This morning, temperatures were down to -35 degrees C. It's really getting cold out now. It is predicted that it will reach -60 degrees C this winter. Hmm...

We are really thankful for our warm apartment!

As the kids and I are indoors all through the week, we decided to take a little family outing on Saturday. Umm... let's just say it didn't go quite as anticipated, though! David went and got our car, which is a process that takes about 45 minutes. (He has about a 10 minute walk to our garage, and then it takes quite some time for the car to warm-up and for him to unfreeze all the doors.)

While David was getting us our wheels, I was trying to get the kids all bundled up. (Whenever I do this, I just think about how wonderful the summertime is!) Bundling up our 5 little ones is a process in itself! Getting everyone's tights, snow pants, boots, coats, hats, gloves, and scarves on can take some time... and patience! Aria is at the age now, where she can pretty much dress herself, which is SO nice! She just needs a bit of help here and there. But by the time everyone's bundled up, I usually begin to smell a dirty diaper, and quickly need to take care of that. Then little ones are crying because they are too hot or because they can't move, and I think to myself, "is it really worth it?!"

Well, we finally make it all outside and into the car. Hmm... now what?! What can one do with a bunch of little ones when it's -25 degrees C outside??? Not too much, we conclude. David drives us all to the top of a little hill, opens the doors and lets the kids run wild and play in the snow. I don't mind at all sitting inside the warm car with the babies. Well, after about a minute, Micah and Nina are back in the car saying that they are too cold to play. David also jumps back into the car, while our Aria just runs here, there and everywhere. That girl is hard-core! We watched her play for about 15 minutes, and finally had to persuade her to get back in the car. She loved it.

About this time, both babies are starting to get fussy. And, when I have a baby screaming on my lap, and one screaming by my side, regretfully, I can tend to get a bit fussy myself! So, David starts up the car and we head off. Thankfully, after a couple minutes of driving the babies quite down. Nice. Peace and quiet. We decide to take a little drive, which ends up becoming a much longer drive than previously thought! During this time the babies fall asleep, and I realize that all hopes for a nice Saturday afternoon nap are dashed for me. Let's just say, I can get quite crabby at times, and this was one of them! Which resulted in me later having to apologize to both my husband and children. (Big sigh!)

Perhaps just staying inside isn't so bad after all?!

This weekend, I made one of my favorite Christmas cookies... Raisin Filled Cookies. Yummy! Perhaps one of the reasons I like them so much is because they remind me of my Grandma. She would make these cookies every Christmas (as long as I can remember), and I would love to help her make them, and later stop by her house for an occasional cookie or two. Of course, hers tasted much better than the ones I made, but I am still enjoying them! I was actually disappointed when my kids and husband said they like them too. I was hoping to be able to have them all to myself. Terribly selfish, I know.

Did I mention that Nina is now starting to learn how to read? I wasn't really wanting to teach her yet, but after watching her big sister read her stories each day, Nina so badly wants to learn herself. She knows all the letter sounds, it's just a matter of putting them together to form words. We are going at it slowly, but she is just having a blast with it and giggles whenever she says a word right. Very cute.

Micah has had a nasty cough for about a week now. It's weird, in that it just comes and goes. Oh, and that boy is in desperate, I mean desperate need of a haircut! (Hint, hint David. :D)

Aria is becoming such a big helper to me. That girl is just wonderful, and at times, she just totally 'blows me away'. For instance, I'll be busy cooking supper, and both babies will be crawling up my legs, crying for... who knows what?! Without me saying a word, Aria will go and get the babies their blankets, take them from my legs and cuddle and play with them. What a help that is! She is a sweetheart!

And the twins? Someone once told me that twins do not fight. I had hope, but that hope is quickly vanishing. Our twins fight. One has a toy, and of course the other one wants it too. (insert screams here) One has a blanket, and the other one grabs it away. (insert more screaming) One has a cracker, and by all means, the other one needs a cracker too! (insert even more screaming) Sigh. Oh well. I know they love each other too. They follow each other through out our little place and get into all kinds of mischief together. I love to hear them giggling and playing together. Precious.