Warming trend

Well, it got pretty cold here. I had written that we were nice and warm with our wood stove, but that day the temps dropped so much that it couldn't keep up. And it stayed that way! I shouldn't have boasted that we have that thing figured out. Paul says it's " Paul proof" now. Meaning, it won't burn down and that he can usually catch it before it boils all the antifreeze out now. It's been a learning experience and a refresher in chemistry. Water expands as it heats, so upon starting it up the first week, we were constantly experiencing boilovers through the roof of the building. Once it's hot, the water level stays pretty constant. So now we are very careful to keep the "homefires burning" now so that the temperature changes are minimal, thus less problems.
It doesn't run itself though. I have to put wood in in the late morning and later in the afternoon so my day works around that now. Ice racing started two weeks ago too. So after church, I come home, put wood in, change, and grab the dog and we go. By the time we get home, the fire is just about to go out. I keep thinking, the little inconveniences are worth it in the big picture. We've had to cut wood every weekend since after Christmas. Next year will be better because we will just buy a truckload and Paul will cut it. Much easier, but less fun than trecking through the woods and dragging and cutting it. When I say easier, I mean for Paul. I don't have to do much with that part of it. We have great memories though. The kids like being out at camp and playing in all the snow. Paul says by spring, we'll both have some great "pipes"(arm muscles). As I see the gray Semfuel truck go by our house, it reminds me of a shark circling the water around it's next meal. Our last delivery was nearly $700 and would have only lasted us about a month and a half. This was a both a blessing and a growing experience. Heat will never again be taken for granted as we adjust the thermostat or aquastat.

So today is supposed to get up to 10-15 degrees. Yesterday it was 7 and felt so much warmer! It's crazy really, but this weekend was 15 below, with nearly 30 below windchills. Paul has won his races two weeks in a row now. His dad got second place in his races. The kids and I missed the first week, but went this past Sunday.

Tayton is starting to read! He spells things out- it's amazing. About a month ago, I was leaving our bank and across the street is the Holiday Bowl. He spelled out B-O-W-L and said, " that spells bowling, let's go bowling mom." I couldn't believe it. Sunday in the nursery, my mom was in there and she spelled out SNACK to the older kids to see if they wanted one- Tayton said, hey I want a SNACK too! He goes around making sounds and asking what letter they start with. When we read together, I read the story first, then he reads it back to me from memory mostly, but sometimes he'll point at a word and say it! I don't know where this weird reading gene is coming from- I don't read that much and Paul doesn't either, but both of our boys are sure into it. Katia on the other hand, you have to stand on your head with a banana split to get her to read a book. She did read a whole book yesterday from her book order, but it was Hannah Montana! Once she finds something she really likes maybe we'll see a change, but not so far. She doesn't like American Girl books, Little House, Magic Tree house- and usually kids devour those.

Speaking of Katia, we have to make our trip to Ann Arbor on Sunday for her eye checkup Monday morning. She'll go through all the tests again so please keep her in your prayers. She and I are going alone again and it's about an eight hour trip. Pray for our travel as well, the snow belt is the hard part- from Manistique to about an hour and a half south of the bridge. So about half of our trip is typically snowy and slippery. We'll be coming home Monday afternoon.