TGIF-Arctic Blast Edition

I am officially laid off from my job. I'm staying calm. I have been applying for any job that might come up, but today...there wasn't one new listing for a part time job. I'm staying positive and we have been busy together as a family, so we are having fun hanging out and having holiday fun. Eating goodies is always an emotional escape. Thanks to Sissy, we have been eating goodies;)

Our cat Kisuma (Kisi) died on Tuesday. I found her at home when I got home after work. She had just come from the vet that day before...it was just too much trauma for her weak body. She has been sick for the last 2 1/2 years. She was Joshua's and 11 years old. She had just been groomed and she looked pretty good. I'm kind of sad that she isn't annoying me anymore.

We have had some cold weather here and it has snowed, which is unusual for these parts. Asa has enjoyed it and it has been really pretty outside. It is supposed to snow over 6 inches tomorrow.

Sunday is our Hanukkah dinner. I just realized I have 1 day to clean and prepare...YIKERS! It's just low key with the family and the kids will open a few presents.

I have been fighting a cold for about 5 days now. It comes in waves...feel OK for a while, and then get dizzy, sore throat and headache after a while. Weird. I think Asa is fighting it too. After playing in the snow today, he has been a couch potato. I'm in a bad wave at the moment.

Here are some pictures to document our week. Since I am no longer unemployed at the moment, I will make some time to surf blogs and log onto Facebook this weekend. I have missed my blogger and Facebook buddies!

This was today, after it snowed some. The sun had just come out and I hurriedly got Asa into the truck to get to Sissy's to play in the snow. He had his heart set on throwing snow balls with Papa.
Asa wanted to pull Vali on the sled. He tried more than once...but since she weighs the same as he does...it wasn't working. I probably would have helped if we would have had some more snow.

Asa had (accidentally?) thrown a snowball in Vali's face as she was being pulled around on the sled. I tried to get a picture of the snow on her eyelashes. She didn't cry. She was such a sweetie. She didn't really like being outside in the snow, but she didn't want to be a fun wrecker either, so she was happy as long as Papa pulled her around the yard.

Asa pitching snowballs. He would form one, take a bite and then throw.

This was yesterday. Our first day of snow. He had my mittens on.

Playing

Papa was throwing big snow bombs and Asa saw one coming his way.

This was Tuesday at Mom and Papa's anniversary dinner. I love this picture of the kids....with the empty Corona bottle in the foreground. Cheers Sissy!

The honeymooners

I just love my parents.

Kisuma was strutting' her new lion cut. I miss her a little bit.

This was last Saturday night at PIR light display. Mom, Papa and Valentina picked Asa and I up and we headed to the lights. It was great fun. I love spending time with the family on our little holiday jaunts. Joshua is off work this coming week (mandatory layoff week, ugh) and we will get to do some holiday activities before Christmas with him too;)

This was last Saturday before the lights. We saw Santa at the credit union. Note: ASA DOES NOT HAVE A COSTUME ON! ASA DOES NOT HAVE A COSTUME ON!

After Santa, we had did a Target run. Both the kids LOST it at the cash register....and they cried all the way to the car, and on the way home. It's pretty rare, so I had to take these. They were pretty pissed before I took the photo and as I was taking them, they got even more pissed. This picture of Valentina makes me laugh out LOUD!

You can see Vali in the background begging for Beya to save her. It was just constant screaming for about 20 minutes. I was laughing at it then and I'm laughing about it now. I just love those kids.

One day this week. Asa was jumping on his bed and getting some air. He LOVED it that I got the camera out. Rules are that he can jump on his bed, as long as I'm there to supervise.

We are anticipating blizzard conditions this weekend and we are ready to hole up for the weekend, except for an occasional visit to Sissy's if the roads will let us. I plan on baking all weekend too. One has to have goodies if they are snowed in...or laid off from work.

Keep it cool.