Homemade Goodness

 Homemade Hummus

Homemade Crackers

 We think this one looks like a mix between Minnesota and Wisconsin which is funny given where we live.

Homemade "TamiFlu" (Pine Needle Tea)

Okay, so this wasn't homemade.  More like Godmade.  Isn't it beautiful?  A little treat left on our bedroom window from the cold night.  

We are doing our best to keep the healthy ones healthy and get the sick ones better.  Lots of rest for all, lots of fluids for all, and lots of movies for all.  Veronica especially loves that last one.  We rarely watch TV and I think our movie selection will be exhausted by the time this nasty bug makes its way through the family (and we have an embarrassingly large amount of movies).

School is supposed to start tomorrow, but my planning time has been cut short a bit and not all of my students are well.  I predict a week of a little Math and a lot of reading. 

Misery loves Company

So do the sick kids, poor dears.

Pretty sure we have the flu. No use getting it confirmed, they're icky and miserable and the rest of us are pumping ourselves full of liquids and vitamins and hoping to at least get a milder form when we get struck down

Something's Missing

I have no idea why this picture is funky.  I promise my childrens' faces don't normally look like that.

Since yesterday afternoon my oldest has been in a mood.  One could say that it's normal 11-year-old boy mood, but this is not the case.  Problem is, child #2 left to stay at a friend's house.  The oldest didn't throw a fit like the 3-year-old who wanted to go with, he didn't sigh like the sweet girl who was on the couch, running a fever, and he didn't hide in my arms like the youngest.

Poor Aidan is lost.  What to do, what to do.  Mope, mope, mope.  Whine, whine, whine.  As annoying as it is hearing the complaints and the whine, I feel for the kid.  Both of his playmates are unavailable.  He played, "Violet, Dad, and Mim" as long as he could, but in the end he wanted Emma and Gigi to chum with like usual.  There are adventures to be had that have had to wait. 

It was endearing to hear his prayer of "not taking anyone for granted" and I couldn't help but smile to see that he knew what was missing.  One of his dearest friends.  My children don't always get along.  A few naturally connect and a couple naturally clash.  But, we've tried to instill in all of them that these people they are growing with are, and will always be their best friends. 

Epiphany Pie

Northland Winters

I've often joked about the sun heading south for the winter and not returning until about June.  When the sun comes back up (on holiday) it is often way too cold to head outside and enjoy the rays.  One thing I've learned since returning to the north after our stint in Texas is that regardless of what it looks like outside it is always beneficial to make an effort to get out and enjoy some fresh air.

A few days ago we did just that.  We found a great, underused snowmobile trail just minutes from our house, bundle the crew up, and went for a little hike. 

We had a great time, and the woods were absolutely beautiful!  Even Felicity had a blast.

I will admit that it often feels overwhelming to make the effort to get out in the winter.  The house is warm, there are 10 little hands and feet, and 5 heads that need bundling.  But, it is always, always, always worth it.  Being out in nature is something Brett and I did often when were dating and newly married.  Luckily for me, he has continued to be insistent that our children learn to enjoy the outdoors.  We're not talking about 3-week-long backpacking adventures here, just simple get-out-and-enjoy-the-beautiful-world-God-made adventures.

Yesterday after naptime I was considering asking the kids to watch the youngest one so I could jump on the treadmill and pretend to be working off some Christmas calories.  I took one look outside, saw the snow falling, checked the temperature and decided to head outside instead.

It probably took close to 15 minutes to get the littlest ones ready, but I didn't give up and outside we went.  20-30 passes down (and back up) our sledding hill, and 2 hours later I brought a tired, but content group of kids back inside.  Always worth the effort.  Always. 

Even this morning, when my 32-year-old body was screaming at me that I'm not as young as I used to be, I feel like it was worth it.  I want to enjoy my children and I want my children see that I enjoy them.  That doesn't always happen in the day-to-day tasks of running this household.  I took time to play yesterday and it was a great reminder of how important that is to do. Get outside and play!

Snow Monster

Outside