I Blog Because I'm Cold

Tomorrow the sun is finally supposed to come out to stay.  It's been chilly here- I've been wearing my winter coat for our morning walks on the beach.  I know it's better than single digit Michigan temps, but I sure do hope it warms up for our last week here (it is supposed to). 

Yesterday was not a good beach day, so we drove up to Apollo Beach to see the manatees.  Because of the overcast skies and the murky water, it was a little hard to see them and even harder to photograph them. There were quite a few clustered together, and we did see one baby, too. 

We've been enjoying dinners out, filling up on fresh seafood.  Grace enjoys her nightly Shirley Temples with cherries.  We had a great dinner at Aunt Kay and Uncle Dick's house two nights ago.  Grace was really impressed with their dog, Wilson, and with Uncle Dick's songs on the guitar (he even played North to Alaska for Grace).  

One more week until Papa comes to visit.  Time sure flies when you're having fun...

We're Here!

We arrived in Florida on Sunday and have been enjoying the warmth and the sand ever since.  No long posts in the near future, but here are some photos from our first few days...

The Big Storm

We spent the two nights following this week's storm with Granny and Grandpa.  Although she was sick with a cold, Grace loved her time there.  Most of it was spent inside watching Thomas and Curious George DVDs, but we did get out for a little bit of sledding on the sidewalks.  A few photos from the storm:

Tomorrow we are off to Florida for two weeks with my parents.  After this storm, I am really looking forward to it!

The Calm Before the Storm

I guess we're in for a doozey of a storm tomorrow.  Fortunately my parents made it out of town, and arrived safely in Florida, just in the nick of time.  School has already been canceled for Dave, which will mean a relaxing day for all of us tomorrow-something we are over due for.  The past few days here have been anything but.  We bid on a HUD home in Freeland over the weekend and have spent the last 24 hours agonizing over the decision that, although it was a phenomenal deal (the home sold for $296,000 only a year ago and we were going to pay a little over half of that), it is just too much for us right now. 

We have had some other things going on besides the house hunting:  a sleep-over at Grandma and Grandpa's house, lots of play dates with friends, music class, and lots of movie watching.  Grace has fallen in love with the movie Annie.  I can still remember when I watched it as a little girl and loved it, too.  I'll take Annie any day over Thomas the Train or Curious George.

On the parenting front, I have been really challenged by Grace lately.  Whining, tantrums, defiance, and naps that seem to be getting shorter and shorter, have me wanting to pull my hair out most days.  I get so tired of asking her to do the same things, what seems like a hundred times.  Discipline is becoming a real issue, and I struggle with what to do when time-outs don't seem to phase her.   Maybe I haven't been as consistent as I need to be.  Maybe I need to come up more creative ways to say, "no."  It really does take a lot of effort to be a good mom.  I know I fall short-way short-on most days. 

And as I type this, Grace just sneaked downstairs (something we are allowing, apparently), away from Papa, to wish me "happy birthday" and to serenade me with her birthday song.  Oh, how I do love her!

Some photos from the past week:

Watching Annie

A must-have movie, in my opinion

Watching Papa shave, something Grace loves to do

Sunrise at Grandma and Grampa's

Bogs-the first boots that have ever kept my feet warm

Sledding on the sidewalk-apparently it's a good time

Warming up with hot cocoa

Reaching in for a marshmallow

Stay safe, everyone!  We are getting ready to hunker down.