Hitting the ground running…

Since the city shut down for five days, we hit the ground running with Christmas activities once we were “sprung”.  A lot of stuff was rescheduled and moved around, but miraculously we fit everything in.

Harper was very proud of this year’s ornament:

The kids received a visit from Santa via the computer:

We surprised them with a trip to Prairie Lights one night:

Hudson’s class had a field trip to the Dollar Store to buy presents for their families. My friend saw him there and sent me this pic:

My sweet friend sent Harper a necklace since we had to send Melissa’s necklace back:

 

My sweet girl and I had date to see a Cinderella Christmas play:

 

and a dinner date afterward:

We went to a fun Polar Express Party playdate:

Day 4

On Day 4 we had to venture out.  Hud’s allergies had turned into a raging sinus infection. I knew he needed medicine before it got too bad. So, we drove to the very close urgent care.

My ice bunny:

Then we went to CFA since we were sick of eating at home. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones:

Harper found this necklace that she declared was hers since she found it. It turned out to be my friend Melissa’s, but it was fun for Harper while it lasted:

Surprisingly, we went back to school on Tuesday (though the ice hung around for a few more days). You don’t often see this beautiful view at drop-off:

Icemaggedeon 2013!

The media started warning us about a massive winter storm earlier in the week. A lot of people were doubting it because a.) they blew the prediction on a big storm before Thanksgiving and b.) it was 80 the day before. Literally. Well, they were right!

We just finished day 3 of being iced in and day 4 is happening tomorrow. School has already been cancelled. We got above freezing today for a few hours for the first time in 80 hours or something. We are going to be in a crazy thaw and freeze patter the next couple of days, with some crazy freezing fog mixed in!

Personally, I love being iced in.  It is a forced slow down and an awesome time to just hang out with our little family.  We have had a great few days!  I heeded the warning and stocked up on enough food to keep us stocked until at least Wednesday (thank goodness!).

Looks like snow, but don’t fooled…all ice:

Salt dough ornaments:

I love this picture because it is my favorite laugh of Harper’s:

 

Painting our ornaments:

Finished products:

Hot chocolate, popcorn and the Grinch! 

We have eaten well!

Day 2 started with some dancing:

Some crafts:

Some baking:

And some playacting like Luke and Leya:

 

Day 3, I have zero pictures of! I have a puny boy :( (weather change and allergies), so we laid low, watched some movies and I did a little organizing.

Looking forward to Day 4. :)

The Calm Before the Storm….

Harper and I did a practice run on cookies for a cookie contest (they were not a hit):

I had a princess with me at pickup later that day:

Hudson’s allergy shot prize selection:

Got them to pose for a pic in front of the tree in Trent’s lobby:

The beginning part of the week was unseasonably warm (80 one day), so we met the Tanners for an after-school park playdate:

The kids decorated their trees at my parents house:

I caught Harper singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus (complete with princesses, of course):

 

And we helped decorate my parents big tree:

Thanksgiving weekend/Kickoff to Christmas Fun!

Jim, Trent’s dad, came in on Thanksgiving Night. We kicked off his visit with a (cold) visit to the park:

Sibling love right here:

We decorated the kids trees:

Went to Alan’s 3rd birthday party:

And decorated our downstairs trees. I had two excellent assistants:

But, I guess I was a drill sergeant since he is saluting me:

We visited the trains at North Park:

  

And welcomed back Chandey with our North Pole Breakfast:

Sunday, we thawed out and headed to the zoo: