Sunday had to be one of the most fun days I’ve had in a very long time. After waking up to nearly 10″, Ahmis, Paul, Amira & I spent a good chunk of our day playing in the snow. It snowed the entire time we were outside, so the snow continued to pile up. By the end of the day, we were at nearly a foot of snow.
Amira decided that lounging in the snow was “very comfy!”
Ahmis & Amira were our resident snow angel experts.
And for the record, Ahmis has to be one of the very coolest people on the planet!
My camera batteries ran out pretty quickly - so there aren’t pictures of the “Great Snow Sledding Extravaganza of 2008.” I don’t think I’ve gone sledding since I was maybe 12-13 years old. How terrible is that? And I had so much fun, I nearly lost my voice from the screaming and hollerin’ I did! I had smile creases in my cheeks from it all.
And, much to the three adults surprise, we were all still going strong when Amira stated “I’m tired” and headed inside. We were all pretty proud of have both worn out and outlasted the 4-year-old! 
I don’t think it could have been a more perfect day.
Yep, the pond is completely frozen over. The ducks have skedaddled out of the water, presumably when they felt the tickle of crystallizing water turning to ice on their little feathery butts. I have to give them credit, they waited as long as possible before leaving.
My morning has been spent coordinating our upcoming trip to Coos Bay for our family Christmas. I thought it was going to be quick and easy - but it’s taken the entire morning and all the details still aren’t quite wrapped up. Oh well, it’s the fun kind of work — when you know the result is going to be time with each other and family.
The dogs are going to be staying with Ahmis. It’s going to make the trip easier for us, although (I confess) I’m going to miss them. They are so much a part of my daily life that it feels strange to not have them with me, even on a trip. They are going to be happy as clams though with Aunt Ahmis. They adore her and being with her is second nature to them. They won’t even miss us!
Well, I’d better get back to it. More soon I hope… when I have some time to sit down and just be for a bit.
Amira was up until 10:30pm last night. We finally got our tree set up and decorated and it was well worth a late night. I love the tree and the cozy Christmas feel the house has.
Amira declared our tree “fluffy and very tall!” She’s right on both counts. The tree smells amazing. And suddenly, the cold wintery weather suddenly feels perfect and as it should be.
Each day, Amira greets me with an enthusiastic “Merry Christmas, Mama!” Merry Christmas indeed, baby girl.
This isn’t the best photo because I took the picture while the paint is still wet. Makes for all sorts of glare and color shifting… but I didn’t care. Something about painting this felt therapeutic and unsettling at the same time. I can still feel it now as I’m typing this. I look at this painting and feel that it is both interestingly beautiful and childish and ugly at the same time.
It’s a funny space I’m in. Not bad. Just strange and little disorienting.
I’ve got this stuck in my head! She sings it to herself all the time… and then I find myself singing it too.
And if you are wondering where you heard it before… think early 80s, Sixteen Candles… and the original version by Altered Images
