Ah, winter

About two weeks ago, someone at the preschool said, "Well, if it snows next week, then what will we do about lessons?," referring to her son's piano lessons. Knowledgeably, I shook my head and said, "I've lived here just about my whole life. It won't snow - don't worry about lessons."

Eighteen inches later, my chagrin overwhelms me. I am not relishing the thought of seeing that lady in January.

But, besides the weather, things have been pretty good. Two weeks off! Actually, two and a half, as I had from Wednesday to Friday off last week due to inclement weather. In the grand tradition of the women of my family, I feel like I have done nothing, although my home is now (relatively) clean, I have multiple batches of soups, Christmas cookies, and baby food made, and all but one present bought and wrapped. My darling husband lovingly bought me a gift-wrapping set, which included a wrist tape dispenser, and two gift wrapping cutters which are ingenious. If I get nothing else for the holidays, those cutters ought to do me a good long while. I'm writing this, of course, where Kam will never find it. He likes playing games online, and doesn't really count on my blogging too much. :-)

Elizabeth is talking now - kind of. She's making intentional noises, which sound like words, and which the male members of the household relish, as they all tend towards "Dad" (full with a finishing consonant) and "Pa Pa," which my upstairs neighbor insists is GrandPa, if only we have ears to hear. She said both of these "words," of course, weeks before she decided to try out "Mama," but when she did my heart went aflutter and I got all choked up, so I don't think I'll probably forget the slight to my vanity until she's in high school and never spends time with me. Then, I'll slyly bring up that she didn't even say Mama until she'd already said Dad and Pa. I'm sure that Dr. Dobson would consider that good parenting.

Other than that, the big news on the Wilkinson Family Home Front is: As of January 30, we will be a completely debt-free family! YAAAAAAY! hip hip, HOOORAY! I finished my obligation to Central in November, and Kam has only two (albeit, rather large) debt payments to go, one this month and one next, and then all of our income that isn't going to tithe, utilities, food, gas, etc. will be savable, investable and OURS! And, seeing as I just had to close my piano and flute studio to any more students, and Kam is being evaluated for a raise, we should be in a pretty good situation.

Well, Liza's letting me know she wants to get started on her holiday excerpt, so this is the end of our family update!