Snow! And Lots of it…

In mid-February we got a ton of snow—the kids got out of school early on a Tuesday and didn’t go back to school for the rest of the week.  We were homebound for days.  Jonathan skipped town for work on Tuesday (heading out earlier than necessary to make sure he could make it to Philly for a Thursday meeting), so it was just me and the kids at home together for three and a half days.  We had a fun time hunkering down—and luckily we knew it was coming, so we were all stocked up (yes, milk and t.p…ha ha in true Charlotte snowmaggedon style)—for a few days.  We spent A TON of time outside playing in the snow, making snowmen, “sledding”, shoveling snow, going on walks—we were definitely outside more than any of our neighbors.  The kids were usually armed with a thermos of hot cocoa, to ensure they’d stay out in the snow as long as possible, of course, burning all of their energy there.  But, we also had lots of snuggling movie time and popcorn, board games, books, and, yeah, kindle/iPad/Wii time.  The snow was beautiful and we’re so thankful every year when we get a big snow.  It just doesn’t feel like winter without it…even in Charlotte. 

{wish I remembered why jack was pouting here—he was wronged in some way, no doubt—but love the dichotomy of expressions here.}

{and his smile is back the next day…maybe it was that old hat that was giving him trouble.}

JA Biztown

Ella’s 4th grade class applied their economics lessons by running a town, JA Biztown, for a day on a field trip to the city.  I chaperoned the field trip, but as a chaperone I was put to work supervising the real estate office.  Ella was a nurse for the day, which was luckily next door to my office so I got to check in on her every once in a while (it’s a chaperone rule that you can’t supervise your own child’s office).  There was no rest for the weary on this day, though—the kids, and in turn the chaperones, were literally put to work for nearly 4 hours straight performing the tasks of employees, citizens, and consumers to run JA (Junior Achievement) Biztown.  It was an exhausting day (at least for me) but the 4th graders definitely benefited from the hands-on application of economics and personal banking.

{cutest little nurse in ja biztown.}

First Snow

We got our first snow day of the season at the end of January, although there really wasn’t much snow.  Ella and Jack were, of course, thrilled to play in the snow and to have the day off from school.  Not knowing what was in store for the rest of the winter—we have had winters with no snow—the kids definitely made the best of it, trying to fit in all of their usual snow day activities with the little bit of snow we did have.  We live on the sunny side of the street, though, so they actually had their best luck at a house across the street with a little driveway sledding.  Snow days—the unexpected break from school, plenty of outdoor play, and topped off with hot cocoa—are always awesome…even Charlotte style.

Powderpuff Derby

Ella’s Girl Scout troop participated in the Powderpuff Derby (pinewood derby car races) again this year.  Ella and Jonathan worked together to design the car—they decided on a low profile sleek car and Ella wanted to paint the car as a face.  I suggested they add a 3D nose which Jonathan then created and glued onto her car.  This is always a fun event and—although there’s a bit of whining on both of their parts during the creation phase—Ella and Jonathan enjoy the time they spend together working on the derby car. 

Girl Scouts Digital Photographer Patch

In early January, Ella and I worked with her Girl Scout Juniors troop on the Digital Photography patch.  Ella and I presented six photography composition concepts and suggestions to her girl scout troop at a meeting one night (rule of thirds, use leading lines, frame your subject, make strong lines horizontal or vertical, change your perspective, and avoid mergers) and had the girls practice these concepts at our meeting.  Ella and I were a great team during our presentation, tag-teaming each idea we covered.  After our meeting, the girls had a few weeks to complete an assignment, a photography scavenger hunt.  Ella, Gator and I went on a nature hike on our hunt for Ella to capture on my old Nikon D40x the items on her list (Girl Scout Junior green, winter, shadows, cookie program, looking up or down, get close, reflection, why I love being a Girl Scout, light, and valentine). Ella was incredibly creative in composing her shots and we enjoyed our 4-mile hike on a beautiful, temperate January weekend.  In order to earn their Digital Photography patch, the girls also had to edit their scavenger hunt images.  I let Ella loose with her images in Lightroom and she had a fun time trying out all of my many presets and changing settings.  Ella takes her art very seriously—she still has every intention of being an artist when she grows up—and it was so wonderful to show her how photography is also an art.  She now has the D40x at her disposal so hopefully she—and the rest of her Girl Scout troop—continues to enjoy applying the composition concepts we learned.

{the paparazzi on jack.}

Ella’s Scavenger Hunt Images:

And, a few other images she and I took on her camera during our nature hike:

Instagrammin’ in April

April was a busy, busy month full of lots of exciting travel, beautiful days out in nature, and some exciting events…not to mention my 38th birthday.  Fun times!

holding my hand on our evening walk. #soakingupeveryminute | jack’s journal: “my life is gonna’ be aswesome when i grow up.” | got myself a cute date.  #fatherdaughterdancenight = #mothersondatenight #baddaddysandbasketball | looks like they had a fun night. #fatherdaughterdancenight | goodbyes are tough after hanging with such great lifelong friends. | 51 lengths of the gym at his pacer run #mostoftwoclassesrunning | i wish i could always say yes when he asks me to play soccer with him. | national sibling day—so thankful to talk to my big sis today! #arentwecute | fun at the lake with our cousins! #springbreak2014 | loving all my cuddle time with my sweet niece ivy. | fun day playing tennis with our music teacher. #wonitataschoolraffle #springbreak2014 | a big 10-year-old needs a more mature ‘do! | livin’ it up in chucktown this weekend. #ilovecharleston #springbreak2014 | he ordered oysters 2 ways for dinner. #hanksseafood | we love our doughnuts—of course our hotel was booked around the corner from a gourmet doughnut shop. | enjoying the view on the uss yorktown. #springbreak2014 | fun on the boardwalks at shem creek. #springbreak2014 | we’ve done plenty of that at the amazing restaurants in charleston. | wet and mucky saturday at charles towne landing, but it was still beautiful and—bonus—we had the place to ourselves.  plus, i was obviously prepared. | what a beautiful park. #charlestownelanding #springbreak2014 | sentenced to 5 minutes for whining. #itiredofwalking | checking out the ketch at charles towne landing. | oh these trees.  so beautiful. | on easter sunday, an adventure in uptown after church. | the kids’ first fancy easter brunch. #blue #springbreak2014 | ready to experience the phenomenon. #bluemangroup #springbreak2014 #didntrealizeitwaseasterwheniboughtthetix | great way to end a fun week! #withmycuties #springbreak2014 | they were so patient—finally, an egg hunt! #springbreak2014 | forsooth, a tooth!  we’re very excited to finally (after over 6 months) see a tooth coming in! | still finding inchworms on me 3 hours after a trail run. #theyreeverywhere | 2013 blog book, check. | showered with love from my wonderful family and sweet friends. #happybirthdaytome | ella’s birthday party photo book—such a cute party. | look who’s in this month’s issue of the crier! #fromtwosummers ago #discoveryplace | we’re missing our girl, but it looks like she’s having fun in savannah on her girl scout trip. | enjoying a beautiful weekend in the mountains at our church retreat to kanuga. | getting in some  q-t with my cu-tie. #yesimadork #missingourgirl | my kayaking buddy on this lovely saturday. #kanuga | ella’s hanging with some savannah royalty on her girl scout trip.

Instagrammin’ in March

March brought some extreme highs and extreme lows for our family.  It was a very emotionally tolling month, one that left us counting the many blessings we have and recollecting many wonderful memories.

we said goodbye to our sweet, wonderful, like-no-other 10-year-old pup gator.  we are so very heartbroken.  life just won’t be the same without him.  #lovethatdog #homeiswhereyourdogis | in my sister’s room at the hospital: “where there is great love there are always miracles.” ~ willa cather  we definitely saw a miracle in my sister’s recovery. | our wacky kids on wacky wednesday. | sister selfie in the hospital! tracy was surprising everyone with her quick recovery. | cousin time at the chattahoochee nature center. | TRACY.IS.HOME! my sister checked out of the hospital 16 days after she was first admitted. #wearingadefibrillatorvest #justaprecaution | red-shouldered hawk in our backyard. | missing my walking buddy. | junior night out for these two tennis cuties! | beginning of soccer season, 3+ goals for jack but he loves defense like his mama. | trying out lacrosse this spring, too. | happy st. patrick’s day! | sorry, kiddo, but your mom used to edit books as a job in college. #proofreader | yay! surprise visit from lauren and family. | happy 10th birthday, ella! | ella’s birthday request for dinner and a movie = nothing but noodles and mr. peabody and sherman #girllovesherbutterynoodlesandbreadsticks | back in atlanta, at que for a cause, a fundraiser for my sister’s family. | love hanging with my sister! #sothankful | meeting the first responders today. | love this smile. #hopingnewteethcomeinsoon | learning the art of cake pops from the master, dao of daolicisioustreats. | dao’s helping me make microphone cake pops for ella’s birthday party! | the finished product, microphone cupcakes for ella’s karaoke party—so thankful for dao helping to make ella’s party so special.  10 is a big one and all of the craziness of the previous month put me behind in party planning. | love this uber talented lady! | ella’s karaoke birthday party started off with some rock-star treatment for the girls—manis and pedis. | 6 girls having fun on stage! #karaokeparty | microphone cupcakes were pretty and yummy! happy birthday to ella! | now that she’s 10, the world of the gym and equipment has opened up to her—she couldn’t be more thrilled. #gymratinthemaking | well-earned beer and izzes on the patio after a long weekend…a long month. #yayforspringweatherfinally | missing those tail wags.