Thursday, December 10, 2009

Ready or not...

Winter is here. Winter is here and every year that we have lived in SLC, I get the same feeling. Dread. Dread of being indoors, of feeling cooped up with two energetic children who are happiest when outdoors. But, again, I have a choice to make. I can choose to worry and fret and dread and feel sad, OR I can appreciate the beauty and get creative about indoor activities and spend a little more time planning our days. I really do set the tone for our days, and the past week or so the tone has been pretty grumpy around here. Snow is sticking and we have been under the weather and, in the worst of times, there has been lots of whining, crying, growling, and picking on each other. But, there have been sweet times as well. I captured some of them and want to remember that there is always joy to be found, no matter the weather!

So, here are some of our best moments this past week:
Venturing out to a friend's house (though we pretty promptly turned around and came home when the whining/crying continued in their house:)

Made a big tent and played in and around it for a very long time.

Made gingerbread cookies--yum, yum:) We also made peppermint, red and green play-doh today!


Practiced skills like pouring their own milk:)

Read lots and lots of Christmas books and sang Christmas songs....precious times!


So, I know it isn't even officially winter yet, but it is for us and these are the memories and quality times I want to keep having together. I know there will be frustration and challenges and that I will be ready for sunshiney days for sure, but I don't want to miss out on the beauty. It's there to found every day, Jen

5 comments:

Megan Sandoz said...

Please tell me your gingerbread recipe! I am trying to make houses and am having serious problems! :) In fact, at the moment I would much rather be playing tent with your kids instead of baking!

Jenny said...

Megan,

1c margarine
1c sugar
1/2 c molasses
2 beaten eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cloves
3 tsp cinnamon

Cream margarine. Add sugar, molasses, eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Roll out 1/8 inch thick, cut into shapes, and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Makes 75 3″x2″ cookies or sturdy enough for house walls.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your honesty, Jen! you're right...so many choices each day!

Love ALL the pics and esp. the new one on your opening pic looking across at that beautiful home in the snow...but more beautiful is the back of those babes in all their snow gear!

Am counting the days, hours....:):)
love, gma

Megan Sandoz said...

Thanks, Jenny!

ann.e said...

I was totally going to get your recipe to make some! Vera forgot about her aversion and has been loving it in your church nursery. I'm saving the present for an especially needy moment :)