Patiently waiting for the spring

I took this picture today while standing at my kitchen sink. The leftovers of December's snowman are frozen solid.

I am very much looking forward to the day when the window is open and I am smelling fresh air and looking at green grass. Everyone in Minnesota seems to get a little cranky around this time of year. For instance, last night I overhead a lady at Target telling the store clerk she should just stay home because "she hates going outside and hates people when it is this cold". I guess everyone deals with Minnesota winters in their own special way. If it were up to me, I would spend the winters in Arizona or California, but until then we'll be hanging out in our wool sweaters and dreaming of flip flops and green grass.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

Impressive bed head


Helping Daddy with a puzzle

Likes guacamole

Will shovel for free

Ready for a ride

For the record

Although some might consider most of our evenings date worthy (good food, great wine, good conversation) minus the attire (sweat pants and thermals suit us just fine...I even wear my fancy blue slippers) it is nice to have an official - for the record - date now and again. After Jacob went to bed we enjoyed pizza, a glass (or two) of our favorite Sauvingnon Blanc, two (how's that for a bonus!?) new episodes of 30 Rock, and a game of Bananagrams. Although, we were in our pajamas. For the record.

Haiti

I have been thinking about the disaster in Haiti and among the pictures of rubble, bodies, and heartache I find relief in the footage of the C130 landing at the airport along with the French, Chinese and many other countries that are offering support. In situations like this (and being Type A) I get very panicky when I think about the logistics of the relief efforts. I do not envy the people whose job it is to organize this mass relief effort but I can only pray that they all communicate effectively, work efficiently and most of all hope politics doesn't get in the way. The former is a very loaded statement but I am referencing a conversation I had with my good friend who works for a non-profit disaster organization and at the time we were discussing hurricane Katrina. Anyway, back to Haiti.

My sister-in-law composed a very nice post http://sarahbandfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti.html
which she so eloquently captures feelings which I believe a lot of people share.

There are many great donation sites out there but I will put a plug in for a favorite of mine and Scott's. We sponsor two children (one from Nicaragua and one from Indonesia) but Compassion International is taking donations in direct effort for the families of Haiti. I will happily give you more information if interested or you can call 800-336-7676 or mail your donation to Compassion International Colorado Springs, CO 80997

Sitting in my home that is safe and sound I quietly reflect on the people of Haiti.

There's a new kid in town

It never ceases to amaze me how different Jacob looks with his hair cut. (This picture is his new hair cut + hat hair). I love it short - but he's got great hair so I like to let it grow for awhile. His hair cut sessions are hit or miss. Sometimes he just sits in the chair and plays with the spray bottle. Other times, like tonight, he cries and says "Sorry! Sorry! All done! All done!" Either way, we always end up with a handsome little man.

Bubbles

It took awhile but eventually I figured out (thank you, Scott) how to shoot black and white with our new camera. I also figured out a setting to take terrific landscapes shots. I'm thinking about packing up my family and the camera and heading to someplace warm and sunny with beautiful landscapes. You know, just to see how it works. Minnesota winter you are really trying my patience.