Family Traditions

So, Beth has been pretty intent on us starting some traditions of our own and the two that have taken root thus far are Pizza and Movie night on Fridays and family game night on Saturdays. Gram gets to choose the movie on Fridays which is rather unfortunate for us. We have seen the Garfield movie recently, a Sonic video, and, last night, we were subjected to Kirby (an extremely odd pink blobby character that does not talk and whose primary 'power' is the ability to inhale everything in sight.) It is beyond description, really. We just finished playing the game Mouse Trap which Gram chose at a cute little toyshop on a recent family outing. He was so geared up as the machine was being built during the game and he trapped Beth first. Then he and I ran around the loop repeatedly before he caught me. He jumped in the air yelling 'VICTORY' as the trap came down on me. I suspect that he'll have some pretty happy dreams tonight.

Gram's Excellent Bowling Adventure

Our friend Richard sent the following highlights from the bowling adventure yesterday.

New Year's Eve

Today started with snow around 7:30 AM. It lasted for about 3 hours, long enough to make me think that getting out of the house with the kids would not be a great idea. Luckily, one of Gram's friends invited him to go bowling (real bowling, not Wii bowling) and they picked him up so Mo and I had some quiet time. She fell asleep while eating in her swing so I got a brief nap today. However, the worl pretty much does not want me to nap. I have had any number of phone calls waking me when I try to squeeze in a nap. Today it was an ambulance screaming down the street right outside our house. Everyone is asleep now (except for me!) and it is snowing again. It should be pretty outside tomorrow morning.

New Year and New Schedule A-Comin'

As 2009 fades away in a very chilly fashion here, I am getting myself mentally prepared (as much as I can) for what lies ahead next week. Mornings of getting all 4 of us ready to leave the house by 8 AM. I'll be walking the boy to school most mornings and then turning back down the street to my classroom. We were doing this before my leave, but on those mornings Beth and Mo were just hanging around the house, not busily getting themselves ready. Not that Mo will be much help getting herself ready, but you know what I mean. Gram and I will leave about 10 till 8 and I'll be in my room about 5 after 8. Beth will leave right after us to take Mo to her day care. The afternoons? Well, we don't have that completely figured out yet. Gram will spend some days at the after care at his school, I'll spend some days getting him and Mo before Beth comes home, and some days Mo will be at the day care until Beth gets her after 5. Long days for a short girl.

Fitting in Gram's homework, my homework, making dinner, etc. It's a routine that tons of families have to deal with. It's just a new one for us and it'll be interesting to see how we work it out.

The cold is pretty severe this week by our standards. A few days of sub-freezing weather and strong winds have kept me and Mo away from our usual rounds of the downtown businesses, so we are spending more time cooped up at home. The good news is that she is fully on the bottle routine with me now as long as I feed her in the correct chair. The day care ladies will be happy to hear this.

Overdue Snow Photos

Back out in the world

So, last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I realized that no one in the family had even left the apartment yesterday. Our Friday newspaper was sitting on the sidewalk and we had spent the day in our pajamas. This morning, I went back into the world and played 4 mediocre games of basketball. My team won once with little help from me. The weather is turning lousy here but I am determined that we will not just stare at the Wii all day again. We'll see how successful I am.

A long happy day