Winter Fun: Blizzard Photos

Yesterday

Today

Winter Fun: We're Having a Blizzard

Yep, it's been snowing and blowing since 7 a.m., dropping upwards of 12" on us, though it's hard to tell with all of the drifting.

We skipped ice skating, kung fu, and haircuts (cancelled yesterday.)

Instead, Sis and Bud went sledding with the neighbor girl and then made a snowfort, which they stocked with snowballs for later.  Then, all cold and damp, they all came inside to share snow ice cream and hot chocolate.  Later, Bud built Legos.  Sis read a book and then read another book.  Mama played "Spit" with Sis and "Blink" with Bud.  I doodled and crocheted a new hat (with yarn that I ordered just yesterday and was amazingly delivered during the blizzard!  I would have specified, "No need to deliver during natural disasters.")  The kids played Minecraft.  Mama napped.  We all petted the various cats (Mr. P continues to recover.)  We had eggs and Irish bacon with toast and marmalade, then tortilla soup and quesadillas and finally mini Victoria spongecakes while we watched "The Great British Bake Off." We called Gommie, Ma and Gong, and wished Lambeth a happy birthday.  I took some pictures and looked at everybody else's on FB.

Tomorrow, it should be sunny and we'll get some great snow photos.  But, for now, here are some taken, mostly, from the safety and warmth of inside.  The last two, contrasting night and day, are my favorites.

Winter Fun List

It's not quite cold yet and we haven't had any real snow, but I'm thinking of fun things to do in the next few months, from January through Spring Break.  So much of the fun activities happen during the summer or leading up to Christmas, but I've made a nice list for winter.  We won't do them all this year (especially with no snow), but it's good to aim high.

1. Look for snowy owls
2. Make snow ice cream
3. Make snowpeople
4. Make snow candy
5. Make snow paintings
6. Cooking night:  bouillabaise for Bud, maybe caramel sauce for Sis, cheesecake for me maybe.
7. Girl Scout cookie sales
8. Go on seal watch (March?)
9. Go on eagle watch (March?)
10. Explore bread recipes
11. Do felting needle kits
12. Paint wood initials
13. Do craft kits in basement
14. Do "proggy" animal kits
15. Do kitchen science experiments
16. Do a big puzzle
17. Family game night
18. Family ASL night
19. Make soap
20. Make candles
21. Go sledding
22. Make frozen bubbles
23. Make balloon balls
24. "Just Dance" dance off
25. Groundhog Day party
26. Chinese New Year celebration (week after Feb. 6)
27. St. Patrick's Day soda bread
28. Zentangle workshop (first week of April)
29. Visit Providence
30. Visit Colonial Williamsburg
31. See the pandas at the National Zoo
32. Plant bulbs
33. Prune roses
34. Go to hockey game
35. Yarn!
36. Learn a new dominoes game
37. Winter walk on the beach
38. Winter hike/nature walk
39. Winter campfire
40. See Legos at Stamford Nature Center
41. Visit Star Wars costume exhibition?

Advent Activities: Something Old, Something New

This is our sixth year of Advent Activities and our sock Advent Calendar (see the lists here--2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) 

This year, I'm adding a new twist:  kindness elves!  I have two little elves I purchased (alas, not from the people at Imagination Tree who came up with the idea; they sold out) and they will make occasional, random appearances during Advent to encourage us to spread the joy this holiday season.  I've put an asterisk after those that would work.  You may recall how much I dislike the Elf-on-the-Shelf tradition with its focus on threatening children into good behavior with a Big-Brother spying Elf in the house who otherwise will lead them to material reward on Christmas morn, which is now all part of a huge consumerist trap with books, clothes, accessories, etc. for said Elf.  Yay.  I like these 25 ways to spread kindness during the holiday season.

And here's our own list, both fun things to do and kindness to spread:

1. Build gingerbread houses
2. Host cookie party (Dec. 18)
3. Make holiday wreath
4. Stay up late, a la Solstice Camp Out the night of last day of school
5. Make a snowman (weather permitting; if not, turn fridge into a snowman)
6. Deliver gifts to vet, pediatrician, etc.**
7. Create and send family Christmas card
8. Office holiday parties
9. Watch "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas" (we actually did this last night!)
10. Make cards for teachers, babysitters, etc.**
11. Watch "Doctor Who" Christmas episode
12. Choose family holiday charity (seals?  owls?  cat project?)**
13. Deliver ELF bags to friends in need of holiday cheer**
14. Piano recital (Dec 6)
15. Celebrate my birthday at Old Sturbridge Village candlelight
16. Go to Cookie Cafe (Dec 5)
17. Sew buttons on Christmas stockings
18. Watch Geminid meteors (Dec. 13-14 peak)
19. Drive around looking at lights
20. Begin reading A Christmas Carol
21. Make origami ornaments for tree
22. Watch original A Miracle on 34th Street
23. STAR WARS!!!!! (Dec. 17)
24. Make latkes on first night of Hanukkah (Dec. 6)

Other ideas:  make candles or soap; follow UU Advent Calendar from Alice the Chalice; make cinnamon buns for Santa Lucia day (Dec. 13); look for Snowy Owls; make a card for my hospice patients; watch It's a Wonderful Life; play with Lego Christmas village; 

Come January, I think I'll have another list of Winter Fun activities.