Last week we had our first truly snowy (gray, gray, cold, downright icky) day of the winter.  A day that was just icky enough that staying home was an obvious decision.  We started out with an early attempt to feed the birds with Sara’s Cheerio Bird Feeder (theme at school this month? you guessed it: birds).  Knowing that Kelly hates snow and Sara hasn’t been in love with the cold lately, I threw boots over their pj’s, thinking we’d be outside for mere seconds.  The girls had other plans.

In my pj’s, I chased them around the cul-de-sac, attempting to catch them without slipping.  At least they like snow!  If you’re going to live in Indiana, it’s important to attempt some sort of spiritual connection with the winter.  Otherwise the gray wind will eventually eat your brain.  If you are currently losing your mind (first, too bad…it’s only January…winter in Indiana is a marathon, not a sprint)…don’t worry.  It will regrow before the first checkered flag waves at the track.

What does one do with two wet and cold girls?  Throw them in a paint and crayon bath!  These are a special and messy treat I pull out from under the sink in only the most dire or celebratory of circumstances.  As you can see, even the duck over the faucet got a makeover.

Next we unpacked my latest “finds” for The Gifts War.  Adorable and ridiculously low priced, high quality stuffed animals from The Flower Factory.  There is something almost pensive about a stuffed animal waiting for a home.  It’s the Corduroy effect, if you will.  They all look as if they are patiently waiting to be chosen and hugged by a child, don’t they?

Last, we held a carpet picnic.  This is never a good idea.  Unless of course you like to vacuum.

On our next snowy day, we had the run of The Childrens Museum.  Sara called it “our special day”.

Pressing my luck, on the next snowy day, the fates were giggling.  The school commute took an hour and a half in a snowstorm that dumped white stuff so fast, the snowplows didn’t even attempt to get out and help us.  WHERE ARE YOU SNOWPLOWS?!!!, as I cursed the city and its budget cuts as my coffee ran out.  But we HAD TO MAKE IT to school because Sara and I spent 3 days making tissue paper flowers and chocolate treats for her teacher’s birthday.  Sara made a beautiful homemade card.  All of the students did.  As well, they all carried in fresh flowers in this wicked weather.  As we stumbled out into the wind, our tissue paper flowers went a-flyin’.  Cold and wet, but still clinging onto our roses, chocolate treats, wet card and a wildly wiggly Kelly, we made it into class (oh so late).  To discover that Sara’s favorite teacher, for whom she jumped out of bed this morning and insisted on wearing her “good” purple dress, (you know Mommy, the one on the hanger), in honor or this birthday, was home sick.  You can’t win ’em all,  I guess.

Pictures of our a treat we are calling “Chocolate Hail” and our official taste tester, Kelly.