Snow

Last week we had a very unexpected snow storm.  I knew nothing about the white stuff until I think Monday morning.  I am a snow watcher, I can tell you when snow is in the forecast as soon as it comes up on any number of news websites.  My first reaction on Monday morning was to turn to Pete and say "why wasn't I told about this?"  He was curious about that too, but he could care less because he was leaving for a business trip prior to it's arrival.  So on Tuesday the storm came earlier then expected and gave us about a foot of snow.  It has been quite awhile since we had experienced that much snow and the timing was perfect for school closures- for two days.  It is not often that we have 2 days in a row off of school in our area for snow.  But record low temperatures also helped for a snow day.  I will admit, I loved having Celia home some extra days!

On Tuesday morning I prepared to have the girls inside for awhile because the temperatures were going to drop into the single digits and so snow playing was likely going to be limited.  I bundled up the girls before the full brunt of the storm arrived and we went to the park.  Of course the snow came earlier and steadier then predicted and while we were at the park I discovered that I was too cold and that sliding and swinging at the park with snow was not as fun as it sounded.  So we drove into town, grabbed some pretzels, and headed home to stay for the day!  It was pretty to see, but very cold.

I forget why they were out in the snow in the dark, they just were out in the snow in the dark.

A blurry picture, but our adventure to the park at the start of the snow.

Sisterly Love, sort of

I looked over at the girls watching something and thought, oh how sweet.

It looks like Audrey is getting her hair stroked by Celia.

In general, they are usually loving to each other, we are very lucky.

In this case though it was different…

A few seconds after I looked over I heard Audrey say 

Meow

I asked Celia what she was really doing

"Oh petting the kitty"

I am sure it was Audrey's request.  

If you look closely 

she is wearing Hello Kitty Jammies

She is laying on floppy kitty

Hello Kitty is beside her

Orange Kitty is between her legs

Can we say CAT HOARDER!

The Green Tunnel Slide

I take my kiddos out in the cold and Audrey never complains, Celia has always had an opinion about it.  It warmed up in the afternoon but it was quite chilly when I took Audrey to the park but again, she could care less!  Maybe it is a good jacket and hat, I am not sure but she is a trooper.  Of course Celia has always felt very free with expressing her opinions about discomfort.

There is a tunnel slide at the park that Audrey has always shied away from.  In general, Audrey is a fairly adventurous little girl and is willing to try a lot.  But she has certain things that just make her uncomfortable and this tunnel slide has been an issue for awhile.  She likes going down it but only on my lap.  This particular tunnel slide is really not made for adults at all, getting in it is no big deal, but getting out of it is annoying.  So I decided that it was the day to get her to go down.  So after a lot of coaxing and a lot of rides with Mommy, she finally did it!!

Checking it out from below

Climbing up and counting the steps.

I have to incorporate some sort of academic learning into this adventure

Telling Mommy that she doesn't think she can get in it her self

I talked her through it

And there she goes!!!

I have to display this highly informative sign put in a short trail near our house.

We live right next to university property and they felt the need to indicate that you can walk that way or this way.  No words, just that.  It is a chained off trail so very few vehicles travel that road except for I guess special events or special needs.  But someone felt the need to put this in.

Swinging

Pictures

Sometimes anything just cracks her up, especially if her sister is present.

If you say Butt or Bottom in front of her it will make her day.

Personality.  She has a lot of it.

She is my Magic Tree House reading, little artist, "always so bored",

sweet little girl.

Her teacher says she is the sweetest little girl EVER.

I would say 80% of the time, but that 20% gets her in a boat load of trouble.

Oh and she hisses now.  Yep.  I never thought I would use this phrase as a parent.

"Audrey, you are not cat, when you are angry you do not hiss"

Roller skates!!  Celia and I went rollerskating together 2 weeks ago.

We need to do it again, it was fun!!

This Week

I have been trying to post at least two times a week.  This week I just did not get to it.  I worked 3 days this week, not sure if that was smart right after a long break or not, just made it feel long!  Actually the week started out very long.

Monday it was in the 60s in the morning but rainy.  My car would not start.  We had 8 inches of snow the previous Friday and wind chills that were dangerously low.  So I think it sort of messed with my car (though the dealer said that it absolutely could not in a camry, of course).  In any case I did not find out that it was doing this until I got in the car with Celia, Audrey, and our neighbor Amber.  I take Amber and Celia to their bus stops.  So it would not start,  I called Pete and AAA.  Then we set out in the pouring rain and wind to try to catch Amber's bus, we had already missed Celia's bus.   I told Amber to walk ahead as with Celia and Audrey, we were slow.  She was able to make it to the bus stop just in time to see her bus pull out of the neighborhood.  We arrived back to meet Pete who had to turn around when he was 3/4 of the way to work and he did not expect to have to also drive Amber to school.  Panicking about arriving late to work and having to do all this was a little frustrating, understandably so.  In any case he went to my car to grab Celia's book bag and tried to start my car.  What do you think happened????  Yep, started right away.  Luckily I had Amber to back me up that the car would not start and that I tried it many, many times.  The service tech at the dealer said that it sounded like a computer hiccup, thanks for the technical reason.  No issues since then!!

Tuesday the high temperature was 9 I believe or something like that.  When I drove the girls to the bus stop it was 1 degree.

As you see it did warm up a bit while we were waiting for the bus.  Break out the swim suits.

Audrey at least was entertained by some of her new toys while being stuck in the house this week. Her aunt gave her this stuffed Doc McStuffins back pack.  For the first few days after she received it she did not take it off.  Don't you love the little braids!!!

Celia was okay going back to school this week.  I think that the excitement of arriving late on Monday helped her.  She basically thought it was great!  The goofy girl.  The only problem this week was some rough days in which she was just plain tired and that equals grouchiness and hyperactivity in Celia.  We got through it, onto another week!

Frozen

We loved this movie.  If you have seen it you will know which song she is singing and why she pauses in some spots and does some voices in between.  I have no idea how she learns songs so fast.