Let it Snow, I mean Let it Ice

VA has gotten its fair share of winter weather (snow is falling as I type this). Last week, however, it didn't 'thaw' out like VA is used to. One icy Monday turned into 4 missed days of school. I love these gifts of unexpected days with my kids. I am lucky to already be stay at home, so there is no extra burden put on the family when school is cancelled. Therefore, we get to enjoy each other and the winter wonderland. Last week, however, wasn't snow; it was a sheet of thick ice. Ice that took two hundred pounds to make it break. Therefore, Olaf couldn't make an appearance.Therefore, kids had to figure out new ways to play, and boy was it fun!

There was sledding, beach style AKA pushes from Daddy on even ground.

There was sledding down the embankment at the grocery store loading dock. Hey, you have to be creative when you leave on flat land.

However, we did make a trip to the built up hill for an amphitheater on base. It was INTENSE, maybe a little too intense for Reesey Poo!

There was LOTS of pretend ice skating. 

There was educational moments: examining snowflakes and researching to make hypothesis about snow fall totals (and there may have been some bidding involved)

Walks around where Daddy carries all the load. 

Let's not leave Art out of this week. Spray bottles full of colored water to ice painting.

Of course, there are friends! We planned a movie with the neighborhood kids (which played but was barely viewed). They sat around and played with legos, magnet tiles and figurines.  

IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST!!!! 

Wordless Wednesday: Teflon baking sheet + icy tennis courts=FUN!

First Snow Experience

Feb. 2008

March 2009

Brady and Reese have had their first snow years ago. But they have never gotten to experience it. I mean really experience it; snowballs, snowmen, sledding, snow cream!

One of the things that had the girls excited about the move from FL to VA is the possibility of snow. Well we were lucky enough to have accumulation within 5 weeks of moving here! 

So here is Elli's first snow ever and Brady and Reese's first snow experience. 

January 25, 2013

Trying to wait patiently for the snow to accumulate.

 Elli digs right in as I am trying to take a group picture.

 The house looked awesome in the snow. Elli decided to do some tummy time while chilling in the snow.

 I turned away to grab a picture of Brady and Reese making snow angels. When I look at Elli again she was happily playing in the snow... with her hands uncovered yikes!

 After the snow angels, snow ball making lessons! You are witnessing Reese making the first snow ball of her entire 4 year life...history in the making people.

 Snow kissed eye lashes

 love this booger faced cutie

 So this picture means nothing to you, but this is when I stood on the porch and watched my girls. Tears came to my eyes. The beauty of snow always gets me, but something much more beautiful going on here. Brady and Reese had the confidence to wander off (with my permission of course) and be amongst all the kids. They are in the mix of all the kids in the street. I want so badly for this to be their new home, not house, home! The beauty in this picture is that we are going to be alright.

 Our best attempt at a snowman. The snow wasn't sticking to itself so this took a lot of work!

 Who needs hills and sleds when you have Teflon coated baking sheets and a buddy to give you a good shove?!?!?!

 So the true kid in my came out with this snow. I LOVE snow, and I think I always will. Elli however had no real business being out there for extended periods. She didn't like the idea of being a lone in her crib after a three hour nap. So I broke my own mommy rule...she watched a little Sesame Street while I went out and played with Brady and Reese.

 After warming up by the fireplace, we finished the night out with snow cream (or slushies, Brady wanted no cream). These girls opted for cherry flavored.

Hopefully the temp will stay down and we will get a little more play time in the morning. 

Rain Dance

My girls, as many of you know, do not really like to play outside. At least when they are at home.

You may also know that we were skirted by Hurricane Issac last week. Well, on the expected landfall day we had mainly sunny skies...with school cancelled for three days. The girls didn't go outside to play in the sun at all. But mid afternoon the rain starts and then they ask to play outside!

Always posing for the camera!

 The scatter to come in when the sideways rain started

 Now Reese's turn... talking to Brady through their bedroom window.

So now they can say they have played in a hurricane...not even sure i can say that!

Fat Tuesday

Sorry, I am lagging in posting lately, I struggle to stay up past 8:30 most nights, which doesn't really leave me spare time to post on the blog. This past weekend we celebrated Mardi Gras in downtown Pensacola. The wonderful thing about Pensacola (and Mobile) is that they have a couple day time parades that are kid friendly...no boobs and beer. I love exposing my girls to the fun culture of the deep south. Like last year, we found our spot and enjoyed another Mardi Gras tradition...King Cake. 

The weather was sprinkling or rainy the whole time but that didn't stop us from having LOADS of fun, but it did stop me from taking loads of pictures. I did get a picture of one of the AWESOME necklaces Reese was 'thrown' during the parade. Yes, she was fully clothed the whole time ;)

Interestingly though, she was also thrown a liquor bottle (empty) necklace. Yes, a necklace made out of 5 airplane liquor bottles. I told you I had to expose to the classy culture of the deep south!

 Here are the girls having fun with all the beads...notice the background too!

 Brady loved this bobbly head band she was thrown!

 Since we were rained on the whole time we had to spread out our goodies on towels to dry them off. Pace is staking out a moon pie ;).

I love the girls reliving the fun they had at the parade...