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ICE STORM 2007

Well the ice has all melted and things are pretty much back to normal around here again. Looking outside now you would never know that just a few days ago the entire area was covered in nearly an inch of ice. The whole experience *almost* reminded us of what our life was like back when we lived in Pittsburgh.

When we moved back to Texas from Pittsburgh 3 years ago, we made a promise to ourselves that we would never be "weather snobs". Because yes, we had experienced REAL winter. We had seen snow and ice and not just a little bit -- mounds and mounds of snow and sheets of treacherous ice and we actually went out in it and we even DROVE in it. Every day. For weeks on end. We moved there in early January, and it did not get above freezing until almost March. (I remember so clearly the day it finally rose to 40 degrees and that was WARM.) And all the time in between? People still went to work. School wasn't cancelled. It's almost as if this was no big deal to them. Like they had seen so much of it that it didn't really phase them anymore. And all this white stuff? Yeah, it's no big deal. Actually it's more of a nuisance than anything. It even gets old after a while.

And it did get old. But this was a learning experience for us because we had never seen enough snow to get tired of. Snowfalls in Texas are few and far between, and when they do occur, the snow comes down for a few hours, usually at night or early morning, and the next day it's back up to 50 degrees and the snow is gone by the afternoon. Just enough for everyone to freak out, cancel school, government, businesses, EVERYTHING, then rush outside giddy to make snow-angels and 7-inch snowmen. Then go back inside, drink hot chocolate, eat chili, toast marshmallows over the fire while the snow melts outside.

But living in Pittsburgh, we knew that that is not in fact, real snow. That is not real winter. For we knew what REAL winter was like. We lived through it. And those chumps in Texas? They don't know what COLD is. Yes, we knew theses things to be true. But we also knew that this was not a very popular school of thought down in Texas, and we didn't want to annoy the pants off all our family and friends (after all, we wanted them to be GLAD we moved back), so we agreed that we would not become "weather snobs" (although that is what we would have sounded like, had we not made such an agreement ;).

Little did we know, that was not really a danger. It was probably all of a week before we were "freezing our butts off" in 50-degree weather, wondering how could it be so cold? This is Texas! It is amazing how quickly we acclimated. And winter is now our favorite season, mostly because it's not unbearably HOT like much of the year, but also because the cold weather -- when it happens -- is an exciting novelty.

"ICE STORM 2007" was the top story on all the local news stations for 4 days. KXAN provided non-stop coverage on the storm all day on Tuesday. It was incredible. Something frozen is coming out of the sky! Look everyone! Can you believe it? It's a miracle! (And I have every right to make fun because that was totally me. Much to my dismay, my husband and daughter did not seem to understand what all the fuss was about.) Of course, we got all bundled up and went outside (courageously braving the treacherous conditions), took 250 pictures of grass and trees coated in ice, icicle-laden cars, and a VERY cute baby (who was not enjoying the cold and did not seem to understand WHY we locked her in this prison of cottony layers and brought her out here where everything is slippery and cold, so what if there is white stuff falling from the sky, I don't care! I'm cold!). Then we came back inside and sipped our hot chocolate and waited for the snow to melt.

But this particular ice storm was unprecedented in its duration. For three days straight there was ice on the ground. Of course, everything was shut down. It was fun for the first day. Even the first day and a half. But by Wednesday, we Texans were actually getting tired of all the ice and snow. Bring back the sun! Let us get back in our cars. By Thursday we were just plain sick of it. We actually had enough. A taste of REAL winter.

And yeah. No thanks.

Click here to see our pictures.

Dressing in Layers

How to prepare a 1-year-old to go out in the snow:

1. Start with tights and a long-sleeved onesie.

2. Add socks and pajama pants.

3. Add long-sleeved shirt.

4. More socks. And jeans.

5. Shoes.

6. Pink sweater.

7. Double-layer coat and hat.

There were mittens, too, they just aren't in that picture. She was so adorable! She'd try to bend over to pick something up, but it was hard to do from inside her protective bubble!

If you like Bach, you'll LOVE this pop-punk band!

One of my favorite features of iTunes is something called "Just For You," where the program suggests albums you might like based on what you've purchased in the past. I've discovered some great bands this way, so I like to check it out once in a while.

Today it showed this:

Yes, based on my purchase of some Bach cantatas, iTunes thinks I would enjoy a CD by "Panic! at the Disco." I listened to some tracks off the CD, and while they weren't bad, they couldn't possibly have less to do with a Bach cantata. Well, I guess that feature of iTunes is still in beta for a reason :-)

Some examples of Kaeta using her head

1. Lately, Kaeta likes to push the kitchen chairs around, making constant minute adjustments until they are positioned just right (ie, blocking the entrance to the pantry). The other day I heard her moving one around, but when I went to the kitchen I saw that she was pushing it with her face!

And she thought this was hilarious! (So did I.)

2. Yesterday, she spilled some water in the living room. Karianne put a towel down and told her to press on it (and she demonstrated how to do this). Kaeta watched her, then leaned way over until her face was on the towel... she was pressing on it with her face.

3. Sometimes she tries to climb the stairs while carrying, oh, two stuffed animals, her shoes, a piece of paper she found and a book. Since she can't use her hands to steady herself, she uses, you guessed it, her face.

That's my girl!

New Photo Galleries: October and November 2006

We're way overdue for some new photo galleries, so here are two we've been meaning to post: Halloween 2006 and November 2006.

We decided this was a good time to try out a slicker gallery program called SimpleViewer. Hope you like it!

Not Something We See Every Day

The Duck Says Moo

Today at breakfast we quizzed Kaeta about what sounds different animals make -- you can listen to it here: kaeta_animals.mp3. She's a genius, I tell you!

She got to see her best friend

Abigail and her Mommy came over yesterday! She and Kaeta had a great time catching up, eating lunch together, running after each other, putting green beads around each other's necks, and fighting over pink dolls.

Their mommies had a good time as well, though too short a visit. "Aunt" Karen is looking fabulous, as always (wish I'd taken a picture), which is completely unfair to those of us who do not look good pregnant. The two of them were just passing through town on the way back to Fort Worth. Barry is getting back from a two-week trip from Turkey today -- welcome home Barry! We're glad you're home (especially Karen!).

Happy 2007!

Year of the Toddler

Baby Cam

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