We are so blessed to live in 2011!

So, it snowed last night. And all day today. At 11, hubbin and I went out and shoveled, until 12:30. We got up to the 18 inch mark, during this storm. We have had 74 inches this year. This year is 2nd place in the last 60 years. 76.3 inches in 1982 at first place and 73 in 1963 is in 3rd. After we shoveled (for hopefully the final time of the year, hahaha we have 4 forecasted snow days this week), I went to the thrift store. Today is a double discount holiday, so I had to go. But, as I drove I was reminded of the Little House on Plum Creek by Laura Ingels Wilder. In the book Lauras family faces starvation, white outs, frozen nights, loss of herds, and the longest winter in 49 years. So, like I said I was thinking about it, and I decided that we still have bad winters. We just have amazing machines to remove the snow. We have amazing houses, to keep us warm. We have amazing roads, to truck in food. We have amazing vehicles, that can take us out of the house for double discount Mondays. We do not live off the land, depend on herds, fresh springs, wax paper windows, and coal burning stoves to help us survive the winter. As I sit here in my shorts and t-shirt typing to the world I feel blessed.
In the book, Lauras dad took a job helping to dig the train out and keep it running. I imagine it looked something like this
That seems like a much more daunting job than the few feet I shoveled earlier today. I was also thinking about the terribly uncomfortable clothes that they used to wear. I am so blessed! Try shoveling in one of these, or staying warm and dry for that matter.
I wish I was grateful more often, for all the blessings I have been given, but I am grateful today!

Pink we think!

Arriving soon to our clan is little miss Twila Eve. Eve for short. She is due on June 21st, which means that she will most likely be here around the 28th- the 5th of July. We are excited. Enoch points to the baby (from experience we realize that he has no idea what we are talking about- but it is still cute) , and the boys tell everyone we meet.
I am finally going to paint a room pink- and get all of the little baby girl clothes out of storage- the ones I have bought with each pregnancy.
I also get to dust off my glass dolls and put them up. I think I may have to buy some pink finger nail polish for the hospital. This is, in fact, a momentous occasion!
The boys thought of some ideas for names. They like Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Emily, Aleasea and Stop sign. They were all ready to vote on the names. But I had to tell them, since I was growing the baby, I got to name the baby. However Tom reminded me, as he often does that he actually gets to name the baby. And he has always liked the name Quintessa(especially for a fifth child, if that fifth child was a girl). I sure hope he comes to his/err uh my senses before blessing day!
So top 10 reasons why Erika is excited for a girl
(here we go)insert drum roll please
10 Baby dresses and bloomers are so adorable!!
9 I need to keep my mad hair doin' skills up, the boys are sick of me trying to put their hair in pigtails
8 Tom has vetoed all fingernail painting on little hands in this house- I think I can over ride that, when she comes
7 A shopping buddy would be nice
6 I have been severely out numbered for the last several years
5 Knights in shining armor(I have four) want Damsels in distress to rescue (mommies don't count)
4 Girls camp, young womens, bows, activity days 3 white dresses!
3 ruby red slippers
2 A gender I can understand
1 Curling Irons, hair spray, blow drying, strawberry smelling shampoo, pretend makeup, mud pies at tea parties, dandelion cakes for desert, help with dinner, playing house, dancing with daddy, dates with daddy, no more wishing and praying, longing, and crying for a girl.

Oh their are so many reasons- and these of course are mostly silly and superficial. I mean I may have a "Tom boy" on my hands. But I have cried for, begged for, and longed for a girl. I am just plain excited.
This would probably be a pretty good place to interject. They are only 70% sure its a girl. But it is the first time that they haven't been 100% sure it was a boy. So, that is like 170% points in favor of a girl, right? Any way I am going with it. Even if in the end, I have to wash all the baby boy clothes and write a top 10 list on why Erika wanted another boy.
So for now, I am seeing pink!
*Imagine momma dancing for the next 4 months absolutely giddy with excitement!*

Snowman Gruesomly Murdered

On Saturday February 5th, in the Suburbs of St. Paul a snowman was gruesomely murdered. Passerby's figure the homeowner, Tom, was just plain fed up with the winter. Neighbors interviewed later said, " Tom seemed like such a normal guy. He always plays with his kids and helps out where he can in the neighborhood. We think the sub zero temperatures must have finally made him crack."

The area was having a bit of balmy weather on Saturday. Toms wife, Erika took their oldest son shopping in preparation for Valentines Day. Nothing could have prepared the two for the shock and carnage they would see as they returned home. "When we saw the snowman, we ran into the house to make sure everyone was all right. They were sitting around the table sipping milkshakes, like nothing had happened. I worry about that man." Erika said later, when asked about the crime scene and her husbands' state of mind.
The Snowman's family has decided not to press charges.