Mixed Up

Okay, this post might be a little chronologically mixed up, but it's taking me forever to get to it*....so it's just going to be what it is...
First off: Little One Year Old Girl....She's been a bit sick these last few days. Boo. Tuesday I took her to daycare and then got a call at about 10 AM- right while I was holding the hair back on a little girl who was ralphing in my classroom trashcan. Fun! So Clara's daycare lady called and said she felt warm and blah blah blah....so I went to pick her up. Her fever has been up (to 105) and down (with ibuprofen) for the last few days. Her mood has been fine, she's been busy, as depicted below. Today we went to the doctor, which we were scheduled to do anyway. Long story short: she has a mild ear infection, which probably didn't cause her fever, but probably didn't help either. So we got her a prescrip. for that. Also asked about her not walking stuff and am going to make a call to a physical therapy place.
A few nights ago....was it Sunday? Jeez. I made trout for dinner. Just felt a little proud of myself for making fish other than salmon, so here's the photo. Used the Angry Trout recipe, which Will sent me. Turned out pretty good. I'm a little embarassed by the butter on my bread in this photo. I am of German stock, but still. You have to trust me when I say that the pats of butter were not very thick. Also...this may explain why Clara giggles when she touches my tummy.
So, there was one little hiccup with the preparation. Flames may or may not have reached the cabinets above the stove. Pete thought I could use this:
Also...we had a lovely dessert! Ed, our friend from across the street (I secretly think of his as our local Don K.) brought over this still warm apple and raisin strudel. I guess it was a thank you for Pete having helped Helena do some shoveling the night before. We've had a lot of snow.
This is just a picture of Henry "helping" take the sheets off his bed last weekend.
And, going back in time to Friday night- Dad and Kathie were still in town and we all went out to Pinstripes for some bowling and dinner. Clara was in one of her cute new outfits.
Dad helped Henry do his bowling.
Clara got a little excited, and a little bossy.
Henry used the ramp for most of his turns.
Dad got a little strike-happy there at the end.
Here's a totally blurry picture, but you can see how fun it is to eat right there at your lane. Fancy-Shmancy bowling.
On Friday and Saturday there was much outdoor play to be done. Dad and Kathie stayed inside with Clara (and washed my dishes!) while Henry and I went out to play with Anna. You can see here that they hadn't even plowed the street yet, which made for much fun sled pulling.
Then we walked over to the sledding hill, and on the way back Anna and Henry plopped down on a hill for some angels. Helena took these photos and sent them to me...
On Saturday we finally remembered to get the snow igloo out. It took a little break last year- even though we had so much snow. If you'll remember there was pregnancy followed by baby, followed by pneumonia, which didn't lend itself to a lot of outdoor play.
Here is Henry introducing Anna to the igloo:
We drug it out to the front yard. Anna and I had to trek through knee-high drifts on the side of the house to bring it around.
It wasn't too cold out (yet!) so Clara came out for a little fresh air while Pete and Helena shoveled and I played with the kids.
How cute is this little snow baby? I hope this isn't the reason she has had a fever and ear infection...
Later the kids came in and played a little play-doh while Pete and Helena finished the shoveling, then we all had some chicken-spaghetti casserole. And that, in a back-and-forth way, brings us up to now. I think.

*And then, prolonging things even more, the news about that plane in the Hudson River came on while I was trying to post....