431 What a Difference a Week Makes

Last week the kids went to school a total of one and a half days ... and one hour on Monday ... due to snow. It was bitter cold (for Mississippi). A few days we did not make it out of the teens. Today? Today I am sitting on the deck typing up this blog post while Connor runs around. It is 56 degrees currently, though yesterday we reached 67.
I personally love snow. I love the way it looks. I love snuggling up inside while it is so cold. However, when you have two kids both of those joys are taken away. They make a point of walking through every inch of snow, leaving (adorable) footprints. Snuggle inside? Only after you have frozen your tush off while sledding. And then there is no relaxing. You have to remove wet clothes and replace with dry. You have to make hot chocolate ... for them. Then you get to do loads of snow dirty laundry. About the time you would be able to sit down and relax, the kids are warmed up and ready to go again. Somehow, all this fun ends with grumpy kids. Not exactly sure how that happens.
In other words ... I am ready for SPRING!
But, that didn't stop me from taking pics of the kids enjoying the snow. Katie had her BFFs sleepover Wednesday night when we knew there would be no school the next day (for good reason this time, we got five inches of snow and the roads were covered).

While I got Connor ready to play the girls hit the back yard. What is it about kids and eating snow? Its not like I had gotten around to making snow ice cream ... yet.

  We met up with my friend Indira and her girls for some sledding in the park.

 

I tried to take a group picture, but Connor was too busy screaming about how he wanted to sled to participate.

 He did try to get Shailey to sled, but she wasn't interested.

 And the girls discovered a way to sled standing. I think it was an accidental discovery, born of a sled taking off before everyone was on, but the girls loved it. It really only worked with a girl sitting in front of and behind the stander, but they certainly tried other ways.

 Proof, the moms were there ...

 And snow angels are a must! Connor loves making them ... he might even try making them in just grass. Shhhh.

 We all headed over to Indira's for pizza (thanks again Indira) and play time.

And of course yesterday was Valentine's Day. Yes, we should show our love everyday, and in our family we certainly do, but sometimes we need to be reminded that those NOT in our home might need to be told. But seeing as I never am on time for ANYTHING ... you know I forgot to tell those that I love that they are loved. I should get to that today. In our home though we started the celebration early.

A goodie box from Grammy with candy and some gifts for the kids ... well, a few for me, too :)

 Sunday morning we had a breakfast made with love.

 Bacon says LOVE!

Katie asked me to come and have lunch at school with her on Valentine's Day, and I can't turn that down. I had promised to make her something, so I finished it up and brought it to lunch. A cute cuff bracelet. I haven't been very crafty this week, so this bracelet and a small basket for her V-Day treats is about the extent of it. I made one more thing, but it isn't finished yet.

I hope everyone's Valentine's Day was filled with love ... and chocolate. Definitely chocolate.

425 IT SNOWED ... (nine days ago)

I know I am really late posting pictures of the snow we had over a week ago, but I have been preoccupied. First with playing in all the fluffy white stuff, and then with trying to get things battened down around the house. As usual there are big plans to get this house in order and running more smoothly.

But, before we get into all those doomed plans ... THE SNOW! 

Katie and Connor were ecstatic to wake up to a winter wonderland, but I had to play ogre and insist we eat and get bundled up before we ran out to play. Just about the time we were ready to head out to join our friends, there was a knock at the door. We'd had our first snow injury. I think Kaitlyn was mainly cold, but she had fallen off a sled and said her elbow hurt. We became warm up central. Luckily these are our dear friends, so we were able to go back and play and just let people come and warm up as they liked. One of the perks of backing up to the neighborhood park. Chip headed out shopping for snow boots... poor guy missed most of the fun (AND COLD) on the first day. 

I tried to put the camera away and play, but I HAD to take pictures! The kids can't have all the fun!

Yes, Katie is wearing pajama pants over her other 3-4 layers of pants. It is my punishment for asking Twitter if wearing your pajamas in public was the new thing .... apparently it is.

We supplied the sleds, and Kaitlyn's family provided the four wheeler. Redneck sledding here we come!! Kaitlyn was so sweet with Connor. She made sure he wasn't left out. All the moms also took a turn or two on the sled. It was a blast!! Sorry, no photo evidence I did it :)

Connor was getting tired, and he was annoyed that I asked him to sit still.

We stayed out for quite a while, but eventually we all headed back inside to warm up. The girls came to our house and we had a little lunch and made s'mores!

 I kept them inside as long as I could, but it is impossible to keep Southern kids out of the snow.

And Connor finally got to make his snow angel! Don't laugh ... we live in Mississippi, snow angel wings have grass here!

Snow Day Two was SO FUN! We all got out and drove around the school where there are some great hills. Maybe we weren't supposed to be there, but there were people in the building for voting and no one came to tell us to leave. It was frigidly cold and there was a biting wind, but we stuck it out to get some sledding in. I took pics for about fifteen minutes, then put the camera away and just had fun with the family.

Chip even took the camera and took a couple pictures with me in them!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE! Chip was snapping away as we came down the hill.

 We got COLD! And Katie was freezing because Chip could not find boots in her size, so we headed to the Target in Olive Branch. We grabbed some hot chocolate at the Starbucks.

 And Katie got some boots! They are boys, and technically too big, but they work ... and they will work next year (and eventually for Connor). Did I mention this is the South and snow is a rarity? Boots meant for snow get very little wear, so we do what we can to make sure they get some use. After Target we hit the slopes again! We played until my head had enough of the cold. I finally had a splitting headache, and after having meningitis I prefer NOT to ever have headaches again! For some odd reason they scare me to death.

School was back in on Wednesday ... and I needed the rest!