I am so excited! My new computer, which Ed got me for my birthday, arrived Friday and Ed finished setting it up last night. Once I get used to the new operating system I think I will love this. He even upgraded my RAM and hard drive so we won't have to worry about it slowing down or me running out of room with all the video and pictures I take.
ALSO we picked up the elliptical machine last night and he got it put together today. I now have a bike and an elliptical. I have really missed working out on the elliptical but I have to be careful for the first couple of weeks due to my health issues. In the long run it will be good for me and help me to build up my muscles and strengthen them.
I am still not recovered from the flu but it will take time. Since I am still contagious I won't be taking the boys to school tomorrow, I am sure the school will appreciate that. If I feel better Wednesday I will take them. Ed is leaving for California tomorrow and I have no one here I can count on to help out while he is gone. That's okay though, I have gotten together some fun projects for St. Patrick's Day we are going to work on. I have some for Easter as well but I will wait till after St. Patty's Day for those.
Here is a pic of the bike and elliptical:
And here is a picture of my new computer. My CPU is BLUE. ;)
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Oh yeah! The boys LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their new TAG book readers and they spend a lot of time with the Funny Phrases game and the animal cards. Ethan is fascinated by the animal cards and they have so much information on them! I think this was the best ever birthday gift.
Here are some pics from the boys birthday today. I forgot to take the camera to Chuck E Cheese but we did take some with our phones so I will try to get them on here soon. There is also a video at the end of the pictures. :)
Edward spoke with a nurse at the pediatricians office today and it doesn't look like Ethan has chicken pox, apparently it's hives. Wow! He has one hell of a case of hives! Now we just have to figure out what caused them.
Here are some pictures of Ethan's chicken pox (and a pic of Edward :) ). Edward has a spot or two but nothing conclusive so far. We will confirm chicken pox tomorrow with the pediatrician.
Update 2:06 pm: OMG!!! It's 40 degrees right now! LOL So much for the forecast...and still no rain either. :) ---------------------------------------
Today's weather just goes to show that the forecasters are missing more than they are hitting. Currently it is 36 and cloudy with rain on the way. As late as this morning they were still saying maybe snow, freezing rain, sleet or rain. Now that it is so close they say rain and they got the timing wrong as well. Earlier they said after 10 am and now they are saying after 2 pm. Make up your minds. Anyway....I took the boys out back to play because it is the warmest it has been in a month. There is still some snow but it's not nearly as deep as it was before. Edward did sink down at one point though and was kinda stuck but he got himself out. Here are some pics and a video.
Edward throwing a snowball at Jessica. He has good aim. :)
Jessica returning the favor.
Ethan being silly.
Edward nailing Jessica once again. :)
Edward chased Hans around and he finally nailed him right on the top of his head. That kid really has good aim! LOL
Here we go again. It is snowing. First they said about 1/2 inch accumulation now they are saying about an inch. Do I believe them? Nope. We will probably get 2 inches. And then tomorrow they have no idea what we are going to get...will it be snow, rain, freezing rain or ice? No one seems to know yet. And Spring is just 4 weeks from today. Hmmm....wonder if we will see it in 4 weeks. Kinda doubt it at this point. This past week I did learn what freezing fog was though (reason for school delay). lol I also learned about ice fog, which we probably won't ever see.
Edward will be flying home from California tomorrow. I hope he can get into Fort Wayne from Chicago.
Here is an update from weather.com. I don't know why they even bother with these things if they have no idea what is fixing to happen. I hope Ed gets home before this storm can cause any travel problems.
Issued by The National Weather Service North Webster, IN 7:14 am EST, Fri., Feb. 19, 2010
... POTENTIAL WINTER STORM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...
A WINTER STORM WILL ORGANIZE OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS SATURDAY NIGHT AND MOVE THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY... LIKELY CAUSING SNOW TO OVERSPREAD THIS AREA.
THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK OF THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SUGGESTS THAT PORTIONS OF THE AREA COULD RECEIVE IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER... THERE REMAINS MUCH UNCERTAINTY WITH RESPECT TO THE TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM. A FARTHER NORTH TRACK WOULD RESULT IN THE SNOW CHANGING TO RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN IN THIS AREA... WHILE A FARTHER SOUTH TRACK WOULD RESULT IN ALL SNOW ACROSS THIS AREA... BUT LESS ACCUMULATION.
REGARDLESS OF THE FINAL TRACK AND SNOWFALL AMOUNTS... THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAVEL TO BE IMPACTED EARLY NEXT WEEK.
You know I am always thrilled when I look at weather.com and I see the "Special Weather Statement" alert at the top of my screen. Here is what they are saying:
Issued by The National Weather Service North Webster, IN 3:22 pm EST, Thu., Feb. 18, 2010
... POTENTIAL WINTER STORM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...
A WINTER STORM WILL ORGANIZE OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS SATURDAY NIGHT AND MOVE INTO THE OHIO VALLEY SUNDAY NIGHT. THE STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE NORTHEAST THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY... AND BEGIN TO SPREAD SNOW INTO THE REGION.
THERE REMAINS MUCH UNCERTAINTY WITH RESPECT TO THE TRACK... STRENGTH AND AVAILABLE MOISTURE WITH THIS SYSTEM. IT IS... HOWEVER... POSSIBLE THAT SOME AREAS COULD RECEIVE SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES BY MONDAY NIGHT. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGEST THAT THE GREATEST CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL WILL BE ON MONDAY. HOWEVER... AT THIS TIME PRECISE TIMING OF THE SYSTEM IS NOT A CERTAINTY.
REGARDLESS OF THE FINAL TRACK AND SNOWFALL AMOUNTS... THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAVEL TO BE IMPACTED EARLY NEXT WEEK.
How wonderful it will be for us to have to endure yet ANOTHER snow storm. Frankly I have had enough and was very pleased to see the sun today (which is still shining, I might add). Hopefully IF we do get this storm Ed will be home safe and sound before it ever gets here. Ugh. Snow.
Today schools have a 2 hour delay due to freezing drizzle. What wonderful weather we have been having. The boys school won't delay so I have to have them there at normal time. There is about 2 inches of snow on the roads now, which had cleared yesterday, with a sheet of ice on top. I hate driving on icky roads. I am not even going to bother shoveling today, most people won't unless there is over 3 inches. I will throw out some salt later cause driving on the snow makes it slick but my back just can't take shoveling again today. We really need a snow blower.
Snow...it's back. I just shoveled 2 inches off the walk way and drive. It is still snowing and it is windy. Hopefully we won't get much more before the bus comes to get Ethan for school. I was already tired and sore from this past weekend and shoveling the snow at the rent house and cleaning the grout on my hands and knees. I can't wait till Spring. I am ready to see green grass and flowers blooming. I am ready to take the boys to the zoo, which doesn't open until April 24. Ugh. It's only mid February. I thought we were gonna get lucky cause we only got flurries yesterday. Dang it. I guess it could be worse, could have been 6 inches again but of course they would cancel school for that and I wouldn't have to worry about shoveling...
Here's a pic of the boys this morning cleaning up their cars in the front living room. Aren't they cute??? LOL
Ed is off to California today. When he left it was 3 degrees outside. lol Currently it is 9 so the temp has tripled. ;) The girls school has a 2 hour delay due to fog. The boys don't have school today because it is President's Day. The girls would have had today off as well but they are using today as a snow make up day. And speaking of snow...it's on it's way again. J-O-Y.
We again gave the traditional V day gift of PJ's to the kids. The boys are very excited about them but the girls seem to know they were getting them. :)
The boys got candy and 2 pair of Buzz LightYear PJ's Jessica got candy and Snoopy PJ's Marisa got candy and Snoopy PJ's
Here are the flowers Ed got me and the box of candy we are supposed to share (but I eat most of it! lol)
The kids went to school today...finally. The roads are not too bad once you get out of the residential areas but we have more snow that I have seen thus far. I read today that DFW airport reported 11.3 inches but it isn't too bad for them cause their temps are much warmer than ours. Currently we are at 18 with a windchill of 10. There is one day in the forecast that we may get above freezing. I am ready for Spring now. This has been a long, cold, snowy winter and I have had enough now. I love winter and snow but too much of anything is not good. Today's high is supposed to be 27 and they are calling for flurries. I don't doubt that a bit. I have seen it snow with the sun shining bright. Weird.
Ethan is still being bothered by that ear infection so he is staying home with me this morning instead of going to school. He was quite upset that he didn't get to go to his other school this week and he refused breakfast due to not feeling well so that made for a bad combination and he had a meltdown while we were dropping Edward off at school. He is now sitting comfortably on the couch watching TV (love PBS!).
Good morning. What they had thought would be snow flurries last night turned into freezing rain so everything is now covered in a sheet of ice. Schools were delayed by 2 hours at 5 am and at 8 am, just as I was getting the girls up, I got the text saying they were closing schools today. This has been a very long week. I did see that the DFW area is being hit with snow and mixed precip. this morning. It's odd that they have had that much snow in a single year. I can't remember getting snow that many times while living there.
Edward went to work this morning and said he saw more people spinning out this morning than he has the last 2 days. People can't drive on ice and those idiots in those huge tanks who think they are fine cause they are in a tank are the worst. We see more SUV's spinning out of control than cars but cars and mini vans are more common vehicles here.
Well Ethan will miss his Valentine's party at the elementary school today but maybe everyone will go to school tomorrow. If not, we have lots of Valentines and suckers! lol
Update 2:00 pm: It finally stopped snowing around noon. Thank God. It is now sunny and the snow is starting to melt. High is supposed to be around 27 (current temp) so it won't melt too quickly. We are still under a winter storm warning but I think it's over. I am ready for Spring now...
In other news, Ethan saw the doctor this morning and he did well, no meltdown and he told the doctor which ear hurt but refused to have his temp taken or take his shoes off to get weighed. We were right, he too has an ear infection in his left ear. Funny how they both have infections in the left ear. This is Ethan's second ear infection in 4 months. I hope this does not become a habit. They are both like little nightmares when they are sick and we get no sleep. I am praying for a full nights sleep tonight-we all need it!
-------------------------------------------------------- Forgot to add that it is STILL snowing....
7:44 am
Here are some pics I took this morning after Ed left for work. He shoveled the driveway and said there was about 3 inches and that the snow plow left about 3 feet at the bottom of the driveway for him to move. Nice.
Snow piled up at the front door. Front walkway, which I shoveled last night. Intersection
Front walk and driveway. View from the toy room window.
Here is a video Marisa took of the boys playing last night. :)
-------------------------------------------------------- 6:40 am The schools are closed again today. The kids will be thrilled! Ethan was up on and off last night with "neck" (throat) and ear pain. I will call and get him in to see the dr. this morning. Edward is still not feeling well either. What a miserable week this has been thus far. I have no idea how much snow is out there but the sidewalk in the front has another couple of inches since I shoveled it yesterday evening. Here is the latest from weather.com:
Issued by The National Weather Service
North Webster, IN 4:24 am EST, Wed., Feb. 10, 2010
... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING.
* TIMING... LIGHT TO AT TIMES MODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO MID MORNING BEFORE DIMINISHING TO SNOW SHOWERS. WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH CAUSING SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
* MAIN IMPACT... STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL BY THIS EVENING SHOULD RANGE FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES... WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER DRIFTS. THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED NORTH OF ROUTE 30 WITH THE LOWER AMOUNTS TO THE SOUTH. INCREASING NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON... RESULTING IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES AND SOME IMPASSABLE ROADS IN RURAL AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
Update 5:57 pm: I am tired...Marisa and I just shoveled the driveway and sidewalks. Of course it is still snowing and covering up fast but Ed needs to be able to find the driveway and get up it (we salted)! lol Here is a picture I took after shoveling, I did the front walk last. Then there is a video of the boys taking a bath. There's not much else to do on a day like this, wish I could go soak in my jacuzzi!!! Some of the drifts were up to my knees BTW!!! :) I saw on the news that there are already problems with high drifts, had a picture of someones garage and it was 2/3 up the garage door. They say it will only get worse over night. The school has already said there will be a 2 hour delay but I think they will end up canceling if things happen the way the predict.
------------------------------------------------------------- Update 2:44 pm: Okay, I have no idea how much snow there is out there but the kids are having fun playing in it! Here are some videos...
--------------------------------------------------------------- Update 1:21 pm: We have gotten about 4 or so inches so far. It's really hard to tell with the way it is blowing around. These pictures were taken around noon today.
Here is a video of the dogs in the back yard from a little while ago...
And here is a picture of Ethan being silly, he put his shirt on like pants. :) ------------------------------------------------------------- Update 8:09 am: Ed went to work, after shoveling the driveway-which is now covered again. Here are some pics. I will post more later today. :)
-------------------------------------------------------------- 5:50 am Just got the text alert...SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY!!! We are due to have 3 inches by 11 am and it will only get worse after that. I am not sure if Ed will go to work or not, probably knowing him but I doubt he will stay all day with the weather just getting worse. Here is the latest from weather.com:
Issued by The National Weather Service North Webster, IN 4:26 am EST, Tue., Feb. 9, 2010
... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY.
* TIMING... SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT... BUT THEN DIMINISH TO LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. TOTAL SNOWFALL BY LATE WEDNESDAY SHOULD RANGE FROM 8 TO 12 INCHES... WITH SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER DRIFTS.
* MAIN IMPACT... HEAVY SNOW WILL CAUSE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. INCREASING NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY... RESULTING IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES AND SOME IMPASSABLE ROADS IN RURAL AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
&&
More Information
... WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...
.A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER MISSISSIPPI AND AN UPPER LOW ACROSS IOWA WILL MERGE TODAY OVER THE OHIO VALLEY REGION. SNOW ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA EARLY TODAY AND THEN CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY. LAKE ENHANCED SNOW SHOWERS WILL BOOST SNOW AMOUNTS DOWNSTREAM OF LAKE MICHIGAN LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL BY LATE WEDNESDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE GENERALLY 8 TO 12 INCHES... WITH 10 TO 15 INCHES LIKELY OVER FAR SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH 30 TO 40 MPH GUSTS LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY RESULTING IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE.
What worries me is the AMOUNT of snowfall expected. And when can we expect it to melt? Damn groundhog....
My CPU is BLUE. ;)
