Happy New Year

Over the last few days the snow has been thawing and we've even seen the odd patch of green in the yard. However this morning we awoke once again to a winter wonderland - about eight inches of snow had fallen overnight.

So we sent the Boy out first thing to shovel a path to the road (the Man helped a bit too). Meanwhile I was indoors nursing a still poorly Girl. On medical advice she has subsisted all day on a diet of Ritz crackers and Gatorade, and as I write this she really does seem much better. Fingers crossed that's it now.

Here's a little list of top stuff (according to me) that I've enjoyed over the last year but haven't mentioned elsewhere in this blog:

Top Fiction: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. A favourite of the book group in Linton of which I am still (sort of, I think) a member.

Top Children's Music: Sandra Boynton's Dog Train (various artists). It comes complete with songbook. I especially like the Ramones-style track (Don't Give Me That) Broccoli.

Top Film (actually about the only one I've seen this year, and that was on an aeroplane, but it was excellent. Don't be at all put off by the fact that it's in German with subtitles. No, honestly): The Lives of Others

Top Website: www.stitchymcyarnpants.com leads to the Museum of Kitschy Stitches. It makes me laugh.

Happy New Year!

Skate expectations

The Girl had no appetite today, and little energy, but with her usual stoicism she put a brave face on things and didn't seem so bad. When the idea of skating was mooted she was eager to give it a go, having never tried it before.

Off we all went to the YMCA ice rink, and quickly strapped on free-hire skates (ah, the perks of expensive membership!). The Boy declined, suggesting he would rather try next week, or perhaps when he's seven (in 2009) - though by bedtime he was thinking maybe tomorrow... Anyway, he was very happy to sit watching and waving from the bleachers with a packet of M&Ms for company. The rest of us wobbled round the perimeter of the rink, gradually gaining confidence and by the third circuit hardly flailing about at all. But by this point the Girl was beginning to flag, and in any case it was the end of the open skating session, so we left it at that.

As soon as we got home the Girl took herself off to bed and slept for an hour, then was demonstrably unwell before returning to bed. However when she emerged two hours later she was in fighting form and able to chase her brother all over the house.

How do they do it?

'Snow' place like home

What with hardly a day going by without someone showing symptons of the mysterious tummy bug, we have been rather keeping ourselves to ourselves since Christmas Day. A fantastic opportunity to enjoy lots and lots of family time together! What a treat!

So it was with great relief that we welcomed T and S (one of the Man's colleagues and his wife) to the house for tea this afternoon.

They brought with them their adorable baby, still at that perfect not-answering-back stage, and much useful advice on where to look for furniture and electrical appliances. We're a bit short of both, the most urgent requirement being a fridge (there is a working one in the house, but it's down in the basement and too small for the kitchen fridge-space). I guess we'll be looking for a TV, too, though it has been very pleasant without one since we moved in here.

Meanwhile the unpacking process continues, slowly. Today the children got creative with a table base still encased in bubble-wrap which they turned into an 'ig' (that's an eskimo's house without a toilet for those of you who haven't read the Horrid Henry Joke Book).

Pet Shop Toys

Granny and Grandad had kindly sent the children some money for Christmas, so this afternoon we set out to Crossgates, our local mega-mall, to spend some of it.

The Girl was after one of those cuddly toys which comes with a code that gives access to a website. She chose a fluffy white kitten which she has named, uniquely, 'Ferret-ette'.

For once the Boy wasn't paralysed by indecision but went straight for 'Pete the Repeat Parrot', something he'd taken a fancy to on a shopping trip before Christmas. As you can see, it's a parrot. It repeats everything you say to it. Twice.

Between you and me, if Pete doesn't wise-up and stay out of my way he'll be lucky to make it into the New Year...

Quick shots

The Man writes...

"Take it easy" was once again the general theme of the day due to ongoing ailments. There was nevertheless a long held appointment at the paediatricians for jabs ("shots"). Both kids were apparently quite brave: the Boy cried only momentarily; the Girl laughed and said "that tickles".

More snow fell this afternoon and more snow games were enjoyed. However, once again we failed to build a decent snowman. Last week the snow was like sawdust and wouldn't adhere. Now it has turned crusty and icy and can't be moulded!

The kids (and parents) continued to enjoy their new things, including all manner of interesting gifts in a large parcel just arrived from England. Albaniana studiously completed a 500 piece jigsaw - a present from herself. Can anybody think of a more pointless pasttime than a jigsaw?

Illuminate me

We've had another low-key day, without any illness (hooray!).

I spent some time back at the rented house retrieving the last of our bits and pieces and making sure the place was clean and tidy. Later I took the children to the library to exchange books and pay a small fortune in overdue fines, while the Man stopped by at our absent friends' house and did a little snow shovelling, just to keep his hand in.

We've inherited a washer and dryer with our new house, and I've just discovered that the dryer has a light inside. That's strange. And come to think of it, the vacuum cleaner at the last house had an integral searchlight which lit up when you switched it on. Am I missing something? Do Americans like to do their household chores in the dark?

Christmas heave

Another Christmas nearly over (no Boxing Day here).

Was it a white one? Yes - if last week's snow still being around counts.

Did we get through the day without anyone throwing up? Err, sadly not. It was the Man's turn this time. He spent most of the day in bed.

But apart from that it has been a good day. We enjoyed exchanging festive greetings with family via skype/web-cam. Peace broke out between the kids - they were pleased with their presents (for once Santa had got them what they really really wanted, instead of fobbing them off with second-hand stuff from the Linton Mothers' Union toy sale). They played happily all day and didn't have a single argument, which was remarkable and refreshing. We played board games familiar from our childhood, but with a local twist: 'Clue' (the US name for Cluedo) and the Albany version of Monopoly. The kids stayed in their pyjamas all day, because why not?

With the Man not eating I decided to keep Christmas dinner simple and had veggie sausages and baked beans (Heinz, from Britain, a real treat because I don't like the local sort). I'm just hoping that I don't get to see them again in the middle of the night.

I hope you have all had a happy, healthy, peaceful Christmas.