Please Please Bring Spring!

We have been fairly stuffed up inside our barrel this winter except for necessary trips. The Ice Storm Part II brought a total of 1+ inch of ice if you count the layer of sleet. Elias had two days of vomiting with no other signs of sickness, so we had to make a trip to the Children's Hospital to have another CT scan--which thankfully was clear. Today, on our way to soccer class, we were hit with yet another winter weather "episode"---3-4 inches of snow on TOP of the ice! At least we can now walk without falling to our cars and down the front steps.

One day we will find our sidewalks again

Ice art naturally created from sliding sheets from the shed

Not cotton...

The icicles are gaining length

This by far is one of the worst winters in a while and we are eagerly looking forward to the early spring that Punxsutawney Phil predicted.

The Great Winter Storm of 2011

Today we were confined to the warm walls of our little home, only to watch the evil stepbrother of Jack Frost make his way across the Midwest, bringing with him freezing rain, ice, sleet, and snow. Mama got called off work and Elias' school was closed. (Daddy had to trek out into the skating rinks of Indianapolis' streets to meet his clients.) So we spent the day watching television and playing choo-choos.

Here are some pictures from last night's storm:

The flag is covered in ice and no longer waving

A layer of ice coats our walkway

The icy graveyard of my geraniums

The Noble Skating Rink

In better news from here in the barrel, Daddy recently won federal case in which put an end to denying unmarried parents a way to designate a child's legal father if one or both parents lack a Social Security number. He was even featured on national Spanish-language news Univision! Congratulations Daddy and score one for families in the United States!

We are currently sitting through part 2 of the worst of the storm. More updates to come if we keep power.

Oh the shenanigans...

Elias is a very energetic, fun loving boy.
He loves to play hide n' seek.

And it looks like we may have a healthcare professional in the making. Elias was spotted doing vitals on monsters and their friends. (Maybe all those doctor and emergency room visits are rubbing off.)

But most of all (second to playing soccer) he likes to drive his little cars all over the house.

Kickin' our way into the new year

Happy New Year from the Barrel! We hope that our faithful readers had a splendid holiday season. Elias is now talking up a storm, however only 25% is actually decipherable.  We are not sure if he is fluent in toddler speak or if he is talking in different languages. He definitely understands both the English and Spanish spoken to him and has developed quite the opinion on what he wants and doesn't want. So far we have figured out:

"I play ball": This is the first thing out of those little lips each morning.
"I love you Mommy/Daddy."
"What's that?"
"I want that"
"Ball"
"Book"
"Duck" which is occasionally accompanied by flapping arms
"Dog" which is almost always followed by "Bow Wow Wow"
"Goal" which is always accompanied with two arms in the air
"Elmo"
"Elias"
And of course "No" and "Yes" with the former being most popular

Today we decided to channel his love of balls into a soccer class in the land of suburbia. Before piling in the car to go, he decided to study more moves from the EPL and practice a bit:

       

At class provided by the Indy Lil' Kickers was great fun and very enjoyed by Daddy and Elias:

Elias favorite activities were running on the field and running/kicking the ball. He looked like a natural out there. On our way out we picked up his new uniform to be worn next week.

A Christmas Wish

Christmas is full of shiny things
That sparkle, gleam and glow;

These holiday pleasures dazzle us,
And yet, deep down, we know...

That Christmas has its special gifts,

But our year-round joy depends
On the cherished people in our lives,

Our family and our friends.

 Wishing a very warm, happy holiday season from the Barrel!

Poem by Joanna Fuchs

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Today was the first big snowfall in the city where the barrel resides. Luckily, it is the weekend and we are able to take full advantage of the discovery of snow's treasures.

Sand box toys makes for great snow molders!

 As tradition, the day after Thanksgiving is spent decking the halls and trimming the tree. Now we have a little white stuff to help bring us into the full holiday season.

Now we are off to sipping hot chocolate and playing around the tree....or behind....

Gobble Gobble and Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving to our faithful readers! Today we opened the barrel to our family in celebration of harvest and family in the annual American tradition of Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for this year including, but not in order of importance: 

1. Health--although the 2 week cold has plagued all of us, Elias is doing so well on profylaxis and has been bleed free. We were also able to kick his inhibitor out of the barrel in 3 months time. Elias is a very active boy who I think missed the memo he has hemophilia except for his every-other-day treat of watching TV while getting factor. (Well, he's allowed Sesame Street every evening as part of wind down...)

2. Family--we had the opportunity to spend the day with the Flora's and are reminded what a loving, thoughtful family we have. Many do not have this as Mama and Daddy experience each day at their prospective jobs. We are fully surrounded by their love and kindness.

3. Prosperity--we are able to finally live comfortably and have a larger barrel to open our arms for family gatherings as well as allow Elias to run and explore. 

4. Love--to be able to give endlessly to all those in and visiting the barrel.

Here's some highlights from our Thanksgiving Day:

Mama made her first turkey!

Although there was a small "incident" of missing giblets, it came out near-perfect (thanks to the guidance of Alton Brown and Gunthrop Farms for supplying a locally grown bird.)

Our table of Bounty

Too much turkey? Someone fell asleep right at the table...