It's been a while since I've posted anything.  I think the bitter cold has numbed my brain, so, this is just a quick update!


In the TUNDRA ( as I'm calling it), the time you can get outside is fast and fleeting.  If you don't run out and get some playtime during the MOMENTS it's warm, you'll miss it.  So, when the forecast gave us twelve short hours of temperatures above 30 degrees, we RAN for the yard!



 We shoveled a path to the middle of our yard, and the big boy and I started a fort!

Fort Progress

 We didn't bother to finish it -we just laid the ground work...when it's warmer again, maybe we'll try again.  It was fun - I jumped in my snow pants and showed him how it was done - it was a blast!  He was shocked that 1) they made "grown up snow pants," and 2) that I might possibly know how to build a fort ("But you're a MOM!")!

On my valen-birthday, my mom took the kids down to the local sledding hill (it's just down the street).  The little ones were NOT fans of sledding (the fact that it was 12 degrees probably didn't help), but they were excited when they got to the bottom, and saw this playground!  They played with their snowball makers, and sleds, and had a wonderful time.  Grandma wanted to sled more - they weren't interested when they found they could ride a bumblebee!

Yes, playgrounds are STILL fun in the winter!

 Because of the bitter cold (the WEEKEND HIGH was 1 degree - LITERALLY ONE DEGREE), we've spent LOTS of time cooped up in the house.  The boys had ONE DAY of school this week!  Sheesh!

Needless to say, by Friday they were climbing the walls!

I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to do SOMETHING (ANYTHING) to get out of the house, and she mentioned that she'd got a new bowling ball for Christmas and hadn't got to use it yet.  And, that set it all in to motion - Family BOWLING NIGHT!

Now, remember - when "Family" is mentioned, it's not the five of us - no sir!!  Considering that Hubby was working, and Ben was having Nonna withdrawals (he wanted to stay with my in-laws, because it was cuddly), that set the total count of bowlers at FIFTEEN.  *grin*

We got two lanes for $44 for one hour (less than $3 per person for an hour of fun?  I'll take it!), and had the kids on one lane (with Grandma), and the grown ups on a another.  My parents and I covered the lanes, my siblings provided the music (via jukebox), snacks and drinks for all.  We all had SO MUCH fun!!!

Ever tried taking pics in a bowling alley?  It's tough work!

Forgive the evil robot eyes...like I said, bowling alley's are no place for quality pictures

I think it was just the right treatment for cabin fever!  Spending time all together, being "active," and silly!  It was the best!

This was the result of the snow storm that came through last week. 

*GRIN*

 

I was given the day off!  SNOW DAY!!!!  The day started ICE COLD (in these pictures, it was ZERO), but sunny...and with black snow pants, we didn't notice.  :o)

Daddy's Helper :o)

We spent the day as our tiny family (the big boys stayed with their Mom), and played in the snow...well, the dog & I played in the snow...Ben & Daddy WORKED. 

It was nice - no plans, no deadlines, no time clock.  Me, my boys (half of them, at least), and my dog, at my home. 

That's the good stuff.  :o)