Snow Happens... even in Tacoma!

The weather man has been very busy here in the Puget Sound this week. I don't know enough about weather reporting but I assume that this is the place "they" would send you if you made your boss angry. The weather is normally one of two things.... Raining (aka: Seattle Spit) or about to rain. This week however we have had wind, a little hail, icy rain and my very favorite snow. Some parts of the Interstate (I-90) are still closed due to the mass amount of snow that is dumping in the mountains, but here in T-Town the snow is gone. I awoke Monday to a nice gentle snow and as I left for work that morning I snapped these snowy shots. Most of the school districts had a delay of two hours... all because of 1 to 2 inches of snow! I am sure school was never delayed for that amount of snow when I was a kid... but then I did grow up in up state NY, where lake effect reigns king. This little amount of snow made me think a funny thought... we all have a family member that we love to hate. You know the one that you look forward to seeing that you see only one or twice a year... but then they over stay their visit and begin to really annoy you... well, I decieded this week that snow is that exact situation. We all love snow; can't wait to play in it, reminisce days of the past, or snuggle and watch it fall. But then, we have to worry about driving in the snow with many other lunatic drivers, wiping off the car after work with your bare hands because you don't own a scrapper due to you live in Seattle where it rains every day, or my favorite (and one thing I would never have considered if I live back east) the general messy snow residue leaves on everything. Well, as I look forward to the snow melting away I am starting to dream of warmer weather that I might encounter while in Dallas next week. Of course, with my luck the snow will move east and shut down the Midwest during my short yet busy trip.

It's always something new...

Life this week amongst the Arnold's is another story of busy days and busier nights. I am starting to get pretty nervous about an upcoming business trip to Dallas that I will be taking in mid February...shhhh don't tell my boss that I am nervous! I have been pulling lots of early mornings and leaving late from the office again this last week. The worst thing is I am starting to dream about work... ugh... anyone know how to clear a restless mind. Good news is I am starting to reform. My boss offered me a laptop to take home with authorization to work from home (so I could be home with the kids in the afternoons)... you will all be happy to know I said thanks, but no I don't think I want to do that; but I will keep it in mind for when I am ready to tele-commute... Someone must have been praying for me hard that day... Thanks!!!

Jim and I tackled a few household projects this last week ie. repairing the screen door that Shadow managed to rip off the house (it's way better now then when we bought the house), re-glued the counter edge that my hip and Deryck seem to snag every time we walk in the kitchen and the Pine box car managed to get a few layers of paint on it. It is really coming along I will post the final project. The kids cleaned their rooms (under a few threats of death and giving everything away) and we had to return / replace the electric room heater that suddenly stopped working for the upstairs. Jim and I have started talking about window replacement for the house but we want to wait until we have been here at least a year and know we will be sticking around for a few more... its gonna be pricey to replace every window in this house.

Sherman and Judy prepared for a surprise trip to Kansas to visit Judy's sister, Genine. Sarah started have labor pains on Wednesday causing Sherman, Judy, Doug and Sandy to rush to Bellingham...but it was pre-labor so Sherm and Judy headed out to Kansas hoping the baby would wait for their return. And we were all a little surprised by the early but safe arrival of Sarah and Andy's newest bundle of joy... Penelope May.

Penny had a different idea and decided that Friday was going to be her day of entrance into this busy family. The kids were very upset when I told them that "Sarah had her baby today" when I picked them up after I finished work Friday evening (they hoped to be in town when the birth happened again... but we never planned for that due to our busy schedules) and that when we got home we could "see" her and the new baby. They somehow thought that Sarah and Penny were at our house...oops. They wanted me to drive to Bellingham the very moment they realized Sarah and the baby were not at our house. I used my best "No, because I said so" mommy voice and told them we would maybe visit later that weekend; depending on how everyone was feeling and schedules. Jim and I took the kids up on Sunday afternoon for a short visit...the kids were glad to see everyone...even though the pictures that we managed to get don't reflect that. Ashley was her normal self of "I'll take my time to warm up to someone new"... Later on she was holding Penny's hand and really looking at this newest addition to the family; I think Doug (Andy's Dad) got a few photos of them together. After we got home later that evening she told me that Penny was a nice, quiet, and pretty baby and hoped Theo would be good big brother like Deryck was. I smiled and told her I had no doubt that Theo would be nice and good to her.

We retired to bed early, around 7:30 last night but sleep didn't come easily to me; my thoughts turned to my children... the challenges and blessings I have faced and those that are yet to come. I prayed myself to sleep with thoughts turned towards Sarah, Andy, Theo and little Penny...

Busy, Busy Arnold Clan...I need a cup of Joe!

I really wanted to start today's post "I want to go to bed!" but then who doesn't... I am starting to think I have Seattle Winter Blahs. Or maybe these kids of mine keep me running too much...who knows. All I know is one "Quad Venti Sugar Free Vanilla Breve" just doesn't cut it anymore... I might need a caffeine addiction intervention...Naaa... I am fine just give me so more Joe!


I have been getting to work around 6am and on most days still in the office around 4:30pm... It's hard to leave with so much work to do, but if I leave much past 4:30 I hardly get "fun" time with the kids before our bedtime routine starts. On a few occasions, I have dozed during dinner...sweet Deryck has gently shook my arm asking if I am OK. We finish dinner quickly, leaving meal and dishes on the table, skipped most of the bedtime stuff and all piled into my bed together. The kids have been so understanding of my sleepiness that they both snuggle with me until we are all fast asleep (before 8:00pm). Jim is such a love...he puts everything away when he gets home at 9:30 (well, whatever is salvageable in his opinion) cleans the kitchen up, cares for the animals if I forgot and then gently moves both kids into their own beds before snuggling with me for the night. He is so loving; he has forgiven me for sleep really late on Saturday mornings while tending the kids and cleaning the house (which I neglect most of the week). He never complains and but gently reminds me that I need to find that work / family balance. Jim has been so supportive and loving all these years...his bountiful love amazes me.


Since my last posting I had ten (yes 10!) 9 and 10 year old Cub Scouts here at the house for the first cub scout meeting of the year. The boys finished the tool boxes they were making and began to sculpt their Pine Box Derby Cars. Deryck is hopeful that his design will win seeing he was so successful a the pumpkin races. He loves to think about cars...just like another man in this house. After the car was prepared and ready for paint we headed out to pick up some. We took Deryck to Home Depot to buy spray paint... After selecting the paint and a few other needed project things we checked out; in order to buy three cans of spray paint we were "carded", yes full ID "carded" I was shocked...Who would have thought that would happen! We still don't know why but then we live in T-Town anything is possible. The boys have designed a "hot" paint job of red, orange and yellow flames. Jim and Deryck will continue to work together on the Pine Box car and next week all the boys will be back at my house...still not sure what new adventure that Mr. Jeff has in store for the boys.


I have started placing calls to move Deryck to a different school... this is hard for me as I hate to admit that parts of South Tacoma are "hard". Deryck has been the victim of bullying at his school. I have had a few meetings with his teacher and recently the principal. I have been told that the kids in the third grade are "tough" this year and that the bullying is a population issue. All of this is rather difficult to choke down because I think a good teacher classroom management class might in need; as Deryck has been punched daily in the back while she (the teacher) is in the classroom. The student (yes...one boy) was suspended for 2 days; but when he returned the bullying also returned with him. I love our "neighborhood" but unfortunately the community as a whole doesn't reflect the same values we are raising the kids with. I will let you all know what we decide to do and were the kids will move to.


Jim has been a busy at work. There are still shortages in staffing...the guys from India have come here for additional training. Jim is heading up the "new" International Flight side of things, facilitating some training and at some point this year they still have to move out of their building. The rumors are still flying about relocating to Phoenix but for now we aren't worried about a move.


We are enjoying the blessings that God has given to us knowing that "HIS" plan is always the path we try to stay on...no matter where it might take us.

A Posting Miracle!!!

Sorry, I have been a bit of a Blogging "Scrooge" these past few months...I can make many excuses but I am sure you know them all. I will promise to squeeze some time out of every week to post something even if its a few words to let you all know we are alive and doing fine. With the apology made... how about a little Holiday Update!

This year we branched out on our own...We decided to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home this year or should I say honestly I wanted to stay home this year... As many of you know we "The younger Arnold's" have invaded The Arnold home every year for Christmas Days. This was a tradition that Jim grew up with; spending Christmas Eve, Day and the Next Day at his grandparent's home. He so loved this tradition and the memories he had so much that he wanted to share this experience with his children. Judy and Sherman have been wonderful to indulge Jim these last 7 years with the fond memories of this tradition with our children. After many discussions over the 2007 I finally convinced Jim that even though I loved this traditional event it was time (and my desire) to spend Christmas at our new house in Tacoma and that we could still spend Arnold Family time together but just a little later in the day. Once this decision was agreed to we had one more task...how to explain to the rest of the family that we wanted to spend the eve and morning at home. The news was well received with the added bonus that we would also like to host Christmas Day Dinner at our house. The holidays were wonderful...we had traditional Clam Chowder for Christmas Eve Dinner at The Arnold's, went to the 7:00pm Service at church and then headed back home. We made sure to leave milk and cookies just in case "Santa" dropped in and tucked the kids into bed. Jim and I set the dinner table for Christmas dinner, checked our Christmas dinner list twice, made Monkey Bread together, listened for sleigh bells and then dozed to sleep. We awoke around 7:00am to the sounds of Ashley coming down the stairs and then running back up to tell Deryck "Santa" had in fact been there during the night. We watched the kids play with the "Santa" gifts while making coffee and cooking the Monkey Bread. "Santa" brought Deryck a small digital camcorder and Ashley "Buttercup" the pony. After we were all fed and the Ham was started we relaxed together and shared our family gifts. We had a very relaxed morning hanging out in our PJ's and enjoyed watching the kids play with their gifts while Jim and I made the last few preparations before everyone else arrived. To our complete surprise we received an extra gift "Christmas Snow in Seattle" Deryck is sure that God brought me a little Snow from home to make the day just right for me. It was a perfect Christmas Morning. Sherm, Judy, Sarah, Andy and Theo arrived around 1:00pm. We enjoyed a 2nd round of gift exchanges with the Arnold's and was able to visit with the Lewis's. Before we knew it the Lewis's had to leave for more Christmas'ing with the Lewis side of the family in Olalla. We were so delighted when the Meserve Clan and the Kramer' s agreed to share Christmas Dinner with us. The Meserve's are like extended family to us and I was so happy to share in this special day with them. The Kramer's are great family friends to all the Arnold's and it made the day even better to share it with so many people we love. I felt so blessed to have our home full of loved ones on this very Special Day. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas feast, and then spent the evening playing games and relaxing. Later in the evening, Don's parents from California arrived and after a brief visit all of the Meserve's headed home. After everyone had departed for their journey home and the kids were tucked soundly asleep into their beds, Jim and I snuggled together and watched the Christmas tree glisten. A Perfect Christmas!