Sidewalk Chalk and Flu and I'm Not Very Good at Transitions

We've been passing away these long winter days. 

We've colored princesses while being princesses.

Played with the toys and played with them again.

But then.  God gave us a beautiful day smack-dab in the middle of February. Not like a few weeks ago when it was 45 degrees and we bundled up and were just excited we didn't freeze.

Oh yes, we got a good one.  And don't you know we busted out the sidewalk chalk.   

Ah, sidewalk chalk.  Can you even say that without thinking summer?  Sprawling out across the warm pavement, smelling that dusty chalky smell...oh, yes. 

By the way.  That reminds me.

I was talking to my sweet friend Angela the other day and she commented that I was an awesome mom because, "just look at your blog!"

That made me laugh. My disclaimer: life in blog may appear better than actual life.   

For example, see this picture of Nate?

Sweet.  

Yeah, well. I didn't take pictures of him battling the horrid stomach flu he's had for the last week. (You're welcome!)  Or of the massive fit he threw when it was time to come inside.  I also didn't take pictures of me snapping at Brooke when she just wouldn't listen and stay out of the mud.  And typically I wouldn't mention that Scot and Brooke now have the flu and I'm cautiously deciding what to eat for lunch because I have a well-founded fear that I'll be next.

I edit all that stuff out.  You know I'm not fluttering through life playing princesses and drawing on the pavement.  I just edit.

Who wants to remember all that other stuff, anyway?  God gives us so much good and I'd much rather pluck that out and hang on to it.  Besides, this blog is meant to be like a baby book for my kids.  There's no "Baby's First Violent Stomach Flu" section in a baby book.  And there's not one on my blog, either. (Until now, I guess.)

So back to the chalk.  We likes it. 

It was my little bit of happy this week.

The end.

The Great Outdoors

What a difference a few days makes.

Friday it was 45 degrees.  Gorgeous!

If it were October, we'd have locked ourselves inside, cranked up the fireplace and thrown some chili in the crock pot. 

But in January, 45 degrees is heaven. It's daydream-about-spring weather.  And it's definitely get-the-kids-out-of-this-house weather.

The snow was perfect for snowman making. 

If pictures had sound, all you would hear is the sound of me panting.  I would make a snowman part and Nate would take off around the house.  Make another snowman part, Nate takes off.  Etcetera. Etcetera.  Etcetera.

But he was never too hard to find.

How's this for a snowman? 

It fell over about 2 seconds after I took the picture. 

Yeah, that was a fun day.
Oh, but now. 

Snowpacylpse. Snow-nami. Snowmageddon. The Winter Storm of 2011.  All names for this current snowstorm, all used by newcasters. Seriously. 

The little buds that promised spring a few days ago are frozen solid.

The ice is kind of pretty.  I guess.

 But I am beyond ready for spring!