The Absence of Solitude

Let's go fly a kite.

We have been experiencing some crazy warm weather around here! Today was close to 70 degrees; temperatures we usually don't see until May. So we have been soaking up the sunshine and playing outside as much as we can because we never know if we will get another cold snap. The other day it was a bit breezy, so I let the kids take out the kites that we found in the closet. (Yes, found...more on that tomorrow.)

They haven't flown kites for a long time so I was pleasantly surprised at how easily they got them in the air. They have flown them a few more times this week but not as successfully since it has not been as windy. We also have had one stuck in a tree and the other one run over by the car. I think we will have to buy more for future flying. 

Sledding

Last weekend we finally got our first significant amount of snow. It was just enough to go sledding. Since the weekend was busy, I took the kids on Monday because they were out of school for MLK day. We had so much fun! We broke two of our sleds hitting the "moguls" the kids built and we stayed out way, way longer than I ever expected.

Simon did an amazing job this year. He would go down all by himself, get up at the bottom of the hill and yell, "That was AWESOME!" and climb right back up the hill to do it all over again. I was so surprised!

The first run down that Jillian had resulted in a lot of snow in her face (see Wordless Wednesday photo) and it took her a little while to want to try it again. And once she decided she do it again, she would only go down with Ethan and loved it every time.

I was glad we got in a sledding day because by Tuesday the snow had melted! Hopefully we will get more snow soon so we can try out snow-shoeing at the local nature park. It's just been a crazy mild winter here.

 

Such a tease.

Mother Nature had us thinking last week that spring had really started to arrive here in the Northeast. I mean, it is nearly April; it should be close. Temperatures were in the high 40s to even the mid 50s a couple of days. The kids were proclaiming it too hot to wear coats or jackets. We even played outside enjoying the sunshine, finally soaking up some free vitamin D and we started making plans for the yard and the green grass that has been hiding under a blanket of snow for months.

 

 
Then it happened. AGAIN. We got blasted yesterday with more snow. It was a mean, mean trick! Mother Nature lured us into a false sense of spring only to say in the most evil little laugh, "Ha Ha!! I fooled you!" We got in the neighborhood of six inches of snow after the storm was done. The green grass is once again covered by a blanket of white.

 
 
 So we won't get our hopes up again until we see the trees budding, the flowers beginning to bloom, and the sidewalks covered in pollen. Those are the sure signs of spring, right?

Groundhog Day

Is it weird that today I woke up slightly disappointed when I looked out the window to see that our predicted monster storm fizzled here? We had just a few inches and some sleet. Big Whoop! It's just another winter day here. I guess you could say we are kind of having our own "Groundhog Day" with the weather because it is pretty much the same forecast day after day. The funny thing this time is that school was still cancelled in anticipation of the 12-18 inches were predicted to get. Any other time and school would have been in session.

I don't want all the damage a monster storm could bring but I feel like experiencing it would be almost like a rite of passage for living in this area of the country. I want to be a part of one for the record books. Is that strange? Probably. And according to Punxsutawney Phil, I only have six more weeks to have a chance to see the big one this year. We shall see...

 

...I know the storm was crippling in the mid-west so I hope all those who did feel the effects of the storm stay warm and safe over the next few days!!

Frigid

"It's gonna be a cold one, folks." That's the forecast for the weekend according to the local weatherman.

Really. Honestly. That temperature of -4 is without the windchill. I think it is lowest I've seen since we have lived here. I am just glad I will be nice and warm under flannel sheets and a down comforter fast asleep when that's the temperature outside.

 

The funny thing is the weatherman described Wednesday and Thursday as "milder and more pleasant temperatures." It's all about perspective, people. 

More Snow

We had about 8-10 inches yesterday and had fun playing in it. (Not so much fun shoveling the driveway three times.) Ethan and Lauren went down the street to play so I have just a couple pictures today of Simon and Jillian:

 
 
 
 
  
(That little toy airplane Simon is holding is now lost somewhere in the snow!) 

The snow:

(Just turn the volume down)

 

 

The Biggest Icicle!

This morning Lauren came out just as I finishing shoveling the driveway (for the umpteenth time this week) and wanted me pull down an icicle for her. We walked around the back of the house and found a single icicle on the corner of the house. I was able to pull it off in one piece and she was so excited.

 
Doesn't she look like she is showing off her latest catch? It was {this} big!!

After I let her hold it I realized it was probably the wrong thing to do. She took off running with it to show Ethan. AHHH...visions of impalement by icicle flashed through my mind! She ended up hiding it in a safe spot (somewhere in the snow) so it wouldn't get broken.

 

Snow Much Fun

As soon as Ethan and Lauren got home from school yesterday, they immediately put on all their snow gear to go play. Simon, Jillian and I followed suit. Surprisingly, we stayed out for over an hour. I thought they would be wanting to come in after a few minutes but I got complaints when I made them come when it started getting dark.

Ethan thought he might be able to sled down the hill in front yard but it just wasn't steep enough. He tried and tried though.

The snow as a really wet snow so it made great snowballs. Lauren realized this right away and started a snowman. She did a really good job. I just had to help her lift the top two into place.

Simon got pretty good at making snowballs and throwing them at Lauren. He also got out his tricycle and took off down the hill of the front yard on it. Forget a sled. He needed wheels. He also wanted to eat the snow. A lot.

 
Uh, so cute! Jillian didn't know quite what to think. She wanted to play but didn't really know how to pick her feet up high enough to make a move forward without falling over. It probably didn't help that she was so bundled that she was a little stiff. After a while though, she figured it out and had fun with us. She loved to pick up snow in her hand and just look at it and touch it with her other hand. 
 


 
Fun times for the next few months!!
 
 

Autumn Colors

We went on a little leaf peeping hike on Sunday after church. We had some stormy weather and high winds earlier in the week so a lot of the leaves had fallen. In our neighborhood and area we still have many green trees so I think we will be able to enjoy more autumn colors for a couple of weeks.

 
And just some pictures of Stony Brook:

 

blooming

The early spring flowers are finally starting to bloom around here. I hope warmer weather really is on its way and we don't have any more freezing temps for a while. I picked these from the yard and the sad thing is that I only know the yellow ones are daffodils and the red ones are tulips. There are several other flowers and plants in the yard and I have no idea what they are; only that they are really pretty, smell good, and some cause my allergies to act up. Nonetheless, spring has finally arrived in the northeast!