DS DAY

 World Down Syndrome Day

Covid-19 Vaccine

 Probably not supposed to have this little souvenir gem, but it was left at Sahara's work (with what looks like a whole lost dose) when they got their vaccines. She got the Pfizer herself but I got the Moderna so she gave it to me for a keepsake.  

Our experience with Moderna:

Vaccine #1

Misty: Sore arm, headache all the next day and body aches that started 26-30 hours after and then were gone.

Canyon:  No complaints.

Vaccine #2

Misty: sore arm, headache, body aches, nausea, chills, lethargic...I was miserable and even my hair hurt.  I stayed at work, went home and took a 2 hour nap and still felt awful.  I called in a sub for the next day because I couldn't do a 2nd day like that.  The next day I was 100% better however.

Canyon: No complaints. 

Snowmageddon

 What a crazy week!  

Who would think that snow would keep us from having school for a whole week!?!

The snow started on Sunday and we made sure to stock up on food Saturday, however the shelves were pretty bare.

By Sunday evening, we had what we usually could call a nice snow.  Of course school will be cancelled tomorrow.

We didn't expect to wake up to this amount.  How fun!

With all this snow, I decided to let the dogs out and not chain up Hippie.  The fool took off under the fence anyway and didn't return for a couple hours.  He smelled of campfire so he was having fun with people somewhere.

Over and over again we were warned about conserving energy by turning the heat down to 65.  We had storm blackouts and rolling blackouts throughout the state. We did loose power for a couple hours before the snow even started but that was the only time.

I don't know what Hippies plan was, but I guess if he can't run off, he decided he was just going to lay down and die.

Canyon and I decided to take a walk.  The plan was around the first block, but the wind chill was painful and we only made it down the street a couple houses and turned around to go back home.

There's our house in the back and this is nearly as far as we got before heading back.

The 1st day of snow gave us 7 inches.

School is now closed until further notice.

This was the lowest temperature I was able to screenshot. 

Liam seemed to enjoy his first snow at his house.

Unfortunately, their water pipes froze Monday and did not unfreeze until Saturday.  As far as we know, there was no damage.

After the second wave, I forgot to go measure until the next day and it measured 8 inches but I bet it was higher before it did some settling and compacting.

Canyon decided time was overdue for swinging so we got him all set up and cleared a path.  He was cold though and came back in within 5 minutes.  I think it took longer to get him ready to go out there.

Today, Saturday, I found a bird in the front yard sunning and in shock.  I moved a box under him to maybe help radiate sun warmth on him.

I went out with bread crumbs and a dish of water and the bird hopped out of the box but couldn't fly.  I went to get the gloves again and in 2 minutes another bird swooped down and beat this one up.  I caught him again and put the box on the porch but it's head was opened up and bleeding now.  It ended up dying a couple hours later.

Sunday I decided to check out the town before the ice and snow completely melted.  We have been home bound for 8 days so it was nice to get out.

The marina is still frozen.  Never saw it like this before.

Going around the marina loop and the boat ramp loop was an adventure.  Almost didn't make it. It wasn't so much the sliding which we did but the high centering.  

Old Post Park and Dardanelle Rock were pretty along with the little turtle pond.

Then we checked out my work.  No school Monday and Tuesday for virtual parent / teacher conferences but all staff have to come in.  The parking lots are fairly cleared. 

It will be in the 50's and 60's this week so it will be all gone in another 2 days when the kids come back.

It's been really weird to not see UPS, FedEx, or even the regular mail truck in the neighborhood for 9 days.  They are usually pretty plentiful.  I bet they have a lot of back up to deal with now. Things should be back to normal Monday.

Black History / Women's History

 School is having a competition with door decorating for either Black History Month, February or Women's History Month, March.  So far we are the only class that chose Women's history.  My kiddos researched the women, typed the info they found on each, and made chains and pearls for our door.  I think it came out perfect so we'll have to see next week if we won! 

Other doors we are in competition with:

New This, New That

Over the last week I have gotten a new router, new modem, new mailbox, and finally my new dishwasher.  I ordered it before Thanksgiving.  It's been nearly half a year that I have been without one.

Out with the old! (which I think was 5 years old)

Don't get Samsung appliances by the way.  Good for phones but not appliances.

In with the new! It matches the refrigerator in color (which is also unfortunately a Samsung) but everything I have are different brands and 3 colors. 🙃

New Year Resolutions Anyone??

 OK, I'll start.

I really didn't plan on making any resolutions. Actually, I don't really think I have any, but I decided to walk in the halls for 15 minutes 2 times a day at work briskly.  A few days later I loaded a step counter on my phone just to see how I was actually doing.  Turns out, I was getting approximately 2.75 miles in a day doing that.  1 mile per walk and 3/4 a mile doing other stuff. The app has achievements to reach and one of them is 500 miles so I made that my goal for the year.  To get to 500 by 2022.  So far I have about 17. 😀 OK, not a huge deal to most but miles I wouldn't have gotten at all if I didn't decide to do this.

I'm not counting weekends and the summer will be more challenging because I either have to talk Canyon into going with me (HA!) or leave him at the house.

My other thing is to lessen my carbon footprint by using the silicon zip bags I got for Christmas as much as possible and not use ziplock bags (which I use in my lunch 5 days a week and when I separate meat to freeze and for leftovers).  Again, not a huge thing but at least it's something and will save 5-8 bags a week which is 260-416 bags a year.  Who knew!

Birthday Gift to Myself

My other rug was barely over 2 years old, but it would not lay flat on the edges and it had been bothering me for awhile.  It was a Ruggable, the kind you can peal the top layer off and put in the washer.  After the 1st wash, it didn't seem to lay quite how it was supposed to and after 4 or 5 washes it would curl up a little on the edges. So, I got a different one and hopefully can sell the old one. I do like them colorful!

Old one when I 1st got it so it is laying just right in this photo.

Birthday 51

I get birthday snow!

Liam gets to try new food in his new high chair.

Rib Crib for dinner, yummy!

Then, ice cream cake and gifts and cards.

 

And Liam and Canyon have a moment of snuggles.