Simple Pleasures

We woke up to yet another snow day..er, I mean ice day.
There was just enough of a thin sheet of ice on everything to make things dangerous...and incredibly beautiful if you didn't have to dredge out in it.





I was lucky enough that I didn't HAVE to go anywhere, so staying home in our pjs and eating homemade donuts for breakfast at 10am was a nice option to have.

On the flip side, it means another day of not going to the gym and working off all the baked goods we tend to make on these long days home.
I think I am going to rename all snow days, EAT DAYS. I find baking very comforting and tend to bake when stuck indoors too long.
If we were living in the North Pole, I am sure I'd be jolly and plump too!

Once again there was some Wii.


And some whining...


And some homemade playdough.
(which reminds me so much of 2nd grade, when my Mom would make that salty homemade dough for us and I loved to play with it when it was still warm from being cooked.
And even though I knew it tasted horrible, I just had to taste it.
Every time.
Maybe that explains why I am the way I am...too much playdough).

Anyway, I get all excited when I see the same look of anticipation in the girls' eyes for something I remember from my own childhood.
I want nothing more than our kids to get excited for such simple pleasures.



And since this was a day if reminicing about things from my childhood, we did one of my all time favorites...mini lunches.
I cut up the sandwiches and all the fruit into teeny tiny pieces and served it on Bryn's tea set.
The girls thought this was the coolest thing ever!
And for a brief moment, I was the awesomest Mom ever!
(and a nod to my Mom for the same treats when I was little. I hope this brings the same fuzzy memories to my girls as well).

Wingman.

Now I understand why you see some little boys that have hair down their back...long enough to make them look like girls.
There is something horrifying about cutting off their first sweet little curls.
Curls that you know will probably never grow back.

I get it.

Tom says we need to think about cutting the wee man's hair.
But I just can not stand to part with his wonky little baby wings and curls.
I love the crazy Baby Einstein look.





It will probbaly take him to be mistaken for an "Erica" before I send him to have his lovely locks trimmed.
Besides, the boy looks kinda cute in piggies! (I kid Dad!)

My not so cheery leader!

When we had the opportunity to take Cheerleading, Ava jumped at it!
(a surprise to all of us as the only jumping she really likes to do is when playing a Wii game).
But I knew she was extraordinarily loud and articulate, so I thought
"why not?"

Of course this needed to be documented.
Ava. My serious souled Flava.
Ever intense-faced Mava.

A cheery cheerleader?

Well, she may not be the most zealous, nor cheery of leaders, but she gets points for focus.
And being the most serious cheerleader ever.
I can't quite find the words to describe her serious little face while she takes her class, I think the pictures are enough.





...and this was about as Bananas as she would get in her "GO BANANAS!" cheer.


But the girl can jump!


I find it odd that she actually enjoys going to these cheerleading sessions even though she keeps that serious little face the whole time...but that's the thing about Ava, you just never know...

I may not understand Ava, nor her exhausting and ever-intense little soul.
But I adore this girl and all the flava she brings into my world.

Snow Day!

Also known as "Stay home-play-watch-movies-bake-cookies-mess-your-room-danceydance" Day!
Our third snow day this winter. Apparently this is quite a bit for this area, but I am sure it's because the gods are mocking me and thought it would be a riot to make my first winter back in Ohio a doozy.
Good times.
Good flippin' cold times.

So we spent the morning playing in the playroom.

Writing on the windows with our window markers.


Which in retrospect might not have been a very good idea to teach Eric.
(don't worry they are non-toxic).



playing some Wii,


baking some cookies,



Eric just left a path of destruction whereever he went.
So much so ,that we are now thinking of changing his name to "Destructo".
(although he plays the part of adorable and stationary son in the photos.)


(please note that he is in fact sitting ON the train table).

I am once again reminded of all the little things that make our day.
And I am looking forward to our next snow day (as long as it's not tomorrow). I don't think I could take two of these in a row.

Nothing fancy, just get dancey!

We were blessed with a three day weekend. And we enjoyed it.
No big plans. No grand visits, nor visitors.
Just us.

And I can say with sureness, I enjoyed it.
I am happy being a homebody. I am happy puttering. I am happy laying on the floor with my kids and coloring or doing puzzles or just dancing!

This was the biggest hit with Bryn and Ava this past Christmas...we received the game Just Dance. I highly recommend it anyone with kids.
In fact, I think it would also be a lot of fun with some friends after a few drinks too. (since we all know Jill doesn't hit a dance floor without a shot of something)

The girls will dance their little hearts away for almost hours. So I don't feel too bad letting them play Wii for so long because they are actually moving around and being active. (and mine are mini-tornados)
I have fun watching and sometimes trying my hand at a dance or two...but when you are repeatedly in last place to a couple half pints, it kinda takes your dancey confidence away.

They even use the ottoman as a makeshift stage. And although I haven't caught him on camera yet, Eric makes a mighty fine back up dancer!

Brrrr.

We had a 2 hour delay for school today.
That means Bryn got to stay home 2 extra hours before the bus came to pick her up.

I love 2 hour delays because it's the best of both worlds.
You get to sleep in AND they still go to school.

But what made this 2 hour delay such a memorable one, was what my oldest did with her time.
She asked me whether she could go outside and shovel the driveway.
Of course I said yes, knowing full well she'd be back inside in minutes because it was so cold outside and our driveway is expansive.






But the girl totally surprised me. Not only did she make a good dent in shoveling the driveway (for Daddy to help finish later), but she actually did all the sidewalk in front of our house!
We live on a huge corner lot, so that's A LOT of sidewalk to shovel!
(I don;t even think I could manage to finish it)...or at least that's what we need to let Tom continue to believe!

Needless to say, I am proud of my little snow bunny.
She totally delivered and scored a hot cocoa with as many marshmallows as her little heart desired. (oh and a few bucks too).

I now realize why we had kids in the first place.
I think next, we will work on some floor scrubbing.

Wonder if I should worry?

Bryn had an assignment at school this week...they were learning how to write their own "How To" Instruction Books.
You know, How to ride a bike or go swimming or make a sandwich.
Well, this is what Bryn brought home on her sheet of ideas.
Do you see the problem??


I laughed out loud when I first saw this. Funny ha ha. Right?
Then became a little, nay, a lot worried- Where did she get THAT idea??
I mentioned it to Tom who had been spending a little more time with the kids, but he was clueless too. (and thought it was rather hilarious and half hopeful that maybe she would be able to pay for college tuition on day).
Not funny ha-ha, Tom.

So I asked her when she got home, where she got her ideas.
And her answer, although not very exciting was innocent enough.
She said the idea came from when they play downstairs in the basement and they swing around the support poles until they got dizzy.
Whew. Good enough for me.
Crisis overted until she is at least 18.

I am hanging onto this one because its a keeper and I think it may come in handy one day as a good life lesson,
as good laugh,
or a good piece of black mail.