We had a crazy busy weekend, and the state of our house shows it. It sort of looks like the blizzard happened indoors over here. It will take a couple of days for us to dig out from under the mess we've created due to being busy, not picking up after ourselves when busy, and then being trapped indoors with head colds and no motivation. Oh well. Here are some highlights from the weekend and beyond!
We headed out of town to visit some great friends from college. The girls packed their "fun bags" to take along for entertainment purposes. Unbeknownst to Dad and I, they also packed a change of clothing....Bennett, pajamas of course. Ainsley, the hideous poinsettia dress from 80's Christmas, complete with matching red tights. Clearly they know how to dress when visiting guests. Weird kids.
We also had a mega craft weekend, as Bennett needed to work on a school project. I love and hate the craft tub at the same time. The creativity that abounds and the way it occupies the girls for long periods is wonderful. But oh, the mess! I despise the mess!
And voila...out of craft time comes the Albino Leprechaun Fish! Bennett had to create an amazing animal for school and write five "facts" about it. Just so you know, the albino leprechaun fish lives in the lakes of Ireland and it preys on smaller fish, paralyzing them with poison when they float by, accidentally bumping into its poisonous green puffballs. Betcha didn't know that! While Bennett made this amazing creature, Ainsley made a nativity scene out of noodles. Go figure.
And as the week began, all eyes turned to the impending snowstorm. We are calling it Snowtorious B.I.G. The girls have been freaking out about the storm for days. I don't know why...maybe because their mom is a weather fanatic and she's been hyping it up. When I told them the snowstorm was coming yesterday, both girls ran upstairs frantically. They returned with this, a cardboard box full of precious items. Ainsley yelled, "Quick! We need to take this stuff to the basement!" I think she is confusing a Blizzard Warning with a Tornado Warning. Hold your horses, Ainsley. It will be tornado season soon enough!
And then the storm hit! And it pummels us as I type. Here is a look at our snowdrift as of 7:45 p.m. It has risen above Bennett's waistline! Shock and awe!
And check this out. The drift is fancy-shmancy this time, with an impression from the panels on the storm door! Blizzards are pretty sweet.
Here was our drift upon waking. It is even more impressive against the outside of the house, and it's definitely the tallest drift we've had here. Sidenote as I look at Bennett's expression: How much longer will this child have the one-tooth, hillbilly look? Not much! After a year of waiting, her second top tooth is beginning to come in! Okay, back to the snow...
How does one occupy their time when snowed in? First off, you perform a concert for your Webkinz. It was a great show!
Second, you ask your mom to pull the couch away from the wall so you can look for "treasures" in the cold air return. Gross, yes? Here is Ainsley with her flashlight and ice tongs, ready to excavate.
And look what she found in the cold air return! Treasures indeed! Bud Light bottle caps...what the!? Given that beer does not exist in this house, my guess is that these are part of Bennett's bottle cap collection. BL bottle caps are pretty easy to come by as a collector. I'm guessing it is not surprising to anyone that Bennett collects bottle caps. What doesn't she collect!
We so much fresh, fluffy snow, we decided to try our hand at making snow ice cream! Here is our snow.
And here is our finished vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping. It was surprisingly yummy!
By 3:00 it was about 5 degrees out and clearly warm enough to venture outside. The girls loved playing in the mounds of snow made by Grandpa C's snowplow. I got to shovel and visit with the friendly Mormon gents who were out and about in the neighborhood. After about 30 minutes, we decided to head indoors, as to prevent the onset of frostbite. I admit to using scare tactics to get my children back indoors when I'm ready to go in. "Girls, hurry inside before your skin turns black and begins to fall off!" Works every time! The admissions of a terrible mother!
Oh, and a day is not complete without a little origami. I personally have a strong dislike for origami...too many attempted "flapping birds of happiness" that have ended up looking like complete nothingness. Bennett did convince me to attempt a couple of one-star difficulty creations with her...the "ladybug and her babies" as well as the "origami swami turban." It was fairly painless. And as we begin snow day #3, the origami continues...MANY rabbits have been made this morning. Did you know that origami rabbits seem to multiply nearly as fast as real rabbits? It's true!
