Monday, March 3, 2014

Mommy's little helpers

62/365

We didn't get much snow last night after all.  Thank Goodness.  Still, we had a couple inches from Sunday, so this morning after breakfast, the big boys got dressed.  I told Chris, we were going to shovel while he waited for the bus.  I wanted to shovel him a path so he didn't get all covered with snow.

I put Sam in charge of keeping an eye on Jacob.  And we think Jacob wanted to come out and shovel with us.

Sam went and got his shovel, and to help me out, went outside and shoveled off the first couple steps off the back porch stoop.  It's so much less mess when those last couple steps are clear, so the dog doesn't get her feet all snowy.  I didn't even ask Sam to help out.  He just did it.  He was so sweet! 


Then I went out front with Christopher.  He took his little shovel, and commenced to do the front porch.  And I took the big one, and crossed the driveway's width twice before realizing that was not going to work. We have a big driveway.  Now, before he left, Eric had given me a 5 minute tutorial on how to use the Snowblower.  So I said a little prayer and started it up.  It worked!  And it threw snow!  
So I worked the driveway and Chris did the sidewalk, until the bus was coming. 


Then he followed me down the path to the end of the driveway.  Yes, I let him hold the snowblower, well, hand over hand as we walked to the end of the driveway.  A few more passes, and I had blown off somewhere between 1/2 to 1/3 of the driveway, but I started to feel it in my back.  Happily and proudly I put the machine away and went inside.  My timing was perfect.  Jacob had been playing happily with Sam in charge.  Sam did a wonderful job!  But he was starting to get a little fussy.  While I got dressed, Sam was in charge again, by the time I got back downstairs, Jacob was standing at the coffee table, crying with snot all over his face, and just standing.  I think he forgot how to sit down.  However, Sam was Right Next to him, within touch range, in case Jacob fell.  Sam had his hands over his ears because Jake's cry was so loud.  We were reading about some DC Comic Superheroes.  There's a heroine named Black Canary who knocks out bad guys with her Canary Cry.  I think Jacob has a Canary Cry.  It's pretty loud.   But Sam stayed by his side, loud or not, just to keep him safe.  I thought that was the sweetest thing.  Believe me kiddo, there are times I'd like to step away from Jacob when he's really revved up, and I'm so touched Sam didn't.  I would've understood.  That loud volume is rough.  But Sam's a champ.  And Jacob calmed down shortly thereafter...after he was being held.  However, he popped another tooth.  That's 2 more teeth in 2 days, for a total of 7.  Wowza.  It certainly helps explain Jacob's alias of Snotty McCryFace.  He's been a hot mess, and I have to put him down more than usual and let him cry it out to deal with the other stuff while Eric is gone.  After I rested from doing the driveway I realized I tweaked my knee and my back was unhappy.   Sitting down and being a lump with Jacob is definitely the better option.  Eric has only been gone 2 1/2 days and we've had the pukies, a ton of laundry to go with it, and snow that needed to be shoveled, and 2 more baby teeth on a fusspot.  I'm so done.  I'm so Thankful the boys stepped up today to be such great helpers.  They were so impressive this morning, I didn't even have to yell a word.  That never happens.  And well, I had to yell plenty this evening, but still there was that one good morning.  Even so, I've decided Eric's not allowed to leave on snowy days anymore.  At least, he can't leave without me!   

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