Snow Days ... Cold Days ... No School Days ...

This January we had a lot of days where it was just too cold to go to school.

I don't know.  I don't make the rules.  I just try to follow them.

We had a great time just being together.

It really was nice.

We tried some new things, and kept doing things we have always done on

"No School Days."

I think it is safe to say we had fun!

1.  We fill pots with water and set them to boiling on the stove.  When the water was hot enough,

we took it outside and threw it (away from our bodies).  When the hot water hit the cold air, 

we heard a loud BANG and saw for an instance (check out the 2nd picture) the water freeze

in different shapes.  They LOVED this!

2.  We played COUNTLESS games of Phase 10 - in our pajamas!

3.  We made glass balls.  We filled balloons up with water and food coloring.  Then, we placed them outside overnight.  They next morning, we took the balloon covering off to reveal beautiful glass balls.  This was a HUGE hit!

4.  We built forts and slept in them.

 Then spring came and we had to go back to school.

However, we enjoyed our time very much!

What a Wonderful November Surprise!

Monday we got a wonderful surprise! The weather forecasters had been saying we would get some snow, but really . . . who believes that West Tennessee would get snow in November!!!  Well, they were right, and what a snow it was!  Absolutely beautiful . . . huge flakes . . . snow covered ground and trees.

Just beautiful!  However, not beautiful enough to get us out of school the next day - even though it snowed AGAIN like this the next morning.  Oh well. Thank you, God, for this wonderful gift you gave us!!!

Those Lazy Days of Winter

I have always claimed San Antonio as my "hometown" being an Air Force brat! However, I think I needed to change it to at least "Tennessean" a few years ago.  With that said, in all of my years in Tennessee - which is now 16 or 17 (YIKES!) - we have NEVER had the snow we have had these past few years.  This year already has been unlike any I can ever remember!  We got our third "blizzard" this week and, therefore, have only been to school 1.5 days this week.  I was told that one of the reason for Wednesday's and Friday's "out of school" celebration was due to flu as well.  (Thankfully, that has not hit our house, and I pray it stays away)  However, we have enjoyed it.  

We covered the couch with every blanket and pillow in the house . . .

We claimed "OUR" spot on the couch . . .

We played games . . . 

We tried to convince Momma NOT to take a picture of us . . .

We snuggled down with our best buddy . . .

and blew bubbles with Curious George - 

I am so glad that is still a favorite movie! 

All in all . . . we have just been lazy and it has been nice!

Not to say we have been completely lazy - we did clean and redo the playroom and you can now walk into my craft room!!!!  I would say all in all it has been a great, laid back, relaxing week that I have enjoyed with my kids. 

However, after day number 3 (Friday) of being inside with nowhere to go . . . THAT may be a different story!

An Almost Snowless Snow Day

Last night about 9 o'clock I got a phone call saying they had decided to cancel school for Wednesday to prepare for THE BIG SNOW STORM that was suppose to be coming.  Fine by us!!!  I let the kids sleep in and acted like nothing was out of the ordinary until my number child (Carter) looked at the clock.  It was then he realized something was not right - even though he had already gotten dressed AND done 3 of his morning jobs for the day!!!!  I, then, informed them there was no school for the day.  It did not take him long to get out of his school clothes and back into the pajamas.  

The rest of the day we waited for the snow . . . .

We played some Just Dance  . . . .

(but thought I had put enough of those pics up on here)

We waited for the snow . . . .

We watched a movie . . . .

We waited for the snow . . . .

LB made some brownies . . . .

(and we all helped clean the cooking tools!)

Carter walked the dog . . . .

By the time he got dressed because it was extremely cold - 

even though nothing was falling from the sky . . . .

The snow had begun to fall - slowly!

Can't you tell he is THRILLED to be going out in it!

By the time Carter finished walking "the circle" . . . .

the snow was falling pretty nicely . . . .

He did not seem to mind walking too much at this point!

and an hour later . . . .

We had a nice snow!

Three hours later . . . 

It is STILL snowing . . . .

Damon has gone to work the late shift at work . . . .

The kids and I are going to have our own devotional at home tonight

because the van is in the shop, and 

then we are going to snuggle together and cheer on our 

DUKE BLUE DEVILS

as they take on UNC tonight.

I would say it has been a good day and we are looking forward to a REAL

snow day tomorrow!!!

We Had Snow Much Fun!

Sunday night after church (school had already been called off) the kids and I got settled in our pajamas and awaited the snow that was to come and did it come!!!! Damon was a work in Jackson and would call every now and then to get weather updates. About 8:30 or so it came and came and came! We woke up Monday morning to a winter wonderland!  That morning the kids went out by themselves for a bit.  I was able to capture a few moments!

 Carter had a snowball fight with himself!

 Each year I love taking pictures of her in the snow!

There is something about it!

Later we all went out to build snowmen!  We have not had a good snowman snow in a while so we all enjoyed creating our specialized men . . . .

 Snowman building stopped for a bit to have a snowball fight.

 Damon with the kids

 A rare shot of me with the kids.

 Carter built - surprise, surprise - a baseball snowman!

He used his All-Star jersey.

 I love this shot of him.

It sums his personality perfectly!

LB and her snowman!

Actually taken the next day because she (is too much like her mama)

went inside as soon as she was done!

We are so thankful for these special family moments God gave us on Monday and are so thankful that He gives us great gifts each and every day!

What An Awesome God We Serve . . .

"For He says to the snow,

'Fall on the earth . . .'

He seals the hand of every man,

That all men may know His work."

Job 37:6-7 (NKJV)

"Lift up your eyes on high,

And see who has created these things . . .

He calls them all by name,

By the greatness of His might

And the strength of His power;

Not one is missing."

Isaiah 40:26 (NKJV)

"Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,

Give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 29:1-2 (NKJV)

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:7 (NKJV)

a gentle reminder that . . .

" . . .'Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow; . . .'"

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

A West TN Blizzard

Thursday night we got a call saying school was cancelled for Friday. They said a BIG storm was coming our way but wen we woke up Friday morning we thought we had missed it. However, by 9:00 that morning freezing rain was coming down . . . . The kids stayed by the window giving me constant updates on what was going on outside . . .

2 hours later, we had 4 inches of snow/ice and our backyard had been turned into a winter wonderland. After Cecily went home, we bundled up and had some fun in the snow. It was hard to walk in it but that did not stop any of us!

The kids in the snow

Laura Beth

Carter

After climbing up to the top of the tree house

and then sliding down

I am sure we will have more adventures in this snow because it is not going away any time soon. Damon worked yesterday morning and it took him an hour and a half to get home (it usually takes 30-45 minutes). Then, his truck got stuck in Mom and Dad's ditch. About 1:00, ice started falling from the sky and kept falling until 6:30 or so. So, we had an inch of ice on top of the 6-8 inches of snow on top of the 1/2 ice!!! The kids asked if we were having a blizzard and I told them it was as close to a blizzard as West Tennessee would get!

Snow!!!!

We were so excited to have a half way decent snow (less than 1/2 inch but, hey! we are in West TN! We take what we can get!) this week. The kids were called on Wednesday night saying they would be out of school Thursday and Friday which they were so excited about for two reasons - one being snow and two being they could stay up to watch the game Thursday night. They were especially excited to be able to spend two days with Cecily. It was ridiculously cold so we did not stay out long but we did have fun for the time we were out!

Laura Beth
Where is Carter?

Sweet Cecily

Chip eventually loved the snow

My 3 babies!

Snow Day in March?

I am beginning to think the end of February first of March is snow season in West Tennessee. We had a good snow this time last year and again this year! This is what we woke up to on Sunday morning. This is our backyard!! Isn't it beauitul! In some parts we had close to a foot of snow!

This is our across the street neighbors. The whole area was just beautiful!

We went to church and then to Mom and Dad's for lunch. We walked over in the snow just enjoying the view!The kids made a small snowman at Mom and Dad's after lunch. Carter did not stay out long since he was getting over the stomach bug but he did enjoy being out for a little bit.The snow was still there on Monday for us to play in some more. We all enjoyed getting out one more time. Cecily even enjoyed it. It was still so deep she had trouble walking in it but loved being out in the snow! What a wonderful surprise and gift we received!

To What To Our Wondering Eyes . . .

Last Tuesday, Laura Beth came home from school declaring she was out of school the next day. I could not believe it. I knew they were calling for an ice storm to the north of us (got to love the I40 split) but did not think we would be out of school. I figured it would be another day out of school only to have nothing on the ground but, boy, was I wrong!!! We woke up to about half an inch (maybe) of snow. The kids were so excited! We waited for Cecily to show up (FHU was not out of school) so we could go outside and throw snowballs!

We did not last long outside but we did have a good time. Afterwards, we came in for hot chocolate and snow books Laura Beth read to us.

I wonder IF we will get another one!