What Pax Wrought

 It began on Wednesday afternoon.

I'd been hearing reports of potentially record-breaking amounts of snow for days, but as is my wont, I dismissed them. For one thing, I've found weather-reporters are obliged to speak in worst-case scenarios to cover their butts. For another, it seems the more a storm is discussed, the less likely it is to close anything (except the public schools around here, which close for anything that resembles winter).

When it began, it was a gentle, meek little snowglobe experience.


This is how it looked by evening:

 We already knew the county schools were closed, the daycare was closed, and Virginia Tech was planning a delayed opening. We went to bed in the comfort of that long rest we'd have, and in the peace of a really heavy snow, the peace that quietens and slows the world.

 In the morning, we were getting our winter gear on for a bit of a snow frolic when we got word: Virginia Tech was cancelling classes, for only (according to Jon) the 9th snow day in their history. Needless to say, it's the first snow day I've experienced since moving here in 2010. Needless to say, we whooped and hollered and celebrated a fair amount!

Adele wants to know what happened to her sidewalk. 

 We started with just a wander and a marvel....

 ...and moved on to sledding! I got to use the sled again, everyone!!

 This snowstorm shall be remembered as the first time Adele ever ASKED to go sledding. She now actively likes snow-based pursuits, not merely tolerating them with big eyes as in the past.

 Our first successful run after Adele asked to go:

And, once again with Papa!:

Miles had a bit of trouble keeping his balance, sometimes. 

We left the sled at home and took a walk to Kroger. I still had it in my head that Adele might have daycare the next day (I know, I know. The denial is strong in me) and would need her Valentines. Plus, Jon had some food ambitions. Bless Jon and his food ambitions. 

So on the way to Kroger,

We watched mail trucks out and about. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stayed these couriers. We watched the driver of this one help someone get their car out. 

This is one of two people we saw on skis, travelling much more efficiently than anyone else that day! 

If you can't tell, the snow was still falling at a great rate. This was mid-day. 

What's to love about snow? 

...I mean, just look at it!

He could walk in it-- barely. 

Friday surprised us by being Virginia Tech's 10th snow day in history! 

We enjoyed another great mix of outdoor play and indoor coziness. There was hot chocolate complete with tiny marshmallows. The kids watched Bambi. We lingered over meals. Joy. 

This was very high quality snow for building.

 We made this snow man with almost no effort at all. Just push the snow; it rolled itself up into balls.

Inside, I got to do something I don't usually get to experience with my kids: holiday themed crafts. 

They just did some free expression on cardboard hearts, but still. Usually they'd be doing this at daycare. I was so pleased for the chance to be with them for a four day weekend in the middle of the semester. 

Notice the Tongue of Concentration

And then it was Saturday. We took a ride. partly because we needed to get the car out anyway... 

 Partly to see the town and the campus with more snow than we've ever seen on it...

There was an impressive amount of completed and in-progress snow constructions on campus. 

 ...And partly to attempt a sled on the Big Hill, near our old house. Alas. the wind was powerful and strong and the kids didn't make it five minutes. Miles was sobbing "This was terrible" and Adele was just howling. I wasn't going to insist. Jon put them back in the car while I indulged in a couple of runs down the Big Hill. It wasn't bad, once you got going! But running up twice in the cold wind was not the wisest of moves. I had to take a long breather to get my lungs working again.

 Still. Beauty. My hopes for winter have been thoroughly answered.

 And we didn't even lose power!

 And now I am back at work, back in classes, back to my books. But rested, and grateful.

Speaking of reasons to smile...

Several weeks ago I posted these pictures with little explanation. I'll give a short one, now.

Among the things that have been making me smile so much this winter is the thought of what I'm going to do at the end of it.

Some of you may know what happened to my dear friend Melissa and her family last year. It was my birthday when tragedy struck them, though I didn't know about it until the next day. Around six months later, she made a decision the same date in 2014 would find her doing something positive, even celebratory. In defiance of despair and in hope of joy, she decided to plan a trip, and she wanted me and my family to come along.

Melissa does not do things small, or subtle.

As I learned upon reading the letter, this Hogwarts acceptance notice is actually an invitation to accompany Melissa & her family to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Florida. This is how I get to spend my birthday this year.

You guys, I couldn't. even. deal. Me! Go to Florida! It momentarily broke my brain. In a good way.

Definitely the happiest feeling of the season.

For some reason, the Florida part is what really got me stuck. It was about 5 degrees out at the time, so my first reaction was to the fact we'd get to go to Florida. To a proper beach, as well as to the theme park. 

Here are my kids taking up my chant:

But now, I'm getting really excited about visiting this park. We've been reading The Sorcerer's Stone to Miles, so he has a clue, and I'm enjoying revisiting the books in preparation. I'll probably get further with them when I finish Medieval Lit.. But the illuminated picture in my mind, saturated with color, of my friends and my family all geeking out together at the park, and having other Florida adventures, has been an endless source of happiness. It's like Vitamin D implanted in my brain.



And I am in amazement too, at my friends and their vision, and their generosity. That they want to spend this important day doing this, with  us.. staggers my mind. Here's to love and hope and life, friends!

Speaking of winter, and smiling: stay tuned for pictures and relation of our adventures in 20+ inches of snow last week! One of you must have taken up praying for snow... someone to whom God listens very, very carefully! And probably the second happiest feeling of the winter was our celebratory frolic when Virginia Tech cancelled classes on Thursday.

Reasons to Smile in February

 It's been the coldest winter for many a year (thought not the snowiest around here, mind!) but we've found many reasons to smile as we make our way through February!

For one thing, there are thaws, and some of those thaws are sunny.

The kids got to soak up some crucial Vitamin D last week.

Miles took this. 

  I love this hand-holding sequence. It mirrors the shot at the end of this post from April 2013. Compare the kids' stature to 10 months ago, same place, same pose.

 Their pace is quicker these days. They have places to go!

Like, the playground!

 ...Or up a tree!

 He was so pleased with himself.

 Between my own viruses and those of my kids (which cost us sleep!), I've become good at taking strategic 2-3 sick hour units for sleep & self care, to avoid mid-week collapse.

One such morning, I took a 10:30 bus to campus after a refreshing nap and noticed the outdoors seemed as bleary as my brain still felt:

This is what the dramatic shifts in temperature do around here: intense fog. I mean, this is how it looked at 10:30!

 My sometimes bus-stop. 

The fog made the VT research horses look so dreamy. 

This last weekend, we made our second visit to Blacksburg New School's fundraiser event, The Chocolate Party. We had such fond memories of the event from last year! So this year, there was no children's yoga (sadly), but on the other hand, we could walk from our new place, and they could participate a lot more fully in the carnival games! 

Also, they'd lost their fear of face-painting: 

 Of all the imaginable things to have painted on her face, Adele most desired a sheep. She chose this dog as her carnival game prize. She now has five stuffed dogs. But: it was what she wanted.

Miles, on the other hand, chose a rainbow cheek to go with his balloon hat.

 And for his prize: Princess Purse!

 Of all the carnival prizes, which had everything from stickers to socks to magic tricks, this one appealed the most. It was what he wanted. *shrugs*

Finally, a scene which has been becoming a Grunert household staple: Jon on his new ukulele.

Yes, it would kill him to smile. Just ask him.

 This was one of our birthday presents for our dear Pater Familius. Among the songs he's learned to strum are: The More We Get Together, Hey Ya, Blowin in the Wind, and Drunk in Love. It's been a source of sunshine in a cramped apartment that sometimes seems to be shrinking around us.

We expect another snowstorm on Wednesday. Allons-y!