My 3 Sons

People comment all the time about my having three sons. Often, in an almost apologetic tone, they offer words of advice. Don't worry about me people! I am fine with being the only one in my house who sits to pee. It's great, actually. I don't have to make the always dreaded ear-piercing decision, nor do I have to spend hours helping my daughter find "just the right" barrette for her hair.

Living with all boys has been great so far and I'm sure as they become well-adjusted young men I will have many stories to share. I hope you will join me on our journey...

Global Warming?

Dear "Weather Person,

Right now much of the country is suffering from an arctic clipper and here in NJ it is 7 degrees. Our average temperature for this time of year is 38 degrees. Yep, that's right. We are 31 degrees BELOW normal. And let's not forget the wind chill. With this lovely 15 mph wind today, our temps will be BELOW zero. Now I realize in some parts of the world these temps are considered normal, but I do not live in those parts of the world. I live in NJ (I know, I know. How could I move to NJ?)!

Honestly, the cold temperature is the least of my worries. I mean, yes, it keeps me indoors all day but that allows me more time to waste time on the computer cook, clean and play with the boys. Anyway, as I was saying...

My issue is this: the amount of winter precipitation we are experiencing. Gone are the days of praying for snow, listening to the school closings and wishing for a day off school. Here in NJ we have had some sort of precipitation, either falling from the sky or lying on the ground everyday for 4 weeks. 4 WEEKS! It's not fun to have snow ALL THE TIME! School's are forced to re-open and life returns to normal, but there is still snow on the ground that won't go away. For example, last weekend we got 4" of snow. The big boys played outside making a big snow pile "fort," while DH shoveled.

(This is DS2, the same day of playing, but on coat #2)

I stayed indoors with DS3, making hot cocoa for the two I knew would come in asking for it. It was a great day, but just as the snow was beginning to fade, we woke up yesterday morning to find more snow falling. This is what we saw as we opened the garage door:

As we were heading out to school, DS1 looked around and asked, "Are you sure I don't have a 2 hour delay today?" No kid, you don't.

And now dear weather person, I see on the news this morning that we are getting more snow on Sunday and Monday. SERIOUSLY? What ever happened to global warming???

What I'm thinking at this moment:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phillipians 4:6

Boys Will be Boys

Ok, so you know that I live in a house full of boys and as I watch them grow into young men there are a few things I am trying to understand about their gender. First is this: fingernails. Yes, fingernails. DS1 had a bath on Sunday night just before bed, went to school on Monday morning and returned from school with BLACK underneath his fingernails. When I asked him about it he responded, "I don't know how that got there." DH says, "He's a boy." I understand this, I do, and if it were summer and he were playing outdoors with friends digging in dirt the black would be easy to understand, but it's not. It's freezing outside and he had indoor recess at school. He did have pudding for lunch, but how could that have gotten under his nails? DS1 is a clean boy, no digging in his pudding with his hands, so how could this be? If anyone figures out how my son's nails could possibly get so gross, please fill me in. Until then, I am left to wonder...

The New Year

2009 brought us a Wii. For those of you who have been living under a rock the past 12 months, Nintendo released it's newest addiction, the Wii, in the fall of 2007 and it has quickly taken over homes across America. Kids and teens LOVE it and now the genius' at Nintendo have released an exercise motivator for women. That's right. Wii Fit is an exercise "game" with a trainer who tells you that you are overweight (yes, it seriously told me that. AND it gave me a pot- belly!) and chastises you for taking a day off. Do I need this??? Apparently I do, because it's the first time in years I have hula-hooped or done any sort of physical activity other than childbirth. Maybe it stems from my need to feel a part of this Wii culture. I mean, yes it's fun, but I have many other things I should be doing instead. Like making dinner. I should be doing that now, but instead here I sit typing to you the reader (of which I have none since no one yet knows of this blogs existence.) Back to my point. Nintendo has made me feel less guilty for "playing" Wii simply because I feel like I am doing something good for my health. And for that, I thank them.