Ice Adventures

We have been quite the itinerant family this week. More snow and ice came on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. This is what we woke to on Wednesday...

Around 8 that morning, we lost power at our house. Even with an ice storm the last two years (here and in Springfield) and the wind storm in the fall, we have never been without electricity for more than a few hours. So I suppose it was our turn this time. In the midst of all the traveling between home, work, and friend's homes, we have been trying to remain surrendered and know that the Lord is caring for lots of people in our city and we're not in the most dire need. Others are. Thankfully the Lord is gracious when I've started to get overwhelmed.

Our friends Mike and Julie, with whom we've shared a few little adventures this year, offered for us to come stay in their home. So Silas and I packed up and headed there Wednesday. Shane, the Lord bless him, spent both Wednesday and Thursday nights at home (in frigid temperatures) with Luther and Auggie. That is sacrifice and loving your family more than yourself. I am so blessed to be married to that man.

On Friday, dear friends Charis and William decided to go out of town and graciously gave us their home for the night. They even let us bring Lu and Auggie! What friendship! It was nice to all be together again. Silas must have felt happy and secure, too, because he slept 12 1/2 hours last night.

Here is our little man snuggled up for a winter's nap while we were packing to leave the house earlier this week. We took turns sitting with him by the fire...

He thought it was all a great adventure...
Please pray with us that power will be restored all across the city, not just to our home. We're supposed to get more snow Monday, so pray that everyone prepares wisely.

But the Snow Came

Shane was supposed to start back to school today, but the snow and ice came so we are all snuggled up inside. We hear that more ice and snow is predicted so we're settling in for a few days indoors...or at least at home. Luther and Auggie love being outdoors in this weather.

Shane gets to play with the puppies while Silas and I watch from inside. Silas has a great view from his highchair looking out the back doors...

Watching Daddy...

Shane took this one from outside looking in. The weather had turned to sleet at this point...

We hope you are all staying toasty warm in your homes today! Silas and I skyped with my parents this morning so I know they're plenty warm in Singapore. Just 2 1/2 weeks till Silas and I take our trip to visit them - we're really looking forward to playing outside and going to the pool now!

Boys Playdate

Yesterday Silas and I went over to my friend Julie's for a boy's playdate. Michelle and Everett came, too. Our boys are 8 months (Everett), 6 months (Silas), and almost 3 months (Jonah). We've been talking about getting a big, medium, and little picture for months. Finally here we are...

I did not get the best of pictures. With Silas in the middle, he often had a hand on one of the other boys so I was either "helping" him be nice, or laughing too hard to capture the moment. Julie, on the other hand, took some great ones. You'll see what I mean about Silas in the middle!

Way More Fun

Since our December travels and the appearance of teeth, Silas has been sleeping very inconsistently. Now I know what I am about to write will cause much lamenting from my friends whose babies REALLY don't sleep well. My apologies.

Recently Silas has only been sleeping for about 9 hours at night. And he's been waking up at 6. Too early for our house. In November and the beginning of December, he was sleeping a good 11 hours and waking at 7. A perfect routine. How I was missing those days. But slowly we've been working and HALLELUJAH...I think we might be back! The last two nights he has slept 10 1/2 and 11 hours. With great daytime naps. I keep telling that sweet baby, we are way more fun when we're rested...

Tagged

My friend Rhianna picture tagged me. I've never partaken in tags in the past, and Shane is currently providing verbal ridicule as I write this post. But...for some unknown reason...tonight I find it fun. So I shall continue, despite the disparaging remarks next to me. It's called perseverance, people.

Oh, the precious.

Here are the tag rules:

1. Go to where you store your digital photo folders & open the 4th folder.

2. Go to the 4th picture and post it.

3. Explain the picture.

4. Tag an additional 4 people.

Of course the picture is of Silas. This was just hours after he was born. I was in a blissful state of new-mommyhood. I loved that day. I was surprised that this was the fourth album that opened up. I have been saving pictures on our computer for years. But you can thank my computer for alphabetizing my folders. This way you didn't have to view a scary pregnancy picture of me in shorts with no tan. Yikes.

So I'm tagging:
Michelle, Julie, Theresa, and Katie

*Update* Hooray...we have comments! So let us know you stopped by. I won't tell you how long it took me to figure out why they were not appearing. But let's all just thank Silas for napping well today.

And about the new look...Shane and I weren't so keen on the new template. So we changed it back. It lasted for a whole 9 hours. Congrats to those of you who actually saw it.

We are Playing!

I know, I'm back so soon (see earlier post today). Silas is taking his second nap of the day so I'm getting all kinds of things done...and am enjoying it. It is frigid again today, although not quite as chilly as yesterday, so I'm not planning on getting out. Unless I decide I can't wait one more day to get Silas his big boy carseat. I think we've decided on the one we want but want to re-visit them all in person before deciding.

How cute is my big boy sitting up? Darling...

All the new toys we have are perfect for his age. He can sit with them and will be able to cruise and walk around them when those days come.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Grandma Judy for coming to stay with us this week. Shane had class all week so Silas stayed home with Grandma while I worked on Thursday and Friday. I think they had fun...

I made these videos last week. You can see how Silas has improved his sitting skills already. So many of you have asked how the dogs have been with baby around. They love each other, as you'll soon see...

A Saturday Minute

Silas and I are playing endlessly today. Grandma Judy brought all his toys from Christmas (THANK YOU!) so we have all kinds of new things to do.

Are you loving the new look? I am...we needed a change. I have tried several times to allow comments, but our blog does not seem to want them. Sigh. I'll keep trying...someday.

It's the 15th!

Hey friends,
This is a reminder for all of you who have partnered in memorizing scripture with all the Siestas over at LPM. It's the 15th so time to select your second verse to memorize. If you haven't joined and would like to, take a visit to their site and check it out. It's a sweet blessing. And a reminder that the Word of God is living and active. Nothing could be more thrilling.


Here's what I'll be adding to my memory set these next few weeks:


"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12-14

Shane's mom is here this week so we're having fun opening up Christmas boxes!

Love you all, friends.

Daddy's Boy

While Daddy was gone today, Silas and I played ball. He certainly is his Daddy's boy.

Our Holiday Marathon

Today I have all kinds of things planned: laying on the couch, playing with Silas, reading, watching TV, and more laying on the couch. Riveting, I know. Shane and I have both been sick this week, and just when I thought I was getting better, I came down with a respiratory thing and have nearly lost my voice. Today is all about recovery.

I hope you all found merry ways to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. While we spent New Year's at home, not wanting to spread illness to our friends, we were surrounded by family and friends the whole previous week for Christmas.

Silas experienced his first Draher Christmas Eve. He had fun with great aunts, uncles, cousins, Grandpa Lee and Grandma (of course)...
On Christmas morning, Silas woke up early (he didn't pay attention when we left the Eastern Time Zone for Central), so none of us took time to get cleaned up before pictures. I can't believe this is how we'll look forever in Silas' first Christmas morning pictures. Oh well.

We skyped with Nana and Papa, who were up late on Christmas night to tell their baby Merry Christmas. See the denim jacket next to the computer? Papa and Nana got that for Silas. He is more than adorable in it...

Then it was time for more gifts. Grandma loaded up Silas' stocking. I had left our new stocking with Silas' name on it at home, so I was so glad Judy had one already waiting for us...

Luther remembered Christmas right away when we started opening presents. He helped Silas open several! So when Luther was opening his own present, Silas wanted to help him...

Later on Christmas day we went to have chicken and noodles at Grandma and Grandpa Draher's house. It's tradition and we all love it...

Christmas night we celebrated with Shane's brother. So Grandma and Daddy fed Silas his dinner while I finished wrapping a few last-minute gifts...

We were given so much that we didn't expect this year. I am loving my new steam mop. And next week we'll go pick out Silas' big boy car seat. One of Shane's fun gifts was a washers set that Wes built...

Silas helped Uncle Wes and Aunt Brooke open a few gifts...

Then he decided it was time for an evening nap...

He woke up in time to see Grandma open the book we made for her...

The next day we went to see Grandpa Mike and Aunt Tara. Silas loves snuggling with Grandpa and just loved their puppies...

It was a busy and joyful week. We were glad to be home, though. Now we're waiting a couple of weeks for Grandma to come visit with all our goodies! Since we took Luther and Augustine, we didn't have much room in the car for gifts. So mid-January we'll have Christmas all over again!