busy, busy

I've been slacking on the posting lately, mostly because it's been a crazy last few weeks. What am I saying? Life. Is. Crazy. Everyday. Period.

Ed and I have been toying with the idea of taking a much needed vacation. Given the -30 degree weather this past week, it would certainly be the perfect time, and we feel like we're rather deserving of one. But then we're left with the idea about whether or not it would really end up being a vacation. Would we come home and end up needing a vacation from our vacation? Yes, we'd be in a warmer climate, (which would almost make it completely worth it right about now, not having to shovel...), but then we'd also be left being somewhere that's not, well, home. (Obviously.) And to me, with regards to Bella, that feels like it would be sooo much work. Being in an unfamiliar place and not being in her toddler-proofed environment. (I think I'm a bit of a wuss that way...) She'd be out of her routines...and how would she travel on the long plane ride in a car seat? She wouldn't be in her own bedroom and bed, would she sleep well? Because if she doesn't, that means we wouldn't... We normally wouldn't choose the all-inclusive resort type of vacation, (we've only been once, on our honeymoon), and we were a bit bored after 2 days. And I'm definitely not much of a lay-in-the-sun-by-the-pool type of person. (Though, I have to say, relaxing by the pool, getting in a good few hours of uninterrupted reading sounds pretty tempting right about now..)

At the same time, going to an all-inclusive resort would make it feel like a real vacation for us because we wouldn't have to think about having to do the many dreaded chores such as meal planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning up afterwards, not to mention having somebody there to make our bed everyday, clean the bathroom, etc., etc... But also to consider, is that we wouldn't have our own food for Ysabella. We're much more careful with her diet than we are with our own (sad, but true) so, while we'd be more than happy to have our meals prepared for us and to eat all inclusive for a straight week, it's not really something we'd be willing to compromise with Bella... Arrgghh! Decisions, decisions.

Oh ya, and there's that small problem of being granted vacation time. My unit needed vacation requests for this time of year last September....who plans for vacations that far in advance??? So, I'm not even sure that any of this is feasible.

And that's my rant/dilemma for today.

Here's updated photos of Bella.(She's doing great, by the way!)

Playing with Frankie (yep, he's still kicking around!)

Building a spice tower.

And a short video, to help keep you warm on these cold winter days and nights... :)