Havin' a Heat Wave

Whew.  We are having a heat wave.  It was a balmy 10 degrees on my way home from school today.  Yes, 10 degrees ABOVE zero. 
If I had not said so before, the past week or so it has been negative temperatures daily.  Saturday is was a whopping -27!  Yes,  -27. 

Looking at this picture, you wouldn't think that it was so dang cold would you?  Well, I took this (very quickly) in the school parking lot last week after school.  It was -15 that day. 

It is nice to see the sun, even if it SO cold.  We are gaining light and it is just starting to become noticeable.  The sun is starting to even feel warm when it hits you.  It really isn't warm enough to make a lick of a difference, but in my mind, the warm sun gives me hope. 

See the sun on the mountain and the parking lot signs?  The sun is still up when I leave school at 4:30 or so.  Sadly, this is exciting for me. 

Today, the clouds came in and provided a nice low blanket to keep the "heat" in.  Ha, heat.  That makes me giggle it is so ridiculous.  Heat.  But this is why we have the warmer temperature.  Yippee, Spring is on its way.  We just have to make it through February and March and most of April. 

Wait, my yippee has just turned to a sigh. 

Anyone up for a three month trip to Hawaii?

Sleepy

Sometimes a girl just needs a headband and a kangaroo to have a good night sleep.

Wrestling Begins

I know that I committed myself to blogging daily with the new year.  I also know that I have had a rough patch with a nasty virus, and that I have 4 kids, and that I work full time again, and that, and that, and that...blah, blah, blah.

Thanks for listening, I feel better. 

Today, Isaak wrestled his first varsity tournament.  He is a 6th grader amongst 7th and 8th graders.  It was a great experience.  He was handed his hinney on a platter, but he hung in there and wrestled tough. He came away with a new level of desire to step up his game. 

I want arm muscles like Isaak.  Think I'll have to start wrestling to get them?  Isaak is in the red/white singlet.

This picture just proves that yoga is a necessary practice in all sports.  

Peek-a-boo. 

Gotta love wrestling tournaments.  You know how in all sporting events, the spectators are always yelling and shouting out plays or strong suggestions as to what the sport players should be doing?  Wrestling is the same.  It makes me giggle.  I am surrounded by terms like, "Head, head, head!" or "Circle around.  Cross face!"  Perhaps some, "Leg and arm. Come on, leg and arm!"  I do not understand most of this.  I don't really want to understand it either.  I figure that Brad and the other crazed spectators will provide enough spouting of instructions, that I will be excused from participating. 

Well, my bleacher butt has just begun.  With Isaak starting wrestling in January now, and club wrestling starting when middle school season ends, my bleacher butt will just expand over the next 3 months.  Good times, good times.

Random Acts of Observations

1.  At 5:30 this evening, it was still light enough to see into the woods outside the house.  We are actually gaining light.

2.  When you put many inches of snow on a road, then bring in negative temperatures for two weeks, then add high winds you get a sheet of ice to drive on with random snow drifts.  Makes driving interesting.

3.  When I came down with the nasty virus that the rest of the family had already experienced, I spent every evening last week after work sleeping on the couch and most of this weekend doing the same.  The kids started to worry.  One even poked me once and asked if I was ok because he needed a drink of water.

4.  I actually slept until NOON today.  I was shocked.  I am feeling better today. 

5.  I am thankful for NyQuil and ibuprofen.  They have compromised the majority of my diet lately.

6.  I have alot of laundry and dishes to catch up on.

7.  I am thankful for yoga pants and baggy sweatshirts.

8.  I am looking forward to Spring.

9.  I am looking forward to Spring.

10.  It is only January.

Sigh....

I'm old and Some Cage Ball

Today was Professional Development at school.  Meetings, information, meetings, and cage ball.  We ended the day with "team building" exercise.  Or as I like to call it, Rubbing our Noses in our Age or Tribute to Ice Packs and Tiger Balm. 

We tied.  I dislocated my shoulder and ripped a nail almost off (thanks to my Principal's swift ninja kick as I was throwing the ball).  Good time had by all.

Pictures to follow when I get them from school.

Thanks for looking, I have to go ice my shoulder and change my finger band-aid.

Grits

It has been so cold around here (still -22'ish), we are finally recovering from our bout of nasty colds, and we are back into full swing with school and activities that I am in need of some serious comfort food.  I really wanted chicken fried steak with some creamy mashed potatoes and gravy.  But I couldn't bring myself to frying something.  So, I settled for cheesy grits.  They hit the spot!  Mmmmm, yummy creamy cheesy grits.

I used the recipe from Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site.  If you have never made grits, it was simple and the product was delicious. 

All I am saying is, give grits a chance.

Beauty and the Beast and a Birthday Boy

Today was Av's birthday.
Today it was -22 degrees.
Today Avery requested breakfast in bed.
Today we went to see Beauty and the Beast, the broadway musical. 

Yes, another broadway musical under our belt.
I have to admit, there is one benefit to living in Alaska.  We do get some wonderful entertainment.  I think everyone in the lower 48 feels sorry for us being so far from civilization that they send great entertainment!
We have seen many shows and entertainers living here.

Now for a check.  Anyone missing? 
Yes, Isaak.  When I bought tickets, he said he didn't want to see this one.  I guess he is too cool to see a "girl" show.  His loss.  Gaston was very manly, in an egotistical, degrading, bully kind of way. 

Now that baby O is bigger, she was ready to see her first musical.  Beauty was coming and I couldn't pass it up.  We had a blast.  It was wonderful!  We all loved it.  It was exciting.  It was magical.  We were mesmerized.  Get the idea?

I love seeing their reactions and hearing their perspective on different areas of theater.

Happy Birthday Av!  Gosh, I love that boy!