Farewell to February

February has been a brutal month.  Two back to back snowstorms, historical mounds of snow, and countless damage around the area to streets and property.  It has been overwhelming to everyone.  However, there have been some bright spots.  Making s'mores in the fireplace was one.  We've gotten a lot of use out of the fireplace this month.  We've warmed up, cooked meals, and pretended we were camping.
Other happenings included:

• Losing two pine trees--one fell on our deck, but luckily did not do too much damage
• The destruction of our pool--the cover caved in and subsequently began to destroy the liner
• Jensyn began the third quarter of third grade
• Rylan's progress in Pre-K became evident with a positive interim progress report....the boy is learning those letters and sounds--Yeah!
• Rylan began taking a Sports Sampler class at my gym
• My parents returned from a three week trip to Florida and back enjoying the sun and time with friends and family.....ah, to be carefree and retired!
• Taking down the Valentine decorations....come on March!
• The anticipation of Spring!  No one can take the cold or SNOW anymore!

"Snow" Over It!!

Yes, we got more snow.  Yes, we have broken the record for all time snowiest winter ever.  Yesterday was blizzard-like with serious wind kicking up so much snow, you could barely see in front of you or out the window, in our case.  School is still closed and so are a lot of businesses, including the Federal Government.  Yes, I'm tired of talking about it, so I will talk about a few things that have made me laugh in the past couple of days.
On our outing to Target a few days ago, we had bought some things like books and a DVD to occupy our time knowing snow was coming again.  I suggested to J and R to get brownie mix since we were all out of cookies (those chocolate chip ones we made during another long weekend at home).  I told the kids we needed stuff to do.  Rylan says, "Why, because we are going to be stuck in the house FOREVER?!"  Two passersby heard him and got quite a chuckle out of it, as did I.  It's nice that we can all laugh at the insanity of this winter.
Jensyn had an insane moment of her own yesterday and as I'm telling this story, I know she wouldn't want me to share, but when she's older, maybe she can appreciate her nuttiness.  So, I'm in the dining room and I hear her go into the bathroom in a great hurry and slam the door.  I hear her scream and cry (a regular occurence with her).  I walked to the bathroom thinking she probably slammed her hand in the door.  There she was on, or IN, as the case might be, the toilet.  Her brother had left the seat up, Jensyn flew into the bathroom in the dark and landed PLUNK in the toilet where the yellow water had now splashed up all over her and probably on everything around.  Of course, it's her brothers fault.  We cleaned her up and she eventually relaxed.  Hopefully she learned her lesson not to wait until the last minute and to "look before you leap" kinda thing!
At dinner one night, Ry was talking about how he likes to eat snow.  Of course the subject of not eating "yellow snow" came up and so his Dad asks, "Do you know what the yellow snow is?  You can't eat that."  Rylan says, "yea, it's urine."  Simple as that!  Mr. technical new the medical name for it.  His dad says, "I prefer pee."  What a crack up.  I love when kids say something you don't expect!

Snowpocalypse

The last time we had this much snow in the winter it was 1995.

Nothing like a historic mess.  And the joyous weather news just keeps comin'.  We are expecting another foot or more by the end of Wednesday.  Just when I thought things were looking up, Mother Nature steps in.  Knowing I would be stuck inside for another several days, I was determined to get out of the house and go SOMEWHERE.  We waited until almost noon and then set out.  We took the "snowmobile," that would be the Explorer.  Yes, we got a new Highlander (a 2010 that is now being recalled but that is another story) in December but it has not been out on the road much because of the bad weather we have had since we bought it.  Anyway, it was a crazy drive.  The roads are still covered, or nearly covered with ice and slush and we cruised through the usual path to the main road via snow-covered roads that felt like driving on a mogul-covered ski slope.  Ridiculous, to say the least.  The whole route was not pleasant, but I won't go into the details of crazy drivers.  So yes, we went to Target, but not before some greasy lunch at Five Guys.  At Target we stocked up on stuff to complete Jen's homemade valentines, books, a DVD and activities to keep us busy for yet another several snow covered, snow bound, house crazy, get me the heck outta here DAYZ!

The Big Dig continues

The snow is up to Jensyn's waist.

She wants to go sledding, he's content just playing.  She's not happy and throws snow at him in disgust.

On top of the snow pile, she is taller than the lamp post.

Rylan is climbing on a pile that we have made from clearing out the driveway.  He looks about 5 feet high, and then some.

The snow stopped falling, the sun came out...and so did the neighbors, to shovel and dig, shovel and dig.  Several people worked on clearing out their driveways and then they all worked on shoveling a path out of the cul-de-sac.  With 6 driveways and a pipestem to consider, they made a sort of roundabout that all could use to leave their driveways and gain momentum up the hill.  It was quite an accomplishment.

Jen and Ry came out to play for awhile, but it was so deep the "frost nip" set in within 45 minutes, and back inside they went.  Sunglasses were a must with snowblindness a comment ailment.  I took a walk up to the main street that gets us into the neighborhood.  No plow has been here.  We have been stranded since Friday, but we made the whole day without losing our electricity.  It's a beautiful thing. 

S(no)w More!!!!

The snow started yesterday afternoon. Bob Ryan, our trusty News 4 weather guy called the upcoming storm a Meteorological Bomb. Words I have never heard spoken. People went nuts at the grocery store, gas station, etc., in preparation. John made a late night dash last night to get some propane (so we could use the grill in case we lost power) at Sears and found a long line of people waiting for the delivery truck of snow blowers that people had ordered online and were picking up at the store. Every where you went on Friday, the frenzy was on. Schools were closed in anticipation of the storm...the fifth snow day of this school year. That means two days to make up so far. By the time we went to bed last night, 7 inches of snow was on the ground. The storm picked up over night and we got up to 2 inches an hour, hence (that's for you, Suzette) we had about 18 inches when I got up in a freezing cold house. We had lost power over night, about 2 or 3 am, and the house was already 58 degrees. The trees and bushes are screaming in pain from the weight of the snow that has made them bend in every which way. We have a pine tree that has completely fallen on our pool deck. We're hoping it doesn't do any damage. John made a fire and we used wrought iron pans on the fire to make some interesting looking scrambled eggs, and some burnt, buttered shredded wheat. I even got some boiling water so that I could make some coffee in my French Press. I felt so colonial....or something. When I went out to attempt to clear the driveway. It was hard to know where to start. The snow was/is ridiculously deep. I got help eventually and John and I cleared most of it. The snow was still coming down and it felt like a lost cause. Looking out the window became a favorite time waster. I will post a picture of the Cooper's Hawk hanging out on this tree that we watched for quite awhile. The power came on for about an hour, if that. Jen and Ry got a Wii game or two in, John took a shower (lucky!) and I almost got my wet snow clothes in the dryer. Then it went out again. For three hours, we prayed for the power to return. I fixed PB and J sandwiches, and John and I had a beer. Divine vittels. The power returned at 3:30 and now we are in this "hurry up and fix hot food, and watch t.v. and use electricity as fast as we can mode." The homemade pizza is almost ready, and I can't wait to eat it. It looks like a good 24 inches out there, now that the snow has finally let up. Heaven knows how much longer the power will stay on, or when school will be back in session. For now I just want pizza and a G & T.

My little friends were back

We are not lacking in snow this year. We got another 4 inches last night. The snow was wetter and really piled up on all the branches of the trees and everything else. It was beautiful to look at. This

tree is the one I took a photo of a few days ago with cardinals on it, but it looked so much prettier today.

The schools were closed, and we were forced to entertain ourselves once again with more Wii, more valentine making, card games, and a much needed trip out of the house to the library. A bigger storm is said to be on it's way. I had better get creative, we may be hunkered down for awhile!

Day 4 of a LONG weekend

Both kids were off for the past four days, Friday-Monday, for the traditional January Teacher Workdays. When the FCPS (Fairfax County Public Schools) are out, the preschool follows suit. These days it is always a challenge keeping two children entertained and out of each other's hair. They are at a stage, or age, or both, where referreeing is my #1 job of the day. So...this is what we did:

• Finally visited the Fractured Prune Donut Shop (nothing like homemade donuts to order like O.C Sand, Pebble Beach, and Carnival--to get your sugar high rollin')
• Went to Eggspectation for breakfast
• Went bowling
• Played some board games
• Hibernated from the cold, then played in the snow
• Practiced multiplication times tables
• Made homemade valentines.....yes, we are getting started already because it takes awhile with two kids
• Had a playdate with a longtime friend and fellow soccer player of Jensyn's
• Went to lunch at Red Robin......Ry seems to really like that place---don't know which is more appealing, the balloons or the milkshakes
• Bought and played more Wii games
• Played cards---it's becoming more fun now that Ry can play and participate with understanding

I am now enjoying some down time and making a To Do List for the week. We've got two more storms and possible snow accumulation again so I had better plan ahead!