Playing in the Snow

If you think that Texans never experience real snow - I'd like to educate you. We've had a long and eventful winter! 2012-2013 has been anything but predictable! We've played at the park in short sleeved shirts in January and been snowed into our home for 24 hours in February. No lie. We've had at least two good snows (at this point the weather has started to blurr together because it's been so crazy) - one was perfect for playing outside and the other was a bit harsh for play-time. :) 

During Michael's morning nap, Lucy and I were able to sneak outside for some fun in the snow. :) 

Lucy LOVED it! She had a huge grin on her face the entire time and had so much fun exploring. 

Making her first snow angel :)

Here's a fun video of Lu's first snowball - she was practicing for some family snowball wars this next winter in Michigan. :) 

Proof that I made a snow angel too.... I don't like laying in snow - so don't expect a mommy-snow angel every year. :) 

"Mommy! I'm going to throw a snowball at you!"

My sweetie. She's so great. 

Lucy and I did not get a chance to make a snowman that morning - I couldn't find my winter gloves... but Brad wanted to play in the snow when he got home from work! So he and Lucy headed outside to play together and build a snowman. 

This picture cracks me up! I'm pretty sure Lucy was making a snow angel - but it's pretty funny to see her flat on her back in the snow. Lucy decided she wanted to wear her "Snow suit" - a hand-me-down that I've had for YEARS in the closet. It was "retired" after she wore it this time - a bit impractical and short to be useful in cold situations... plus she couldn't really move in it. Hahahaha!

The finished snowman! :) (See isn't the "snow suit" hilarious?)

Lucy talked abou the snowman for days and days after it melted - she loved it! 

And now, allow me to tell you about Pampa's snowpocolipse. 

The whole of Texas' Panhandle experienced blizzard like conditions on February 24th and 25th. It was so bad that TDOT shut down the highways and highly recommended that people not leave their homes. We had two (or three) snow days here in Pampa as the town recovered from 16 inches of snow and HIGH winds. Our family enjoyed one snow day cooped up in the house. We didn't complain! We had everything we needed for a few days and enjoyed our time together so much! 

Lucy and Daddy decided to "venture out" in the midst of things - Michael and Mommy decided to stay inside.

The dogs seemed to really enjoy the snow - they romped and played all over the yard. 

They enjoyed having some company even more than playing alone! :) This area of the yard was pretty shallow compared with other areas - because of the high winds, there were snow drifts that were 4 1/2 feet deep... in our backyard!

Lucy wasn't even outside for 5 minutes and she knocked on the door and gave me this face. She wanted to come in and warm up. :) 

Do you have any snowpocolipse stories of your own? :) 

Lucy's First Birthday Party

Don't be confused now - Lucy isn't a year old yet. But she did attend a birthday party last Saturday, this little lady is now 2:

Meet Mya Love, isn't she a doll? That blond hair is too cute! Loooovvveee the tutu!

Mya's mom - Misty has become one of my good friends here in Pampa. We have decided that Lucy and Mya are going to be life-long buddies.

The theme of the event was Hello Kitty but "Hello beautiful cake" is what I'd say! Misty did an awesome job, it not only looked wonderful but tasted delish.

Our fellowship hall at church was transformed into a party-wonderland, complete with a kids table! I'm such a big fan, I will most likely steal the idea for one of Lucy's birthdays someday.

Balloons! (For those of you who are interested - that is the kitchen, through that window, at the end of the fellowship hall.)

Daddy and Luce (I hadn't figured out the best way to put the elastic around Lucy's head yet... thus the double chin.)

Momma and Lucy - "Let's get our party on!"

This is James Bradley - the other youngin' at church, he just turned 1 and is crawlin' all over the place!

Sneaking a finger-full of icing. :)

This was Mya's favorite gift - a bike from her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. I'm not going to lie, I got a little jealous. Her bike has a baby carrier on the back. Awesome. (I love how everyone in the above picture is looking at the Birthday girl)

Happy Birthday Mya! What a fun afternoon!

Our First Pampa Home

Welcome to our home! For those of you who do not know, we are living in an apartment at church as we wait for our home in Chicago to sell. I hope you are ready for a tour, because here we go....

Master Bedroom

Office space

Sitting area

Bathroom

Lucy's room

Lucy's room

Guest-bed and door to outside roof-deck.

Our Kitchenette (once bathroom #2, after a through scrubbing and some creativity, it now functions as our Kitchenette)

Our kitchen storage - I have "McGrovered"(is that what you would say to communicate "Found-a-red-neck-way-of-solving-the-problem?") a way to have power on this side of the kitchenette by using an extension cord - it is bright orange, see it in the first picture of the kitchen? Oh, and you need to have the kitchen light on for it to work. :) Creative? Yes.

I put a card table over the toilet, providing some more counter space and a place for me to decorate a bit. :)

Our "Oven" and Frige. I fill up that white tub with refrigerator items we don't need for the day and switch them out with items we do need that are kept in the big frige down in the church Kitchen.

Our Living/Dining room.

I can't believe how well everything fits!

This is the table from our 301 Winona apt, it fits so much better than our large table would (It is stored in the church garage along with our buffet - the only two pieces of furniture that are not in our apartment!)

We spend most of our time in this room - together as a family. :)

Thanks for taking a tour with me! Feel free to come visit - the guest bed is made and ready for a visitor! :)