Friday, January 28, 2011

.....snow day.....

.....Elsie's nursery school was closed yesterday due to all of the public schools leading the charge with the snow day announcement.....and although yesterday was the 5th significant storm we have had this season, this was Elsie's first official snow day.....we have been lucky enough that the other snow days have fallen on weekends or the two days per week that she does not have school.......so I decided to give her a day that the older kids get giddy with glee and euphoric excitement about when they hear the words, Snow Day.....

......our lazy morning was filled with pancakes made from scratch......a treat that usually Daddy is only known for......so this was a special occasion.....followed by some playtime at William's house and then we were off......




.....the sledding hill sounded like a public pool in the summer time......laughing, squeals, yelling, hysterical happiness......and opposed to hearing a game of Marco Polo occur or a cannon ball splash contest; our hill was filled with sleds zipping by and was screaming with excitement as snowball fights prevailed around us......our bunny hill was filled with childhood cheer......





......and I can't say for certain that Callie loves the snow....it's been hit or miss this winter......





.....but she has her moments where she might enjoy it just a tad.....




.....but one thing is for certain, Elsie loves the snow.....she loves the outdoors; regardless of season.....and she loves being surrounded by her sister and her friends.....




......and their snow day ended with grilled cheese and hot chocolate for lunch, a power nap, and dinner with friends.....too bliss-filled and lovingly chaotic to document the whole day with photos, but we have a long way to go this winter......

.....there will certainly be other snow days to come.....


......no one is hibernating in this house.....we are loving every minute of our snow infused winter.....

.......savoring it all......

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

....Florida's restoration....

.....as I sit here and reflect on our last few days, I am watching the snow that has been falling all afternoon slowly turn to the wintery mix as the warmer air moves across our island....the large snow flakes have slowly turned to a wet, damp mist that lightly covers the freshly fallen snow....it will turn to ice by tomorrow, leaving me with only the memories of this past weekend to warm us from within......

                                    Anna Maria Island, FL

......and although Florida wasn't warm by any means, it was nice to forgo the snow boots, mittens and scarves, even for a quick weekend......






....but chilly enough to pull out our beloved crochet hats that have warmed us, quite fashionably, through this cold season....and any glimpse of sunshine prompted Elsa to undress to her swimsuit, as she was determined to have a beach day after all......



.....and regardless of what the weather decides to do, there is nothing better than hanging out with your family at the beach......windy, overcast and chilly.....unexpected, as the weather was supposed to be in the 70s until a few days before our arrival....but it all turned out the way it was supposed to.....







.....laughter filled, happy babes......a weekend away from our snow covered homes....moments to capture and retain....especially for the days that we long for family.....





......and it's days like this where this blog offers me the inspiration I occasionally need....exhausted from travel, unable to get ahead of the household chores that have literally piled up everywhere, forced to entertain and exert two toddlers in the dead of winter snow storms; all while tending to my poor husband who has the flu......viciously disinfecting the house to protect my two girls and my unborn baby from the 103 fever he has battled with chills, aches and cold sweats.....

......I force myself to clear a path through the piles of clean clothes still yet to be folded and the overflowing suitcases that have yet to be unpacked from our return on Sunday.....ignoring it all as I watch the snow fall.....I begin to pull and sort through the pictures from this past weekend.....filling my white screen with the words that describe our family getaway.....grinning and smiling at the faces of my loved ones, weaving together the moments that are so good to remember......







.....and it doesn't take long before I am rekindled.....I am quickly reminded that eventually the snow will stop falling and spring will be among us.....eventually my laundry will be folded and neatly stacked in drawers, the suitcases will once again collect dust in our closets, as our next trip won't be for quite some time....I am reminded that we have this weekend to catch up on sleep, that soon Stefan will be back to his healthy, active self.....that flu destined or not, our family will thrive and survive.....

.....and it's our snapshots and the documentation of our precious times which help keep my perspective in check.....when sheer exhaustion from sleeplessness and third trimester pregnancy try to get the best of my mindset, I am swiftly reminded when I publish a posting that it is the real moments that matter......that all of the small things add up to one, big fantastic thing.....regardless of what the house looks like or when the cabin fever starts to take it's mental toll......



                                                                              Elsie helped her Bambi put on her make up and gave herself a quick make over too....





.....so this blog provides for my own healthy therapy; a remedy to those days that can certainly try to get the best of us....just as much as it is a tribute and memoir to the makings of my gratifying family......

......and after I knit together the story I want to tell, I am revived and encouraged.....we have much to be grateful for, as we are truly blessed....


....and we are savoring every minute, even if we need to be reminded to do so every once and a while....