oh hi, how are you?

So, just posted SOME of the holiday photos...thanks for your patience. There is more to come as well.
Hi! Went to town Tues and Wed. Tues playgroup and Wed. was some early literacy/gym time at the elementary school. The literacy/gym time was at an elemtary school and the program was integrated with first the gr.2 class (songs, stories, ryhmes) and then the gr.3 (gym time). We walk into the gr.2 class and a little girl (gr.2) comes and says, "I'm Shalla, what's your name?" "Sarah" I say for Sarah. "Hi Sarah." *big smile* from Sarah (a little person is talking to me by name). "Can she be my partner?" "Sure" - but S. ended up sitting with me most of the time anyway. Gym time was a little loud and overwhelming, but when the older kids left S. got into things (literally) a bit more. She is sick today...nose runny and threw up her milk this morning all into the bed, so we're washing linens now. And I wanted to say that is is getting cold here...I can were longjohns all the time and feel not too hot at all...in the house even. Our woodstove is still not finished, so that's been disappointing. Ya, so I've dug all sorts of old warm clothes out of the closet and am making a little list of "would be nice" warm items for S. and I. One eve I went out to check on the plants at Mary and Cyrils and I thought, "Too bad I forgot to put my toque on." and I came back inside and realized I had had it on :) I am enrolled in a beginner quilting class which I am really excited about...I think it is a good skill to have. Oh, a little while back we went to visit the Harnett's in Kelowna and do some shopping as well. That was nice. Oh, Andy's Dad was up Mon/Tues. and we went out for dessert at the Greek place in town. I had *yum* baklava (phyllo pastry layers with honey and walnuts, topped with cinnamon), and A. had some choc. suicide thing. That evening after S. was in bed, and I showered and Dad A and I did some observing (of stars) together - with our eyes and binoculars...it was a great dark night and I really enjoyed this.
Did I mention this before? We don't get much sunlight now, with our narrow valley. We have sun, if it's not cloudy till about 2:30pm...so if we don't get out before naptime, there's no sun on our faces. :(
Had a lovley walk the other evening (saw the deer, Mr. Beaver, scared the heron) while S. and A. went to pick some mushrooms for dinner. A. and his Dad had found a 'grove' of mushrooms on a hike they went on on Tues. Wed. I got a library book out on mushrooms and later that eve. we were having a mushroom curry with the harvest. Andy dehydrated and froze some too. Yum.
Speaking of Mr. Beaver, he has been busy...chewed off a branch of a tree that is the thickness of an eight year old's wrist...what will he be after next, A. wonders.