The family that owns Scott's company also owns a swimming and ice skating recreation center.  Once a year they open the facility to the employees and family members of Scott's company.  They also provide an all you can eat dinner.  The event took place this past Saturday night.  The Derby's joined us and we all had a great time.  We began the night with ice skating.  Everyone but the the one and two year old got out there.  Even us moms! After about an hour on the ice we moved over to the pools.  Everyone but Scott got wet.  Barb and I even went down the waterslide!  I imagine everyone passed out once their heads hit the pillows. 

Our computer crashed (again) before we left for NH.  Scott has been kind enough to bring home his laptop every night from work so I can at least check my emails in the morning.  That's about ALL I can do however.  Most days I am on the move taking Blaine on visits and such.  The good thing is that since I have no computer in the evenings I am getting a lot more done around the house.  Shocking!  I don't know how often I will be able to update my blog for awhile.  I will when I can.  hugs and kisses to you all!

• As you all know by now Scott and I can be very spontaneous.  The day before we were to leave for our trip we decided to invite a friend for Levi to join us.  Thank goodness Helen and Mike can be spontaneous too.  Josiah took up the last seat in our truck and joined our adventure. 
• We arrived in New Hampshire Monday night and found that we had a wonderfully large condo.  It slept 10!
• Scott and the kids took Tuesday to relax and swim while I took Devon and Natalie and went shopping in the village.   Very cute shops with adorable things to buy. 
  

• When the girls and I got back we were pleasantly surprised to find all the couches in the condo gone and new ones arriving.  It was great to spend the week on brand new furniture.
• On Wednesday Scott took Devon, Levi, Josiah, Natalie, Claire AND Jasmine skiing at Attitash.   Levi and Josiah actually opted for snowboarding.
  
• On Thursday it rained.  No skiing.  Scott took the kids to the pool and then in the afternoon I took the kids to the Weather Discovery Center.  It was so interesting.  We learned that Mount Washington in the White Mountains where we were staying has the most volitile wind on the planet.
• We then went to a GREAT restaurant called The Muddy Moose. 

• On Friday they hit the Black Mountain slopes.  This was where the boys decided snowboarding was NOT for them.  We traded in the boards for skiis. 
• Scott and I went to dinner at a German restaurant for an early Valentine's dinner.  We took Blaine and left everyone else at the condo.
• Saturday morning was pool morning for Scott and most of the kids.  Claire and I went shopping for Daddy's Valentine's Day gift.
• Saturday afternoon they all hit the slopes at Cranmore.  I, on the other hand, drove 80 miles hunting down Jasmine's skis and ski boots that were lost at the last mountain. 
  
• We all enjoyed the fireworks display at Cranmore after night skiing ended.
• After I dropped everyone off at the condo after skiing I took Claire to the Emergency Room.  She developed swimmers ear after all her pool time.
• Sunday morning we packed our suitcases and the truck and headed to the last mountain of the trip ~ WildCat.  5* at the top and 28* at the bottom.
  
• We drove home after skiing and arrived at our front door at 2am.
• *sigh*  I'm ready for a vacation.

I spoke to Birthmom last night.  She is most definitely pregnant.  She either has no clue when she is due or is just not telling me.   She is very confused.  She wants to keep the baby.  But, she also does not want another baby taken away from her.  She is thinking she would rather get an abortion than have someone take her baby.  Scott and I both feel a strong need to pray for the protection of this child for the duration of her pregnancy.

Title courtesy of Michelle. 

I can not believe that my accident was almost 3 weeks ago and I am STILL healing.  I still have a knot on my chin and one under my eye that are still tender.  Craziness.

This past Monday Birthmom's counselor told me that she thinks Birthmom is pregnant.  *sigh*   Scott and I have done lots of talking about what that is going to look like for our family if this is true.  I will keep you all posted when we find out for sure.

Yesterday we made reservations at what looks like an awesome condo in New Hampshire for week.  I am so excited about this.  First of all it's a 3 bedroom so there is plenty of room for all of us.  2ndly it is nestled right in the mountains.  We are only 10 minutes from 5 ski resorts.  Scott and the kids will have a ball!  I on the other hand plan to have a relaxing vacation in front of the fireplace knitting, rug braiding, reading, watching movies, soaking in the hot tub.......   Of course I will also be in charge of the babies so most of my videos will probably be The Wiggles.  :)

Today we are spending the day relaxing.  Scott and Levi went out for Levi's first big snowmobile adventure.  They are heading all the way up to Lake Ontario and back.  The girls and I are a having a video day.  They are working on the Love Comes Softly series Natalie got for Christmas.

This morning I was taking a nice, warm, relaxing shower.  I was in the midst of shampooing my hair when all of a sudden I hear, "THERE you are!"  I turn around, open my eyes, and see Blaine fully clothed standing in the shower behind me and Scott reaching in to take him out.

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it! You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing. Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities. And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

• I have so very much to be thankful for today.  First of all NO ONE PUKED!!!  That is always a good thing. 
• In the midst of this frigid January weather we have a woodstove to keep us toasty.  As well as the loads and loads of firewood Scott made sure we had well in advance that is stacked so neatly next to the house.
• 
• Although Blaine and I were in a very bad car accident on Monday he wasn't hurt one teeny tiny bit.  My injuries are annoying but nothing serious.
• We live in a time where we have medicine's for everything.  Most especially today I am grateful for medications to that stop vomiting and relieve us of aches and pains.
•  
• I am extremely grateful for a husband who loves me and works hard at caring for me.  As I was sitting in the wrecked car all I wanted was for Scott to arrive.  I knew that once he was there all would be well.  As soon as I saw him I began to cry.....for the 1st time since my car went off the road.  They were tears of relief. 
  
• I have amazing friends.  Friends who will take my children at a moments notice.  Friends who will be there the moment I need them. Friends who rise up to be family for us when our family is so far away.  And friends who leave me encouraging notes.
  

This time for Natalie.  She began vomiting at 3am.  At around 11am she had a lot of blood in her vomit.  I called our doctor and she said to take her to the ER and to phone our Pediatric GI Specialist and let him know we were on our way over.  To make a very long day short......Natalie vomited so severely that she appears to have burst blood vessels in her stomach or intestines.  They gave her some anit-nausea medication that made her a brand new person.  After she held down some apple juice and crackers they sent us home.  We didn't get home til almost 7pm.  She climbed right into bed and has been sound asleep ever since. 

Now Claire AND Levi are sick.