Warm Winter Weekend

Who can resist a little alliteration?  Especially on a Wednesday...

Crazy weather around here.  Our cold snap is a distant memory as the CLE basks in 50-60 degree sunshine.

NOT complaining.

Nat and I talked and decided that we have, in fact done all the winter things.  Going fast down a big hill?  Check.  Going fast down a small hill? Check.  Snowball fight and snowmen? Check.  Admiring the ice on the lake?  Check.  Crappy commute and kvetching about the freezing temps?  Check and check.

So, I am totally ok if this is it.

I know it's not.  I'm just sayin...

With no further ado (or alliteration)-  a recap of a weekend warm in weather and in friendship.

(s**t.  I accidentally alliterated.  I can't be stopped.)


Oh wait.  First a few more seasonally appropriate moments to remember...

As if tubing wasn't enough last Saturday, on Sunday we went sledding.  Accidentally.  At Lake Farm park.  We had no idea they offered sledding til we arrived but luckily, like so many boy scouts, we are always prepared.  We grabbed the sleds and the kids went sailing off into forever.

We also made candles (the ugliest little stubs of things which the children burned with great joy for our subsequent three dinners)...

... and duly petted farm animals....

Oh, and this is what happens when  you let your children sled BEFORE a late lunch.  We had to fairly drag this little thing back to the van.  Worth it, though.  We always have a nice time at this place...

 Before we lost our blue-wintry light, Corydon and I snuck out for a walk in our neighborhood.  A just-right January evening, sun low, air crisp, the smell of snow in the air.  As we walked, there was something about the glow of sunshine against the white that brought back a sense-memory of Winnipeg. I  walked SO much there.  No matter the weather.  Every walk was an exploration, and I can remember like yesterday all the little neighborhoods I discovered.  The feel of the ice-pack on the sidewalks, the puff of breath, the excited newness of our lives there.  And then I thought to myself-- will I ever need to remember THIS?

Will there come a time when our lives in this house, my walks on these sidewalks, become a sense-memory too?  I can't decide how I feel about this question.  There is a joy and comfort to imagine that maybe, I won't ever have to remember this winter walk, because it will always be mine.  Yet-- a sadness to think that I may never again explore the streets of a new home, never feel that memory-making thrill of discovery, backlit by the sharpness of winter sunshine. I could be happy staying here.  I love these houses, these streets, this place that has stretched into a custom fit.  But oh!  how I do love the NEW, too...And the world is so wide!

But no matter.  I am just grateful to find that Winnipeg winters still live a little bit in my heart.  

On an unrelated note:  Nat is taking a photography course!  This will be good news for the blog, for sure.
A few of his recent shots:

Ok.  On to our wonderful weekend.

Friday-- Mama Speakeasy night for me.  A cozy evening snuggled in at K's house, chatting and confiding and drinking interesting beers.  Warmth, defined...

Saturday--the great melt begins!  By noon it was in the 40's and the skies were clearing.  So we jumped at what was left of winter, and went for an ice skate.

I just love this little rink.  It is an oasis of happiness.  Seriously.  Everyone here is having a good time.  Especially all of the kids using the center of the rink as a slip-and-slide.  It was one big puddle out there!  But that didn't get in anyone's way.

Our two skated, all on their own, for an hour and a half.  They are skating obsessed rock stars.

 Looks wintry enough over this way, right?

 Turn around.

 Spring on Wade Oval, on January 30th!  Some spaniel was pretty darn happy.  All the smells!  All the mud!  Love this dog.

Another double-take:  Our lake at the end of January 2016:

The last of the ice, clinging to shore....

... and off in the other direction, a shining, spring-like city!

 And another happy dog.

 Saturday evening was spent eating sushi and playing games in the company of friends we don't see nearly often enough. Seven-week old twins to pass around, nice rum and mead to taste, time to crochet and chat and watch my husband have a great time losing his money to poker.
Warm, indeed...

Sunday, we found outdoor fun closer to home.  Here are the kids playing their new favorite game:  "kick your shoe/boot off into the air then hop on one foot to go get it."

This game was followed closely by the ever-so-safe "hit things with the biggest stick you can find"

 And don't forget "climb over the muddy creek on a fallen tree."

 We had to drag the kids out of these woods.  How amazing to have this gift right across the street!  You can hardly tell there were houses there just a year ago.  A veritable nature preserve, with meadow and gully and forest...   Note to self:  send these two little wild ones out to play in the wild, more often.  They loved it so much.

Sunday evening, we gathered in Lakewood to celebrate Becca's birthday.  A lovely dinner party for my lovely sister.  She's been promoted to manager at work, about to get her Restaurant Management degree in May... so proud of this girl!  But I can't believe she is 25 already!  How did that happen??

 Time is so fleeting.

It is certainly best spent in the company of friends and family, sunshine and balmy winds, candles and good food and good wine and conversation. Sharing the warmth for as long as we possibly can.

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.