Snowpocalypse 2014

After just an hour...

The Snowpocalypse of 2014 began on Wednesday, February 12th.  School had been canceled because the storm was supposed to hit mid-day even though nothing happened all morning.  Parents were complaining about the kids being out "for nothing".  We had been warned about this storm for days and after watching Atlanta go into a gridlock during the previous snow because us Southerners either didn't know what to do or didn't believe all the hype, you would think that people would have listened this time.  But no.  

The snow started soon after lunch and it came down fast!  Within the hour, rooftops were covered and sidewalks and roads were getting a coat of snow since temperatures had been so cold.  Those people who tried to travel after the first hour became stuck in a slow-moving, sliding traffic and some became stranded on the roads for hours.  Raleigh became grid-locked just like Atlanta did, and we did to some degree when everyone tried to make it home once the first flakes started to fall.  Once it started, it came down fast and snowed for 36 hours straight!  In total, we got probably 8-10 inches with drifts being well over the foot mark.  

On Thursday, with it still coming down, all the kids in the neighborhood (including adult "kids") joined together outside for sledding and building snowmen.  It was a blast!!

Leave it to Jack to want to shovel something.;)

The building of our snowman village was directed by Mrs. Mary.

Our neighbors, Tom, Kelly, Evie, and Grace.

Family shot

Our snowman family.

Jack lovin' some snow cream!

Anna just couldn't get enough of our winter wonderland!

A snow fort for Valentine's Day.

Mr. Tom was sweet to come by with his tractor to
clear our driveway for us.  Jack was beyond thrilled.

Mesmerized...

And in the typical Southern way, a few short days later
we were shoveling the remaining snow in short sleeves
and 60 degree weather.  Go figure!

Charlie's 3rd Birthday and a Trip to the Castellano's

On Saturday, we traveled to Raleigh for Charlie's birthday party.  Charlie's daddy, Block to us, is Will's best friend from college and Jack and Charlie were born only 2 weeks apart.  His party was at a giant indoor play set that the kids loved.  Plus, it was a dinosaur party--what could be better?

There is a huge play set to play on and
what does Anna want to do?
Play tic-tac-toe!

Roooaaaarrrrr!

Charlie and Jack--future roommates!

Mommas and their boys

Happy 3rd birthday Charlie!!

On the way home, I texted my favorite family that I babysat for in college, just to see if by chance we could swing by for a visit.  We lucked out!!  They were ALL home and even managed to sucker us in to staying for dinner.  It was great to get to catch up with all of them.  It made me feel so old because Ryan is a senior in high school, Anna can almost drive, and Anthony will be in high school next year.  Anthony was one when I started babysitting for them!!!  And ten years ago, Anna was our flower girl in our wedding!!  Time flies!  I still love, love, love that family and was thankful for that special visit.

Anna squared

Anna C. lovin' on our kiddos!

The Circus!!

Jack's big birthday present was a trip for the four of us to THE CIRCUS!!  (We are trying to focus on experiences for gifts rather than toys.)  We had tickets for Friday night and were all so excited!!  I haven't been to the circus since I was a little girl, so I think I was as excited as the kids were.  It was amazing!  Will and I loved watching the kids' faces.  Anna's favorite part was the trapeze and the motorcycle on the tight rope.  Jack loved the animals.  And bless his heart, he sat still through the entire 2+ hour show.  He was in awe!  When it was over, he said, "I don't want to leave!  I want to see the lions and tigers and elephants again!"  We had a blast!

A Person of Character

I went to eat lunch with Anna one day at school and she told me she was a "character person".  I thought she meant that she was a character in a play.  I asked her which character she was and she responded that she was "responsibility".  I thought, 'How cute? They're doing a play about different positive character traits.'  When she got home, she had this certificate and told me about how she got to go to a special party at the end of the day and her friend, Olivia, was there, too.  I asked if anyone else from her class got to go and she said she was the only one.  I discovered that each class got to send one "Person of Character" to this party and her teachers picked her!  This was a big deal!  She was so precious when she told me that being responsible means that when the teachers have two things they need to do and she can do one of them, that they can trust her to do that job.  You go, girl!  We are so proud of you!

Jack's 3rd Birthday!!

I'm 3!!!

It was a circus birthday!

And Mommy got fancy with the veggie tray!

Jack was so excited about the UNC jersey, football, and helmet
that Sarah and Jason and Caroline got him.
He made this face every time he put on the helmet.
He's ready to play!
 

Nannie and Pops got him a police uniform
that Anna wanted to try.;)

It's piñata time!!

Look at all that candy!!

"I got a strawberry wollipock!"

Someone had to sleep in his new jersey.

We had his party the Friday night before his birthday…
so a cupcake was his birthday breakfast!

He shared his birthday with his friend,
Brooklynn, at her music party!

Since we were out of school for snow
right before his birthday, he got to wear the birthday
hat the next week!

We Finally Got Snow!!

On January 28th, we finally got some snow!!  It snowed for hours, a very dry and light snow and ended up only dusting the ground.  Since it had been so cold the previous days, it seemed to stick to the roads and sidewalks more than the ground.  It was definitely enough for the kids to figure out a way to sled on it.  And it caused enough of a ruckus for the kids to be out of school for THREE DAYS!

It was even more fun when...

...Mr. Tom came over with his four wheeler!