Winter Activities

As we'll soon be able to say it's spring (even if it doesn't really feel like it), I thought it was about time that I posted some of my favorite pictures from winter. 

As the girls get older, they definitely enjoy spending time outside a lot more.  For whatever reason we didn't do nearly as much sledding this year, but the girls and Brian spent a lot of time building forts, tunnels, and igloos out in the yard.  Maybe this had something to do with the absolutely enormous piles of snow that we had at the ends of our driveway!  Seriously, those piles were (so glad I can now use past tense) taller than I making it ridiculously difficult to shovel. 

When it comes to outside adventure, Olivia is probably the bravest - but not by much.  Maybe she's been hardened by more recesses outside or something, but Olivia isn't nearly as troubled by cold and wet as Grace, and, for those of you who know Olivia and how sensitive she can get, this is actually surprising.  When it comes to sledding though, both get a bit nervous, but typically if we can just get them to try it once, we'll be good to go.  Both of the girls really wanted Grady to play outside with them throughout the winter and were disappointed when I said he couldn't...next year maybe!  Anyways, I'm glad it seems like we're able to get outside more with each winter...I hope that more playing and perhaps snow shoeing and cross country skiing will be in the eventual future!

Enjoy the collection of pictures - they make for a long post!

Set 1:  Sledding at Christmas with the Hoden family...this was before we had much snow - crazy that two feet of snow covered the ground for most of the winter after this!

Set 2:  Building snowmen with Auntie Thyme on a warm day shortly after Christmas.

 

Set 3:  Building an igloo with Daddy!  This was one of those days where Grace wimped out and came inside.  And, don't panic, the red splatter on the snow isn't blood - it's snow paint!  :)

Set 4:  A warm day after many, many, many cold ones filled with lots and lots of snow!  The girls and Brian decided to make use of the swing set, and Liv, especially, enjoyed practicing her jumping skills!  I think the three of them were outside for close to two hours, and the fun didn't end until after a picnic lunch outside!  Obviously, after all the polar vortexes, our concept of "warm" has been dramatically altered.

 

Set 5:  And, lastly, not Grady's first, but one of his first walks outside enjoying the sunshine and fresh air!