The First Snow

I love the first snow! Sure, we've had that one barely-there, misty flakes about a month ago, but I don't count that. If I can't see evidence on the ground, it doesn't count. This time, not only can I see the snow on the ground, but on roofs, trees, and recently driven cars. Notice that I didn't say "roads." Not yet. I'm thinking we give it a few more hours of this beauty and the powers that be will call off school! I'm also hoping that after 11 a.m. tomorrow the roads will be cleared so I can run my errands, but still on the ground for Emilia to make her footprints.

I would have a picture, but the batteries in my camera died.

Things to do...

Things to do if ever stuck inside on several snow days in a row:

• Write overdue thank you notes and get your little tot to color them for you (especially if they're "from" her)
• Play with the stickers and crayons that you've set aside for a rainy day
• Finally pay bills, balance the ledger, and make boring phone calls that you've put off
• Make a recipe just because you find it online and it looks good (Pumpkin bread was a nice choice!)
• Watch your child destroy the remote cleanliness you try to maintain
• Take 30 minutes to get ready to play in the snow
• Play in the snow
• Come in after 15 minutes because your little tike can't take the cold wind (and neither can you)
• Take 10 minutes to remove all the outer snow gear
• Contemplate that you just spent 40 minutes on snow gear that only lasted a fraction of that time in the elements
• Do the laundry that doesn't get done on any normal day that you have to work
• Realize that you have way too many clothes and that if you give some away, laundry might be easier
• Check Facebook 15 times to see all the other snow postings, and read what they've said about yours
• Read several cardboard books to your information gatherer, until she can't take anymore
• Play with blocks, mentioning the color and shape of each one as it goes back in the tub (even if she thinks all colors should be named "yellow")
• Put the animal puzzle together yourself, because she's done with it
• Update your blog about the events throughout the day
• Dishes - just because you know it should get done since you've been home for three days
• Realize that whatever you make for dinner should last you for lunch the next day because you really shouldn't try to drive on the ice to go to the store

Our second time outside…

More Snow!

I'm really excited that it's snowed so much already this winter. One before Christmas, Christmas day, and now the week after New Years! Living in North Carolina and Tennessee for a combo of 14 years has told me that one snow is probably all you're going to get in the winter season, and don't get too attached to it because it'll only be one inch and melt when the sun comes out. However, God shined down on us last night and gave us a whopping two inches! (my friends in Michigan and Colorado are laughing, but seriously it's a lot for us)

I'm excited Emilia gets to experience it. She's shown her love of the white stuff by letting out loud bursts of disapproval whenever it's time to come in to warm up. I thoroughly loved taking pictures of the getting ready process! Philip is working from home today, so he didn't get to play in it with us. Perhaps we'll go out again later today.

Let me explain her feet in the below picture - we do not have any snow boots for the reason I mentioned above, thus I put shopping bags on her feet to keep the moisture away from her good shoes. I remember doing this as a child when we lived in South Carolina, so I figured it would work just as well with my little munchkin.

"Mom, seriously??"

Not worried about her layers anymore! I love this picture because she is so enthralled by the blanket of white. I tried to get her to taste it (don't worry - white, clean, fresh snow), but she wasn't interested yet.

Pure joy! I think there were birds or a plane going overhead at the time. We played right outside the window where Daddy was working, so she could wave hi and show him her new found interest.

Enjoying Snow

Because the temperatures were so cold, we only got to spend about 10 minutes outside, but Emilia loved it! It's fun to see her expression when she saw snow for the first time. Curious, very curious.

Before we headed out...
The array of snow gear cracks me up. 

 "What is this stuff??"
I love the snowflakes on her eyelashes.

As long as she could decide to step in the snow,
everything was alright.

The First Snowfall

I love the first snow! I can't think of anything really poetic to write about it right now, but I do know it's pretty great. Emilia thinks so, too. She loves looking out the window at the snowflakes. Too bad it's too cold (25 degrees - 9 degree wind chill) to go out and play in it.