The snow started falling like crazy around 11:00 pm on Monday night. I threw the tripod out on the front porch and captured this amazing pic. This is our tree that has landscape lighting coming from below. I love the way it looks, and I love the streaks from the falling snow too.
I tried to wake Kenneth up, I really did! I was so excited, and I wanted him to see it, but he was out cold. (I only WISH I could sleep that soundly!) By the next morning though, our whole yard was completely smothered in vanilla ice cream. It was so beautiful! I got up very early and went out to snag a few shots before the kids were even out of bed. Of course, you can count on Texas for this bizarre juxtaposition:
When it snows, the tradition in my extended family is to call each other up on the telephone and say simply, "Look outside!" We don't even need to say, "It's snowing." We need only say, "Look outside," and the other person knows immediately what that implies. So…I sent an email to all my family entitled, "Look Outside" with this picture:
Of course we had to go out and play in it, which provided even more photo opportunities. I got the group shot first and then I moved on to the boys. I should have done Eleanor first because…by the time I got to her, well, a picture is worth a thousand words! (But doesn't she look like a little pink marshmallow peep, even through the tears?)
The one of the three of them together turned out nicely I think, too bad it's too late to use it for a Christmas card!
Michael even got one of me!
They only lasted about five minutes at a stretch playing in the stuff, but they really had a great time. I still remember the overwhelming joy on snowdays. About mid morning, Kenneth said to me, "Is school out? Because if it's school out for
them, can we copy after them just this once?
Pur-leeeeezze?" I'd already pretty much decided that even homeschooled kids ought to have a snow day, just for the experience of it. Each time they came back in, they expected hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream on top, of course. I keep a can of whipped cream in the fridge for just such occasions. They get a mug filled about 1/3 of the way with hot chocolate and then I fill up the rest with whipped cream. ( I usually refill the whipped cream once too!) On a cold snowy day when they are in and out every five minutes, that can add up to a lot of hot chocolate! Who needs lunch?!
Well, since I let them off the hook for schoolwork, I figured I had to do something productive with the day, so we tackled the job of cleaning their room. Not just the usual tidy-it-up stuff, either, I shoved all the debris from the closet floor out into the middle of the room, and made them put everything where it actually goes. When Legos are your passion, this can become a monumental task. All the while, Reid was clamoring to build a snowman. He kept running to the window to see if the snow had melted yet. I promised him we would build the snowman as soon as Eleanor went down for her nap. As soon as she did, and the room was clean, out we went. Kenneth, who was all done with the snow by then, chose to participate in a strictly advisory role through the window. We built him right outside the boys' bedroom so they could see him from their bunk beds. He didn't even last an hour! He had already toppled. I'm glad I got the pictures when I did! He has mushrooms for eyes, a traditional carrot nose, and a red bell pepper slice smile.
Reid was quite proud.
So then, the snow melted away and the next day it was 60 degrees and the snow was just a distant memory. The boys asked me, "When will it snow again?" I sighed wistfully, "Not until next year." (or not…)
When the first snow fell, I pulled my REI hiking boots out of semi-retirement. I hadn't worn them since our hike in Grenada on our cruise 3 years ago. In fact, they were still covered with mud from Grenada! They were perfect snow shoes. They kept my feet dry and warm. When I took them off, I left them in the mudroom, but this morning, I was tidying up. I put them away, and actually thought, "who knows when I'll need these again! I better put them away so they don't stay in the mudroom until July!" Yeah,
right. Little did I know I'd have them right back on again this afternoon. It was 80 on Sunday, and 60 yesterday for crying out loud!
When it started piling up this afternoon, the boys were in heaven!
Eleanor liked it better today too!
And, when we came inside, and I started mixing up the hot chocolate, Eleanor took her finger and made a gesture as though she were pressing on the nozzle of the whipped cream can…and she accompanied this gesture with a sound effect, "sshhhhhttt" like the whipped cream coming out. Now that completely cracked me up. But for all that our snow was a big big deal. It doesn't compare with the REALLY big news of the day. Eleanor used the potty! Here she is putting her reward sticker on it, while big brother Reid looks on with praising amazement. Then there she is, grinning with pride after the big moment. Yay Eleanor!
And so, Mommy ponders, there
is light at the end of the diaper tunnel! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Have a great day…or week…or however long it takes me to write another exciting installment. toodle-loo!
