Snowmaggedon 2014

I live in Georgia.

Did you hear we had a little snow storm here recently?

Coming from Minnesota, it really was a "little" snow storm.  It started with a little sleet that turned into snow.  Where I live we got maybe 3 inches.  In the Atlanta area, they got probably 2 inches.

And here is the result....when you live in Georgia.



And this wasn't an exaggeration.  We had friends that were truly stuck on the freeways and roads for 17 hours for what would have normally been a 30-45 minute drive!

At our house, we were pretty happy.  The storm and its aftermath have landed on Rainman's days off, so we just sat around here and enjoyed the snow and ice.  The kids went sledding with my cookie sheets.  They had snowball fights.  Even though my constant mantra was "no throwing at anyone's face!"....we had a few "incidents" and even one that involved blood from being hit in the face with the snow.

Our neighbors were wonderful.  One of them let the kids sled in their yard/driveway when they wore away all the snow in our yard.  She also took pictures for me, because my battery pack in my new to me camera (by the way....thanks Alison and Justin....seriously...this camera has been a total blessing to us!) has died and won't recharge....and I can't get to the store to get a new one!

(The little boy in front is a neighbor.)

 

 

 

 

(D-man took some pictures with his new, fancy, phone he got for himself....but I don't know how to get them.....so I will maybe put up some more pictures later.)

Another neighbor saw them out there and gave them a big bucket of hot chocolate mix.  The coolest thing for me is that it was the same kind my mom used to make when I was little.  None of that store bought nonsense for us!

Thanks to my new Keurig from my friend, Sherri, we had a constant supply of hot water for it.  It was wonderful and creamy.  I loved it.  It brought back memories for me.  My little kids didn't like it as much, being totally used to store bought packets.  My big kids loved it.

Our area has essentially been shut down since Tuesday.  No school, no mail, no garbage pick up.  Most stores are not open.  It makes for a quiet, peaceful way of life.  No rushing around.  No running to the store for things that are "necessary".

Just time spend hanging out.  We have watched a Brady Bunch marathon. (We have all decided, with the exception of Rainman, that we need an Alice!)  We have played Scattergories.  We have had ping pong tournaments.  The kids have spent countless hours trudging in and out of the house to warm up and dry off their mittens in front of the fire.

I have piles of damp socks, mittens, boots, and articles of clothing, scattered in various places.  I forgot what that smelled like.....until I was once again surrounded by it! 

Yes, I have buttoned, unzipped, rezipped, helped with boot removal and replacement more times than I can count.....even though I repeatedly uttered the phrase, "Go potty before you go out."  But, you know what?  I am fine with that.

They love it.  They are having fun.  D-man on down to V-girl have had a blast. 

The big kids have been telling the littles about storms and sledding in Minnesota.....tales of tall snowmen and icicles taller than a person, cheeks that hurt from the cold, or when it hurts to actually breathe.... to tales of woe and broken legs from sledding on "homemade" ice that they made with their cousin.....on a path that led right to the wooden swingset in the backyard.  Explaining the virtues of snow pants, "real" mittens and gloves, and actual snow boots.  (Mine are wearing those one-size fits all thing gloves or socks or a combination, rubber boots and cowboy boots - because we gave away ALL our snow gear/toys when we moved).

Once again, this has reminded me what a pretty world we live in, and that we need to slow down and live our lives....together....