Dashing through the snow

I've basically been on vacation for the last 5 days. Not because I took vacation time, but because I couldn't make it to work. On a summer day it takes me about 30 minutes to get to work.

You add almost 30 inches of snow and it takes about an hour. The problem is it is snowing faster than they can plow. Last week they required chains to get through our downtown area.

I work past downtown. Up a big hill. The problem with this is two-fold. One hill used to be 2 full lanes. Now it's 1.5 lanes and steep. Unless you time it right, you're stuck behind the person turning on a block before yours. Then you lose all momentum to get up the hill.

The other hill made the news as the worst hill to try on Monday. It wasn't much better later in the week either.

I made it up to work yesterday. I was truly rewarded with how beautiful it is. I work on a campus of other buildings. At one time it was a girl's school. Now it's old buildings, surrounded by trees. No matter the season, this campus is beautiful.

Winter is no exception.

Merry Christmas Eve. Enjoy the day and weather, no matter where you are.

Chernobyl Christmas Trees

So last night I was frosting sugar cookies. Both N and my brother-in-law LOVE frosted sugar cookies. Since I somehow get a baking bug around the holidays, this is the one time of year they get them.

I made some trees and ornaments. I find it clever to coordinate the cookies. It's part of my OCD charm!

Zoe was upset that I wouldn't let her help make the frosting. I got a spoon, she dipped it and promptlly handed it back. She prefers the cookie sans frosting.

I ended up making green for the trees and blue, red and orange for the ornaments. Apparently I don't possess the ability to see into the future. I ran out of green for the trees. What do you get when that happens?

Christmas trees from Chernobyl!

He knows when you've been bad or good

Yesterday we ventured out into the white wonderland. While it was snowing. We like to live on the edge.

We got Zoe dressed in her best Christmas attire. An "I heart Christmas" shirt, some snowflake jeans and her Pooh shoes. We jazzed up her pig tails with fancy Christmas colored ribbons. We were set.

We're ready to meet Santa Claus. In person. At the mall. Who knew that was his hang out.

On our voyway there we asked Zoe what she was going to ask Santa for. She had all sorts of answers and ideas.

I don't think our questions really prepared her for meeting the man in person.


The song never mentions anything about being totally freaked out by the man in red.

Winter Weddingland

In this kind of weather you ask yourself, what could be worse than over 2 feet of snow? Having a wedding scheduled for two days afterward.

My dear friend Amber scheduled her wedding for yesterday, December 21st. Thursday, during the snow storm, we had much crying and worry.

The wedding went off without a hitch. It was a smaller crowd, but it was lovely. Amber was exquisite. The wedding was romantic. Zoe was totally charming.

She danced. She twirled. She gave a toast. I think she's finding the spotlight home.

Amber and Chris - we wish you a lifetime of happiness, a deeper love and all of God's richest blessings.

Fun with mom and dad

Last week was N's finals, so he no longer has school. This translates into him being home in the evenings with us. It is so wonderful to be able to have dinner as a family and have some time to just be parents to Zoe.

She's growing so fast that it's nice to be able to share her milestones with N. Last night I think she said "for sure" and "it's a deal."

Because she has to earn her keep around the house, she helped me with the floors.


Then she gets to play with daddy. We love how strong he is!

We got a few inches

Yesterday the weatherman predicted Winter Storm 08. We were going to get 15 inches between 1:00 yesterday afternoon and 10:00 this morning.

Around 10:00 yesterday morning it started.

It. hasn't. stopped. Not even a little bit.

We have at least 24 inches. It reaches the bottom of our living room window in the backyard. Our BBQ (that we didn't get to put in the garage last weekend) is almost totally buried. It's still coming down. Hospitals have cancelled surgeries. Stores are closed. You are required to have chains to drive through downtown.

So we're having a snow day.

Because we can't go anywhere. Our cars won't clear the snow.

What do you do on a snow day when you have 2 feet or more of snow?

You get on your snow suit and go play!

This is her snow chair that she refused to sit in. It's actually more like a snow throne.

Playing in the driveway. Helping us clear the snow, one snowball at a time.

Since N shoveled before bed last night, the fresh snow in our driveway is only about a foot deep. We dropped Zoe into it and took a picture. If you enlarge it you'll see that she's trying to catch a snowflake on her tongue.

Don't mind the outhouse in the back. It's only for emergencies!

The girl loves her some snow. She eats it and puts her face in it. She knows no fear. Guess it's time to have the "don't eat yellow snow" talk.

More pooh on the shoe

I have a bit of a shoe addiction. I've been known to participate in activities that require me to buy shoes. Like tap dancing, hip hop classes, spinning and socializing. A girl has to be prepared with the right kind of footwear for all types of situations.

It has been a little disheartening to watch Zoe not love shoes. She would prefer to be barefoot that have shoes or socks on her feet.

Until these:


You thought this was another post about poop on your shoes. Gotcha! We're talking Pooh, as in bear. Not pooh as in don't ever fly through LAX.

Zoe loves them. She will hug them, kiss Pooh's nose and scream when you have to take them off.

Unfortunately she has a hard time walking because she's always doing this: