Brrr, it's cold!

It is cold.  Unusually cold.  Right now at 11am, it is 10 degrees F.  The thermometer hasn't risen above 25 degrees F since January 10.  At the elementary school, they have had only a handful of 'outdoor recesses' because the temperature has to be above 20 degrees F in order for the kids to go out.

Last night, as we were putting the kids to bed, they told Ryan that the cold water wasn't turning on in the bathroom.  Uh-oh.  The water pipe feeding the upstairs was frozen!  Thank goodness for google, and a father (Ryan's) who goes to bed late, Ryan was able to thaw the pipe (using a blow dryer) and avert disaster.  Now if we could just have our children tell us when things aren't working correctly when they first notice it...

Off to the races!

Roderic got to participate in his first Pinewood Derby!  He and Ryan built a Mario Car, which was pretty cool.  They spent 3 Saturdays and a couple of weeknights working on it: researching designs, making drawings, carving, sanding, painting, sanding, and assembling.

His car did great at the race!  He came in 10th place overall in the Pack, 4th out of __ in the Wolf Den.  The special guest judges (teachers from Trail Wind Elementary) deemed his car the "Most Italian".

Blessing Beatrix

On Sunday, December 30, 2012, Beatrix was given a name and a blessing at church by her father.  It was a beautiful blessing and Bea didn't make a peep throughout.  She did spit up quite a bit during the rest of the meeting, though.  My mom wrote in shorthand the blessing as it was being said and then transcribed it for us.

l to r: Alton, Aanja, Milaka, Roderic, Ambrose, Hyrum, Sabrina, Leo, Ryan, Me, Beatrix, Grandpa C, Grandma C.

My parents flew up from Texas and the Stringhams (minus Doug) drove over from Portland for the occasion.  Due to a snow storm and the freeway being closed at LeGrande, OR (a charter bus slid and crashed and rolled down an embankment, leaving 9 dead and 30 more injured), Milaka decided to stay overnight.  My kids were happy with that development because it meant they got to play more games with their cousins!  They played several games of Fluxx and Settlers of Catan (Aanja, playing for the first time, won).

The Ludlows were planning to attend, but they had to replace their van battery instead.  Colter was going to ride with the Ludlows, since his only other means of transport is a motorcycle.  Ryan's parents had also planned on attending, but Dorothy was sick with a cold/laryngitis.

Can't Complain

If there is only one thing I've learned as a mother to young children, it is that you DON'T complain when they sleep from midnight to 7:30am.  But, it does make for a sore mom waking up.  'Cause if there's another thing I've learned its that you try to sleep when the baby sleeps!

 Leo really likes to hold Bea, even if she cries!