Look At Me Ma!

Ned thinks that after two trips to the ice rink, he knows how to skate.
Ned says he is not going for skating lessons.
Ned kicks and screams and is on the verge of a tantrum.
Ned's mom screams back "You do not know everything, I have paid for these lessons and you are going damn it, and you are going to like it!"
Ned shrugs his shoulders and says "okay", like it's no big deal.
Ned's mom wants to strangle Ned but she resists and instead, takes him to his ice skating lesson.
Ned rocks the rink!
After a deer in the headlight look of panic as he stepped out onto the ice without me holding his hand, he took a deep breath and went for it. He listened to the instructor. He skated forward. He skated backward. He even learned how to stop.

I love my little ice skating Ned!

My Favorite Thing

Apart from martinis of course!Ned!
We were invited to go ice skating last week. The last time I tried to take Ned he was 3 and refused to go on the ice. This time he could not wait! During the winter we have an outdoor rink, which is awesome, however the nearest year round rink is 60 miles away, which is not so awesome! And very surprising considering we are big on winter sports in this area.

Anyway, he had absolutely no fear whatsoever, got on the ice and after a wobbly start he just glided along as if he had been doing this forever. Well, for a few months anyway! He is such a natural. So it is off to ice skating lessons we go tomorrow night and I am hoping this becomes a lifelong passion for him as it did me. Although if his future involves playing ice hockey I should a) start saving now as it is expensive, b) get even better medical insurance and c) get fabulous dental insurance!

Happy End to the Year

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday Season and New Year!

My dad left yesterday and it has been a great two weeks for me and Ned. We had the best Christmas ever and even though it was the first without mom, because we were together it didn't make us sad or miss her too much. Ned and grandpa became the best of friends, especially when grandpa bought Ned an Indiana Jones hat and whip for Christmas! I was extremely lucky and not only did I get my favorite perfume - Tresor - but I also got a fancy schmancy new digital camera which I absolutely love.

When we took dad to the airport yesterday, we all had tears, but Ned cried the most and kept telling his grandpa he wished he could stay with us forever, and I think my dad felt the same way. Hopefully I will be able to sponsor him and my sister and then we can all be close by which would make me so happy! When Ned and I got home, he looked and me and said, "mom, my heart is broken because grandpa left" and I just melted into tears!

So before I cry anymore, here are a few of my favorite pictures taken with said fancy schmancy camera:

The best Christmas present ever!

Dad arrived on Wednesday night and we are loving him being here, especially Ned who just cuddles up to him like he has been around him forever. We went to Ned's Christmas party at kindergarten yesterday and helped him make a reindeer hat and he insisted on wearing it when we went out for lunch! Grandpa even painted the red nose on him to complete the look!

Looks are deceiving

Is this not the face of an angel:

No, this is the face of my five year old who had to go to the Principal's Office yesterday! My child, who is in kindergarten, would not do as he was told so was sent to the Principal and had to sit in time out there.

I don't know where he gets it from, I'm sure!

Waiting for a special Christmas visitor

And no, it is not Santa! My dad arrives on Wednesday from England and is due to stay until New Year's Day, however the airline he is flying with goes on strike next week so who knows how long he will be here for!

It's kind of bittersweet him coming, I am so excited to see him and he hasn't been to America in 5 years. But this will be his first trip without my mom, and this will be our first Christmas without her. It will also, as my sister reminded me, be the first Christmas in a long time where there hasn't been an argument! Not that I was always there for those joyous events, but I sometimes somehow became involved just by being on the other end of the phone! My mom always wanted Christmas to be perfect, it had to run on her schedule and she didn't always tell you what the schedule was, but she expected you to know it. If she forgot to do something, she would be annoyed that you had not thought of it and then the day would be ruined in her eyes because of one minor detail that did not go to plan.

So there are no schedules this year, no plans for anything exciting, just hanging out and relaxing which is exactly what my dad needs. And of course, plenty of alcohol! I introduced him to martinis last year and he became a fan, so we will be drinking ourselves silly I am sure.

And of course, giving a little toast to my mom, because even though we disliked her schedules and the arguments at Christmas, it just won't be the same without her.

Winter Wonderland

Last Sunday it snowed. It snowed so much that schools were cancelled and for the first time since 1997, my campus closed. The roads have been awful, the weather has been freezing so the snow hasn't melted. And last night we had some more. And today we have had more. And it is still snowing now!

In my 8 years in Northern Nevada, I have not ever seen as much snow as I am seeing right now. In fact, I many not have seen this much snow in all my life! And I am annoyed it is a weekend because by Monday, you know that the campus will be open and I will have to go to work! Damn it!

Ned got to sled with the neighborhood kids at an empty lot down the street, while me and another mom made lunch and had martinis - the only way to spend a snow day!

These are pictures from last week - I will take more tomorrow!