This is a pretty neat picture!

Several internet places have it posted, and I am not sure who gets the credit for satellite pictures such as these.  The cold kept us out of school yesterday, but we went back today.  I loved being home yesterday, but it was nice to go back to school today!  The sun is shining and the Yukon temp said 18 degrees.  Alisa asked me if she needed to wear her coat to "just walk out to the Yukon" after school.  "Um, hello!  Yes!  It is still winter and cold!  And you are the only one who hasn't gotten sick yet!"  Oi!
In other news...Teddy is a participant in the spelling bee.  Color me surprised!  Alisa is hoping to make it far enough tomorrow to be an alternate for her grade.  Lest you think I am not excited enough...I am remembering what I heard when they were practicing at home on Monday night.  It was painful...and maddening.  I may have even made them stop and "just go over the words by yourself."  Maybe the extra day off and my good cooking made the difference...or the refreshing freeze your face off cold this morning...I'm not sure.  Way to go kiddo!

In the K3 room...Little C said, "Miss Tare-wee, I need my wouth miped.  Do you got a wipe?"  Yes, I had to stop for a second..."Oh...you need your mouth wiped!  Sure, here is a wet wipe right here!"
Little Z told me he couldn't carry his back pack, "You need to do it, because there is a lot of junk stuff in there!"  Silly boy, he found out Miss Tare-wee is not his mule and that he "has strong muscles to carry it for himself!"  I did test how heavy it was before I put it on his back.
 
Guess what one of our lessons was about today...manners!  Never was there so much belching/burping at snack and lunch as there was today!  Yep, our little guys have been taking big gulps of their drinks and experimenting.  First place they turn to look...our faces.  We smile kindly and say, "What do you say?" and go on.  Then there was the little guy whose head snapped up to see if we noticed when he tooted...well, that took a little more effort in control.  Mrs. K looked at me. I shrugged, "Big boys, little boys...it doesn't matter...it is funny and our saying it isn't...doesn't work!"  That turned into laughter.  "It is funny...because they get so tickled by the noise...and sometimes...I do to.  I can't help it!"  Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long for them to practice and perfect their techniques here at school.  Boys!

The countdown started...

this morning at 6:00am!  It was all of 11 degrees.  By 6:00pm, we were at 1 degree and -19 windchill.  The sky was interesting as Teddy and I drove home from ball practice.  This picture doesn't catch the color.  The clouds looked like a big blanket unfolding over us...problem is...it is not keeping us warm!  We are tucked in safely for the night knowing that there is no school tomorrow.  We are watching the temps continue to fall...8:30pm it is -1 with a windchill of -20...so I guess all the hoopla on the morning news is actually on track.  I think, hibernation is a fascinating concept!  I was working on cutting out a "M" activity for The Mitten by Jan Brett.  One of my favorite stories for little ones.  All those animals wanting to crawl into the mitten to get warm...and they had to get along!  Just watching the snow blow around even when the sun was shining today made me shiver!  The mittens are cut and ready for lacing.  The animals are cut and ready to be colored.  Now...we wait...to see how many days we will be off this week!  Snow/cold days for 2014= 5 days so far as Michigan is seeing its "coldest and snowiest winter in years".  Poor Mrs. K!  What a year to transition up north!

Ever have a secret?

Update on 1/26/14:
How was that for a cliff hanger?  I happened to be on trying to post on Friday when Google had their little hiccup in service!
Ted and I have been having pow-wows behind closed doors.  Plans were being made in secret!  We finally shared it with the kiddos on Friday night via a power point of pictures, thanks to Ted's creative mind!  Mine has been on the fritz since Wednesday...I think sick germs go right to my brain now.  Anyway...plans have been made and shared with our kiddos...which will involve travel in a way they have never experienced to a warm place they have never been!  It is fun to have secrets!  It is fun to reveal secrets!  Ashlynn had a look of hesitancy and "Oh wow!"  Alisa giggled and clapped.  Teddy was bouncing up and down with lots of questions on the tip of his tongue.  Ted says he is feeling pain and loss.  I just grin cause I've been there and done and enjoyed it.  We will share all our adventures eventually.

Our week in pictures

 School....work...music practice and lessons...homework...sickness...meals....
dishes...laundry...bed...repeat!

Teddy had been working on getting sick since last Friday...he finally went down Monday morning with a high fever.  I came home early Mon. and Tues. to be with him.  What a difference a couple hours made for my homemaking needs!  I took care of the sickie with a little pampering, got baking and laundry done, and supper started before picking up the girls.

 Some days of our week can be rough!  As adults, we deal with things differently.  As three year olds, well, they deal with it by acting out and being naughty.  I was sitting at naptime yesterday and this was my view...calm and quiet with music playing, teachers prepping, children settling, twinkly lights glowing...and our administrator sitting next to one of our little guys...who needed some encouragement to do right.  I'm so thankful for the leadership team of our church and school.  He didn't have to stay long...because our little friend responded to this male authority in his life and fell asleep.  Little boys need men to train them and hold them accountable...even at three years old!  All it took were some kind, firm, patient words and his presence.  Hey, Dads, you are very much needed in the lives of your children!!!!

 Oi!  So it has been a long time...no wait...never...since I have cut myself to where I needed to go sit down as I applied pressure to more than desired bleeding!  I really messed up!  I was trying to be frugal and use up some pieces of laminate...and instead of working....the pieces didn't roll through but around the rollers and melted.  Yah, great.  On the personal sized laminator that we all use on a regular basis.  I took the little screws out and tried to peel the pieces off...using a nail file type object and it slipped and slashed my thumb.  I get queasy just typing about it.  All of this taking place in our classroom while Mrs. K is teaching.  Blood dripping, I walked quickly and quietly to our little bathroom and sat on the stool in front of the sink...willing myself not to do anything stupid...like pass out.  I didn't.  I pulled myself together and finally got the laminator fixed and we got all our fun stuff laminated.  Moral of the story...don't be so frugal that you ruin an expensive piece of equipment...or your thumb!  It aches...and I told the girls they have to wash dishes for me!

 Alisa wanted to make a half-birthday treat for her class.  Yummy!  Pretzel, caramel, chocolate, and sea salt bark.  Done!  Ready for Friday!

12:38 Friday morning text...School cancelled due to extreme cold temps.  Ted saw the announcement 2:30am when he woke up and couldn't go back to sleep.  He tip-toed into the kiddos' rooms and turned off their alarms.  I rolled over and said "Thank You, Lord, for such a gift!"  I have felt lousy since Wednesday and have pushed to keep going.  I woke up at my normal time and got to talk with Ted as he got ready for work.  I mixed up some cinnamon rolls and climbed back in bed till they were ready to bake.

 Just what I needed!  My bed, coffee, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, and quiet!

The kiddos enjoyed them too!  Oh my word!

Once again, I am thankful for a warm place to live.  I'm thankful for God's protection as Ted heads to work in the cold, arctic blast.  I'm thankful for an extra, unplanned day off for rest so I can get rid of this sick stuff.  I hate having to cancel out on things!

I have the sweetest co-workers!

 Honestly, I am blessed to be working where I am working!  Every day it is a pleasure to walk in to our cherry classroom and meet up with my friends/co-workers.  I know that not every person has that sweet blessing and I want to say "Thank you, Lord, for such an opportunity!"  Last Friday was our "K" day activity...kings and queens and castles and such.  Every time we have a "special" day it can be a little overwhelming for teachers...additional crazy activities and excitement collide into frenzy.  Every time...we look at each other and say "Why?" and then we laugh "because we love them and learning is supposed to be fun!"  About that time...one of our friends walked into our room with a tray of freshly dipped chocolate covered strawberries!  Wow!  What a treat with my lukewarm coffee!

 Feeling a little more energetic and refreshed...we made crowns. Ha ha ha!  Fruit break takes on a whole new dimension when chocolate is involved!  Everybody look...ready...1, 2, snap...oops, guess they weren't ready!  Eventually there was a picture where they were all looking...but these type of pics are my favorite...they show the true personality of each one!

 We were so excited!  No one cried learning to play musical chairs and they caught on so fast!  It is fun to watch them learn and grow!  "Look, Mrs. K, I know where to go!  I'm listening real good!"

All that snow and pain of the cold...

 then came warmer temps and rain.  Last Sunday...we can see grass!  Unbelievable!

 This is for Dad and Mom...we came home from church Sunday to see Uncle Si with no beard.  It was full and bushy and green...and too heavy!!

Back to school...for two days.

We eased into our routine!  It was fun to see all our little friends again.  Their parents were glad to see us again.  And they are still making us laugh!!!
I made a snowman out of felt that they can play with and I let them tell me what pieces to make.  They wanted socks and boots for their man.  Little A told us, "Snowmens wear scarf-ves."
I cut out a piece of celery and a pumpkin hat, because Little L told me that is what he and his daddy used for his snowman at home.

In the middle of talking about what month is was, Little A, who had lifted her shirt says, "Look at my belly, it looks like a hot tub (what I heard) hot dog (what Mrs. K heard)."  Didn't matter...it was so off the subject we had to stop and laugh which made Little A giggle.

While coloring and tracing our letters, Little A says, "I'm following disections!"

We had the story of the paralytic man during Bible time, "What if you couldn't move?"  Little Z spoke up and said, "You'd be stuck like an ice cube!"

Little A has been on a roll lately.  She randomly asked Mrs. K during teaching time, "Do you have a mommy and daddy at your house?"  Mrs. K said, "No, because I'm all grown up!" and she looked at me, "I am grown up, right?!"  I told her yes and you have a license that says you are...ha ha ha.  Little A asked, "You are??"

Little L was asked if he could hold the flag for pledges, "Sure, I can!  My super powers are all ready now!"

Mrs. K told the children to put their cowboy boots on and get ready to sing "I May Never March in the Infantry" like a cowboy.  Little L was having trouble, "Well, my cowboy boots are under my shoes today."

Couldn't believe it! Another snow day!

 After worrying about how hard it was going to be to go back to school...we didn't go!  Another day of extreme cold and I took full advantage of such a gift.  We slept in...waaaay in!  Brunch.  Lazy.  Showers...and a trip out of doors to Walmart to spend some gift cards and grab a couple necessities...like coffee filters!  I was struck with thankfulness for God's protection through the cold snap...especially as we walked around Walmart seeing the empty shelves and the special displays of things people might need.   Living in a trailer...mobile home...tin can...double-wide...whatever you want to call it...is different!  Instead of a foundation...we have a skirt.  Instead of thick walls with insulation...we have glorified cardboard type material.  Instead of thick, sealed, well-constructed windows...we add plastic.  And now I am laughing...God has been so good to provide a cozy home for us!  Extra praise...we had no heat or water issues!!!

We also still seem to have room for more stuff.  The livingroom looks like Disney-Pixar threw up on the tv stand. The kiddos added three pieces to their Christmas gift-o-fun.  Thank you to uncles and aunties for gift cards!!!  It was nice to get out of the house and feel the sharp air hit the lungs!  It was so nice to meet together for Truth Trackers/Bible study.  We were greeted at the door by one of the men in our church, "There IS school tomorrow!"  I laughed!  I think everyone was ready to head back to school!  We sure enjoyed our time off...together!

Ohhhh...tomorrow is going to be rough!

The special gift of two more days at home has been wonderful!  But heading back into the daily routine...in the cold is going to be rough!  I've enjoyed the extra rest and chance to just be home.  Laundry is caught up.  Rooms straightened.  Meals made.  Coffee sipped.  Cards made.  Some baking done.  Odds and ends finished.  Quiet moments relished.
When I look back over 2013, I see how God's grace has continued to touch our lives.  As I look forward to 2014, I can't escape the thought of God's mercy.  I'm so thankful for the preaching, teaching, studying, memorizing, and music of this past year in our church!  So many notes to pour over again.  I am thankful that our learning and understanding of God's Word continues as we continue to mature!   We sang a song in the cantata this year that said, "I Will Sing Your Praises Forever...Unto You O, Lord, Will I Sing..."  But my favorite verse is "I Will Sing of Mercy and Judgment..."  In His mercy, He shows me when and where I am wrong in my thinking and acting...and I am grateful for how He does that!  Through His Word and the people He has placed in my life!  I'm so thankful for another year of His grace, mercy, and love to me...even when I don't deserve it.  May I demonstrate the same toward others.

A snow day panic!

 Looking in the coffee filter box and seeing only 3 filters left!  I searched frantically through the cupboards for another box.  I always have another box.  We drink a lot of coffee.  I guess we used up the box and I hadn't put it on my shopping list.  Another snow/cold temp day...

I did what any crazy, desperate, frugal person would do...I rinsed out the filter from Ted's early morning pot and re-used it!  My love must have coffee for his early morning commute...and I will make this work until it is safe to go to the store.

A snowstorm that changed a few plans!

 So much talk about the snow and weather to come on Sunday.  It was a beautiful winter wonderland as we headed to church.  Not much plowing had been done!  Our evening service was canceled...so Ted and I went to the store for a few things.  We spent the afternoon relaxing as a family in front of Netflix.

 Any excuse to turn on the oven and make something yummy...NACHOS!  Even better...served with Grammy's salsa!

 The kiddos worked as a team to bring in firewood...it is our "must have" when we are home for any length of time!

 The guys went out to do another clean up before the all night long stretch.  Ted gave up the snowblower and let Teddy go to town on the driveway.  We are so thankful for helpful children!

 Fresh muffins and hot chocolate...we are watching the radar and the temperature fall!  Brrrrr!

 Cozy fire...just so thankful for a warm home and dear family to share it with!  Another unexpected change...no school on Monday!  AND...as of this afternoon...no school on Tuesday!  I'm spending extra time praying for Ted's safety as he drives to and from work!  I'm thankful that he took the Yukon...big vehicle with 4 wheel drive.

Ted's special delivery birthday gift...

 brought a chuckle!

A few days...sprouting...

And now...after a week and a half...and a good dose of sunshine!  Makes us laugh!  "Thank you, Dad and Mom!"

New Year's Day...2014

 We went over to give good-bye hugs to Grampy and Grammy before they left to head home.  Not a super great traveling day...we prayed for them all day long and kept up with them as they headed west.

 We spent time with friends watching football, eating, sledding, eating, and watching the bunny hop all over...he likes the hearth.

 Traveling home...not so nice roads! 

 Hopped up on coffee...meant late night movies and sweets!

 my friend gave me this rich chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and white chocolate mousse...perfect way to celebrate a new year!  Wow!

 A winter has kicked it up a notch!  Snow...blowing...drifting...cold...

and so beautiful!  Thankful for a warm, cozy home, safe travels for Dad and Mom, wonderful memories...and another good cup of coffee!

Have you ever cooked a duck?

 NO...but how hard could it be?  I've done some research and bought this stand...

 what do you think?  Ginger ale and orange Sunkist...

 garlic, onion, salt, pepper...a little of this and a little of that...

 Scoring the skin...

 Hey, Dad, have you ever massaged a duck before?  Ha ha ha!  Uh, no, can't say that I have!

 Here we go!

 Watching the time...poking it again...watching the oils run out...

 this just makes us laugh!

 Smells good!

 What do you think?  Perfection?!

 First taste went to Dad...and...yum!

 Letting it rest...

 breaking it down...

 "I can understand why you girls don't like to do this...it takes a lot of time!"

Duck...with orange sauce...to taste and to share at the New Year's Eve gathering!