Monday, February 17, 2014

Snow Days!!!

February 12 and 13, 2014

The Apocalypse.
 AKA: Snow in the South
We're not much accustomed to snow here in the south so when there's a rumor of if it, it's a big deal. There's a major run on milk, bread and eggs at the stores and the schools get a little jumpy about canceling school. This time around the kids were released from school 2 hours early on Tuesday. Then Wednesday morning we woke up to no snow but a message that school would be canceled for the day. 

Wednesday afternoon. With school canceled but still no sign of snow the kids, including the neighbors, hunkered down for a movie waiting for the white stuff to flurry.

Then it started and didn't stop for a day and a half. 8 or so inches later the city was pretty much shut down. Time to enjoy the snow.


Isaac and his buddy, Shea.
Isaac wasn't wild about the cold, wet stuff - a true Carolinian. 

We weren't very equipped for snow. The kids layered up on what warm clothes they had and grabbed anything they thought would slide for some sledding fun. The kiddie pool didn't work that great, but the boogie board Alex got from Uncle Patrick was perfect. After about 45 minutes, the lack of waterproof clothing began to take its toll and with frozen fingers, toes and faces we headed in for some hot chocolate.


The kids are so used to being able to play outside most days that trying to keep them busy indoors for several days took some creativity. The girls did a window decorating contest. On the left is Addilyn and Ella's "Aurora Borealis". On the right is Maycie and Avery's "Sunset Meadow".

A couple puzzles also made their way into the mix, too.

Five days later this is what the parking lots look like. A frequent winter scene in Utah, but I never thought I'd see this in North Carolina. Yuck! Dirty piles of snow.


This was a the snow storm from 2 weeks earlier. By contrast there was only enough snow to build a horizontal snowman or in Maycie's case, just a head. They still cancelled school for 2 days.



Sunday, February 9, 2014

Called to Repentance


This morning I came down and found the kids pouring over our 2009 family photo book and laughing hysterically at their funny pictures and quotes. It was so much fun to see them reminisce together. Then they asked where the other photo books were. Gulp! I have been a slacker in our family blog and photo printing. Today I was reminded why I started our family blog in the first place. Too many distractions and too little wit are not good enough excuses. I vow to do better!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Monkey See. Monkey Do.

Isaac copying Alex while he eats.
Mom: "Isaac, you're such a monkey. Monkey See. Monkey Do."
Isaac: "No! I a Dinosaur."

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

July


July was a busy month with lots of fun. But, the best part, by far, was Maycie's baptism.
I'm so proud of my sweet girl for making this decision. 
Grandma and Grandpa Mann were able to make it out and everyone else send their love.



Addilyn gave a wonderful talk on baptism.
Grandma Mann gave a sweet talk on baptism.


We went to the Charlotte botanical gardens to take some special pictures of Maycie in her baptism dress.





















What a special day with lots of friends. Friends who were in attendance: the Abbotts, Worths, Harts, Baughans.


With grandparents in town we decided to take a trip to Williamsburg. Clynn and Marilyn visited colonial  Williamsburg while Rob and I took the kids to Water Country, USA.

On the way home we stopped off at Shirley Plantation, the oldest plantation in America. It is still a working plantation and descendants of the original owners still live in the house. 

Admiring the 350 year old oak tree.


Fourth of July breakfast.

Grandma Marilyn arrived just in time for us to celebrate her birthday with her.

The favorite activity was our bike ride down the Virginia Creeper, a 17 mile gradual downhill bike ride that follows an old railway line through the Virginia forest. It was beautiful and so much fun. Grandpa was kind enough to meet us at the bottom of the trail and pick us up. We were all a little saddle sore after 17 miles.





We spotted a black rat snack on the side of the trail and to top it off, the rhododendrons were in bloom.