still no snow day

This was yesterday morning.



We woke up to at least two feet of snow and still the kids were not given a snow day. Bummer for them. Apparently as a state, we're just too prepared for the snow. I guess it's a good thing. :)

I loved it, especially because I had no reason to go out in it and it kept the inversion away. What a beautiful day!


p.s. I got a message from the district last night apologizing for not cancelling school. Oops!

the forecast says snow

It snowed! After weeks of waiting it finally happened. We woke up Saturday morning surprised to find a blanket of white covering the earth. It was beautiful and well worth the wait (although i am still shocked we went through the holidays with 50 degree weather). I knew immediately what we'd be doing with our weekend.

It actually wasn't too deep when we woke up, which was when I took these pictures, but as the day progressed and snow continued to fall I believe we ended up with close to 3-4 inches.







and it's still here -- well most of it anyway.



While the other girls were sledding Tess and a friend (who couldn't sled) made a fort in the backyard. They struggled to get all the snow they needed and weren't actually able to finish do to time, but they certainly had a great start. Guess we need another storm.

Do you have snow?

12of12 | November

[click here to enlarge]

01. Tess started the day off right by getting her school essay finished. I love to see when my kids take charge of their homework instead of waiting for a nudge from me.
02. A Saturday morning breakfast bagel--at home. They are missing their dad.
03. The wind was crazy strong last night and even this morning. Despite the fact that my tree is getting pounded by the breeze, the leaves continue to hang on.
04. Thought it was funny that Tess and Megan needed each other to put the vacuum away.
05. Fulfilling Megan's request for a "high" ponytail.
06. Finally got to talk with Adam via FaceTime. It was nice to not only see him, but be able to enjoy the scenery from his end (ocean) as he told us about his trip.
07. Last minute laundry before leaving the house.
08. All of us after the movie, Puss in Boots. It was better than I thought it would be. We were missing Jill, Randy, and Landon though, who were at the hospital. Sadly, Landon came home from camping with a broken elbow. Poor guy. Sending out prayers to him--would you please do the same.
09. As we drove home the rain turned to slush turned to snow.
10. Take out linner (lunch/dinner) for me.
11. Enjoying a book & hot chocolate while the girls enjoy their cousins.
12. Snow.

I've been lucky this week while Adam's been away to be surrounded by friends, and today was no exception as I was able to spend time with family. It was a full, gray day that ended with snow, cousins, and hopefully good news for Landon.

I hope your Saturday, and weekend, has been good in every way. Don't forget to share it with us.

long weekend

one word can sum up the whole of our holiday weekend...snow & lots of it.

**what did you do?

sledding goodness

It's so cold outside right now I can hardly believe I was out in it last week. Of course, not only does an enjoyable outing make the cold diminish, but it was considerably warmer than it is today. Considerably.

So much so that my girls kept taking off their many layers and it wasn't until they crashed and fell in the snow that they decided jackets/gloves were a good thing.























After looking through these photos this morning I find myself wanting to bundle up inside next to a fire with a book, but have decided moving to be just as effective. Let's just say, I've gotten a lot done the last couple of days.

**Are you in the cold today or do you find yourself with spring like temps? If so, lucky you.

Have a good one. xoxo

her way

She has this unique ability to wear you down to the point where you're doing exactly what you said you wouldn't do and you're ok with it. Although this may appear, at first, to not be a very good quality, I find it really adds to her personality--her winning smile, her persistence, her confidence, the way she tells you what she's going to do while trying to disguise it as a question with with statements like, I'm going to watch a movie, ok? It's all part of her charm really, and although I can get exasperated by her from time to time she is one in a million and I wouldn't want her any other way.

a winter wonderland

artist date | creative wednesday

It finally snowed after a few weeks of unseasonably warm weather. It was this snow that I couldn't stop thinking about and what got me outside yesterday afternoon. I was deep in them middle of trying to wrap, the outside only a short glimpse away, and each time I looked up the white pillowy softness caught my attention. I simply had to be out in it...and so i did.















The first thing that stood out to me was the quiet. The stillness. The snow softens the sounds and the crunching under my feet and my breath were the only two sounds present as I walked the trail. It was absolutely beautiful. No, breathtaking is a better word to describe it, and although my photographs can't do the moment justice, at least I will have them to remember the peace and solitude of that afternoon. You see, I've had a lot on my mind. With Adam gone my thoughts stay trapped in my head, waiting for him to be released. Poor guy. I always feel bad for him after he's come home from being away. There are four eager woman waiting to be heard--by him. It's a lot to come home to, but he does it with a smile.

I'm enjoying my artist dates very much and am finding quite a lot of wisdom in these few hours of escape. I certainly am beginning to understand why Julia Cameron insists upon them.

Hope all is well with you.

xoxo,
amy gretchen

friday miscellany

[taken by Amy somewhere in between the outer banks and Raleigh, NC]

01. I cried when I saw this picture. I can't say for sure why. I guess I was just overcome with emotion seeing myself in a place I love to be. Thank you Amy for taking this and seeing me this way. I've really been working hard trying to see myself in the same light as others do, see my talent and embrace it. One thing among the many I learned while in NC when you are true to yourself, when you are using your authentic voice, when you put your whole heart and soul into something you shine and others respond. It's a lesson I am constantly learning, but one I am determined to master.


02. While in North Carolina I was fortunate enough see Jordan and be with her family on Sunday evening. After being gone from my family for almost a week it was such a pleasure to spent time with them and experience their little bits of normalcy that I had been missing. The banter between children, running around, art projects in the works, their laughter and joy....it all felt like home to me. While with them, before they fed me a delicious meal, I had the opportunity to take photos of her beautiful family. I still have not edited them all completely, but this one is a favorite as I remember the two little girls desperate to show me their chickens.


03. It was quite a shock to me to fly into the valley and see a dusting of snow covering the rockies, but it was a quite a different story when I woke up Wednesday and saw at least 4 inches covering the ground. From beach to snow I admit I wasn't ready, but have now since surrendered to the ever changing season and that fall is on it's way out.


04. I've been trying to give my girls more and more opportunities in the kitchen. Today it was waffles, the other day it was banana bread. I've notice more and more lately that they've been thriving on responsibility. I guess their too young to really know what that means, lol, but am always impressed by their desire to be more independent. Sort of freaks me out though to see them taking over a job I would normally do. Megan said to me the other day, "mom when I'm like you will you live next door so my kids can come see you everyday?" Hmm. A bunch of Megan's running around is a scary thought... I responded, "what if we just lived in the same town?"

I hope everyone has a fabulous Friday and an enjoyable Halloween weekend. It really is crazy to think once Sunday is over our focus becomes the holiday season. yikes.

xoxo, amy

Today...

I could have done without the snow. Do not attempt to adjust your screen the white flakes you see are in fact snow. I cried a bit as I watched it fall this morning & collect on the road. We probably got a total of 3 inches all together. It did melt very quickly once it decided to stop, but I'm sad it killed my neighbors newly planted flowers.

I'm grateful for late night talks & time spent reconnecting.

I've been listening to Sarah by Ray LaMontagne. His entire album Gossip In the Grain is so mood altering I can't get enough. Another favorite is I Still Care For You.


I've been looking through the photos I took of Bella in her play Saturday. I thought she was funny and did a great job acting, much better than I could have ever done. I wonder if this is something she will want to continue with. In this scene she's a citizen of the emerald city so that's why all the green.

I've been attempting to watch the series finale of Lost while I fold clothes. Finally after 30 minutes of in & out I realize I just need to wait til tonight. I have a feeling I'm going to be let down and be ashamed I spent so much of my time on this show.

I feel understood.

We played blockus for FHE.


I'm wondering when my body will stop hurting? Adam took this picture Saturday unbeknownst to me while I was doing the kick boxing portion of p90x. Can't believe how sore you can be from hitting air.

Adam and I bought The National's new album High Violet. The jury is still out. A few songs stood out right away, but I'm not completely sold on the rest...not yet anyway.

spt | weather

This is what I woke up to this morning. enough said.



Of course it was beautiful when the sun came up and immediately started melting the layers. I stood under our tree to take this photograph below and it was literally raining melted snow. Good to know it can leave as fast as it comes.

what do you do when all the world is covered in snow?

We went sledding.


I love seeing how thrilled Adam was to push the girls down the hill. At the end Megan's started cheering saying, "that was awesome!"






Best line of the day was when Bella asked, "which sled is the least dangerous?"


photo by adam






photo by adam




Tess is our little dare-devil. She was trying to go off the jumps and was the first one to oppose leaving.

it's been one of these days today...