We've had snow on the ground for weeks now. You might imagine what this means for us, with three active girls cooped up a lot (or putting on all their snow gear, only to spend 5 minutes outside in snow that isn't wet enough to make anything out of, but is still really cold). While they get a lot of exercise at school and for a few minutes before and after school, it's also dark outside pretty early, which limits outdoor play. Christmas was lovely, as we got to see family, we took things easy, and it was cozy and pleasant. Still - the holidays can be crazy for small kids, even when you're trying to keep things small scale and focused on family time.

Fortunately, Santa did bring some pretty good stuff this year, and the kids have been creative about playtime. We don't have cable TV, and limit the movies, mean parents that we are. Ponka (great-grandpa) sent some Christmas money, which went towards Dance Dance Revolution pads for the kids' Playstation. For those who don't know what these are, they're foot-controlled gaming pads which require the player to step on certain parts of the pad during certain parts of a song. You gain points by stepping on the pads in the right place at the right time, and can have dance competitions. They have been a huge hit, and a huge saver of sanity while it's been cold and dark outside. The girls have been jumping and dancing and groovin' to Disney tunes, which wears them out nicely. Even Gen is surprisingly coordinated and can hold her own with the older girls.

Dave and I just sort of sigh as we watch them jumping merrily up and down, and say, "Oh, wow. Thank GOODNESS we got those!" We know what life was beforehand - we had three little girls with seemingly boundless energy, out of school, excited for Christmas, who were bouncing off the walls. Naughty little perpetual motion machines. They're really good kids most of the time, and like books and coloring and quiet time, and share with each other pretty well, but eventually the calories have to be expended SOMEHOW, and sometimes they were expended by screaming loudly, or teasing one's sister, or having a fit. I don't know how many times I had to invoke the "Santa's watching you" warning - it was a lot. Anyway, nobody died, and school has started again, phew!

The kids received (even more) Legos, which I've been glad of on one hand (encouraging creative play) and have cursed on the other (they HURT to step on)! I'm personally convinced that the Legos are alive, because I keep finding them in the most unlikely places. Then again, the girls ARE professional stuff rearrangers. You can probably find a Lego in most crevices, drawers, nooks and crannies in my home, and it's a good thing we have a see-through dirt cup on our vacuum, or the little yellow Lego people would be done for by now.

Sarah has been creating Lego stop-motion movies with her new camera, and it's been fun to watch her being creative. I uploaded her first film, "Indiana Jones and the Martian Attacks" to YouTube (Indy, Tigers, and Martians, oh my):

As for me, I'm a little tired. Can't imagine why. While I believe my tiredness to be a temporary condition, I've decided for the time being to take a rain check on our trip to China. I worry about the emotional strain for me and for Eleanor (after only a year home), and the financial strain of going back to China so soon when it's several thousand dollars minimum for transportation alone. Since this will likely be a yearly trip for the group, I hope to go next year. It was a hard decision to make, because I really was so excited to go. Still, I know that my body and mind felt some relief when I just said, "No." I had been having dreams about the mission trip - that I was in China, surrounded by Chinese children who needed help. The surprise - they didn't need an audiologist, they needed heart surgeons. Somebody speaking rapid Chinese would then hand me a scalpel and latex gloves and look at me expectantly. Argh, I was inadequate, I didn't have supplies, I didn't have courage, I didn't have the language, and Eleanor was looking at me like an orphan instead of the loved child I see every day. Silly as the dreams were, I got the message. I try to take on too much. I think I'll help with gathering supplies, with testing hearing aids, with hometown support and fundraising while the team is gone this time around. Sure, I can save the world. Just not this year.

For now, I want to feel stable and enjoy my family. I'm hoping to upload some photos from the holidays. If Courtney and Eric (sis and bro in law) are reading - we really loved seeing you. We miss you. A lot.