Snowed In

Anyone else feeling a little cabin fever right about now??  Three days of snow days coming off of a quiet weekend has made for a LONG 5 days!  The snow has been so pretty and fun and a rare treat (well, starting to become less rare it seems) but it has been a wee bit challenging keeping a 3 yr old and an 'on-the-go' 9 mo old entertained indoors the last few days...here is what we have been up to...

We have done a little bit of playing in the snow.  Nate still HATES bundling up...refuses to wear a coat and we tried the gloves and hat and he tore them right off.  So, he dressed himself for the cold (the green striped hoodie is back...surprise!) which means we did a lap around the front yard and called it a day.  Matthew was willing to get bundled up and do some exploring but it was so cold we didn't keep him out long either. 

Michael asked that I show you how I layered under Matthew's snow clothes...he thought I was crazy...I was wondering what to do with those crawler leg warmer things!

We broke out the art supplies...we have been doing a lot of painting and drawing and coloring.  Nate has enjoyed it.  (And yes, we have spent a lot of time in PJ's...couldn't see adding to my never ending laundry pile just to stay in the house!  Lazy?  Maybe... Practical?  Definitely!)

Painting Day #1

And Day #2...Nate tested my (lack of) drawing abilities by asking me to draw Thomas and all of his friends so that he could paint them...

We have played with every toy in the playroom.  I love that they are starting to play together now...or at least in the same space.  I love their age difference but I have discovered, mainly since the new crop of Christmas toys arrived, that the differences in their toys are concerning.  Nate has a few new toys that Matthew loves finding pieces to and putting in his mouth...namely a little Lego Airplane and I mistakenly bought Nate a Lite Brite for Christmas (one of those boards that lights up and you put the pegs in) and guess I forgot how many tiny little pegs there are...I keep finding them everywhere, including Matthew's mouth.

Speaking of Christmas toys, one of Nate's stocking stuffers was a Buzz Lightyear shave kit.  He loves it and takes his whisker removal very seriously...Dad taught him how and now he wants to shave in the bath everynight.  He has a little foam mirror that sticks to the tub and he lathers up.  Too cute...

Yesterday Nate and I built all of his tracks and connected them together...so we basically had the Island of Sodor in our living room...until Baby Godzilla came along during Nate's naptime today and destroyed the peaceful town.

Matthew's 9 mo post is overdue but he has been a crawling and standing machine the last few weeks.  Here are some of his favorite things to do now:

He is drawn to the fireplace, and especially the tools...I can't keep him off of it.  I have set up barricades and he just pushes through.  His other favorite danger spot is the dog...he plays with fire, literally and figuratively.

He pulls up on everything and this glass table is his favorite.  I call him "danger boy".

Fastest crawler in town...

He loves door stoppers

"What?  You don't like that cool sound??"

"But I do!!!"

So, while the snow has been fun, I am ready to be able to get out and about again.  We actually did venture out to a local pizza place close by last night, just to get some fresh air, but it might be another day before things start thawing out.  School is already cancelled for tomorrow, Nate doesn't go on Fridays, and Monday is a holiday....so, we've got to find fun stuff to do for the next week!  I am open to suggestions!! 

Can't wait for school to start again...or spring!!