Happy Fall

We did finally get a few shots with their eyes open.

Too Bright

It was a bit sunny Saturday when we ventured out to the pumpkin patch.

Winter Weather, Part 2

Here are some photos to go with the previous post.

Winter Weather

I spent the first 32 years of my life in Louisiana and Texas, so maybe that makes me appreciate the winter weather here in Maryland a little more. Maybe after living here for only 4 years, I just haven't gotten used to it yet. I don't know, but I don't think I could ever grow tired of snow.

I was so excited Monday to see the first snow flurries and flakes of the season swirling around outside. Well, it has been snowing here since early this morning today, and it is beautiful. I love the snow. I love snow days. Chloe and I have been home today. I thought it would be a great day to get some of the many things that I need to do done at the house. But, I should have known, most of my day has been spent just staring out of the windows watching the snow blanket my yard. I always find it difficult to get much done when snow is falling. I find myself being drawn to the windows again and again.

In honor of the first snow of the season, here are some of my favorite things about snow/snow days:

• school cancellations
• sledding down the hills in our neighborhood
• building snowmen and snow forts
• looking out of my windows at the snow covered trees in the woods behind my house
• cooking large pots of soup and chili
• shoveling my driveway and sidewalks
• seeing those giant piles of snow the plows leave in parking lots that last for weeks and weeks
• hot chocolate and popcorn
• staying in my pj's all day
• the silence that everything being covered in snow brings
• how bright everything looks outside at night when the moon shines on the snow

Schools are closing 2 hours early today. Rachel just got home and Hannah will be here soon. I'm going to get the hot chocolate ready.

Fall Fun

We are enjoying the fall and all the activities that come with it.

We spent Sunday afternoon at Baugher's. We took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, enjoyed some Baugher's apple cider, and spent some time with the farm animals in the petting zoo. Next we went to Hoffman's for a treat. I tried their pumpkin ice cream and it was great.

We also went to the fall fest at Rachel's elementary school last week.

Snow

We enjoyed some more snow this week.

Winter

This week we've seen snow, then ice, then more snow. Schools have been closed for three days now. The sledding was great yesterday and today. Here are some pics from our neighborhood.

Snow Day

Winter has been rather warm here this year until the last few weeks. This week we've seen temps in the single digits with wind chills in the negatives. And, today we finally got our first snow day. That's right, no school today due to several inches of snow that accumulated during the night and early this morning. The girls wore their pjs inside out last night, but I think this all had more to do with some artic air and moisture. There was celebration at our house this morning.

Mom, the new sleds are great. Thanks!

Fall

I always enjoy my morning walks a little more in the fall. This time of year is so beautiful. I took my camera with me today and stopped a few times along the way. The photos are all views from my neighborhood of the surrounding farm land and hills.

Pumpkin Patch

We headed to Baugher's yesterday for some fall fun. After having fresh apples and apple cider from the orchard, the girls jumped in the giant pumpkin moon bounce, and we took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. We hiked all over the hills so the girls could look for the perfect pumpkins and gourds. They knew that they would have to carry their own finds all the way back across the patch, because I had to help Chloe carry hers. Rachel ended up with a pretty large pumpkin, but she was determined to bring it home so she lugged it all the way back by herself!

List

Every spring Hannah begins to dream of all the fun things she will do during her summer break. Several years ago, I suggested she write up a "summer list" of things we wanted to do, which we posted of the fridge. The summer list has become an annual tradition in our household. The list always contains some new things as well as simple family activities that are hard to find time to do during the school year.This year was no different than the last few, and sometime in April or May Hannah's potential adventures showed up in written form in our kitchen.

This summer's list looks like this (minus her cool drawings, fonts, and colors):

Summer List

1. Washington DC National Zoo (pandas)
2. Bowling
3. Dutch Wonderland and/or Hershey Park
4. Go camping
5. Devil's Den
6. Cordoras Park swimming pool

We don't always get around to everything on the list, some years the list has been quite lengthy. So far this summer we spent a great week camping in North Carolina and Virginia and also went to the DC zoo. I'll keep updating on further summer adventures.