The bitter cold seems to be over - finally!

Now that I seemed to have thawed out a bit, I will update the blog! ;) While we didn't have the snow that Indianapolis had, we definitely had frigid temps last week. The governor of MN cancelled school last Monday but thankfully, Liv's 'school' was open. She went there and I worked from home because I was too afraid that my car wouldn't start at the end of the day. I think it was -29* with a wind chill of -50*! I do not understand how my cousin Rachel survives all the way up in Fairbanks, AK - she's brave!

I don't have much to report on as we've just tried to get back into the swing of things after the holidays. Olivia started the "pre-preschool" room and is really loving it. Duane and I are glad she moved into that room as well as we know the teacher is better and it is the same curriculum she had at the BSC school.

We laid low this weekend but it was really nice. I have a crazy travel schedule for the next month so (gone every week) I appreciated staying in and catching up on life. Friday night Duane picked up a pizza and we called it an early night....we were in bed before 9pm. Haha! unfortunately, Liv woke Duane up (I was dead to the world) around 11am screaming that her ears hurt. We did a round of Motrin and have started her ear drops on our own. We'll see if us skipping medical attention hurts us or pays off in the end....

Saturday morning Duane and Olivia did some repair work on the toilet in her bathroom and I ran to Target. While Liv napped, Duane had a fun afternoon of splitting wood and I mopped some floors and did laundry. Since it's in the 30's temperature wise, it's almost pleasant going outside. We went out for dinner to a hole-in-the-wall/dive for burgers and fries. Olivia really entertained herself during dinner with her Sofia and Rapunzel dolls. After dinner, we ran to IKEA for fro-yo and to pick up a shelf. Liv took down her cone like a champ and we quickly picked up our shelf and some random towels. IKEA is like Target - you come out with more than you intended to buy. (but it's okay - everything is so cheap!)

This morning Duane got up early and took our vehicles to a car wash place and cleaned them of all the salt and grime. Liv watched her weekend morning cartoons and I read the paper. Duane prepped for his poker party this afternoon and Liv and I played all sorts of games. We did a little enchanted cupcake princess game, we read books, she played teacher with me, etc. She found a ruler laying around and when that thing is in her hands, she becomes a little teacher! She made me sit down for "group time" and we sang some songs and then she gave me the "lunch helper" job and I had to help put soup in bowls.

 

When I told her daddy's party was going to start, she became ever so busy. She had me put on her apron and she made soup, hot dogs and cake. After some of the guys had arrived, she took down a bowl of fruit for them. It was pretty darn cute! (all fake things, by the way)

she set out plates, cups and her cake in the basement

Since it's above freezing today, it would be so nice to get outside for a little walk. On Tuesday, I head to San Francisco until Friday afternoon. It'll be Mr. Mom and Liv all week!