On My Own

When Patrick told me about the trip he took last week to Tennessee, I knew I eventually had to take care of both of the kids on my own for his overnight trips. We'd been blessed enough to have help come for the previous two. But two good friends from Virginia heard about my plight and offered to come up and spend the time with me with their two 2 year old & one 7 month old boys (and one pregnant mama!). We excitedly got everything ready for a giant sleepover; but unfortunately, Virginia was slammed with snow.  Although they bravely set out to come, they ended up only making it a few hours down the road before knowing it was smart to stop.

So what does a mama with a house full of food, craft supplies and one very disappointed toddler do?

Carry on, of course.

Drawing on the glass door with dry erase markers

We had a few picnics in the living room

Paper chains for the Christmas tree

Can't have snowy days without baking

Someone loved their stickers Aunt Diane!

Showing Austin his Christmas card from Great Grammie. It woofs. A lot. And goes through periods of being hidden.

Playing on the snowy deck.

Lots of scooping and whisking

Who needs fancy toys when a stick will do?

I tried to coach her on snowball making from inside the house. Didn't work out so well - but she did enjoy 'dropping' the wads that she picked up.

Self-timer while watching sister

We agreed to eating only the snow on the table.

A little post-snow-play apple cider

Siblings

We invited our shore friends over for a morning.

Amelia loves to mimic Delaney

While eating her cracker snack one afternoon, she broke it up into pieces and informed me that she was building a house. And then pointed out each part of the house she had - doors, windows, roof, deck, garage, etc.

While skyping with Daddy one evening, I came into the living room and found Amelia buckled into the spare booster chair. It was pretty funny watching her be stuck - until she tried to scoot herself off the chair. No one fell, but it was comical.

Self-portrait

Then she got carried away and started drawing all of her family on the edges. Then she declared that all her family drawings were carrots. Guess we're pretty indistinguishable.

Dress up in Mommy's closet. I heard giggling and saw her holding up my skirt on herself and trying to wear my red heels (photo is on my phone I think). Kudos to her for matching so early.