan.

Last night I took this picture:I know what you are thinking (well...I am thinking)...YIKES! Jerrie, is that your stuff? Is that your mess?
Why, yes, that is my mess. Thanks for asking...

So, my plan for today - if I feel so inclined to move from the computer, the couch, away from my book(s) and magazines - is to clean/organize the side of my bed. Wish me luck!

P.S. See the monkey? I got him for Christmas when I was about 5. I love him. I named him...wait for it...Monkey! A very original child, huh? Anyway, I fell in love with this monkey when shopping with my mom at Discount City (any of you locals remember - and love - DC?)...I cried when I had to leave him there. Now here he is...still bringing me joy!

Frozen feet.

Whenever it snows Archer wants to run out into the yard and back in his bare feet. This is crazy - I know - and I thought I better have evidence. One day he may have children who want to do this and being a good parent he will probably say no...I, as we established earlier am not running for mom-of-the-year, so I thought I should gather the proof today! I even made him stop (he usually just runs) and pose for a picture (notice the look on his face) - he did (willingly I might add).Crazy kid. :)

Look familiar?

It has happened again...It is suppose to stop soon. I'm not so sure. It seems to be coming down hard. We'll see.It sure is pretty.
Ready for some hot cocoa and a good book.

Until next time.

Even more snow....

Snow Day #3. After a whole day with no snow fall it began again today. The snow fall is light, but it is there. Archer went out a bit this afternoon to work on the snow fort (see below) and make some snow angels for mom. He was even kind enough to pose for some pics.

So here they are. More snow pictures.

Making snow angels for mom.

Snow balls snowballs everywhere.

Fierce snow warrior.

The snow fort.

More fun to come as more snow falls...