ANOTHER snow day!

Here we are on the 3,287th snow day it seems.  I do think winter just might last forever.  After the last round of ice and snow that kept us holed in for a week, we had hoped that spring was on the way.  Seems as if we were wrong and Mr. Groundhog was right in his prediction of winter lasting a bit longer.  The weather changed from a balmy 63 degrees on Wednesday afternoon to below freezing that night.  Those below freezing temps weren't wasted though as Thursday greeted us to another round of snow that didn't disappoint...close to four inches!

My parents had just returned from their 2 month beach stay so heading to their home with my brother and his family was the perfect winter reunion.  Michael had work to finish, so Kyle picked up the boys and I and we made the short, icy trek down the street for an afternoon filled with snowy fun.

They were at the pool in FL just two days prior...welcome home!! :)  We are so glad to have Papa and Gigi back in good ol' TN!

Best uncle ever!

Always. A. Vehicle. In. Hand.

Snow angels!

This snow wasn't ideal for packing and building, but we did manage to have a family snowball fight.  And there are no pics of me b/c I held the camera all day...at least it kept me from being pelted with snow :)  The boys had a ball!

We've all had our fill of sledding and snow...spring, we are ready for you!

Snowpocalypse 2015

Wow.  What a crazy weather week.  Inches of ice and then a gorgeous blanket of snow made for some fun days around the Johnson abode.  Michael and I decided to trust the meteorologists of middle TN and bought the boys a sled for Valentine's Day.  Well, this time, the weather came as expected (shocker!!) and we were able to put that bad boy to good use.  The hill at the end of our street was a perfect spot to show the boys a little Clark Griswold action...they had a ball (and so did we!).

Michael's golf cleats are cracking me up...but hey, he didn't slip a bit!

On Day 2, Kyle's crew decided to come over and join us for a day of outdoor winter fun.  Most of the ice had melted into a slushy mess on the road, but the yard was still perfect for some icicle finding, digger 'snowplowing' by little man, and sledding.

By Day 3, the frigid below freezing temps had set in, so we enjoyed the beauty of the snow from indoors.  We were a little stir crazy, but chose joy and settled in with movie afternoons, tent making, board games, and even a bit of school (gasp!).  Thankfully, we had stocked the fridge and pantry beforehand, so our bellies were full of homemade soups and other warm goodies.

Nearing Friday - Day 5, meals were getting creative and we all desperately needed to see something besides our four walls.  The main roads were clear and our neighborhood was drivable, so Michael took the boys to DD for a man club donut breakfast and I got to grocery shop BY MYSELF...glorious!!  I think I spent an hour simply chatting with friends and family that I spotted in each aisle - we ALL needed the adult conversation.

The weekend was filled with rain which caused lots of puddling, flooding, refreezing and damage to so many homes around the area.  Thankfully, our house stayed leak free and we never lost power...happy dance over here!

This week is back to normal for us - school (even though Sumner Co. is STILL out), appointments for Michael, and other daily activities.  We truly enjoyed our week of forced rest and made some treasured memories.  Now, c'mon spring!

Finally!

While we've endured below freezing temps without a trace of the white stuff these past few weeks, the Lord showered us this morning with a gorgeous snowfall.  After breakfast, we quickly changed into our gear and headed outdoors to play.  Good thing we went early because by 10:30 it had all melted away...that's a Tennessee snow for ya :)

January Days

We enjoyed the warmth this weekend with a few walks and outdoor play, but for the most part, January days are spent inside away from the cool, crisp air.  Here's a small glimpse of ways we're keeping busy...

Painting.  Watercolors are a world of fun

Craft making.  In school, our reading stories are all about penguins this week, so we painted our own.  Bet you'll never guess which one belongs to which boy.

Potty training.  He still refuses to pee in the potty (Lord help me!), but he does the other pretty regularly.  Cole sits with him sometimes, reading stories and offering encouragement - totally rocks the big brother role.  He even made a personalized 'sticker' for Cade the other evening which he wore proudly.

Eating healthy.  We're doing great at sticking to our menu plans and eating so much better.  We've just about eliminated processed foods...replacing them with fresh veggies, fruit, and homemade snacks (I hope to post some new recipes we've tried soon).  I doubt we'll ever be 100% clean or Paleo, but we're taking great strides to a healthier 2014!

Bacon wrapped chicken tenders with homemade honey mustard glaze.  Squash chips and balsamic green beans on the side.  YUM!

Restaurant playing.  I sold our play kitchen this week, but it hasn't stopped these kiddos from whipping up some creative concoctions.  Breakfast at Pancake Pantry and lunch at Cole's Fire Engine Cafe...nothing beats it :)

My menu and meal ticket

Love the 'gift' option

Hope you're finding ways to enjoy these wintry days as well.  Soak them in...spring is only 2 months away!