Where'd it Go?

Today after sleeping in with a long night staying at the Hoeppner's while they took baby Axle to the hospital to be checked out with is throwing up all day (thankfully all is fine) I got to eat breakfast and was greeted by
some very excited children.  Kevin was working on the pulley system for his leg of ham he's curing for the next 6-9 months.  The kids were so thrilled when I got up to show me what Dad was doing.  Addie couldn't get the words out fast enough to tell me about climbing up, up, up on the ladder and how very cold it was outside and how her feet were cold and hands too.  I mentioned to her if she got socks and slippers on she would get warmer.  She immediately ran upstairs to find some slippers and then came down to have me put gloves on her sweet hands to warm them up too, because they were cold also she explained to me.  Glenn couldn't wait to show me what was out in the garage and came excitedly up to me and asked if I would like to come see what they had done.  I got up to see and let me guide me out the garage door.  He proceeded to climb the ladder and then pointed to the hook in the ceiling that Kevin was working on.  It was so cute to see all their excitement and for Kevin to let them share in that adventure with them.

Kevin did some research on the curing process.  I was still leery about how to keep bugs from getting to the leg.  He discovered he need to cover it in a cloth and oil and I'm guessing called Gaizka to let him know what he found out.  Gaizka called his dad who told him he needed to cover it in paprika to keep the flies from laying maggots in it.  He had thought it was just for flavoring but it actually served a purpose.  Good to know.  They boys got to work on that tonight fixing their little mistake before hanging it back up on the hook.

After Breakfast everyone got dressed for the day and we went for a walk with our neighbors to the school park.  We went the long way so the girls could ride their bikes and us moms could get more exercise.  It was a surprisingly beautiful day with the sun out, still COLD but nice.  The kids played as much as they could on the playground though it was soaking wet.  Micah sadly threw Glenn's gloves down the drain so I lifted up the grate and Erin pulled them out.  We put them in Kaila's basket so she could carry them home without having to touch them.

All Packed up and Read to be put away!

After getting home I got Kevin to pull some of the empty Christmas boxed out and got to un-decorating the tree.  Then I worked on the rest of the house all afternoon.  I was exhausted but so close to being done that I kept at it. Emilee (friend up the street) came to play with the girls. June Feutch came by and dropped off some shoes and clothes for Glenn and then took him back home with her so the boys could play soccer together.  Glenn later told me they ate snack, played swords, built legos, played hockey in the garage, and played soccer.  Sounds like the perfect afternoon for Glenn.  He LOVED it!  Sher even ventured out of the house and dropped by for a visit.  Ellie was asleep in her car seat but it was fun for the girls to peek in on her.  I was able to give her some of the little baby items that I had found while going through the huge stack of boxes that her friend had returned to us (times 5).  She in turn gave us a box with  potatoes, oranges, juice, and some onions.  Lucky us!

I watched Micah for Erin while she did two haircuts.  Poor Micah kept asking me where the lights went, and all the other Christmas stuff.  I opened up a box and showed him everything got put away. He finally entertained himself with playing Kaila's guitar, the piano upstairs, or the vacuum downstairs along with the light on Kevin's lap top. After Sher left I got the kids dinner and then cleaned up.  Half of them were almost ready for bed when Kevin got back with the leg of ham.  The kids were delighted to see that it was now red!  Glenn ran all the way upstairs to ask me what color I thought it was now.  So cute!

Erin came back over after the kids were in bed and we did my 5-10 minute yoga together.  Kevin made fun of us afterward saying it wasn't even 5 minutes.  It was and it was frustrating to not have his support.  UGH!  I felt good afterward so that's all that matters.  I can't hold things as long as I would have liked because of the baby but it was great to stick to it.  One of my New Year resolutions is to exercise 3 times a week.  It doesn't have to be much but something.  I was talking with Erin last night about how it would be good for her and help with the stress in her life.  I really do believe that so I hope we can stick with it together.