Snow Day

The second time in 2014 we got the warning for this kind of weather...

I was thankful I made the trip to the grocery store 2 days earlier.  I was glad we didn't have to worry about food or heat or entertainment.  I was a little bit concerned that we might lose power.  There was so much ice that trees and limbs came down all over the place.  We were snowed/iced in for about 3 days.  Leigh Anne came to stay with us, bless her.  She was beyond ready for the stuff to melt...

Our board of ed cancelled school a little bit early, as in a whole day.  Tuesday's forecast kept saying bad weather, but it didn't really show up until late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.  However, after the last fiasco, I don't blame them!  Nobody wanted a repeat of being trapped at school until late at night OR stuck at school overnight.  We missed school Wednesday as well.  Our system was already scheduled to be off Thursday and Friday, so we didn't have anything to worry about.  By Friday afternoon we had clear skies, melting ice and snow, and we had run out of donuts.  The Tastykake donuts are MUCH better than the Hostess.  Just in case y'all wanted to know...

After 3 days of togetherness we headed out to Burger King and took a deep breath of fresh air and hamburgers.  It was glorious.

Borrowed?

We may or may not have watched one of those links on YouTube where they have movies that haven't quite made it to a video source just yet.  One Friday night long ago in a land far away we watched Frozen.  The next morning the same link didn't work.  They cried.  I cried.  We all shed a tear for the movie that wasn't....

So I promptly called my BFF (who shall remain anonymous--for her own protection of course) and asked for a copy of the movie she technically didn't already have either.  Mind you, both of us have already pre-ordered it from Amazon and expect it to arrive on the correct ship date in March, but there was NO way my children were going to understand that we had to WAIT 6 more weeks.  Wasn't going to happen.

Bless my anonymous BFF and her husband for sending a copy right along our way!  We secured it JUST before the nasty ice storm (round 2) in Georgia and watched it at least 8 times in 3 days.  The entire family has roamed around singing every song at the top of our lungs for the last 2 weeks.  You don't know the words?  YouTube it.  Learn them.  You'll thank me later.

Frozen and Brave

Those just happen to be two of my favorite Disney movies.  We watched Brave Saturday night at home and we went to watch Frozen in the movie theater Sunday afternoon.  I took both children to see a movie in a theater.  AAAAAAAlllllllllllllllllllll by my very own self.

None of us died.  There were no accidents, not even for the giant pregnant lady.  I put Elizabeth in a pull up just in case, but she did a fantastic job.  Can you please explain to me why the child can go through a 2 hour movie with no accidents but cannot seem to manage that when we are at home!?  She plowed through enough popcorn to kill a small animal.  I stopped on the way to the movies and got them both some m&ms.  I saved those for that point in the movie where they had become restless and wanted to get up and go frolic in the aisles.  We also got ourselves a large popcorn upon arrival.

Hayes was determined to have 'movie snacks' and popcorn fit the bill.  I was able to get some extra little plastic trays for their popcorn.  I didn't really want to have to pass the popcorn back and forth.  Turns out, I should have just taken a bucket for Elizabeth.  She literally ate half the giant bucket.  I ate the other half.  It had extra butter and was delicious.  Hayes at 2 bites.  He also had a pack of m&ms.  Elizabeth also used her tray for the m&ms.

I packed water and sippy cups just in case the urge for a beverage struck us.  I really wanted a giant Coke Icee, but I didn't get one.  Yay for me.  Also, we scored bonus Regal points and got ourselves a free small popcorn and a free movie ticket for next time!  Elizabeth was very upset upon learning that the movie was over and we had to leave.  She cried the whole way out of the mall and home about wanting to 'go see Frozen' again.  I believe we might have to go watch it again, and soon!

In case you haven't seen the movie, you really should.  Though, at this point it might be worth waiting until March 18th for the video release... That was my original plan, but I am thrilled that I decided to go to the theaters instead.  I have always been a Disney film lover and most importantly, Disney musicals!  Frozen is both of those things, Disney and a musical.  The vocals are phenomenal and the vocal talents used are all very well respected vocalists.  I dare say that the soundtrack has already been purchased....

Oh, and just 3 days after I drove in nasty snow and ice to get my car, I wore flip flops to take the trash out to the curb.  Again, winter.... temperatures... pick one and be consistent!

Artic Atlanta

Well, we wrapped up 3 full days of snow and ice today.  The temps have finally gotten above freezing long enough to make a difference and we have seen the snow melting.  Praise Jesus for melting snow, and no, I'm not kidding or exaggerating or whatever you will.  I'm glad the snow was here.  I am thrilled my little ones got to play in it, but I'm just as elated to see it GONE.  It is pretty for about 12 hours, after that... I want it gone.  And it is not pretty after someone drives in it.  Then it turns into icy slushy mess that is brown.  Yuck.

Snow days for me have been about organizing clothes in the kids' rooms, planning menus for the month of February, and gathering coupons for grocery shopping.  I was supposed to go to a work conference this weekend, but that obviously didn't happen since I just retrieved my vehicle today.  Thankfully it was still parked at the McDonalds where I left it and it hadn't been damaged or towed.  The roads were actually manageable and I did some grocery shopping before I returned home to the manic children.  I also went to Hobby Lobby and got some ribbon for my stash!

Hayes and Elizabeth are troopers and have been great considering we are all tired of being stuck at home, inside the house.  We did go outside Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, but yesterday we stayed inside all day.  It takes so long to put on all the gear and then they only stay outside for maybe 20-30 minutes.  They don't even like the snow.  They have tossed all the cushions in the floor every day, had a trampoline via couch to floor, and ran multiple laps around the middle of the house.  They have watched numerous Disney movies and sang along to most of them.  We also clap when appropriate during movies.  Every dress up outfit has seen action during Artic Atlanta week.

We made Snow Cream yesterday.  The can of sweetened condensed milk I had said it expired in 2012.  Oops.  Nobody is dead yet and we all ate it, so it must be okay?  Snow Cream was delicious and I'd never made it or had it before, that I can remember... It went along well with the brownies Caroline delivered!

I'm busily preparing dinners for next week while the children are napping.

Sunday is Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Source

Monday is Loaded Potato & Chicken Bake

Source

Tuesday is Vegetable Soup.  

I don't have a link or a source.  I just add a bunch of veggies to the crock pot and some ground meat and add some seasoning.  I also make cornbread, which is my most favorite food ever.  

Wednesday is Queso Chicken Pasta Bake

Source

I've been craving cheese dip like no other with this pregnancy, so I'm hoping this queso bake will be a delicious substitute!  

Thursday we have gymnastics and we go out to dinner after that.  Friday & Saturday Daryk will be coaching at Sectionals, so the kids and I will either have pizza, cereal, leftovers, or sandwiches.  I try to plan my meals around our lives and busy schedules.  I also plan a whole month at a time and adjust depending on grocery store sales, activities, etc.  I go shopping once a week for our meals and try my best to stick within a $100 a week budget for everything.  Maybe I'll post about how I budget that, coupon for savings, and plan meals one day.  I truly enjoy being organized.  Makes my life easier.  

Georgia Snow

My fearless child.  She knows no boundaries.  She fears nothing.  She walks briskly into any situation and cares nothing about the consequences.  She will be the reason I have more gray hair than not in the coming years.  Elizabeth loved the snow.  She ate it.  In true Elizabeth fashion, it was a 'nack for her.  She had a hard time keeping those mittens on her hands, but she had a blast.  We were lucky enough to have a hand me down snow suit and several huge coats for her.  All I could think about while she was all layered up, was her having to go potty.  Thankfully she didn't have any accidents in the 20 degree snow!  

She resembled Christmas Story kid just a bit.  When she fell down, she had a hard time getting back up!

Have you ever tried to get a cooperative photo of a 2 & 4 year old?  It is about impossible.  I'm pretty sure I asked nicely for them to both look at me, smile, say cheese... something.  ANYTHING!  I got these.

Best one of the day!  

We trekked in the back yard around our 'trail' to see deer tracks and watch a few squirrels scrounge around for some food.  Our neighbor Caroline made the trip to our house to deliver brownies AND play with the kids for a few minutes.  I made her come inside before she headed back home to warm up and get some hot chocolate.  

We quickly moved the adventure to the swing set we bought from a friend for a STEAL of a price.  It has been so much fun for the kids and I've really enjoyed it.  I know they have.  The slide was a lot more fun in the snow!

Hayes didn't get the 'look at the camera' memo.

It was a fantastic day.  I am so grateful to God that all of my family was home, safe, and warm.  I was blessed to know that.  There were a lot of my friends who were out and about to rescue folks and more friends who were stuck in cars, hotels, and shelters very far from home.  There was even a baby delivered on the side of 285!  It took some people an entire day to get home and there are still cars stranded all over the place.  Today we are hoping to journey out and retrieve our vehicles, or at least ONE of them!