Seasonal depression

We haven't posted in a while mainly because most of our family has been sick all week. Becky, Kaitlin and Camie all were sick with Influenza. They were in bed for about 3 days straight. I was the only one to get my flu shot this year, so I was lucky and didn't get it too bad. At this time of year most of us get sick of the snow and the inversion and are ready for spring to come. It has been worse this year due to all of the snow. I know that others have complained about the snow, so I have to also.

Most of the time I love running in the snow. I cannot stand running on the treadmill, so I bundle up and run outside. I must say that I am tired of it this year. There has been so much snow that the sidewalks are not clear. Running on ice is not too fun. You do use muscles that you never thought that you had though. I have only fallen on my face once so far. Here is a picture of me after running a week or two ago. When I left the house the weather wasn't bad and it was not snowing. After I got about 1 mile away, it started snowing like crazy with a strong wind. I could hardly see because of the snow blowing in my eyes.

We have tried to have some fun in the snow. This hill is close to our house so we try to go there and tube every once in a while. Kaitlin and Camie love going on the tubes all by them selves.

Well, hopefully we will have some sun and get out of the seasonal depression soon. Becky will post about Camie's b-day party soon. That's right, if we weren't crazy enough having Kaitlin's birthday party with friends, we had Camie's a few weeks later. I think that Camie and her friends had fun. As for the rest of us, let's just say that everybody became sick the day of the party.

Sugar Rush

Saturday was Kaitlin's 7 th birthday party, which we had at Color Me Mine. I decided that after the last birthday party we had for her two years ago, which ended with 10 manic girls beating a poor helpless piniata and grinding jolly ranchers into my carpet, that we would never ever EVER have a birthday party at our poor little townhome again. Instead, in my wisdom, I decided that this year we would escort 12 perfectly behaved children on a short leisurely drive to a very fun location where they would quietly and patiently paint their little works of art until the appropriate time came, and then we would quietly have cake and open presents and head on home. That was my vision. Beautiful, wasn't it. (Moment of silence, please.)

Unfortunately, things never go the way that I envision them. Picture this instead. 12 manic children, high on gummy bears, m & m's and soda running around, screaming at the top of their lungs. Begging for food. Asking for help painting their items. Begging for food. Asking for help making their princess fairy wands and animal puppets. Begging for soda. Running around the store chasing each other and laughing hysterically. Begging for cake. Attacking Kaitlin to try to help her open her presents. Chairs almost knocked over. Begging for treat bags and prizes. Sticky soda and cheeto residue all over the floor. In the car singing the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack at the top of their lungs, interrupted by intermittent shreiking and screaming. Coming home and waiting for parents. Finding three little girls in your bathroom closet standing in a basket of your dirty towels and underwear so they can hear themselves sing the High School Musical 2" soundtrack songs better. Need I say more?

All kidding aside, we had a wonderful day in which we celebrated 7 years with my beautiful baby Kaitlin. We all had fun and her friends were a joy. And the most beautiful part? I didn't have to clean up a thing!