Nine Years and Winter in Spring

Lets start with the odd but somewhat normal Utah oddness. Winter in Spring. This year while the rest of the country was hit with blizzards, snow and frigid temperatures Utah had the most mild winter I've ever seen!
Seriously it snowed 3 times in the whole of winter and nothing very severe or lasting, a very un-Utah winter.
Yesterday was far more normal, even though we all complained and talked of it all day long - it was nice to feel like Utah was once again acting like itself. Bizarre.
You see, we started out the day with very strong winds. Winds that increased as the day went on.
50-80 mph winds gusted through the northern valley for a good 8 hours.

This would have been perfectly fine - even with the damage to cars, garbage cans, trampolines and other various out door items and fences - but it was coupled with mild rain, which caused MUD RAIN.
Everything was caked in dried MUD. You see the wind was blowing so harshly that you could barely see for all the dust and dirt. Add a sprinkling of rain and all that dirt stuck and then immediately dried again do to - the wind.

It was during this time that the kids and I went to pick up my dog from the groomers. This meant taking wash clothes to wipe the mud off the windows, keeping them in the car so I could do it again in the parking lot of the groomers - normally this type of behavior would cause laughter and pointing, instead I got nods of appreciation and a thumbs up for my cleverness!
Once home our power continued to flicker but stayed faithful as the rain finally over powered the wind and started to wash the mud away.
This is a good thing as soon after the mud washed away, the snow started. SNOW. You know the white soft squishy stuff that we normally get during winter time but didn't this year? Yeah that stuff.
Lots and lots of that stuff...

Bottom car left - Dried Mud. Bottom car middle - snow (yesterday)

Today is my sons 9th birthday! He is 100% under the belief that Jack Frost likes him and arranged the snow especially for his birthday. I am not dumb enough to disabuse him of this, as at least he is happy with the snow and not complaining that it's STILL coming down!
So far I've cleaned 4 inches off my car and shoveled the sidewalk. I will go out again in an hour and do it all over again. (Finally I am using the shovel I bought for winter!)
I am fairly sure G'man will decide snow in April sucks when his present arrives today in the mail.
We bought him a new scooter - his other one broke after two years of near constant use and abuse.

The weekend should bring warm weather, thankfully since I am planning a BBQ bash to celebrate my sons birth. (Okay not to big, but still full of love)
Right now the snow doesn't show any sign of stopping, instead its coming down harder and stronger than ever!
Have a safe and fun day!

The Little Things in Life

There are times when you wonder (like Amy and Rory from Doctor Who) if life just got started.
The past few months seems like our life kicked into hyper gear.
We have been busy with Doctors appointments, dentist work, school, soccer, birthday parties and so much else.
I never meant to go quite for so long. Really I meant to come back and give you the update on Hubby and his seizures.
So here we go - one massive missive, condensed to a semi manageable length.

Prissy ~

In October she turned 10! (Where has the time gone!) We had a great Monster High Birthday party for her - they watched 13 Wishes (the newest M.H Movie) We had a Monster Dance off as well as a mummy wrap contest.
The winners took home some great prizes and everyone had a ball - really they are still talking about this party!

G'man ~

My boy has had a BALL this fall. We placed him on a indoor soccer team and they came in first place. Okay not to brag but they won all 8 of their games and some of them they won at 15-0. He LOVES soccer now!
He also won B.U.G lunch at his school on the same day as his Best Bud. (Bringing Up Grades). I am very proud of how great he has been this year!

The Hubs and I

 

Hubby has had 11 cavities, 3 crowns and one infected tooth worked on. He has also been on two different meds as well as diagnosed with Left Frontal Lobe Epilepsy. 

The medicine he is on has helped. He is having seizures less frequently but they are growing worse in strange ways (he was able to do a task while one part of his brain was still seizing).

I have been having a ball with my Bestie as this is the first year that all four of our babies have been in school full time!

Our friend C.A just came home from Cambodia and she has 6 more weeks to go until her first baby arrives! I can't even say how happy I am that she is back in the states!

Weather across the nation has been cold and brutal - Utah is no exception. We have been under 32d for the past two weeks! With most days starting off at 4d and getting as warm as 18d today's 30d actually felt warm - we got close to having something (anything at this point) melt!

Luckily before the cold settled in we were able to install a new warmer front door as well as plug up some large holes.

This came in handy last weekend when G'man turned off our heater with his soccer ball. Even though it dropped down to 4 degrees that night it was still a frigid 52d when we woke up.

 

We still don't have all the answers. Hubby's health still isn't where we would like it and we don't know if it ever will be again. 

Today.

Money is still tight. 

Family is still family. 

However, we have a home. 

We have each other and we have hope for tomorrow.

So today is a good day.

Today, I miss my mama, but cuddle with my son and daughter. 

Today is important.

Its filled with the little things.

School, work, fish and chips, family movie night, frigid air and hot cocoa. 

I don't know what tomorrow holds but today... today is a good day.

Utah's Toxic Air

Before the almost full foot of snow that's dropped in the last two days, we had Toxic Fog. A thick heavy layer of smog, fog and pollution.

It hard to tell due to the large amounts of white, but its around 3 feet, yes its a four foot fence but it slopes down. Its hard to describe and depending on drift, my yard has anywhere from 2 1/2 to 3 feet. We have more snow inbound tonight and tomorrow so we will see what we end up with.
The rest of this post will be on last weeks issue of Toxic Fog ;). Hope you enjoy my rant.

New's Quote, 

The icy fog has smothered the Salt Lake Valley for several weeks and trapped lung-busting soot emitted in the city underneath.

The level of pollution in the city is now the highest in America according to the Environmental Protection Agency and medical experts are now urging residents to stay indoors.

And

The greater Salt Lake region had up to 130 micrograms of soot per cubic meter on Wednesday, or more than three times the federal clean-air limit, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Utah regulators are working on a set of plans to limit everyday emissions, including a measure to ban the sale of aerosol deodorants and hair spray that contain hydrocarbon propellants. Those plans, however, will take years to show results.

Snow cover amplifies the phenomena called a temperature inversion - Salt Lake City was a foggy freezer box Wednesday at 18 degrees, while Park City basked in sunny 43-degree weather. The warmer air aloft acted like a lid on the frigid valley air, leaving it with no place to go.

For weeks, industrialized cities in northern China have been dealing with bouts of sickening smog several times more toxic than Utah's. But by U.S. standards, Utah's pollution index is off the charts with readings routinely exceeding a scale that tops out at 70 micrograms a cubic meter. The EPA sets a standard for clean air at no more than 35 micrograms.

News links on our Toxic Air.

Daily Mail - Utah's Toxic Fog make's UK's newstands - great photos of the fog.

CBS News

Fox 13 - Attempting to make it sound better

Fox 13 - Our government not really making any changes - trying to leave cleaning the air up to using public transportation. 

Fox 13 - Utah Mom's for clean air trying to get government legislators to pledge to a more active role in cleaning Utah's Air.

Utah Mom's For Clean Air - How did I not know about this group until now?

So while the snow has in fact "cleaned" the air for us once again, the simple fact of the matter is any time the air "settles" (still air, dry air ect) we get inversion. That by itself is still nasty to breathe. Add in varying factors and voila Toxic fog/air. 

The main problem is that even if this legislative session makes and creates real air changing laws and ideas, it will be years until they are implemented and even more until they are effective. 

It can be another 10 years before we see cleaner air on a full time basis. 

So what do we do in the mean time?

I for one am looking into buying special masks for Asthma and Allergy. (links at bottom of post) Since my daughter Prissy has sever Asthma and hayfever, buying washable, re-usable masks is key.

I will also pick one up for my son and I - not sure if hubby will agree to wear one or not even though he also has asthma.

We may look silly for the first year or so - however, if things continue the way they are we may be at the forefront of a new fashion. At least locally.

How about you? IF you live/lived in a polluted area what measures would you take?

 

Links to masks

Here are the top two I am looking at

For the kids (latex free & washable)

For me and the hubby (washable)

and others

I can breathe Masks

Mask buying guide 

SNOW!

Powder, tires or men, snow is fun, cold and a pain in the bum!

Yesterday it snowed. 10-12 inches of snow depending on the drift from 3 pm to Midnight. If you are a person who loves to ski, you have the money and can leave whatever you are doing... now would be the time to head for Park City, Utah - this is the best Powder Snow - its so light and flaky!

Its also a huge pain in the bum to shovel! You pick up a scoop - its light and flaky - it dribbles slowly off the side of the shovel... as I said beautiful, crystal clear, sparkly, powder snow that is annoying as heck!

See that large snow plow? Yeah it was stuck in front of my house for five minutes! Better than the Magna Senior Center van that was stuck for almost 15 minutes in front of my house before getting help from two men - one a Salt Lake County employee!
Me on the other hand - after calling and confirming that there was no snow day granted and the kids did still need to go - I went dug out the car and then voila! I remembered my BFF gave me a car with brand new snow tires!
 SCORE!
Yeah I wrote her and thanked her again and she keeps telling me to stop! I don't think I am ready for that yet I a still just so happy that I had better traction than half the other people on the road! And that I have a car - did I mention that I have a car?

Then because school wasn't cancelled I went to the PTA meeting! Another mom has joined up and I am so happy! Thank you Tera for braving the insanity!
We are lucky we have a very involved school and lots of people willing to help out making the PTA an easy fun place to be.

Can't wait for my hubby to be home and safe for the weekend!

Winter Moon

We have almost two feet of snow and it snowed lightly again today. 

As for the moon - its was achingly beautiful.

So much better than the photo - I am still learning my different camera settings and this was the best photo I was able to get before the cold had me shaking to hard to continue.

Hint: if you want to take a photo at night, in the middle of winter, put shoes and a coat on FIRST!

Right now it looks like we would be starting off the new year in surgery.

The hubby has several kidney stones on each side - one is as large as 11.6 mm!

The doctor needs to check the stats and figure out if they can blast them apart or if they will need to go in and remove them.

Also we will have to have his para thyroid checked again.

Last time he had 14 kidney stones we ended up having one of his para thyroids removed (it was HUGE)

They are what can causes calcium kidney stones.

So we may be back in for surgery on his thyroid - we did the last one 8 years ago - the day before my mother died, not hard to remember that date.

We are still in the early stages, the doctor has yet to finish testing or choosing what options to pursue in treating this - please keep us in your prayers as this is causing my husband a great deal of pain.

Edit: The largest measured kidney stone of my husbands (so far) is 11.8 mm - more scans are being taken and it may not be the largest.
Also he had issues with my word - achingly - to which I suggested he start his own manly blog with manly words. ;)

Winter Strikes the Unprepared

Yes, those are my lawn mower, bbq grill and new swing. They are now cleaned off and packed away.
Being sick for a few weeks and poof voila tons of snow and all of a sudden it hits me - its NOVEMBER already!
Also going through my closet and guess what? Yup I don't have winter boots either!
This is shaping up to be one of those years where I am wondering where I left my head!

So I am cleaning, prepping and labeling for the upcoming Miche party, I've gone over my list of needs and the only thing left to buy is the food!
Hopefully my party won't have any "where'd I leave my head," moments.


Now I am going to share a sad, unhappy, ultimately crazy, wacky and then surprisingly wonderfully true story with you - in story form (cause its fun that way.)

Two months ago my best friend Margie called me out of the blue - she was buying a new car. An older couple in her ward were going off on an elderly mission and were selling their 3 cars. She ran right over and test drove one - love at first ride.
That however, was not why she was calling me - she wanted to give me her old car!
Yes folks she really is that generous!
A few weeks later, she got her car - after paying 10 grand to the couple and gave me her old one.

A week later I was called again. "I think I'm taking the car in... its making a sound."  
Alright first off I did laugh - I mean she gave me the car that she had been constantly taking in, so she could have a car that didn't need to be taken in.
So first Sat. she went to take the car in - they didn't have room so she made an appointment for the next Sat.
That week she was sick - both her kids had been sick all week long.
So it was more than a whole month that passed before she was able to take her car yesterday.

Without telling the mechanic what was wrong with the car she handed over the keys and allowed a basic inspection.
He came out a long time later with an unhappy face.
6,000 dollars the car needed to fix it up.
Yeah that fender bender the couple told her the car had been in... yeah it cracked the engine block and did lots of other damage - also it wasn't a minor fender bender - so yeah they LIED.
He could tell that this news was devastating to my best friend.
He prompted her to trade it in.
After a few phone calls, a walk around the lot and some very intense bargaining she got the FULL value of the car in the trade in and walked out the door with a brand new 2013 Nissan Sentra!

I am so happy that it worked out well in the end! 

Kids, snow and fun

The other day we saw some of that fluffy white wet stuff. The kids had a ball running around and playing.
So did I - with my camera of course. Finding a good outdoor setting for snow & children is proving a little bit more of a challenge, but I will get the hang of it!

Birthday Parties & Good Friends

January is always a HUGE birthday month at my BFF's (TiredMom) first come's her son's and then a few day's later both her and her daughters birthday.

Winters Breath

Today winter finally arrived in Utah. This has been a very strange year - bitter cold with no snow.

In fact today in less then a 12 hour period we have received more snow then the whole of the winter so far! To celebrate I, of course, went running around the yard with my camera!

My little gnome under the snow, part of my flower bed and then part of my tree. ;)
I love my new camera - all the features, settings and how crisp and clear everything comes out!

I have been working on my new resolutions - while I am busy caring for my sick little girl - I am no longer neglecting my own needs. A good life has balance.

Click photo to travel to my food blog! ;)

Just remember life is what YOU make it.

It can be fun, active, busy, full or it could be bitter, unhappy, boring and lonely.

You make your own choices as to how you handle what comes into your life.

I have learned how to trust God - for our everything - food, house, car, money & health.

I have learned how to laugh in the hard times.

To enjoy those around me, to feel their love, even when I don't understand why they love me.

Love, hope, joy & peace are treasures - but you have to find them - they don't just appear!

Seasons of Time

What my yard looked like yesterday

I was so happy with my new camera I ran around shooting silly shots of no consequence.

What it looks like now!

It snowed and rained all night long! 

Winter has struck and it appears to have no intention of leaving.

The only serious problem with this is the sad fact

is that my Big Sis will not be able to join us for Thanksgiving.

Last year with all the early snow we had it made their journey

not only inconvenient, but expensive and trying.

Utah seems to be moving towards only having two seasons a year - 

9 months of winter and 3 months of summer!

Last year winter started at the end of October and was still snowing in June!

As this is our second snow this week (but the only one that stuck)

I must think that winter has again come early.

I also promised a few good friends to post pictures of our new van.

Here it is! Don't you just love it?

As you can tell I am in love with my new camera! 

I am in the process of learning of its in and outs.

Now that I have a working camera again I am sure that I will be on more!

Family, Snow and Power....

Late last night at 10:25 pm my middle sis and her two kids arrived at our local train station. I had braved wet slushy snow and a slick freeway to rescue them and take them to my home. When we woke up the next morning this is what we were greeted with.

Eight inches of snow!

To make life even more interesting at 3:10 last night we lost power! Yay!

Not.

Power was finally restored at noon and we were very relieved as it had started to get rather cold in here.

Not to cold mind you, I was rather proud of how my home had retained the heat.

I am also very relieved and happy that the water pipe was fixed two days ago as now it would be put off until spring.

I made it by two days!

More pictures to follow, we are safe, happy and together!

Snow

Snowflakes taste like sugar

but it needs more salt.

My Prissy sure keeps me on my toes! Seriously there are days I don't know what is going to come out of her mouth from one minute to the next!

My BFF and I were talking about how her new playground tent cover would have to come down in winter as it was not made to carry the weight of snow.

That is when my beautiful still bald Prissy pipes up "Snow is rain that froze and stuck together." Trying to shush her and finish my conversation I agree and try to continue my original conversation and then she tosses out the above phrase, a phrase that can not be ignored, passed off or not laughed at!

I mean how do you return to a normal conversation after a kicker like that?

Snow, Exersise and Shopping

I think today I will let the pictures talk. :)