Having a (polar) blast

Today was the annual Hiram Alumni day at Polar Blast snow tubing (I have no idea how it has been a year already!) and once again, we truly had a "blast" enjoying winter with our friends. 

 It's been cloudy all week, but while we were there this afternoon, the sun broke through and the skies cleared and by sunset it was Colorado-blue heaven up at the top of the little hill.

Of course-- because the weather always cooperates with Hiram.

Our little gang all came out to play and it was so wonderful to see all these children I love, loving their time together.

 They are happy and easy with one another and with their village of grown ups, trading off into different tubing groups, heading off into the world in pairs and threes...For quite a while Naomi and Lillian took me under their wing, while Ivy went off with Jeff, and all by herself...

This boy of mine-- there was a rather long period of time when I truly did not know where he was, when he and Greg went off to do a few runs together.

Those two big boys, running and jumping onto tubes and wrestling and walking off together, side by side, into adventure.  It is unbelievable that they are so grown up, so fast.  

Unbelievable- and just right. 

 And this big girl-- after being clingy and a little whiny for the first half of the day, she found her stride at 5pm, finally trying a solo run.  Here she is at the bottom, declaring the run to be "awesome!" and begging to go again...

Snack time! We gathered with 180 other alums and profs and their families to enjoy some really stellar brownies and cocoa and company as Nat and Scott rebuilt a fire.  Friendly faces everywhere but not much networking for us because we were an island unto ourselves, our little group.  No need for anyone else.

Scott and Tiffany left for a date and we took over their boys for the night.  At one point I found myself holding 4 tubes as I shepherded an entire passel of children up the conveyor.  I'm not quite sure how many I was actually in charge of at that moment, but we all did seem to make it to the top. At the bottom, shuttling children amongst our group, watching them run off to join one another... their confidence and joy contagious... Our communal kids.  I could not love them more, every one.

We let the day linger as long as we could, watching a huge full moon rise over the slopes as we cleaned up the last of the hot chocolate ("mom, I think there are some pastries left.  Can I have another pastry?"--Ivy) and sitting around the remains of a bonfire until everyone had finished their last run.  Then, off to M and W's new house for pizza and the entirety of The Lego Movie because we were too darn tired to move and take the children home.

A beautiful day with beautiful people.  SO grateful for my family of friends.

Settling in...

Three day weekend... snowy weather... road trips...ballet class... ice skating...PJ pants...candles... crochet...sleeping in...working out...

January days flying by in a snowy, settled sort of way...

Moonrise over Cleveland.  Icy-mirror lake.  Subtle waves.  Bitter wind.  Perfect evening for a walk at the park...

Ice skating at the Rink at Wade Oval.  The magic of our neighborhood.  Rink hopping on a Friday night.  People of all stripes, laughing and turning and falling and sitting around (unecessary) warming fires in the 45 degree night.  We took our new boarder along with us and she had a great time. (We are so enjoying having her here!)

A day driving in Cleveland... a trip to the chicken feed store and then time on Larchmere.  Some spontaneous glass fusing at Tina's new shop.  A failed attempt to buy yarn at a sweet little fiber shop (too. many. choices.  At least for this beginning crocheter...

Sunday-- a drive to IKEA of course.  We simply cannot be trusted with 3 day weekends! We opted for IKEA because it promised to be warm in the car the whole way there...and also because our friends could meet us there.  Three hours of quality together-time in faux living areas throughout the store.  Who could ask for more?

Monday-- So intensely grateful that I didn't have to leave the house in this! we snuggled in for the duration.  Baked cookies, watched AFV (the kids new obsession) and didn't change out of PJ's all day.  Yes.

The chickens have not been amused.

What else do you do on a snowy day off?  Dye your daughter's hair with Kool Aid, of course.  She's got a pale pink streak now, which has been much noted and admired by classmates and ballet friends alike.

Kids had another day off today (teacher workday for CH-UH) so they did the only other reasonable thing:  handprint art, on a grand scale. 

(and ice skating and swimming at the J, too.  Some kids will sleep well tonight.

My funny babies. 

Signing off now to enjoy a bit more of the calm before the storm (it promises to be a friend-full, rich and beautiful weekend with nary a moment to rest).  I've decided for some reason to take up two new hobbies (daily coloring and crochet) and I am still trying to figure out the best way to stretch my day and make room.  I am most determined to try, though. I am enjoying the addition of some calming, (moderately) creative moments in my days...

Feels good to settle in to this winter life. 

Gatherings

By the numbers:

Two gatherings.  Fifty-two total guests over the two days (25 of whom were children). Five varieties of soup.  At least 14 varieties of pastry.  Two full cleanings of the house.  Six loads of dishes.  Hundreds of conversations.  One nerf battle.  Ten games of Katamari. Thirty minutes of sledding in the biting wind.

One amazing weekend.

January so far, in pictures.

New Year's Day visit to Lakewood...

Starting the year with cleaning and organizing the basement.  We've a bit of a rec room down there now, and its no longer so gross that I cringe whenever anyone threatens to go down stairs.

A fun, if BUSY day at the Winter Wonderland exhibit at Penitentiary Glen.  The "Candyland" room we went to see was so crowded it wasn't even fun-- but we had a wonderful hour with a scavenger hunt before that.  I often forget how much my children love scavenger hunts....

 A visit from our lovely friend Donna and her new puppy!

Also,  I am learning to crochet.  I made that funny looking little hat on Ivy's doll! It's pretty fun, actually, this crocheting...

 Observation night at Ivy's ballet class.

And... Saturday morning!  House clean and shiny and dressed in its Christmas best, ready to welcome one last holiday event...

Fake Christmas Morning!

 One of my favorite days of the year, with some of my very favorite people...

It was a nearly perfect day.  SO much coffee, yummy food, endless pastries, laughing and talking and talking with these great people. All day in our jammies.  Yes.

Sunday-- Snow!   We snuck out for a few minutes of sledding in the frigid temps because the children COULD NOT WAIT.  Also, we've got this adorable new boarder staying with us. She's an exchange student from Hong Kong and she'd never seen snow before.  We took her sledding too.  She loved it. It is so fun to watch someone who is having a completely NEW experience.

Second Sunday Soup-- the first of the year, and off to a stellar start. What a housefull!  Raucous fun in the basement, with drumming and gaming and pretend play and LOTS of fooseball making all  of our cleaning pay off.

 Jack earned the name "Fooseball master" and for quite some time, chants of "Ja-ack!  Ja-ack" echoed up the stairs.  He was glowing with the praise...

There's been a lot of love in this house so far this year.  2016, I think you're going to be OK.