Snow Storm and missing Monday #3

I seriously cannot track these snow days anymore - sound familiar.  This time they seem to ALWAYS arrive Sunday night.  You know that feeling of enjoying the weekend and ready to start a week?  Yeah, I have no idea what you are talking about.  Here is Monday Snow day #3 - not to mention the MLK day, Presidents Day etc.  Nick has library with his class on Monday and hasn't been in over a month!

However I love this suit every time I see Drew in it.  Lego man

That my friends is A LOT of snow.

Both of these animals seek out the sun.

So we opted to Cross country ski from our house - I was shocked at how far a few of them made it

And than Chris got a workout

Nick is a TROOPER and made it to the top of the mound for the ride down

WE went REALLY far - really far.  The problem on the out and back is once you go out, you get to go back.  

Good news - we made it

bad news - the skis and sled from Drew that we left on the side of the road were no longer there -

WHAT??!?!  Who grabbed them?  

I went back out later that afternoon and put notes in the mailboxes asking to call me if you had seen the skis - the next morning, there was a call.  Yup, a nice neighbor just took them in before the plows broke them - she wasn't sure where to start on finding the owners.....  

we found her and met a new neighbor.  

Win Win.

With all this snow, building a fort is a MUST - Nick's has an endless fridge for beer - love him.

and a spot for Shane

Now can we go to school?

Mardi Gras with the Wisneskis!

Love our time with the Wisneskis and as they love 1 hour away we try to soak it in as much as possible.  Diane planned a group birthday party for her kids.  Eve and Blake were born in January and Anna in March - so a Mardi Gras party in February is rather fitting for this formerly southern girl.  She knows how to through a Mardi Gras Party!

This guy too = I have to admit - he made THE BEST Jambalaya ever!!  Loved it and perfect for the snowy Sunday - Yes, I said snowy --

When Diane originally planned the party she wanted the kids to decorate floats and parade them around the yard.  That was surely SPRING dreaming on a very WINTERY snow day.  SO wintery that lots of her family opted not to drive since the roads would be so bad.

Here comes the Parade

Team Anna

Team Eve

Team Blake - gotta love the Bunny incorporation

We had an AWESOME King cake that had a baby hidden in it - whoever gets the baby in their piece hosts the next Mardi Gras event.  Her nephew Cory had one and Nick had the other.  Now we just need to keep the Wisneskis around for next year's Party!

Happy Birthday Eve, Anna, and Blake.  We love you all to pieces and thanks for including us in your celebration.  It was a snowy drive home - but we were thankful for our time with you!!

Monster truck mania

So after Nick's basketball game we had a chill evening planned - meaning - not much planned.  Nice right?  Until I get an email from a friend here with tickets to the Monster Truck Jam in Hartford.  Oddly enough, her daughters didn't want to go.  

My boys have NO idea what to expect.  

They were just excited to go.  

Until they got there....

AND IT WAS LOUD

ear plugs and all, Nick and I went in.  We turned around to realize Shane, Drew and Chris weren't with us....  Nick said Shane dropped his ear plugs - made sense - 

 but after further review - Chris told us he ran from the stadium, Drew too.  The trucks were so loud and they couldn't see them, so that would surely translate into very scary.  Honestly, that is the right reaction.

We finally dragged them in.  We had great seats!

The trucks were impressive to watch.  All their turns, revving of the engines, spin outs, flips. ETC.  Its the in-between shows that were really cracking me up - the motor dirt bikes - absolutely, the BMX bikes - yup.  Extreme pogo sticking?  Wow - I had no idea.  They are darn impressive.

This is how Shane spent the entire time - yes, he was wearing ear plugs.

loud right??

All in all - I would say it was a great event.  Would I say something different if we paid $25 a person - absolutely....  Everything happens for a reason!

Scenes from Shane

Shane got a hold of my camera and I thought it was fun to see the world though his eyes for a second.  Yes, I was honored to be a subject for his photo.

He wasn't afraid to capture himself.

Or Pauli

Or use the timer

and disappear

Catch dad

or a Monkey

Maybe a pencil

Yum

Now he is a HAM

He learns it from this guy

This just happened in our back yard!! We are supposed to be here!

Nick came off the bus today asking if he could go cross country skiing - sure!!  In our back yard.  He was the one that literally blazed the trail and did a great job.  Drew REFUSED to be left out and good thing he had big socks so he manged to get these to fit and scooted around our track for almost an hour.  My folks rolled up for dinner and grabbed this video - we really are in the right place!

http://youtu.be/W7GJ2XYx8H4

http://youtu.be/LZfxTtVzx-I

Sad

Monday was a SNOW storm - HUGE really.  School was cancelled, the McCulloughs and Wisneski's drove home and our house was just us again.  We took a moment to snuggle on the circle chair together and watch the snow.  We were so very thankful for our full house over the weekend.  So thankful that I was almost sad.  I had spent so much time looking forward to and anticipating how wonderful it would be to be surrounded by the families that truly make our family feel wonderful.  NOW we look towards our next time together and know it will happen again.

And than the mail comes - just like any other day.

I took the big boys cross country skiing in our neighbors yard while Chris shoveled and Drew - - - took a nap apparently

Fresh snow - but VERY deep!

Yes Nick, it is harder back there....  Matter of fact, Shane is in the hardest spot!

Good thing we love snow around here and there is hope for school tomorrow=)

Ski day and Super bowl

Here we go - finally on the mountain at 11:30 and not becuase of the travel distance - because of the slow going from ALL parties - kids included =)  But don't these guys look ready?!  Everyone had equiptment hitting our local Ski sundown.

Love my sassy Macy!

And our Snow Bunny Farrah!

All the kids did awesome and loved skiing with each other

Tate

Macy

Shane

Not pictured - Trickster Nick

and Red Rocket Drew (who made a straight shot down the sunny side which frightened all the adults yet at the base of the maintain he turned around to tell me 'I beat you momma!'  Yup, you did Drew)

I feel like we caught a super star in this photo - AKA Brian McCullough

Skiing was the perfect outdoor compliment to the indoor Superbowl celebration.  The Wisneskis' joined us on the mountain as we came in for hot chocolate and delicious grinders.  Once everyone's legs and patience were exhausted, we all convoyed home to prep for and evening of snacking,  beer, betting games, football, friends and fire.  

My folks brought over a few better games to add to the excitement.  The commercials were awesome and the game even better  As we all sat on the couch, Brian literally said - now as long as he doesn't throw and interception this game is over....  Too bad we were on TIVO time as the quarterback and coach needed Brian's tip!  That and the fact that my folks left after the 3rd quarter in hopes of changing the way the game was going  - - - so glad we could all help make the outcome in our favor =)!   No complaints on that call here in Patriot Land!)