S is for SNOW MY GOSH

Yes we survived the BLIZZARD OF 2011. PSHAW, it wasn't that big of a deal. Except for maybe when I wanted to get the van out of the garage and could not because of all the SNOW piled up against it. AND I wasn't one of those un-lucky drivers stuck on Lake Shore Drive. (picture above via google images) go HERE for more amazing pictures of The Bliz across the Midwest and beyond! 

We didn't get any pictures. UNTIL this past week. The snow is still here and we were finally healthy enough to play in it! (the kids all had strep throat the week of The Bliz. and I was rockin' a pretty nice chest cold myself)
But Hey, when it is NASTY outside, it makes it EXTRA nice to be snuggled up inside. And well I LOVE the snow, so it was all enjoyable for me. I did try to convince my family to hop on a plane with me and head to Hawaii, but the responsibilities of our jobs won out. BOO! Good thing too as The Mr and My Sister were both called into the Fran to cover shifts for co-workers that were stuck else where. Snowed in. And they just walk to work. Sure there was the fear of getting lost in the HUGE snowdrifts but they made it much to the delight of the hospital!
so with out further blabbing, here are our snow pictures.

I did venture out during the storm to try and get pictures of the 25 foot waves that were suppose to be swelling the Lake Michigan shore...but all I saw was this

but here are someones amazing shots - these were taken in Milwaukee WI (via google image search)

Snow, Snow, SNOOOOWWWWWW

We woke up to a BEAUTIFUL winter WONDERLAND! SNOW!!!

(and notice the lawn bags there in the background. Good thing Keenan took some time

to finish raking up the rest of the leaves!)

Check out the snow on those LOOOOOOOONG eyelashes!!! WOW!

WE had so much fun pushing the kids back and forth on the tube. Little G was pretty sad when he

wasn't on it, so a few times he just jumped right on top of the girls. Can't wait to take him down an

actual hill.

Happy Snow Days!

Saturday and it's a HEAT WAVE!

Kids eat free ALL WEEKEND at Steak and Shake so we grabbed a late lunch.

Then, we played outside in the snow!

I mean really, who could pass up this BALMY Chicago weather?

I mean, it was a whole 35 degrees today,
I only put my vest on - no jacket hooray!
See HEAT wave!

(Miss M sprayed M O M in the snow)

I filled some spray bottles with water and food coloring and we had fun
spray painting the snow.

Although it really made K and I hungry for Hawaii's Shave Ice! mmmmm so yum!
oh, May you are so far away! (that is when we are heading to HAWAII)

(I also purposely did not color any water with the yellow food coloring - I didn't want yellow snow-
if you know what I mean ; )

A visit from St. Nick and Snow

These are actually pictures of our first snow - Miss M had lots of fun throwing

snowballs at me (this was when I had vertigo so she had a little bit of an advantage on me)
Miss A didn't like the snow on her. She wouldn't leave her mittens on and the snow was just too cold for her hands.

St. Nick visits December 6th

Ever since I was little St. Nick has always paid a visit to our home the night of December 5th. Filling our stockings with fun little toys, treats and fruit. I have tried to do this tradition now as a mom, but Mr. K doesn't really get it. So I've not really kept the tradition up. When my little sisters heard that I wasn't going to put the stockings out this year they were appalled. Breaking a long running family tradition!?!? Shortly after our phone conversation I received a wonderful box in the mail full of all sorts of little goodies from "St. Nick".
I am happy to say, St. Nick did stop by our house (I didn't get any coal for wanting to cancel the tradition and Mr. K was super excited about all the travel size things he got in his stocking)
My girls were thrilled!!! And Miss M is already talking about what St. Nick might bring her next year.

Utah cont. day 2

Day two we woke up to snow snow snow! K had to catch a flight back home for jury duty. But we made it to the airport - and I made it home (my mom's place) even if I was "white knuckling" my mom's steering wheel the whole way back*.
I had not packed any snow clothes or heavy jackets. Not wanting to be completely "snowed" in for the day I borrowed my mom's boots layered the girls up and we made our way to Temple Square. Miss M loved looking at all the snow covered flowers, the water, taking pictures. We found a place for lunch (McDonald's - phew!) Then continued enjoying our walk. By this time all the snow was melting and we were taking off our many layers. Spring weather in Utah - who knew it was so unpredictable! Miss M and I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon back at Grandma's house playing.
Miss M and A had most of my undivided attention through this whole week because I didn't have a cell phone, internet, cable tv or a car to drive. It was refreshing for all of us I think!

*I have driven in snow lots of times but there is something different about driving in a blizzard, no plowed roads and using your mom's new car

It felt like spring

The weather teased us a bit today - it was in the 40's! SO SO nice. I took Miss M outside for a little play time.

hooray the SNOW is melting and you can actully see GRASS peaking through!!

Playing hopscotch with her shadow

Catch me if you can

Jumping for joy

Alley Sledding

Marlee pushing Ava down the big sled hill - in our alley!

Snow Days

Last couple of days we have had a big snow fall. So on Friday the girls and I decided to stay home, have a snow day. Good thing because our back alley was pretty well covered in snow and I was tired of shoveling! And just didn't want to think about shoveling to get my car out...
I think Ava appreciated being able to sleep in her bed for ALL of her naps. Marlee enjoyed playing in her Little Mermaid tent from her Aunty Krissy and playing her Scene it Disney DVD game from Aunty Kay. I enjoyed staying in my pajama's ALL day, drinking hot chocolate and NOT having to lug a car seat anywhere - and all the cuddle time I got in with the girls. We were ALL excited to FINALLY have daddy come home - he had been flying all week...makes for a very long week with no daddy around.

Today was a busy Saturday, the girls and I went to a baby shower. Keenan helped our friends move. I was able to watch Pres. Hinckley's funeral service on the internet. Got a good cry in when they played the photo clips at the end and the Mo-tab sang. It was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. I especially liked Pres. Monson's remarks. I could see and feel the love he had for this man, not just as the Prophet of our church, but as his friend, a life long friend.
Very touching.

This afternoon I bundled up the girls and we headed outside to play in the snow! I accomplished something on my to do list! Ava had lot's of fun being pulled around in the sled. And of course, Keenan went above and beyond to help our upstairs neighbor move her car into the garage...she was in a car accident on Thursday. It was a LOT of work to get that car into the garage. Good thing we have some nice neighbors who saw that we needed help and were more than happy to help us get that car into the garage. (the engine does not work so we had to push it in ourselves - and we also used our jeep and the neighbors that helped were NOT our upstairs neighbor)

Now, I am procrastinating getting the things done I need too! But it just feels good to blog...

.

Frozen

It snowed right before my mom was heading back to SLC. She saw our
tree in the backyard all covered in snow and wanted me
to take a picture for her seasons book she has for her kindergartners.
I am glad I did, this picture turned out awesome!
(if I can pat myself on my back)

Let it Snow!

I love snow! Always have, always will...
(just in case you wondered why we live in the Midwest and not Hawaii)

here are some pictures of our snow.
(funny there are NO pictures of Me in the snow, for someone LOVING
the SNOW so MUCH!!!)

it's snowing!

Marlee and Keenan at the sled hill

there she goes!

snow angel