"Snow" Day 2015!

Aidan: I think it's still raining...loook! It's snowing!!! Look!

Julia: I want to see... look! It's ice! It's snowing!

Aidan: Wow! It's snowing! Is Santa going to come today?

Julia: There is something stuck in my ja-ma-mas.

<it was a coin> <back to the window>

Aidan: Wow! It's snowing! Santa will bring me a present?

uhhh....well....uhhh...

Aidan: We can't go to school when it's snowing or raining!

That's right... you can't! And I couldn't go to work either.

You know what that means?

Snow Day!!!!!

Even though it was more technically a sheet of ice, your Mommy, Preston, Toby, and both of you had a delightful snow day! I worked from home, but was able to enjoy some quality snow-ments with both of you and your mommy as well!

There was hot coffee, talk of hot cocoa (I don't know if that ever happened) and popcorn...

snow pizza...

...which some people liked more than others...

There were delicious icicles, wet boots, warm clothes and blankets.

There were sleet-ball fights...

...Sleet pile fights...

..sleet sheet fights...

Attempts at ice-men and ice-angels..

Deck skating...



Sleet-snacking directly off of unclean surfaces...

And just a lot of heart-warming, finger-and-toe numbing snowy, icy fun!

Julia, Aidan, and the Lion Dragons

On cold-ish, grey-ish Saturday morning in February, the two of you and I went to go see some dragons. You were very pumped, and didn't even need to really know what you were getting into!

 

You just trusted me that we were going to see some dragons, and that that was super cool.

 

So we drove downtown, and walked straight up to the Chinese New Year festival, found the stage, and took our seats.

 

 

The drumming started first.

And then the Lion Dancers came out on stage to perform.

 

 

 

And then the Lion Dancers hopped OFF the stage and into the audience to be petted, played with, and mostly fed (dollar bills in red envelopes).

 

 

Aidan, you didn't miss a beat and were not scared for a second. You hopped right up and wanted to pet, interact, and peer inside their mouths.

 

 

The big red one was your absolute favorite.

 

Julia, I think you said the red lion was your favorite too. But, you wanted absolutely zero- zip- nothing- nada to do with them. You clawed deep into my back and would NOT let go, which is a-okay with me!

 

So, you and I huddled close while the lion dragons came to check us out, and your brother went to explore some more.

This being my first Chinese New Year celebration too, I was unaware of the tradition of bringing money in little red envelopes to feed the lion dragons. You wanted to feed them, and got very creative. You were quite proud to find 'a piece of red trash' that you grabbed and fed to one of the younger lions. The lion was not pleased with this snack and bit you in the tushy! You thought it was hilarious and told everyone who would listen that the lion bit you in the tush!

 

 

 

 

Julia, you held tight. Aidan, you asked to go up on stage and play the drums.

Despite a few butt-nips and scared-kids, it was a very happy, magical Chinese New Year!

You are both brave, and sensitive, and bought in to the magic of the Lion Dance.  Next year we'll bring some money!