Evidence

Rory's choice of book last night? Evidence: The Objection Method. Because really, it's never too early to start learning how to frame a proper objection (and the kicking and screaming protests that Ror has been perfecting of late are really not an effective method of persuasion). Plus I'm hoping she can help me out with a few concepts that I missed.

Progress

The first full week of January has been ridiculously cold in these parts. In an effort to get out of the house yesterday I bundled the girls up, turned the space heater on in the playhouse (which is technically out of the house) and attempted to play in there. It lasted for maybe 15 minutes. We did get off our actual street today and went to the NC Museum of Natural Science. We breezed through most of it but saw an awesome science presentation by a very funny biologist. I learned a) eggs of birds that live in trees are round because they can't roll anywhere, whereas birds that live on steep slopes have more conical eggs b) beaver fur was the preferred material for hats back when people were outside and, you know, wore hats because they have a dense layer of wool below their hair, also that hatters used to make hats using mercury and go insane from the exposure hence the term "mad hatter" (you would think I would have picked up this gem of information information at my alma mater) and c) beaver teeth, as well as those of other rodents, are self sharpening because the layer of the enamel on the outside of their teeth is harder than on the interior of their teeth meaning there is always a beveled edge. I think I can learn a lot from science Saturdays.

In non-beaver related news I have been successful in significantly reducing the amount of pogey bait (thanks Amy...) I have put in my mouth and generally eating healthier. I also succeeded in getting to the Y twice. Which isn't three times like I resolved but its more than, you know, zero. (And in real-time inspiration the mail carrier just rang the bell and delivered my new scale...)We have also thrown away very very little food--only some off of the girls plates when it wasn't fit for dog consumption or composting.

In summary- need warmer weather, beavers good, mercury bad, pogey bait down for the count.

PS: Just because I know she'll stop doing it soon and I'll forget, Rory calls fish "foosh" and its freaking adorable.

Small Steps

I am not generally a fan of January. It's time to take down the tree and get the last of those never ending leaves out of the yard. There are still unfinished projects from 2009, like a photo book and laundry from last year. But the thing I do love about January are resolutions. This year I am resolving to be healthier, physically and mentally, and to be a better steward of the earth. Huge resolutions? Yes, indeed. But they are do-able in small steps. I ordered a digital scale on-line this morning and this week I am focusing on reigning in my post-holiday portion sizes and getting back on the exercise track. I want to exercise three times between now and next Saturday. That seems like a very attainable first-week-of-January goal.

And taking care of that other resolution...Hip Mountain Mama has issued a challenge that requires one small change every month that will make a positive green impact leading up to Earth Day. In January I resolve to stop throwing away food. We will consume what we buy, therefore buying less and requiring less production on behalf of our little family. I will eat leftovers, and freeze what I know will not get eaten so we can use it later. Tonight's menu is soup from the beef and vegetables we have remaining after many holiday celebrations...

Eve

The children are nestled all snug in their beds...
And the coffee cake is rising....
And the ham dinner at noon today was delicious....
And the playhouse is all ready for the girls in the morning.

This is by far the most laid back and easy Christmas Eve I remember. Jilli told me several times today that Santa doesn't need to come because we already have Christmas presents under the tree, but she is going to listen very hard for the reindeer on the rooftop.

Snow!

It was supposed to start coming down at 4 today but this was about 1230 and the flakes are swirling still now. This is one of my last working Fridays at home with the girls and we are about to make cookies and build a fire and maybe sing a few rounds of Christmas carols

Mufflers are the new scarf

A good friend of mine knit this scarf for jilli and offered it up for whatever Jilli might use it for...scarf, baby blanket, whatever. Some holidayish book we have been reading has all the characters wearing mufflers so we were all very excited when Jilli embraced her very own.

Home

We returned Saturday evevning from a weeklong trip to Florida that included all grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in seven short days. It was a great trip and both girls loved playing with new toys and fun cousins. I feel like we have finally reached the point where we can make a long car trip without too much trepidation that its going to be all screaming all the time. Rory reached her limit at about 5 on Saturday but we all had, so all little scream in the last hour wasn't too bad.

One of the funny things about the trip is that when I thought about coming home I would picture us pulling up to our new house, calling Josh and Erin to see if they wanted to meet in the driveway and getting back settled in to our old rooms. But we pulled into the new driveway instead and when we walked back in it felt like, maybe, this house is home. Its progress.