Where did I leave off….I think I ended my last post talking about Isabelle’s release from the hospital and the fact that she’s been doing well ever since.  So Sunday rolls around and I’m just hoping and praying that she doesn’t remember my promise to her that we’d go to the pet store and get her a hamster that day.  That “sleepy medicine” they gave her was crazy!  Poor girl, she was so confused.  There were all kinds of things she couldn’t remember and I was desperately hoping the “hamster promise” was one of those.  Not so much.  As soon as I got up that morning one of the boys bombarded me…

Boy:  “Belle is getting a hamster today?  How come?!” 

Me:  (looking over at Belle who is wearing a big eat-shit grin) “Dangit!  You remember that?!”

Belle: (still grinning) “Ummm, yeah.  That was before the sleepy medicine…”

Me:  “Dangit!  I thought for sure you’d forget that…”

Belle: “Nope!  When are we going?”

Boy: “That is NOT fair!!!  Why does Belle get a hamster?!?!”

There was no getting out of it.  I was stuck.  H was ready to kill me.  I don’t think he actually thought I’d go through with it.  But I did.  Mama totally buckled under the pressure, I couldn’t help it!  Oh, and in the middle of a snowstorm I might add.  Well, a “snowstorm” for Georgia anyway.  A hint of snow is considered a blizzard around these parts, it’s comical… J  Growing up in Pennsylvania the first 11 years of my life, I know what real snow is like.  I have to admit though, I’m just as crazy as everybody else around here whenever we get a snow report.  Which is why I immediately made a grocery list for H and sent him to the store (zoo) so that he could pick up (battle it out for) the last gallon of milk and loaf of bread on the shelf with the other shoppers (crazies).  Meanwhile, Belle and I made our way to the pet store.  Thirty minutes later we were leaving with a new pet.  A “robo dwarf” hamster named Pippy Squeak, because all the pets in our house must have a minimum of 2 names…;)  It really is quite cute, but still, it shouldn’t be living in my house…

Monday was a snow-day for the kiddos.  How fun is that?!  We just don’t get those very often so it’s a *really* big deal when it happens!  My kids played outside in the snow Sunday and Monday up until the time it all melted away.  They had a blast!  Complete with snowball fights, sledding, and snowman building.  I don’t know how many loads of laundry I did between Sunday and Monday.  Obviously we don’t have “snow clothes” so every time they came in and out of the house from playing in the snow they had to strip down and put on a new set of clothes to go back outside in.  It was never ending.  Being that it was a snow day for the kids on Monday, I decided to take the day off from work so I could hang out with them.  So I was eating lunch in the living room watching Belle and her friend play with Pippy.  One minute they’re playing, the next minute Pippy falls onto the floor where Tiffany Suzanne promptly picks her up in her mouth and attempts to run away with her!  My lunch plate went flying across the room as I attempt to capture Tiffy.  The girls are screaming, and all I see are a set of little rodent legs hanging out of Tiffy’s mouth while Belle appears to be beating/choking Pippy out of her mouth.  Thankfully, Pippy escaped seemingly unscathed with body parts all in tact.  Thank God.  I can only imagine the devastation that incident could have caused.  Belle now knows that Tiffany Suzanne must be put up in her cage whenever she handles Pippy.    

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful as was this past weekend.  We did lots of running around with lacrosse and baseball games, which I positively love on the weekends!  Weather-wise we went from snow last week to temperatures in the 80’s this week.  I’m loving it!!  The flip-flops came out this weekend and I couldn’t be happier.  Hoping this awesome weather is here to stay!!

On the agenda in the upcoming months ~ a family beach trip planned for the kids’ spring break the week of April 4^th to Perdido Key.  Also going on a girls’ trip the last weekend of May with my sister, lifelong friend since 3^rd grade, and her sister.  I grew up with this particular friend while living in Pennsylvania and we’ve stayed in contact over the years.  She’s temporarily back in PA until July (she normally resides in Colorado) so we decided to take advantage of her time on the east coast and take a trip together.  We’re going to West Palm Beach.  Pretty cool, eh?  I’ve never been so I’m really looking forward to it!!  After that trip I have my first triathlon the following weekend and my second tri two weekends later.  Oh yeah, my birthday is at the end of the month and Noah has requested that I have my “birthday party” at the bowling alley.  How funny is that?  I think I’m gonna do it, just for fun. J  I’m crossing all my fingers and toes that I get a new camera for my birthday.  I need a new one desperately!  Speaking of birthdays, Isabelle Rose will be 11 on April 28^th, and the boys will turn 9 on May 11^th.  Holy cow…time passes way too fast with them.  At least I can honestly say that I cherish each and every minute with them along the way.  They are and always will be my everythings…

Hope everyone out in blogland is fantastic!  Until next time, these are the days of my life. 

Be great

Belle and I left for the petstore with reports of snow on the way, to get this.....

We returned home to this.....  (watermill at the front of our neighborhood)  It really does snow in Georgia!!

Isabelle Rose + Pippy Squeak =  Happy

Enjoying their snow day!

Happy boy (Noah)

Rossy, haulin' ass down the neighbor's hill on his sled

The house covered in snow.  Such a rare sight!

Can you say red flag???  Less than 24 hours after Pippy's arrival, Tiffany Suzanne attempted to eat her!