The Life of a Single Parent

I didn't want writing this to look like I am complaining about having to be a single mom right now. I wanted to write this to say "hang in there" to all of the single parents. I don't know any single parents who would be reading this, but if you know any, make sure to boost them up now and then. It hasn't been too bad with Jeff gone, but it is a lot busier for me. Eating dinner (or any meal)doesn't really happen because I'm usually trying to help someone with something at the table. It's amazing what just one more set of hands actually does when feeding kids. Getting homework done is also a bit more challenging because the little ones want attention when I'm trying to help the older ones. I miss having Jeff there to entertain those not needing help. Getting places is also more challenging because I can't just leave the kids home when I take Taylor to scouts or basketball. The poor kids have to be more flexible than before, and go to bed later. Luckily they are doing a pretty good job. I think the hardest thing so far, however, was having to deal with Taylor when he threw up all over his bed two nights ago. In the past I would always be the one comforting the child while Jeff cleaned up the mess. (Thank you honey) This time I got to do both at 2:30 am. Not fun. Anyway, I have gained an appreciation for people who do have to go it alone with their kids. I couldn't do it without the help I have around me now. So if you know anyone who is in this situation make sure to lend a helping hand. I definitely will in the future.

That's No Tootsie Roll!

Warning: this could make you sick. So this morning while I was going through the new routine of cleaning the house each morning before going anywhere just in case someone calls to see it (which they did today), I noticed what looked like a clump of dirt or a piece of tootsie roll on the floor outside the bathroom. I didn't think much of it, I just thought "remember to pick that up and throw it away". Well, Carter, who was running around in his diaper, found it before I did. I saw him pick it up and put it in his mouth, but then quickly throw it on the ground, and I thought "Yep, I bet dirt doesn't taste good. Maybe he'll think twice before putting stuff in his mouth." Once he ran off, I went to grab the "dirt" before it got into the carpet, but what I found had an unpleasant but familiar smell. This "dirt ball" must have fallen out of Carter's diaper because it was definitely not just dirt. I don't exactly know what happened because he did not have a messy diaper. I guess the little treasure was just on it's own and slipped out of the soggy morning diaper alone because I couldn't find any more after a frantic search through the house. It's kind of funny after the fact, but I do hope I never see a piece of poop with teeth marks in it again. Kind of gross.

Snow Days

We have lived in Kansas for eight years and nine months, and every year we have had snow storms. In years past, the storms would come and dump about two to four inches of this dry snow which is very hard to make snowmen with, but then after about two days the snow would melt away. I remember only a few times when the snow lasted for more than four or five days. We were still cold, but we didn't have snow on the ground. Well, of course the year we are trying to sell our house we have the worst snow storm in fourteen years on Christmas Eve, and then another one like it one week later. Add to that record lows caused by the artic air mass that has blown through all of the mid-west and eastern United States, and you have a big mess that makes selling a house a little rough. It is pretty to look at, and it's cool that we have mountains of snow in our front yard for more than a week, but unfortunately it's been so cold that kids haven't really gotten to enjoy it. I sent them out one day and it lasted about ten minutes. They all came in crying with bright red cheeks. I guess it's my fault for sending them out when the thermometer read 5 degrees, not to mention the wind chill which probably dropped it below zero. I just needed them to be out of the house for a minute since it was their second day of no school due to weather. I'm hoping that this week they may be able to get out a little since we now have double digit temperatures. Anyway, here are a few aftermath pictures of the two storms. Taylor has been a trooper with shoveling.

Christmas Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

This year we were expecting to spend Christmas with just our little family since we'd recently had both sets of Grandparents come to our house for Ashley's baptism. Well, with the new job offer, Jeff and I needed to go house hunting and the only time that seemed logical was right after Christmas since he didn't have to start work until Jan 4th. Due to this new situation, we arranged for my parents to use the airplane tickets we were offered for the house hunting trip so that we could drive Jeff's things to Utah and have more than just a couple days to look for a house. It was fun that it happened to be this time of year because we were able to have them here for Christmas. They got to watch the kids wake up Christmas morning all excited, and observe the pandemonium of present opening. They also experienced an added treat of seeing what fun Kansas snow storms are like. It took Jeff four hours to get my parents from the airport, and they counted 29 cars off the road on their way to our house. On Christmas Eve, we had quite a snow storm which was apparently the worst in fourteen years. The snow here is not fun like in Utah, because it's dry pellet snow that blows around everywhere leaving three or four foot drifts in some places, and nothing in others. Apparently our driveway is the catch-all for the snow on our street as well. Our neighbors had a clean driveway while we had two feet of snow - lucky us. Anyway, Jeff and Taylor had fun shoveling on Christmas and it wasn't too cold at that time so the kids could play in the snow a little. The next day, Jeff and I had quite the adventure trying to get to Utah. It took us 30 minutes at 5:30 am to just get to the gas station in Topeka because we kept running into drifts that blocked our way. We finally did get on the road only to find it closed right before Colorado. Jeff did not want to stop, so we pioneered a new route through back roads going North into Nebraska. We then dropped down into Colorado to avoid one area of bad weather in Wyoming, but went back up to Cheyenne and drove west from there. By 10:15 that night we reached Rawlings, WY and I hit the wall. I couldn't stand being in the car anymore. We stayed the night there, which was great, and then had a nice drive the next day. It was an adventure, but we were grateful that our kids were safe at home with my parents. Having the week to look for houses on our own really helped. We feel lucky to have such great parents on both sides of the family.

More photos

Laptops are great!

So when we decided to get a laptop last year for Christmas I wasn't so sure if I wanted one because I didn't think I could type on one. Well, with a little practice, I have mastered typing on a laptop and I love how flexible it is. For instance, I can sit here watching Carter in the bath and still blog! Anyway, that is my thought for the day. Simple pleasures. I wanted to post a few more pictures of the holiday fun. I forgot to mention in all of the crazy life changing things we've been going through, we also had the holiday activities of three school programs and parties, the Nutcracker in which Ashley was a mouse, and of course candy house making with our great friends. All of these were wonderful things which made the season fun.

Back again!

Hello dear blog. I'm so sorry I have neglected you these past months. The new year has of course brought with it new enthusiasm and goal setting. I hope to not neglect you so much in the future. Life in the Blair household has been crazy to say the least. Since the last real blog entry about the kids activities in October this is what has occured: Ashley got baptized, Jeff and I went to Puerto Rico, Parker turned four, we accepted a calling to attend the Spanish branch in our Stake, Jeff got a new job which is going to take us to Utah, we (the kids and I) were told we didn't have to attend the Spanish branch anymore because of the upcoming move (Jeff still had to go)so I got my old calling back (a first), we put our house up for sale (this involved lots of throwing out, packing, and painting to get it ready), Carter turned two, we celebrated Christmas, we put a contract on a house in Utah, Emily turned six, and we took down our Christmas decorations. The kids went back to school today, and I'm relaxing for a bit. It's fun to think back and see what all has occurred. We feel very blessed to be so busy because it has all been good stuff. Here are a few pictures.