Winter blues are gone

All this sunshine reflecting off the snow has suddenly energized me and brought me out of that rain rut that winter can bring. I went and shoveled off the porch and shoveled a trail to the garage and workout room as well clearing out an area where we park the cars so you can get into the house without bringing too much snow with you. I knew it needed to be done before this cold arrived and turned things into a block of ice. It looks like most of the country will see this cold; even you relatives down in CA. I must admit, however, that I am still in bed by about 8pm every night. I don't know how it happened.... I got old.

Jennifer brought all her baby stuff over and my guest room is now a big mess. And Greyson found one of the cat's sleeping in a car seat the other day. I will have to move most of it into storage so the pets don't trash it before I need to use it.

Greyson finally talked me into one last (& first) (real) vacation before the babies come. After that our life is over for 20 years, right? So we are going to use the tax return we are expecting based on the deductions we get to make for all the money we spent making these babies. I think we have pretty much narrowed it down to visiting Mexico on the Pacific side around April. We are trying to decide if we want to do a cruise starting from LA, stay at a resort or do something a bit more private. I am leaning towards the cruise since I will be 5-51/2 mo. pregnant and the idea of someone taking care of everything for me sounds nice and the flight to LA is just a couple hours. So I wanted to get all of your imputs on this topic. I know my immediate family hasn't traveled much so if all of you extended family would weigh in I would appreciate it.
-What would you all recommend: cruise, resort, rental house/condo?
-Where would you recommend going in Mexico?
-Do you think I will be fine traveling and have a good time at 5 1/2 mo along (w/twins)?
-Anyone know of any really good deals or how to find them?

Happy Friday everyone...
-Mel

Snow on Sunset Lane

SNOW! (from Mom/Jan)

We have about 4 inches at our house. Its wonderful snow just right for snowmen. Charlie loves to go out in it. I worry a little that she will slide down the bank into the creek - sounds like something she would do.

No school today so I am lazying around the house. Will try to get down to the gym in a little while and then go in to work for a few hours.

Mom
XOXOXOX

Not to be out-dogged done

So where are the Porter pictures of the new canine?

We had a lockdown at Holley School on Friday. Our business manager was driving by and noticed a man pacing around his yard with a shotgun. He came in and informed us of such (otherwise we never would have noticed) & lockdown and call to sheriff ensued. Turns out the guy was out to exterminate moles in his yard. Ah, Sweet Home - nothing like it.

California Christmas Pictures

Hi everyone,

I like the nice picture of Grandma/ Mom and our puppy Murphy. The next is Stephanie with her dog Gracie. Steph is about 24 wks pregnant. Then Steph, Michelle and her husband Christopher in their kitchen. And Nate and Stephanie at our open house on Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful holiday and now are preparing for our grandson-to-be. Not sure if Stephanie will be able to give us enough notice to fly to Chicago in time, but we'll see.

The Sharp family has such interesting adventures with their families and pets; the blog is the greatest thing.

Love to all.
Aunt Chris/ sister

Banished (From Mom/Janice)

Katia and Charlie have been banished to the garage for sleeping at night. Don't feel too badly for them. We run a little heater aimed in their direction and put their wooly coats on them.

There was the usual howling at bed time followed by some gate crashing. (We had a child safety gate up in the first bedroom to keep them in there.) When I went to investigate and scold, both dogs were by the door. There was more whining and pawing at the gate. When I went back again to scold, Charlie was in her bed and Katia by the door. Now, I realize Charlie could have run to her bed when she heard me coming, but I don't think she is that smart.

Returned to bed: Even more whining and pawing at the gate - at least I think its the gate. I go back to scold and having thoughts of spanking. I turned on the light to find some dog (again, Charlie was in her bed) had clawed the paint and part of the dry wall covering off the wall next to the gate. Very bad dog. I think it was Katia but we didn't take samples of paint under toenails so can't really tell for sure.

We have been putting Katia's food up after she eats a little bit because she has developed GERD and throws up at the drop of a hat. It helps if she doesn't eat so much at a time. Earlier this week she came in and found very little dry food in her dish but I could hear her drinking LOTS of water. Sure enough - big throw up in 3 different places before I could get her outside.

Not feeling fond of my pets.

Mom/Janice

Escapee

So this morning I woke up at 6:45am. This is actually quite early for me as I have been sleeping from about 10pm to 8am lately. So anyway, I wake up and immediately get dressed in my sweats and ask Ada if she wants to go for a walk. She answers yes. But then I go downstairs and notice that it is pitch black out at this hour. I hadn't realized this as I make it a habit to wait until the sun comes up before I get up. So instead I go outside w/Ada in tow and sneak off into the workout room instead. Ada doesn't see me go into the room and must have thought I left without her because she braved the electric shock to head out on her own. I called and called but she didn't come. So I turned off the electric fence so that she could get home without a return shock. She returned soaking wet about an hour later, which earned her a bath. (That was my token pet story)

We have big plans for this weekend. We have about 2 months of garbage and recycling to take to the dump. That should take up a good 3-4 hours. Greyson was talking about burning or mulching all those limbs/trees they cut down this fall. I think that pile is too wet to burn. I was also thinking of some garage cleaning. Especially since Jenn and Brian are cleaning out all the junk, I mean valuable baby items, that I will be needing room to store at my house.

I have been trying to decide what to do with the babies room. I am thinking I want to get rid of that queen bed for something a little smaller to have room for crib type things. Maybe a daybed w/trundle (Costco has a cute one coming on sale) or bunkbeds? I would still like some sort of sleeping area since that is the only other bedroom. I think the drafting table and other computer center will have to go. I must say that since I become prego I have had so many calls from and to my family. It has been very nice to talk to them more frequently. I hope that continues.

-Mel

Holiday pounds

I managed to only gain 3 pounds this holiday season. I have developed a craving for chocolate shakes lately and I think that might be related. I don't know if I can blame it on pregnancy since I have always loved shakes but I now prefer them over even the beloved chocolate peanut butter ice cream and find the cool creamy goodness settles my stomach. Everything is alright on the baby front. I was having a little spotting this weekend and was sent in for an ultrasound to find two little 1 1/2 inch fetus wiggling their arms and legs all around with appropriately fast heartbeats of 160 bpm each. So that is a good sign but not definitive that things will work out. I feel like such a whinny baby these days but I cannot wait for this first trimester to get over. I have a new found appreciation for all you women that went through this all.

Greyson is busy working on deadline material for his websites. He is waiting for the rain to clear to take some outdoor pictures of local businesses. He may have a long wait as this is Washington. It seems all of our pets except one discus (a fish) made it through our time away. Ada went with us this weekend to Grandpa and Grandma's (Jan and Larry) house for the office painting extravaganza. They painted three days in a row while I played the "pregnancy and fumes don't mix" card to get out of any work. Instead I got some good recliner time in. I have to get me one of those. I think if I had one I could basically go into hibernation until spring....

What is up with all of you????