The Past Is Your Future

"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." ~Author Unknown

Well, we all survived the snow storm. All in all there was about 12 inches or so that fell overnight and the kids got their wish. School was closed. I would have taken some more pictures, however with the wind blowing and the kids footprints all over, it was just a mess..lol.

I ended up staying home with the kids, which made them happy so they could play outdoors ALL DAY LONG. I can't believe how quiet the house is when they are not in it..lol.

The quiet time was nice. I was able to finish up a few tasks and also finish the book that Zee has been begging me to read. She insisted that I would love it. She was actually right.

The book is called The Invention of Hugo Cabret, written by Brian Selznick. He was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 2008. This was up for dispute during nominations if I remember correctly because the Caldecott is an award for illustration in a picture book. However, it's quite clear that this book, with a total of 533 pages, is not only a picture book. Yes it has many pages with illustration, 284 to be exact, but it also carries a wonderful story, set in Paris, about a pioneer film-maker and how Hugo changes not only his own life, but the life of that film-maker. I feel they did right by this author in awarding the Caldecott because the pictures are just as important as the words that were written. Without one or the other, it would not have been the amazing book it is.

It is a children's book, but if you get the chance, I encourage you to read it. It really only takes a couple of hours. I'm glad my daughter was such a pest about me reading it..hee hee!

Much Love!!

Snow, You Say?

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." ~John Ruskin

I never really pay attention to the weather. Well, I should say the weather channel. I get the weather by going out doors and looking up! That's one thing I didn't get from my mom. She used to watch that silly channel hours at a time. Why, I will never know, but it was one of her quirks and we always teased her for it. She would just laugh it off and go right back to it. It makes me smile to remember....

So all day yesterday and today the "weather guys" were saying that we were going to get a bunch of snow dumped on us this afternoon, and tonight, especially. They say 12-15 inches, which is a hefty amount of snow..in one night! I was like..blah blah blah...I'll believe it when I see it.

Well, um..I'm starting to see it!! I took Bug to his Boy Scout meeting that lasted an hour and a half. My car was clean when we went in, as was the pavement. When we came out, I had at least 2 inches of snow on my car!! Ack!

I tried to take a picture of a tree in my front yard, but with it snowing so hard I took it from in the garage so as not to get my camera wet, so it's not a great pic, but you get the idea...

Note: Click image for larger view :)

I always love the first snowfall of the year, despite the horrible roads and the cold. It's a beautiful sight when your world is covered in a white blanket. You can see it in a million pictures and oohhh and ahhhh and appreciate the image, but until you see it for yourself, in real life, you are missing out on an amazing act of mother nature.

If it continues to snow through the night I will take more pictures and post them. I'm actually kind of excited to see how much we really get, or if it will just taper off. As of right now, it's still coming down quite hard and the kids are really hoping for a snow day tomorrow. They even got a text message that said to wear your pajamas inside out to help the schools to be closed tomorrow. Superstitious or not, they went to bed with inside out p.j.'s... lol.

Much Love!

That's My Secret

I was emailed this video today. Lots of mixed emotions with this. Some are cute. Some funny. Some of these are sadly pathetic and some are just plain sad. It also portrays how men and women are so different. One man admits to (I assume) his girlfriend that he ran over her cat, and she admits that she won't let him read certain books because they are full of love poems about him...?? Yikes. Mars and Venus I guess....



The one that hit home was the woman who said, "I'm a lot better before you really know me". I stopped breathing for a moment because it's like she stole the words from my own lips.....then again, that's my own fault and I'm working on that.

I Won't Cry For Yesterday

Well, this is it, my last post of 2009 NaBloPoMo, but I made it. The badge is kinda cute, but I thought the "I blew it" badge would have been much funnier..heh. =P

Congratulations to anyone who completed the challenge of posting each day for a month and especially to anyone who met the goal for NaNoWriMo!!! It's not always easy, then again, if it was, what would be the point? It's nice to have a goal, even if it is just a small one because when you do fulfill it, it still gives you a sense of accomplishment and perhaps the push to shoot for something bigger next time. (It's all about the size, right?)

I would still love to do NaNoWriMo....and I keep saying, "maybe next year". Man...do I sound like a Cubs fan or what? Yeah yeah.....now shursh! =P

Anyways, I may even miss this just a little bit because it was a constant and with all the changes, a constant is reassuring sometimes. However, I assure you, I will not continue to post everyday. I will save you from that boredom.

So I will say goodbye to November, to NaBloPoMo, and a few other things, and carry on with a smile on my face and an extra one in my pocket. I hope to see you along the way...

Duran Duran - Ordinary World

Something New

They say you learn something new every day. I agree with that and now there's a source to guarantee it. A Twitter friend posted this link today and the first thing I saw was a pair of turtles....and a very interesting fact that I did not know about them to go along with it.

This was yesterdays "something new"... hee hee :)

Want to follow along with me and pack your brain with "interesting" information? Go HERE. I know you wanna :D

Hush My Darling

"One step short of crazy, what do you get? Passionate." ~Ben Gates - National Treasure

Just a little something short and sweet today. I thought this was cute. That silly little dog keeps stealing Hippos thunder...




Can you pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time? ;)

Protect Your Blindside

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." ~Theodore Roosevelt

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving and has recovered from the over-stuffage!! Or perhaps it's a weekend long process for some of you..hee hee :)

I know that I ate at least three times of what I should have but it was soooo good!! I love Thanksgiving food!

After we were all stuffed to the gills and beyond, someone suggested going to a movie. At first I didn't think I wanted to go because I thought I would fall asleep from being so full, but about 20 or so of us decided to go see The Blind Side. I am so glad I went. What an amazing movie of courage and selflessness. This is a movie that I will be watching over and over....

If you get a chance, go on and watch it. You won't regret it.



What are the odds...Chances played at the ending credits of this movie! :D