“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” - Victor Hugo

Sometimes, the right quote comes to me at the right time. This is one of those quotes. When I read it this morning I was reminded to rest and be at peace.

I am so thankful for so many things. One is the greatness of children. How they see the world, their honesty and love of life.

This is Dawson, my cousin's sweet ten year old boy, who is a joy always. He speaks truth in love and he speaks words of wisdom and encouragement. On a trip to his grandma's I gave him my camera to document the weather. I love him. He is amazing.
Silly, silly boy. How great you are. You make me smile even when I don't see you.
The weather was frightful, like we were "entering another dimension" as Dawson said.
He told me this picture (below) was his favorite...it is pretty cool.
He took about 20 pictures of the rainbow (and double rainbow)...I liked this one as it was a little further down the road...notice the difference in the sky.
Dawson, you are an amazing photographer. I am blessed to be called Auntie by you. Thank you for your love!

btw...Dawson told me that the cards his mom and I made this day were "beautiful, like a professional. I bet Hallmark would hire you." And the thing is he was being completely genuine...Thanks buddy!

“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.

“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...

The Calendar Says...

it is June. Just sayin' is all. Um...the weather is saying May maybe even April. I am not a weather snob (really), but really enough is enough. I am ready for a little sunshine. Oh, let me clarify, a little reliable sunshine. I need sunshine. Please.

Okay. Thank you. Just a small, little vent.

ready...

I don't know about you (well...I think I probably do) but I am ready for some May weather. This weather is really bringing me down. There I said it. I am not feeling normal, at least normal for me - whatever that may be. I really think I need a few days of warm and sunshine...a few days that I can count on. Let me tell you the students do also...the whole feeling at school is one of discontent.

Luckily I have friends, like Cheryl here, who I can be a bit goofy with and forget that the weather is toying with my emotions. The air freshener says "and to think I am only using 1/10 of my brain..." I thought it was cute...

Happy Thursday!

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. :)

Watching.

I've been watching the clouds the last couple of days - seems like they are really rolling in. It looks like it could storm. I'm just waiting.

I am so glad it is Friday and I can cozy up in my little house with my book, a cup of tea, Troy. Archer is gone to a birthday party tonight and tomorrow night (2 parties -he is a par-tay boy) so I will be missing one of my best cuddlers.

Plans for the weekend are relaxed. Clean a little, read a little, relax a little. Sounds good.

Rainy Day...

After what turned out to be a glorious weekend and a nice beginning of the week it turned to rain today.
Troy is still feeling under the weather. So, while taking an afternoon nap today I snapped a picture. Poor guy...too sick to fight off the crazy lady with the camera.
The rain forced the animals inside. Ellie Mae, who thinks she is an outdoor cat but isn't, took a little jaunt outside only to find her paws wet. She then moved inside and found a spot on the couch where she recovered for several hours.

Archer and Gabe spent the afternoon plugged into the PS2 playing Champions of Norath. After days in the sun they were ready to get back to the important work of serious gaming. I find it fascinating to listen to their conversations when playing games. I am not a big video game person and to them this is very serious business. Good luck guys!

Oh. I did get Archer to smile for a picture. He REALLY wanted a cheese quesadilla and I told him I wouldn't make him one without a "cute" smile...Now that's what it's all about!