It's not you, it's me. The most winter-y-est winter in aaaaaalllll the land.

I'm usually an advocate for winter..I'm always on it's side..
...we're good friends, winter and I!

But this year..I'm having a bit of trouble with our relationship.

Winter, it's not you, it's me.
Really. You've been doing a fabulous job at being...Yourself!

It's me...I've been so unmotivated.so lazy.so uninspired.
I'm wearing the same yoga pants I've had on since Sunday
and everything I have to do feels like a draaaaag.

I really just want spring..late spring..where it doesn't snow anymore.
Where I can plant things.

Which is ridiculous because I am surrounded
by great people! in a great house! with all that I need and want!
{well..maybe there are some things I would want.. ;) }

I think I just have...
...the old fashioned winter blues. Did I just say that?
Me? The lover of winter?

I don't think I've ever seen a more sparkly and gorgeous winter.
So what's my problem?

We've had a busy season?..perhaps it's getting to me?
...lots of sickness in January. a broken arm. a surgery...
..and other crazy, life changing happenings going on.

Soooo....I decided to read through my very own winter blues busters 
from way back when....and realized I need to get my act together..
...and buy a nice coat! and maybe another plant.

Then all will be right in my winter world.

Yes, that's it! I just need to spend money..then I'll be happy.
{Jeff? Are you reading this?
Okay...good.}

I'm kidding..you know I'm kidding, right?
What would Dave Ramsey say? Sheesh.

Funny...
All of the above pictures were on my camera and phone.
All were taken by me or my little brother or my daughter or my other daughter!
Not sure which are which and what is what and who took what when.
{..except this last one..it was a daughter for sure...one or the other?}
But I like them.



Today I will make my way to the grocery store...
...and maaaaybe the library.

Happy midweek to you.
XxOo

Wrapping up the week...a song.crack pie and I'm so happy it's the weekend.

If there was ever a lazier week in the world..oh, wait,
there has neeeeeever been a lazier week in the world than this one.

We accomplished..hmmm...nothing.
Except a whole lot of coffee, naps,
half the school we should have done and a game of Monopoly.

Let's blame the Polar Vortex...or surgery recovery..either one, you can choose.
Fifty-two-degree-below-zero wind chills cause one to tuck away from life.
Taking care of a son who is immobile, can also cause one to tuck away from life.
{He's doing much better....still immobile, still full of pins..but much better!}

Here is a SONG for you...sounds kind of spring-y. sigh.

Do you watch Chef's Table? ...Jeff and I looooove that show!
We don't watch it with our children though..
..sometime a word or two or three will pop up that we don't want them to hear.
It puts us in the biggest cooking/baking mood!
It's also kind of arts-y..which makes it fun.
{P.S. If you don't like to be in the kitchen..you probably won't like it. ;) }

Anyway...I want to try making Christina Tosi's  Crack Pie  this weekend.
It's the alternative to Jeff taking me on a date to NYC for the weekend.

I've been following Jennifer Naraki for about a year and a half now.
Her instagram is amazing and sad and inspiring and such a testimony to her faith!
Her cancer journey has truly been a beautiful story constantly pointing to God.
She is not doing well..and I know her and her family would appreciate your prayers.

So glad it's Friday! Have a great weekend.
XxOo

Sunday Night...recovering.coffee.old snow.new snow.expecting...snow.

The sunrise was amazing this morning.
Winter holds so much beauty...the way the sun sparkles through icicles on tree branches.
Pink snow.Drippy branches.Glittery snowflakes...
..if you don't already..you really should watch the sunrise.
It never disappoints.

After being sent away from one surgeon in the beginning of the week
who said he wasn't capable.....{thank you very much for your honesty!}
...we went to a great orthopedic doctor we've seen before and love.
He squeezed him into his Friday afternoon schedule.

His arm was worse than we thought..
..but now it's all pinned up and lined up and bandaged up and on the road to recovery.

He will be couch-bound for a bit of time...but with our weather forecast...that's not so bad.

Speaking of weather..we are supposed to break a record
this week for the coldest high temperature ever.

Tonight we are expecting a 6-10 more inches of snow...
..we already have a bunch on the ground.

Happy Sunday to you.
XxOo

Before my camera died.Before snow was in the boots.Before the bone broke.

Tip of the day...
Never sled down the backside of a steep hill where a fence used to be.
You may slide down a ramp..launch into the air and land on your arm.
Your arm may completely break and twist the opposite direction and end up behind you.
{..are you gagging yet?}
You then might have to walk back up that steep hill and then a half of a mile back to your car
because the snow is so deep no vehicle can get to you.
You may end up in the ER for the rest of your Saturday.
You also may end up needing surgery in the coming week.
                           -excerpt from the yet to be published book ..Tales From the Mother of Sam...sigh.

What summer is to most kids, winter is to mine. They truly, truly love winter.
This is hard on my ice fishing, sledding, skiing, snowboarding loving son.

He also had a big history paper due Monday...
..Jeff told him he didn't have to go to such lengths to get out of it.
Ha!

We're thankful it wasn't his neck or back or WORSE!
It was a pretty big fall..
...on the side of the hill where the fence used to be and maaaaaaybe his father said not to go. ;)

I did get four pictures though!!!
...before my camera battery {that I forgot to charge} died.
....before snow got in my {too short, should have worn warmer, taller} boots!
..before Frankie was cold and wanted to warm up in the car.
.....before the big bone fiasco.
XxOo

Wrapping up the week...a song.I can sort of talk again.one perspective...and that same sweater.

I am happy it's the weekend..not because I hate weekdays..I actually don't mind them.
I just really like having Jeff around...and he happens to be around on the weekends.

We are supposed to get snow tonight..lots of snow!
I hope the forecast is correct.

I lost my voice and couldn't talk all week...it's sort of coming back.
You should have heard..{or NOT heard!} our school table the other day..it was so quiet!
I could only whisper..which made the kids whisper back. Haha.

Which then made me think..are they only loud because I'm loud?
Go ahead and try to blame my Italian DNA..
I know that's what you're thinking..but it's not me!
They get it from their father.


I saw this video posted by a couple of people this week...
...my stomach gets twisty every time I watch..and why do I keep watching?
I almost didn't want to show my boys..the daredevils don't need any inspiration.

Hmmm... a little perspective.

I have been stalking this sweater since October ...and now it's out of stock.
I'm on their email list and I'm holding out..
...it should be on clearance for $30 soon , right? It will..I can feel it.

Well.... here I share a laid back, simple, soft version of this song ...and I really like it.
{...maybe because I really like them :) }

Have a great weekend.
XxOo

A memory making, parenting regret we have...but are now changing as of last year.

In the great words of Cher...
"If I could turn back tiiiimeee...if I could find a waaaay...
I'd take back all the years that we didn't vacation..and we'd gooooo!"
Those are the lyrics, right?

It's not like we haven't taken our kids places...
....we really have taken some fun trips over the years.

Aaaannnd it's not like they haven't had fun on the homefront...
..I mean, if you need a tour guide in Chicago..call my kids.
Go ahead..ask them where to find the best doughnut
or which museum is the most fun to visit. {wink}

However..we DO wish we would have made a family trip a yearly priority..
...even if it was just a weekend of camping.

Last year..our friends {that are basically family!}
asked us to join them out in Montana.

Jeff to my surprise..said Yes!

If it wasn't for them.. I KNOW we wouldn't have gone this past summer.
I can't tell you how thankful we are for the little push they gave us to go.

Also..let me just note here...camping in a TENT for 10 days?
Yeeeaahhh...that was big for me...but now I can say..Sooo worth it.

Montana was a place Jeff had been dying to take our family..
...and finally, finally it happened! and not because of us.

Well..sort of because of us, wink! but it wasn't our idea to go.
I know Jeff and Liz..we would have continued on...
engrossed in our usual, busy, summer schedule.
We can sometimes be a little too practical and rational.

Well..this trip...it ended up being by far, one of our family favorites.
..if not THE favorite.

{The only sad thing was..our oldest wasn't able to come with..sniff, sniff}
This is why you need to go! :) They grow up!

As I was going through some pictures..trying to organize the masses...
...I was distracted {for like an hour!} by all of our Montana pictures.

Now all we want to do, is go back! Ha.
It made me think..and then Jeff think..
...no matter what..we are going to do some sort of getaway.

Something every year. Something to connect our family.
Have fun together..even if it's just for a weekend.

So, other parents out there..let me encourage you... Plan a trip!!!
Make memories. Even if the plan is simple..it's still a memory.

Making memories doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant.
Making memories doesn't have to be Disney World.
{FYI...our children may end up in therapy one day..the only children on earth
to never visit the most magical kingdom in all the land..cough!
I know, I know, I can feel the shameful stares as you read my blog..}

Making memories can be as simple as two nights in a nearby hotel.
It's just the thrill of packing your bag and going somewhere. Together!
...vacating life for a time.

Also..going through pictures, I found this little gem.
...under the St.Louis Arch...100 years ago...
..everyone was sooo little....and there was no Frankie yet..
.and I was wearing cowboy boots.

Go forth. Make memories.
Your kids will be grown up all too soon.
XxOo

Cleaning out the bathroom closet, my underwear drawer, my soul and my dirty, dirty heart.

I don't think there is a woman in America who isn't purging her home right now...
Thank You Netflix and Marie Kondo.

I actually started clearing things out back in November..
...when my sister got me hooked on Allie Casazza.

I don't think we've ever owned less and haven't wanted more!
It's been a very freeing process.
We truly do not understand how clutter and stuff takes up not only space in our
house, but space in our minds! It's crazy how your eyes open up when you make room.

This is going to sound corny and cliche...
..but it's really been helping me to focus on the bigger things in life.
What I REALLY need and what I REALLY want.

Like more whipped cream on my coffee...hold on a minute.

Ok..I'm back.

I was listening to a girl on instagram talk about her underwear, and pregnancies
and how she hasn't bought a new pair in a long, long time.
She was hilarious..and all of a sudden I realized... That's me!!!
Yikes! Haha.

I was also told by a super, duper, very close friend, who I happen to
share a bedroom  with that I need to step up my game in the "clothing" department..
{...you know what I'm talking about, right?}

Get out of the comfy, cotton, joggers.
It's hard though..you know? When you have older kids in your house!
This is a post for another time! But I'm going to write it!

I'm going to write it because...
1. I want to encourage you!
2. I need to motivate myself!

We need to dress improperly, which is proper for our husbands.
Did you see what I did there? wink.

Okay..moving on.
My son is in the next picture for Pete's sake!!!
Next topic.

I started a new study with a friend on the You Version Bible App.
It's called Dangerous Prayers.

I love it! ...and I don't!
I don't because...I'm seeing things I don't want to see in myself.
I love it because...I'm seeing things I don't want to see in myself.

"What we fear the most reveals where we trust God the least."
Ouch. I'm seeing all sorts of areas I'm not trusting God.

Anyway..get the app.do the study.
You'll love it.and you won't.but you will.

XxOo