Jan - March 2014

The winter of 2013-2014 will be forever remembered for huge snowfall amounts and persistent very cold temperatures.  Kids missed several days of school because snow storm after snow storm.  Propane costs skyrocked, and we paid over $900 a month to heat the farmhouse for at least two of the winter months.  We kept the kids sleeping downstairs so we wouldn't have to heat the upstairs of the farmhouse.  Hannah turned six in January and Hudson turned three in December.  We had a joint party for them, but had problems making it because of very deep snow.  We got stuck  in very deep snow on our way to the kids' party.  We had a sherrif's officer pick me and the kids up and take us back to the farmhouse until a tow truck could pull our car out of the drifts.  It was a wild and crazy adventure just trying to get to town for the kids' party!  We celebrated the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) with Taiwan adoptive family friends in the Chicago area.  The kids' dance party was one of the best times that I've had at an event for families EVER.  The construction of our home progressed with heating, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, and trim.