Friday, January 12, 2018

We Made Some Stuff

Every December, I have the boys make ornaments as their gifts to teachers and grandparents. The boys chose these ugly sweaters this year. I didn't plan on making my own, but I did. And I'm not embarrassed to say how much I enjoyed making these funny little things.




And then I made these pencil cases for the boys' teachers and filled them with colored pens and a gift card (you know, the one thing they can actually use).

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Winter Getaway to New Germany State Park

Like I said, I can only take being inside my house...with my kids...and the cold...for so long. By day five, I was done and reservations were made. Normally, two-night minimums are in place in Maryland State Parks over holiday weekends, but I lucked out with a cabin that had only a Friday night available. So we took it.

We couldn't check in Friday until 3, so we left promptly at noon. For prep, I asked Chuck to take the boys to the library, but then to not let them look at their books until we were pulling out of the driveway. It was GENIUS. Other than a few podcasts, the boys read in the car on the way out and back. It was lovely.

We arrived to find the ground already under about six inches of snow. Gorgeous. The boys immediately geared up and went outside to play. This year we completed our family set of snowshoes, but six inches is a bit too little for them. So they just goofed around. It was cold (20s?), but like they care.


After a good romp in the snow, they came back in to enjoy the warmth. This place was definitely smaller than our house, and therefore easier to heat. The upstairs loft where Chuck and I slept was too hot, if you can believe that.




We woke up the next morning to about three new inches, and it kept coming! I mean, c'mon, look how amazing it is!


We opted for a hike, because what else are you going to do when it's 16 degrees?! Having spent a week here with Girls Camp, I hiked all but one loop in the park. But it was so fun to see it covered in snow. And after Ollie's usual 20-minute freak-out at the start of every hike, he did great. We were all plenty warm (although the littles could have used face masks), but we had a great time.








Getting out of the house was exactly what I needed and this place was perfect.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

The Rest of Christmas Break

How else did we spend break week? Mostly trying not to freeze to death. It's insanely unseasonably cold here. I'm dying. Literally.

One picture of them cooperating with me before turning back into the disgusting little dudes that they are.


Tuesday: I went to work in the morning while the boys stayed home and played and did some homework. That afternoon we went to Six Flags. It was FREEZING, but empty, so that's good. I can't remember being that cold in a LONG time (my feet were numb). But it's always fun to go at Christmas and see all the lights.

Wednesday: A slow morning at home playing with toys (the little boys), cleaning (me), and sleeping (Chuck) before going ice skating with friends. Like clockwork, this is the day I start feeling cabin fever and plan a night away. This year I chose a state park in western Maryland where they had one cabin for one night available. Sure it's long way to drive for one night, but I didn't care. I couldn't stay in the house and stay sane.

Thursday: I went to work again while the boys did pretty much nothing. It was another short-ish day so that afternoon we did more of nothing when I got home.

Friday: Around lunch we headed out to New Germany. This is one of the two state parks we hadn't camped at (even though I spent a week here for Girls Camp), so it was fun to check it off the list. That will be another post.

Saturday: Happy 13th anniversary to Chuck and me!

Monday: Time to take down Christmas decorations! The kids had a play date at our house, but another lazy, do-nothing day.

Overall, it was a good break. The bigger the kids get, the easier it gets. But still: I can only handle the noise and mess for so long. I'm sooooooo ready for the kids to go back to school. It's like summer break, but worse.

P.S. Ollie asked for a Santa hat for Christmas. It arrived late, but he's been wearing it non-stop since it arrived. It kills me (in the good way, not like what the cold is doing to me).