Nimuae's 10th Birthday

on the 10 year old's birthday wish list:

1. the board game, LIFE

2. cat calendar

3. littlest pet shop rescue center

4. purple converse high tops

5. nutella

6. wimpy kid books

on the 10 year old's list of desired birthday activities:

1. rollerskating with friends

2. party with neighbors

3. chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting

on the very top of the list of things I will remember about Nim this year:

1. wearing her earmuffs every day since she got them for Christmas

wintery felines

The animals have been sticking closer to home this winter. The cats still go out to explore, even if that means walking through snow that goes up to their bellies, but we see them laying about the house much more than in the warmer weather. They love finding little cozy places like boxes and laundry baskets ~ and it is always a treat to see a purring little friend tucked away somewhere secret. Axel has a special love for the starry bower that hangs over Gita's bed. Maybe it is the light blue fabric or maybe it is the glitter, but we can usually find him curled up in his starry nest.

and thought I'd throw this in just for kicks....

we are doing an article on winter immunity for the next issue of our email newsletter at work. I was asked to take a picture of myself with a bowl or pot of hot soup. So, here I am, in our (finally, after weeks of chicken pox and the flu) healthy winter home with a lovely bowl of chicken soup.

slip away together

David and I have really been enjoying the ability to slip away together for a few minutes now that the kids are getting older and more responsible. We did just that on Saturday, enjoying a sweet little walk in the last of the snow before it melts away. We are blessed to have miles and miles and trails and gravel roads right outside our door. The sky was so blue and clear, it was a beautiful day!

kicking off the new year

news from the Carmona household:

1. we went to Utah to visit family for the holidays. We had a wonderful time (thanks everyone!). The "exclamation point" at the end of the trip (and the beginning of 2011) was the unanticipated arrival of the chicken pox for Gita and Nimuae. So we spent the last few days of the vacation soaking in oatmeal.

2. a few days after arriving home (on the tail end of chicken pox) we were hit with a huge winter storm. It snowed and snowed ~ luckily the power stayed on. Noah's school was closed Monday - Thursday, with a 3 hour delay on Friday, and we could not make it off the mountain for any of the girls' classes. So, we enjoyed many snowy walks, lots of sledding, and warm meals in front of the roaring wood stove.

3. a few days into the snowy week, Noah came down with the chicken pox. We are all relieved that he finally got them and feel awful that it didn't happen until he was 13. He is being a trooper and keeping as positive as possible, but he feels (and looks) miserable (as you can gather from the photo above).

4. but through all the illness and intense weather, we are a family that is happy to be snug in our home, grateful for all our blessings, and loving the sweet family time that comes with sickness and snow.

Utah family pics