SNOW

Finally, after the last few warm winters we got some snow!! It had not snowed in Charlotte since the winter of 2010-2011. Connor was not a fan of it back then, and Greyson had never even seen it. So when we got a good dusting this past weekend, the boys were super excited to get outside and see what snow is all about.  The snowflakes that were falling were huge.  Connor enjoyed throwing "ice balls".  They made a cute little snow man and even went "sledding".  One, or maybe two, snows a year is good enough for this FL girl. Just enough to have some fun!! Here are a few photos of our winter wonderland.  

Escape to Florida

To honor my least favorite month of the year, I decided to book a flight and head to Florida with the boys. I was ready for some sunshine and we didn't get to see Oma and Inky at Christmas. So I flew, alone, with my two boys ages 3 and 21 months. It went okay. It wasn't easy breezy, but it wasn't hell. So I'd say that I would do it again, it was certainly worth it. We stayed in Venice, at my mom's house. Inky was still home for winter break so we had some time with her too.  Mimi and Papa came up from Ft. Myers for an afternoon visit.  We leisurely spent time with friends and family that we do not get to see very often.  We were blessed with 70 degree weather-although I packed for a little cooler. We took advantage of the warm sunshine and hit up the beach, twice, and the downtown water fountains. We quickly forgot about winter and embraced our shorts and crocs wearing (flip flops for me) selves. Oma took great care of us...cooked, cleaned, gave us her bedroom. We had it all!  One of the most fun things we did was pick strawberries at Hunsader Farm...bringing home 10 lbs worth. Subsequently, we gave strawberries to everyone we knew, and we ate them at every meal. I have not bought strawberries since :)

After a week in paradise it was time to return to the cold. Thankfully we missed some icky weather while we were gone. I have to say, I love the seasons that NC gives me...and I love it to be cold for Christmas, but by mid January, I don't mind a little warmth! 

Here are some pics from our great visit to the Sunshine State:

A few from the iPhone:

Holidays 2012

Christmas feels like forever ago....but I am going to do my best to paint the picture a month or 2 late!  December was filled with Holiday fun. There is always so much to do-and it feels like our weekends are full of excitement all the way up until Christmas day. This year was no different. Connor performed in the Cherub Choir a few times, we had good friends from FL come visit, CMU Cookies with Santa, as well as our usual visit to the Birkdale Village Santa (I love how it is the same guy year after year).  We had a few Christmas parties and Connor had a fun preschool party.  Mimi and Papa arrived the weekend before Christmas, and spent the holiday with us.  They partook in all the fun traditions we have established being in NC for Christmas including Christmas eve cookie baking, Christmas Eve service at our church, and driving around to look at lights.  The boys got their 3 presents from Santa and a few...make that a ton more from other friends and family.   They both really enjoyed everything this year. Here are a few photos of our Christmas...