Snow Day 1 and 2 Pictures

So this is what it looked like first thing in the morning on our first "snow day" in Ohio.  I laughed.  I mocked. That's actually why I took the picture.  I only remember one snow day in Utah in the whole time my kids were in school there and we had around 20 inches of snow the night before.  Welcome to Ohio snow days Layton family!

Of course, the reason that we got to have a snow day was because we slept with our pjs on in-side-out (which you can't see very well in the picture), flushed five ice cubes down the toilet, threw one ice cube into the yard, kissed the window, did a rather involved song and dance routine about the water cycle multiple times, and slept with spoons under our pillows.  That was the girls' "unofficial homework" from their teachers!

We decided since snow days are a big part of the culture here in Ohio we needed a fun family tradition to go with it, so we decided that waffles with ice cream is the new breakfast of choice to celebrate snow days.  Yum!  Any reason to have fun breakfast!!!!

By mid-afternoon the day earned "snow day" status in my eyes.  I repented of my morning mocking.  The girls were ice skating around on the deck.  It certainly gets more icy here than in Utah and having a deck now means all sorts of new adventures.  I went out in my flip flops and almost flipped and flopped.  It was wild!

This is Brinnley and her neighbor friend Kate doing some snow tasting.

The hot chocolate and cider buffet was quite a hit.  We did it a couple of times this past week.  The other day a little neighbor girl came in our house and asked for hot chocolate when the kids were playing in the snow because she knew we had the goods :-).  I'm glad to be known as the house that knows how to do hot chocolate!

Snow day number 2 was a total surprise to me.  I was getting ready to take Brenden to early-morning seminary when we got the automated call from the district that school was canceled for the day.  Woo hoo!  It must have been because the spoons were still under the pillows--though not on purpose.  It was such a blessing because we had the day to make some goodies and put together treat bags for teachers and bus drivers.  We just haven't had the chance to do that yet since they have SO MUCH homework every day (I won't start with that!).  Brinnley did white chocolate drizzled pretzels and crushed candy canes to put on them.

Brooke remembered the candy cane hearts I made last year and made them all by herself this time.  So awesome!  She looks like quite the culinary expert with the apron and dramatic presentation hands!

I had to include a picture of me outside to prove that I made it out once in the freezing cold.  It didn't last long :-).  Brett carried around this snow ball for so long.  He loved it.  It was his special friend.

These are the boys in their snow gear.  Brett isn't happy about posing for the picture.  He just wanted mommy at this point and didn't want anyone close to his snowball.  I was amazed how much he wanted to play outside with the kids though.  He had been out for over an hour by this time.  You can see the hill behind the boys.  That is the back line of our property.  The marks down the hill show where the kids do "Baby Races."  It's kind of like snail races but with the youngest siblings in our family and the Lunt family on sleds.  Scarlett (3) usually beats Brett (2), but it makes for lots of laughs.  Brett and Scarlett love it.  It is the funniest thing to me!

  This is Brooke and her neighbor friend Allie.  They were born on the same day, amazingly enough.  They have made and thrown lots of snowballs this week! Look out boys!  It amazes me the hours and hours they spend playing out in the snow.  They love it and have so much fun with the friends.  We are so blessed to be where we are!

Brett and his snowball buddy made it inside.  My favorite quote of the day was when Brett spontaneously told me, "Snowballs do not taste yummy."

New experiences mean new memories and new traditions.  The adjustment to a new home, a new neighborhood, new schools, new friends, a new culture, and new "normals" has been a challenge.  It's a good challenge, but there still are times where I miss "Home" in Utah and the friendships and the familiarity there.  It helps to have fun new experiences and traditions like these snow days have been to help us in the effort to build HOME here and put down roots...even when the ground is frozen!