Mad Cold

 Here in the Hollow this morning we saw temps at a miserable 1 degree with wind chills far lower.  The school system closed schools today, so Little Bird got a day off on her 8th birthday!  She got ice cream for breakfast, we baked a cake, and now she and her sister are in the shower getting ready for their spa day mani/pedi session.

Meanwhile, Harpers Ferry National Park is reporting that it's "cold enough to freeze a mouse" at -2 degrees!  Here's their status from earlier:
"Historic reports of bad winters are common in this area. In February 1914, local Harpers Ferry papers reported a rooster was found frozen. In 1926, the Shenandoah River was reported to be black. The 1926 reporter was told by residents that the river turns black before a freeze. (Sources: Farmers Advocate & Virginia Free Press)"

According to the news, this paralyzing chill is due to the Polar Vortex's taking a dip to the South.  Well, go back, Vortex - go back!  (Rumor has it that she is; Saturday will be a balmy 61!)  

As I write this, I've just found out that the Mad Dog (click for former blog post) is on fire.  More later.    

Edited to add these pictures that were posted at Washington Co.Md Fire Calls (Facebook page) 

Birthday Season

It started last week on the 19th with my father-in-law's. Today was my niece Paige's; she turned six so we braved Chuckie Cheese. Mine is Tuesday, my dad's is on the first, G's is on the 4th, and my other niece Ella's is at the end of March. Happy birthday to us!

SG goes to the cardio for a check-up tomorrow to see if her little murmur hole has healed. She has been especially photogenic lately, so here's to you, sweetHEART!

The Day After

The house was full this time yesterday; ten kids and their thirteen adult companions gathered here to celebrate Miss Sarah Grace's fourth trip around the sun. A great time was had by all. My old camp friend Cindy Mills came through with a BEAUTIFUL eggless cake for our snow princess. Check it out!
Lisa, Mike, and the cousins stayed a bit longer than most to enjoy some frozen pizza and some down time. They have certainly suffered their fair share of stress lately (new job, lost job, new house, selling the old -- all still in the process) . . . It was so nice to enjoy a few slow minutes with them even though it meant their driving home in the dark down our windy, deer-ridden road.
Today we have cleaned and straightened and play with new toys. George has ridden his bike on the trainer (even he has decided that 24 degree weather isn't fit for a ride outside . . . ) and watched a lot of football. I just made a pot of white chicken chili, and the girls are doing leftover party crafts downstairs. All is well in the hollow.

Preparing for the Party

This picture serves two purposes: to show you the party preparations and to show you the snow. The snow, again. We didn't get much this time, but this is already about the fourth time this winter that we've had snow in the hollow . . . We got a two hour delay out of it (not sure why - it was only about an inch), but I needed that after staying up to draw Dora and referee my in-house colorers. We're having a small party this year for Sarah Grace; theme: Dora Saves the Snow Princess! My old friend from Mar-Lu-Ridge, Cindy Mills, is making the cake. Can't wait to see it! Of course, it has to be eggless, and I'm sure this is proving a challenge for my baker friend. But Cindy is very talented, and I'm sure she's making an incredible creation! Check out her other works here and become a FB fan! Gotta get the troops ready for school! Where did those two hours go??

My Baby Turns 4!

Today is Sarah Grace's 4th birthday! I asked her this morning what she wants to be when she grows up. True to form, she shouted, "A rock star!" That's my girl: full of life, always on the move, fun-loving, and absolutely lovable. Her long blond hair, blue-gray eyes, and small stature are deceiving; she's not the meek little princess that she appears to be. She's about as wild and sassy as they come! Sarah Grace came into this world abruptly and sunny-side up, and ever since she has continued those trends. She loves to dance and run and play; she also loves to pick at her sister and has been known to grab a few necks, arms, and lots of skin. She hates to be interrupted and HAS to finish every thought she starts to express. SG is my little fashionista; she insists on choosing her clothes everyday, and it's not unusual to find her in flowered pants, a striped skirt, purple socks, and satin red slip-ons -- all at the same time.
Sarah Grace was born at 1:53 a.m. after the mid-wife was barely able to make it to the hospital. George had played poker that evening down at Kelly Moore's, and I had to call him to come home quickly. We called Dave and Wendy (George's parents) to come stay with Sylvie, and by the time we were in the car, I knew this baby was going to be with us soon. We had called the midwife ahead of time and knew she would be late, but SG was not waiting. This trait would come to be typical of SG -- impatient! Sarah proved to be a difficult baby, yet affectionate; she had colic from day one, which turned out to an allergy to eggs and milk (she's outgrown the latter). She was diagnosed as "failure to thrive" at around 8 months when she essentially stopped growing. After many visits to the pediatric GI, an endoscopy, and many diet changes on both her and my parts, she eventually made her way back to around the third percentile. She is still very small but makes up for it in sheer power and energy. She seems hardly ever to sleep, and after an initial 2 1/2 years of barely speaking a word, she's making up for lost time by never stopping the constant jabbering.
We love our Sarah Grace dearly and look forward to a long lifetime of beautiful surprises and perhaps even a few rock concerts . . . Rock on, SG!!