Winter Flurries

It doesn't seem we've been outdoors and doing much in the last month. The second biggest news is we got a dog. And, then, after six days, we had to give her back.

The plan was to keep this gorgeous German Shepherd forever, but Sophie wasn't well socialized, and we just have too many people coming and going. She would bark loudly, scare kindergarteners, jump up on other adults and make Megan run the other direction. Somebody had to go; it was either Megan or the dog.

During most of Sophie's stay, Dan had been up in the Twin Cities with his parents. His dad suffered a second round of heart attacks after snowblowing after one of our numerous winter storms this year. Jud had suffered the attack Sunday around 4pm. We found out about 9pm and Jud still hadn't gone to the ER. Finally, he allowed the paramedics to be called to check him out. After the ambulance came, the medics hooked Jud up to a monitor and discovered he was having a second heart attack right then.[Jud had a heart attack in June 2008 while we were living in Chicago.]

Dan left our house around 11pm that night; we didn't tell his mom until he was closer to their house. The roads were horrible and she didn't need more to worry about. He was there until Wednesday.

Jud ended up having some at least one stent put in that night. He's doing well and back home, hopefully taking it easy. That alone is a reason for us to be glad we're back in Minnesota. That was the first biggest news of this month.

Somehow, the message got around town here that it was Dan that had the heart attack. Ah, rumors...

So this 2-year-old doggie was a nice comfort to me and a good heating blanket in our basement as I watched b-rate movies. Annika and I are saddest at her leaving.

On Valentine's Day, Annika and her classmates went ice skating. Dan and I both chaperoned. I haven't been on skates in years. Wow, do your legs get tired quickly! I was glad when the hour or so was up! Annika did well, first with a "walker" and then on her own. Now, of course, she wants to take lessons--she always wants to take up things after experiencing them once. However, I don't know how long she would actually stay with these things.

A nice pic of Annika--not sure which of her sisters took this...

Pics by Emily again...she has a fascination with her feet

If you do read this, please post so I have an idea of whether anyone is reading. Thanks!

Kid quotes:
Fake sauce (what Emily calls A1--steak sauce)

"That floor is all gurgly!" Lauren exclaimed about our downstairs toilet room floor. I asked that that meant since she usually has her own definition for things. "I don't know," she said. "But the floor is disgusting."

"I'm going to be five my next birthday," Emily said. "And then six and seven."
"Stop!" Annika, age 7, replied. "It's so weird to hear little kids talk about growing up."