Ten Things I'm Loving About This Weather

This is one weird winter.

And, I love snow. I'm dying for a good snow storm. Like getting snowed in kind of storm.

Still hoping for one before the winter is over.

But, it is hard to imagine with the mild weather we've been having...

Snow storm aside, there are some things I'm loving about the warm temps!

1. low heating bills. enough said.
2. easy out the door - no major snow stuff needed like boots, hats, warm gloves
3. no slippery walk. our front sidewalk is fully shaded by a big pine tree and it is super icy most winters.
4. no scraping my windows. this house didn't come with the luxury of a drive in garage. not fun.
5. no wet snow being drug in the house on the floors
6. flip flops can still be slipped on to run to the neighbors house or to take out the trash
7. I can bike ride to the post office. yes that is me, my cute shoes and my Schwinn!

8. my driver's side window isn't frozen up. it is unusable when it gets below freezing. weird.
9. sunshine in the windows. the sunshine has been stupendous (yes, I just said stupendous.)
10. popsicles are still a great snack. really. in January. amazing.

What have you been up to this warm, warm winter?

*linking up with Amanda for Top Ten Tuesday!

A Christmas Eve Snow

I wanted snow for Christmas.

A lot of snow. Like a snow storm.

Michigan was letting me down. No snow was in the forecast. It wasn't going to happen.

Insert sad me here.

Well, late on December 23rd, we were all sitting and watching TV when Annalise yelled, "Look! It is SNOWING!"

Uhm. She had to be seeing things. It wasn't supposed to snow anything other than maybe a few flurries. Plus it was dark outside so she couldn't have seen anything.

But, as I stared hard at the glass in my mom's sunroom... sure enough... it WAS snowing!

A good snow! I ran to the door and opened it to see for myself. Annalise was right. She sure did see some snow through the window!

It finally felt like Christmas.

So, the next morning, the girls got ready and went outside to play in the 1-2 inches of snow on the ground.

Not much, but enough to have some fun.

Four excited girls, well, five if you count me, playing in the cold.

Outside, burning off some energy... running and skipping and playing and climbing.

All on a surprise snowy Christmas Eve!

Did you get any snow this Christmas?

White as Snow

I love snow.

Especially around Christmas.

and, we haven't had any snow. none. even in Michigan.

Until last night...

We were sitting in my mom's sunroom and Annalise yelled, "Look! It is snowing!"

No one could believe it. The weather channel said only a 30% chance of flurries.

But it was snowing lots of big fluffy flakes.

Soft and white and slow...

There was a precious layer of Christmas snow on the ground that made my heart happy.

Just an hour later, I was putting the girls to bed and for devotions I asked the girls a question.

"What does the snow remind you of?"

Abby answered first. "It reminds me of Jesus' birthday when he came as a baby!"

"Good, Abby... Elayna?"

"Well, I think about how Jesus is pure like snow. He has no sin."

I loved her answer.

"Annalise, what do you think?"

"Snow reminds me that Jesus washes us white as snow!"

Another perfect answer...

Jesus, who is pure as snow, came as a baby to wash us white as snow.

Three amazing reasons to love snow, to be reminded anew of why Jesus came to this earth.


 

Wednesday's Walk - A March Snowstorm

This week, we have been experiencing some very welcome, unseasonably warm weather.

It feels nice. I can see the grass. I don't cringe as I step outside, feeling the 4 degree air bite into my skin.

The sun shined all afternoon through our big picture window and it felt so incredibly warm.

But, although this reprieve from cold temperatures has been very nice, I can't forget that it is still winter.

I found these pictures from March of 2008.

Look how tiny Abby was in all that snow!

Jay trying to dig out our van...

Annalise snuggled in a big snow drift like we used to do in Michigan where I grew up.

Yes, a huge snow storm in March. We could still get more snow. These warm temps are probably quite temporary.

As I've said before, I LOVE snow and really wouldn't mind another bit of fluffy white stuff. But, spring is calling and I am ready for warm weather for good. Green things growing and flowers blooming...

Sound good to you?

I hope you'll join us in walking down memory lane today! Just grab the button on my sidebar and link up a new or old memory.

Don't forget to hop around and visit the links. I love reading your walks each week!

Before and After: Ice Storm 2011

I'm linking up with Monica @ Pixel Perfect for her Thursday Before and After.

This is picture I captured with my cellphone (horrible, I know!) of the ice on the bushes in front of our house.

Amazing! We are so thankful to have never lost our power during the 48 hour snow/ice/rain storm of 2011.

Here is the ice before:

And, after:

This morning, I started my van 15 minutes early thinking that would be long enough to melt the ice so I could scrape my windows.

Uhmm. No.

30 minutes of scraping, chipping and hacking at my van before it was ice free.

I'll consider that my workout for the day!

An Update Post...

Life is busy right now.

My mind is full. Things to do, things to pray for, things to study for...

Tax time is coming, paperwork to fill out... Ah!

But, we have been having fun too...

Annalise turned 6 with a Tinkerbell Party.

She had tinker snacks... dried blueberries, peanuts, gingerbread cookies, yogos, popcorn, pretzels...

She was one excited birthday girl!

Annalise and her friend, Kara.

Balloon Animals by Daddy.

And lots of presents to open.

We went to the art museum last Friday and I'll be posting about that soon.

Tomorrow is Wednesday's Walk and I have some Christmas pictures to get on the blog. Do you have any Christmas pictures that were never blogged about?

I really loved all of your comments on my last post about flirting.

We are in the middle of an ICE storm. Praying we don't loose power. That would be SO cold. Glad I went to the grocery store early yesterday! We aren't going anywhere today! Even Jeremy has a "snow day" which is very nice.

As much as I love snow, I will be thankful for spring. Warm temps are looking better every day.

That said, February is my favorite month even with the snow and ice. Valentine's Day and my birthday... yeah! I have something fun planned for the blog on my birthday (20th). Can't wait to tell you about it!

I sent my new camera that I got for Christmas back to Amazon and now I'm using my Canon that smokes when it flashes. It gives the pictures a weird color - see above birthday pictures. So not fun. Waiting for a good deal... hoping to get a better camera this time. My husband seems to be leaning towards a Rebel. We are still huge Canon fans even though this last one doesn't seem to be the best. thoughts?

And, if we are going for a Rebel, I'll be saving for a loooooonnnng time.

Ok, my girls need some breakfast.

See you back tomorrow for Wednesday's Walk!

I Heart Faces - Winter Wonderland

Remember my post about Annalise doing cartwheels on the ice? Well, when I saw the theme for this week's I Heart Faces challenge, I just had to take another look at this picture of her mid-snow angel.

Annalise Smiles in a Winter Wonderland

I'm in love with this little girl!

My Cartwheeling Baby

"Annalise, why don't you go fish with Daddy and Grandpa?"

"I did that yesterday when I caught that big fish with Daddy."

*yesterday's picture

"Today, I'm just not a FAN of fishing. Today, I'm a fan of PLAYING!"

"I want to sled...

...and make snow angels...

...and do cartwheels on the ICE!"

"Because Mommy, playing on the ice is way more fun. I'm not a fan of fishing today, K?"

*linking up with Tiny Talk Tuesday at Not Before 7