Soaking up the Snow

Chicago has been strangely without snow this winter.  All of January passed without much more than a dusting and a broken record for days without snow to boot.  My Texan self was not exactly shedding tears.  And if I was they were only ones of joy.  I seriously didn't miss it for a second.

Some of us, on the other hand, were pretty darn excited when the stuff finally started to come down.  For real this time.

While the boys were at school, my girl got all decked out in her snow gear and came outside to help me shovel the snow.  For a few days after shoveling, my back was just not the same.  Is it just me or am I getting old?

A couple of weeks ago, after a night dealing with a bout of food poisoning, Evan took the kids off my hands and took them sledding.  I got a few hours of uninterrupted rest and the kids had a blast.  That's what I call a win-win.

The verdict's in: he loved it.  I'm more sure now than ever, this kid is his daddy's boy through and through.  After a few runs and a lot of falls, it sounds like he's got the snow plow thing down.  I wondered if he'd be happy that he chose a day of skiing over a full blown birthday shin dig, but this boy was thrilled with a day on the slopes with his dad learning to ski.  Again, something in his DNA that is sooo not from me.  And who knew?  Illinois does have...ahem...a hill to ski down!

All stocked up

For those who know about my woes of Girl Scout Cookies past, you know that I've had a hard time finding a girl scout to hook me up with my Samoas.  Well last year I found my girl scout and as long as we live here, I'll have no problem getting all stocked up for the winter.  It's how I like to make it through these dreary Chicago months.  Hunkered down underneath a mountain of blankets, watching Downton Abbey (since I finally hopped on that train), and a box of girl scout cookies by my side.  So this year I placed my order with my go-to girl and all was right with the world.  Evan, who was unaware I had a supplier, also placed an order at work so that he could surprise me with some of their goodness.  And that is the story of how I ended up with nine boxes.  You would think I'd be more willing to share since I've been so abundantly blessed.  You would be wrong.  Especially since Chicago winters do seem to drag on.  If I can't see actual sunshine, I'll settle for sunshine in a box thank you very much.

Colton decided back in December, in lieu of celebrating his birthday with a friend party, he would go skiing with his dad instead.  They're on the slopes as we speak (does Illinois really have slopes?  Or snow right now for that matter??)  For Colton's sake I sincerely hope he takes after his father when it comes to skiing.  Or anything requiring coordination for that matter.