Snowpalooza/ Groundhog Day

Just the other day I was complaining about how busy we are, how we don't have enough time to just hang out and play with our kids.  Life is full of all sorts of running around and organized activities, and I was becoming downright fed up with it all.  But today we had a "Get Out of Jail Free" day.  Today was a SNOW DAY!!!  Our local news dubbed the storm, which dropped about a foot of snow on us, "Snowpalooza."  Bless 'em, those weather guys were so doggone excited.  We were pretty excited at our house too since a snow day means... a little extra rest, lots of good, take-your-time and sing-while-you do-it cooking (Today's fab meal was real Italian spaghetti Bolognese with plenty of red wine and garlic.), crafty fun for the kiddies, and playing in the snow.

It also happened to be Groundhog Day.  I know that Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania didn't see his shadow and predicted an early spring, but we here in Michigan aren't holding our breath.  Emma, Sophia and I had the most fun making our own Michigan Groundhog cupcakes...

We sat at the kitchen table for at least an hour and just cupcaked.  (That's a new verb, y'all.)  It was so pleasant, and we all realized how much we have been missing family down time.  Even Sophia sighed and said, "I love this.  I wish we had more time with our family."

Sophie's little guy, "Michigan Mitch"

Hey Sweetheart, want to do this again tomorrow?

We do love our snow days.  I have never really been a snow hater, and if it takes 12 inches of it to give me a perfect day off at home with my family, I say, "Bring it on!!"  Sophie discovered that she could stand in the snow, which was above her knees, and free fall backward landing softly in her waterproof snow gear.  Then she spent the next hour doing just that over and over again.

Emma did a little snow swimming...

And now it looks like we get to do it all over again as school as been called off for tomorrow as well!!  Perhaps we will choose some different activities that Lili can be more involved with.  She was DESPERATE to help out with those cupcakes.

"Please get in my belly, you little chocolate rodent!"

HAPPY HAPPY SNOWPALOOZA/ BLIZZASTER/ GROUNDHOG PROPHESYING DAY 2011!!

"Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood. " ~Andy Goldsworthy