Author: admin

I spent two years of college in Vermont. The snow started in October and stayed around until the big thaw in the spring known as “mud season.” Here in Pittsburgh, it’s different. Friday we had a beautiful snowfall. On Saturday and Sunday we played in the snow. Monday, it rained and was icy. Today, it’s warm and muddy.

I put on our mud gear and took the kids out for a walk in the park. I kept them out of the big puddles until near the end of our walk. It’s warm for January but it’s not warm enough to be wet outside and happy.

At 3 o’clock every afternoon, two older girls are done school.  I pack up the two younger kids to walk or drive over to their nearby school and bring them home.  If Augusta is sleeping, this is a problem.  I never want to wake her up so I put her down for her nap early enough that she’d be awake in time to go pick them up. But, if she goes down for her nap around 1:00 she doesn’t sleep very long and she wakes up crying.  I noticed on the weekend if I let her stay up until around 2:00 or 2:30 she’d sleep for at least an hour and a half and often longer.  

In addition to this, I noticed the worst times of the day for me were when I was getting my kids in the car to go somewhere on time.  This was the situation every day when it was time to pick up the girls at school. I decided it was time to ask for help.  

Why didn’t I ask sooner?  Because I had nothing to offer in return.  If I’m driving, I have only one extra seat and it’s the front seat where kids don’t sit in this day and age.  I couldn’t return the favor so I didn’t want to ask.  On Sunday while Augusta was napping,  I asked my neighbor and sister in law if they could pick up my kids from school during the week.  They said yes.  

This afternoon I put her down for her nap at around 2 o’clock.  She napped until almost four and woke up singing a song about Thomas the Train.  

We’ve been inside all day with the cold, cold temperatures outside.  This morning she ran around and around the table with her duck.  

He loves to crack the eggs for whatever recipe we are working on. Today it was waffles. Do we sometimes have shells in our food? We do.

School was delayed due to unusually cold temperatures.  There was no need to get out of their pj’s right away.

Last time we went to the library, these window boxes were full of other little readers during our visit.  This morning my kids had a chance to get in, look down at the cars on the street below and read a little.  These windows are in the main (adult) section of the library.    When we are leaving the library, we often head over to these big windows to peer down on Forbes Avenue and see the tops of the trucks and buses going by.  There is usually a row of serious adults reading books nearby.  I try to keep my kids on the quiet side, all the while wishing we could enjoy the view with gusto.  

Today, right after I took this picture, the library security guard came over and told me that the window seats were just for sitting – no running, no crawling – just sitting.  Okay, I said.  We quietly gathered our books and headed out while the adults went on reading in peace.  

About the Photos: I got a new, used camera.  It’s a 5D classic – a full frame camera.  (Finally.)  Anyway, I have a 20mm lens that I haven’t ever loved on my 7D but I put it on the new camera and it’s a lot of fun. 

I love books and usually have a stack out from the library.  Sometimes my friend, Zane, posts a photo of the books that they are reading.  I was inspired to do the same today.  One book for each of us and the newspaper for my dear husband who reads it every day.

I’m also updating my neglected “book shelf” page on the blog to include just these current books with a little bit about each one. I gave the page a new title too, What We’re Reading.

And, yes, I’m reading a book about business, Worth Every Penny.  I’m surprised how much I’m interested in business now that I’m starting one.  I know have a lot to learn about being in business.  I thought that reading about running a business was necessary but would be boring.  So far, it’s not boring at all.  I find myself noticing more about the businesses I come in contact with every day.  What do I like about them?  What don’t I like?  When do I feel taken care of? That kind of thing. 

Do you have any book recommendations? Leave them in the comments.

Happy Reading!

~ Jenny