A smaller world, thanks to blogging

I started to blog in 2008.

The blog was pitiful in the early years, bless it. I had a little learning to do about the whole thing, I mean I really didn't even want to do it. Once I started to figure it all out, I also started to get to know other people, via blogs. I would wiz around the internet, reading, and then eventually stalking. Remember, this was my pre Facebook, Twitter, Instagram days. This was my connection to others in the cyber world. 

Around 2009 I started to read Jaime Mac's blog, I knew she lived near me, but I didn't know her from Adam. I thought she was witty and fun, and I liked the fact her husband was a farmer. Finally one day, I outed myself with the BLOG COMMENT. Do I comment? Will she think I'm a freak? I bravely commented from the kitchen in Charlestown, and then I got my friends reading her too. She did what any nice blogger does, she stopped by mine and commented, and next thing you know we are blog buddies. What was the next step? We decided an in person meet up was in order. Where I'm sure we both hoped for the same thing, a nice person shows up and doesn't kill you. 

It was March 14, 2010, me and Jami went and met Jaime. No one got murdered and here we are six years later and in real life friends. 

Now here's another nifty thing about blogging, your peeps that read your blog get to know your family. I mean you read about someones kids, spouse, parents, siblings, and suddenly you think you know them too! I can't tell you how many times I've spotted a spouse or parent of a blog writer and thought, I KNOW YOU, while I give them the side eye. 

Then there are times that I get a text from a blog stalker with attached a picture of my parents, I'M TALKING TO YOU BETH. I've told my parents, hey you guys are celebrities! My tens of readers know you! 

Good grief how long can I drag this subject out, am I right? And anyone with half a brain knows where I'm going with this. 

My parents like to go to this little event where customers are appreciated for their business with chili and donuts. My dad even sent me a picture that day, and I can't deny I wouldn't mind be appreciated that way either. 

He even sent me a picture of some of the other customers enjoying themselves.

Then he sends me this...

"Good grief, we can't go anywhere without your friends recognizing us!"

That's my JaimeMac! The one who I stalked so many years ago, the one who I now call friend. She knows my parents from the ol' blog, and marched herself right up to them and introduced herself. Ask me how much I loved that? I had the biggest smile on my face. Jaime works there, and now anytime my dad goes in there he will have to look her up.

Just when I was getting disenchanted with the blog, something like this happens that reminds me why I ever really enjoyed it in the first place.

Blogging, making my world smaller since 2008.

Bangs won

I had full intentions of doing a jumprope post, full of adorable videos of Hope jumpin' her little heart out, but I can't get any of my videos to upload. I will have to investigate all that when I have time, which will probably be never. 

So I thought I would just throw a few cute pictures of the kids on here, and one of my new 'do. If you follow me on IG then all this is old news. 

Blogging sure seems to be a thing of the past, doesn't it? Most people I used to follow don't really keep up, and I've noticed I don't receive many comments anymore.

But never fear grandparents, I'm still here, and I will continue to give you updates on the offspring.

And the new do' because it was either times for bangs or Botox. Bangs won.

Goings on

So it keeps snowing here. 

I think we've made it to snow day #7 or 8? I've lost track really.

Snow day #1, snow day #2, and even snow day #3, those feel fun. After that though, it's a lot of time indoor time together. I mean I'm not really sure how many episodes of Liv and Maddie one person can handle, but if we have any more snow days I will get back to you on that.

Here's something fun about snow days...

CHOCOLATE.

Can't begin to tell you all the cookies and treats we've made, or more importantly EATEN.

There has been some level of production, like cleaning out closets. That, like the snow days was fun for about five minutes, then it was all WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE.

Parents are stupid aren't they? We complain about everything. Home too much, home too little, BLAH BLAH BLAH. Besides Liv and Maddie episodes we really have been enjoying our time together.

Kids especially love it when daddy stays home, he just ranks up there with Jesus. Maybe if I grilled out in shorts and flip-flops they would think as highly of me?

I did have some fun thrown in all these snow days when my bestie came to visit me.

She didn't agree with my hat choice here, but you know it's time to protect the ol' hair and face, seeing as I'm no spring chicken and all.

Because once all this snow is out of the way, I have plans.

PLANS RIGHT HERE.

And FYI: 30 days till Spring.

Watch her grow

So I finally met my new great niece. 

We managed to all stay well and make the trip to Indiana last weekend.

Pins and needles to meet the newest member of the family.

Kids were both quite enamored with her.

Pierce especially.

But really, how sweet are babies.

Besides all the hard work they cause, they are just sweet.

Great Neena went with us too.

She has always loooooved babies.

Camden was there too, but really wanted nothing to do with this pay attention to the new baby business. Or me.

He and Hope are buddies and they played and played.

And sweet Jaclyn is managing well with two babies two and under.

Excited to watch this sweet baby girl grow.

So we got some snow

Snowmageddon. 

Winter Storm Jonas. 

Blizzard 2016.

Moms lose their minds 2016.

Whatever you may call it, we indeed got some snow. 

Not once, but twice.

First snow came, and it was a sweet snow.

Like we all had joy snow.

 Let's play and make hot cocoa snow.

And that's exactly what we did. Kids played with a neighbor and it was just a good ol' winter time.

 I guess that snow brought us about 1 inch?

But to be completely pun-tastic, it was just the beginning of the storm, or should I say the tip of the iceburg.

We went to bed that night under a winter storm warning, and I remember waking up around 3 am and hearing the ice. 

Ice, and then snow.  

Ice under snow is always bad.

 Pretty, but bad.

It snowed right around 24 hours, and the grand total ended at 12 inches. That is a record for BG in 24 hours, last time was 1968.

This kind of snow called for finding a big hill. Hope was running a fever, so Pierce and I, along with some neighbors headed out in search of hill.

We were like our forefathers in search of great land. After what felt like a journey along the Oregon trail, we finally arrived to the perfect hill.

Really great hill, but we were all basically frozen by this point.

 The snow was coming down hard so we decided to come back the next day.

So much fun!

 But it can't be all play.

Paul and Pierce shoveled the driveway and Pierce really has started to hold his own! We always knew having kids would pay off.

Poor baby girl was stuck inside for most all the fun, but we did manage to find a few creative things to do. Well, as creative as I can get.

As of today as I write this, we are on snow day #5, and I'm really hoping we have seen the sun set on the last of the snow days.

Snowmageddon 2016, you were fun.

A new niece. THAT I HAVE NOT MET YET.

So Christmas was over and we were all hanging in that limbo week between Christmas and New Years. Paul headed back to BG to work, and the kids and I stayed back for one specific and special reason. The birth of Lyla Eleanor. 

We had a few days to kill before her arrival, so fun was being had. 

But the fun was very short lived.

We started dropping like flies.

First it was Paul, then me, then Hope, and then Pierce.

I was feeling pretty bad, like go to Urgent Care bad. So you know what that meant? I COULD NOT MEET MY NEW GREAT NIECE.

I was not bitter or unhappy. Oh no.

But enough about my stable emotions, I am happy to report I do have a beautiful new niece. Lyla Eleanor born on 12/29, weighing 7 lbs. 15oz and 21 inches long.

Here I was in Indiana specifically to meet her, and stuck on a couch looking a pictures. NO I AM NOT BITTER.

Oh look, everyone has had a chance to hold her.

 No really I'm happy for them. Jealous? A tad maybe. But I shall prevail.

Check it out, my parents are now Great Grandparents for the SECOND time!

How neat is that?

And Jaclyn and Christopher and both doing great!

I was actually supposed to get up to Indiana this weekend but weather and illness stopped it. OH MY GOSH. So maybe I will meet Lyla before she is walking and talking. MAYBE.

Until then, I will try and keep my emotions in check and stare at this picture of Camden being the cutest and proudest big brother, EVER.