Here Comes The Snow

So we are supposed to get a decent amount of snow (and sleet and ice) over the next few days. Welcome to winter in North Carolina. Arabella was released from school today at 10:30 am and we have already received the call that she won't have school tomorrow. (And I have a feeling, she won't be going on Thursday and will at least go into school late on Friday.) It started out light and has been snowing for most of the day. Max and I had to run to the store this morning before picking up Arabella and people were crazy. Their carts were overflowing - it was as if armagadden was coming! It was peaceful watching the snow fall while I waited to pick up Arabella at school. It reminded me of snowy days in Montreal and how much I miss it there.

We played out in the snow after a bit of lunch. This was the first time Max really played in it. He seemed to enjoying crawling around and playing in it with Arabella. She was so excited to finally have snow that she could build a snowman with! We stayed out in the yard for almost an hour playing before we really got too wet. Poor Max - his gloves and boots kept coming off because they are the wrong size - and I can't help knowing that if we were in Montreal still we wouldn't be having that problem! In any event, we had a fun afternoon playing in the snow and I know that we will be spending more time out in it tomorrow! I just hope we get as much snow as they say we are supposed to...I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Father-Daughter Sweetheart Dance

Last Friday night, Arabella and Jay attended the father-daughter sweetheart dance at her school. She was so excited to get dressed up and to have a "date" with Jay. In high school, I had a father-daughter dance every year, and while at the time, my dad (and my best friends dad) did everything possible to embarass us with their dance moves, we had a great time. And those dances were bittersweet and some of my favorite high school memories. My mom reminded me to get her a corsage, and Jay thought it was a bit much, but conceded when he got home that he "under-estimated the amount of girls that would have one", so he was thankful that mom reminded me. They had so much fun - they danced with one of her best friends, Sophia, and her dad, had ice cream and a surprise visit with a "princess"! It was a fun night for both of them and I am glad that Jay was in town last week so that he could attend with her.

They Call This A Snowstorm

At the end of January, we got very excited...the talk was all about a snowstorm that we were going to get hit with. Everyone was hyped up about it and we joined in. How could we not, Arabella has been wondering when it was going to snow and I hate to admit it, but I really, really do miss the snow. The day that the snow was supposed to start, Max and I dropped Arabella off at school and then went out to see what all the "crazies" were doing. I never will understand why before a big storm, people rush out to get bread, milk and eggs. That never happened in Canada, life just went on, snow was a given in the winter. Here, they brine the roads (which is probably a good thing since people here have no clue how to drive in snow) and I literally passed a car going in the opposite direction than me that was stopped in the road because there was a very small patch of black ice that they were trying to figure out how to navigate around...I really wish I had my camera for that one! So in our travels that morning, we saw the bread at Walmart looking like this....

And many store entrances were stocked with snow gear like this...

I had no sooner dropped her off and it was time to go back and pick her up as she was being released at 11:30! Not a single flake had fallen from the sky and she was getting out of school. When I picked her up, she was a bit confused...why would they get out of school early when there wasn't even snow falling. In our time in Montreal, only once, yes, ONCE were schools closed and that was because there was a ton of snow and then ice on top of it and more snow. This was just silly! I get that they do it for safety reasons, but still. So we came home and we waited for the snow to fall, and finally it started at 5 pm...Arabella had to go out in it and Max too. It wasn't must, but hey, we have to take what we can get.

Arabella was so excited when she woke up the next day! And she had a snow day, which meant we didn't have to rush out of the house. She couldn't wait to go outside...and of course Ted had to go with her. I was afraid she would be disappointed as this is what she ran out to...

She had 2 snow days and then a 2 hour delay for all this snow!! Crazy! We did try to make the best of it. We bundled up and took out our sled from Montreal. We went for a walk and enjoyed what we could. (We laughed when we saw some people in our neighborhood trying to sled down a hill...seriously people, you looked like idiots and you keep getting stuck in the grass!) Arabella wanted to make a snowman so bad, but the snow was way too dry. She told me she was moving back to Canada. And I don't blame her, if I could, I would too!

Here is the sledding...come on people!

As I write this, they are predicting some snowy and icy weather to head our way this week. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it ends up more snow and that the 4-8 inches they are saying we will get is true! Bring on the snow Mother Nature, pretty please!

The Many Messes of Maxton

Arabella was so easy and different than Max on so many levels. Given that she was 6 weeks early, we could have had a very different child on our hands than she was, we are so lucky that she was as easy and healthy as she is and was. Max on the other hand, is all boy and is into EVERYTHING!! Arabella was content to sit and play with the toys and books around her, Max not so much. Arabella didn't walk until she was almost 16 months, Max is full on walking now! He moves from one toy to the next and then onto the next in no time. He is into everything and keeps me on my toes. Here are some of the "messes" he has made in the blink of an eye when I turn my back...

He tore apart Arabella's doll house.

He found the pencil and crayons and wanted to color like his sister.

And the best one of all, I was putting away laundry and he climbed in the bathtub and turned on the water and was playing in it. I took him out and he still turned on the water to play!

100th Day of Kindergarten

Today is Arabella's 100th Day of Kindergarten! It is hard to believe that her first year of school is more than half over. She loves school and her teachers and is learning so very much. I can't remember a single day when I have picked her up at the end of her school day that she has not had a smile on her face. I love that she has a thirst for learning and just soaks everything that she is taught up. Her reading is amazing and I am shocked at the amount of words she can read. Each of her report cards has shown improvements from the beginning of the year, which is wonderful. She is even above grade level in some areas.

To celebrate the 100th day of school, they will be doing "centers" in the classroom today to mark the occassion and she had a homework project that was due this morning. She had to come up with something that signified the 100 days to her - it could be food oriented, a craft, etc. She decided to make an "owl tree". She still loves her owls and thought it would be fun to make. And it was, she painted a foam board with a tree and then added 100 owls to it. She was so excited and proud of her work! I like that owls are a symbol of wisdom and that it goes along with the theme of learning in school.

I am so very proud of you Arabella - keep up the great work!

Is It Really January?!?!?!

About 10 days ago, we had really warm weather, or at least in our book, for January. It was nice enough where you could be outside without a jacket and long sleeves may have been a bit warm. I know I am still adjusting to this odd weather. I mean it is January and it is supposed to be cold and snowy. For as nice as it is to not have to bundle up, I miss the cold weather. Actually, who am I kidding, we all do. Arabella told me last week that after it snowed and we were out playing in it, that this snow wasn't any good, that she wanted real snow and that she "was moving back to Canada!"

When the weather is nice, we try to get out and enjoy it because, I am afraid that before we know it, it will be hot again and we won't be able to spend too much time outside. So we played in the backyard and went for a bike ride. All this happened the day before the big storm was going to arrive here with snow...

13 Months

Yesterday, Max turned 13 months and I almost forgot to document it...that just goes to show how busy we are and how quickly time is flying! I was able to take a few pictures before he went to sleep and he wasn't all that cooperative!

Everyday he just keeps getting bigger and it amazes me to see his changes.  One morning last week when I took him out of his crib, he looked more "mature" and it was as if he changed overnight.  He is one happy little guy who makes us all smile.  Love you Bubs!