Snowy Day with the Stiles

We were "snowed in" today but had to retrieve Jacob from the Stiles's home. So around mid-day we headed over to the Stiles. After a yummy lunch--thank you dears--we went outside to play in the snow. I missed catching pictures of the big boys...Dave, Sandor, Jacob and Andrew because they were sledding on a steeper hill. Sarah and I were spending time with the littles.

Meinzinger Kid Christmas party

I invited all my "Meinzinger" nephews and my niece over this weekend for a kid party. It was great fun for all the cousins to be together playing and sleeping over. We had pizza and decorated cookies with Grandma and Grandpa. It was fun for me to see my parents surrounded by all their Grandkids having fun and even hear them belting out corny songs like "On top of spaghetti" with the kids. I think everyone had a good time and these are some of the pics.

O' Christmas Tree

We put up our Christmas tree this Saturday.

Sunday morning we found it on the ground. I have no idea how one (let alone all 6 of us) sleeps through a tree falling to the floor and ornaments breaking but we did.

Its back up and looking quite nice...I will be nervous till we take it down.....Sandor says next year we need to by a tree that is a reasonable size....I say reasonable is relative, but he's right.

Hey....no one is throwing up so that I will celebrate!

Toast Skins

Timothy does not like the crust or "skin" on his bread. Why? I do not know since we all know that the crust is the BEST part....but anyway, he's entitled to an opinion about it.
Today he was having toast and I was sure to cut the skin off. He wanted a second piece and I was tied up and told him just a minute. He decided to take things into his own hands and get that bread 'a toasting. Well, when he examined the bag he was disappointed and said, "Mom, there are only pieces with back skin." That would be the heal of the loaf.

Good thing there was more in the fridge.

Peace

I took Sarah into the Neurologist today....routine visit. It went fine except she was out of sorts, screamed just about the entire time and all of a sudden I noticed a rash on her torso. JUST GREAT! I thought. Something new to deal with...makes sense we are just finishing the last illness. I showed it to the doctor. Not his specialty but he IS a doctor. He said it looked like the patchiness some people get when they are anxious or upset. I didn't know if I agreed or not. Anyway we left and I prayed the whole drive home. And guess what? He was right. It was gone. So that's good. But I had also prayed that even if it didn't go away I would just accept it and not get all upset and we would just deal with it. I just don't want to stress about this stuff any longer. Well I got home and on my email was the following verse for the day:

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

This is a familiar verse. But was so timely for me. I have been craving peace but I think I was looking for the world's version of it....peace because everything is alright not in spite of it. I really savored some time thinking over this verse and that I can have peace regardless of weather or not we are all well. I definitely prefer that we are all well but God is good and will give His peace as we need it.

How long can one family be sick?

I am nearing the three week mark with only 2 days in that time frame when at least one of us wasn't sick. Its been horrid. And by the mid to end of the second week I was in full complaint mode. Boy was I sick of...sick. I do not mind snuggling my sick little ones that's not the problem. It has just gone one so long! (that's a relative statement I am sure) Actually its been more than 3 weeks. First it was Sarah whose GI issues were come and go. That resolved--sort of--and a fever ensued that got up to 105 included a trip to the ER and lasted 6 days. No sooner was she better and Timothy started in and his fever lasted 7---sibling rivalry? Had to outdo his sister? (Just kidding) The throwing up was next and this was Sarah's turn. Just yesterday--one of those 2 days mentioned above--I thought, "Wow. Finally." All were well. Then as I checked on all my little ones I find Timothy had thrown up all over in bed, on the floor, etc. (This is after I stayed up late, its 12 am and I NEED sleep.) I cleaned him up and headed to bed myself...after throwing in laundry...only to realize my own stomach was not happy. Result...Timothy and I spent the day on the couch...with a bucket nearby! I think we are both perking up since we finally had a bite to eat and I'm sipping some tea. Sandor has been away for the last 5 of this, traveling, with the exception of one evening between trips that he was home. So that's made it a bit more challenging. But I am hopeful we have reached the end and the "Meinzinger" Kid Christmas party will go ahead as planned for Friday night. It could be worse, right?