Weekends in Review

A look back at the last few weekends, which have been packed to the gills with great weather, meaningful activities, and time with friends.  Just the sort of weekend that I run out of time to blog about...well, better late than never, right?

Last Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the Women's March.  Stayed close to home this year and marched with my family, a little troupe of Hiram friends, and 7,000 others in public square... 

 Even the dog got in on the activism (have to start them young!)

 It was a great day to be out, celebrating the fact that there are so many others who care.  We are not alone in this struggle.

 We headed straight from downtown Cleveland to the Cuyahoga Valley, for the annual Hiram tubing event.

 Polar Blast was a "blast," as always  (that joke never gets old!).  The afternoon was so balmy that the sled runs were rather slow at first, and the place was packed.  But by the time we went back out after the group picture and snacks, everything was iced up and slick and FUN.

 After party at Melinda's house... some SERIOUS Mario-Kart going on.

Back in time one more week:

 Typical Cleveland style, we've had two full "thaws" in the intervening weeks since this photo was taken.  But here's a look back to January 15th or so, when the lake was nearly frozen...

 We had a fun, albeit frigid, time wandering on the ice in the bitter wind.  Invigorating.

 This little dog was unfazed.

 A little warmer on Sunday... we visited Lake Farmpark for the first time in a while.  We hear baby animals are on the way soon...

 A playdate with our great neighbors...

Fake Christmas and Real Sledding

Well, its back to the real world tomorrow for this mom.  I've been well and truly spoiled by a winter break plus two snow days... and a weekend... so much sleeping in, so many slow-paced mornings, so little planning and multi-tasking to do.  It's going to be a rude awakening (quite literally) at 5am tomorrow. I hope I'm up for this...

In the meantime-- a few moments from these past few days.  Lazy snow days, yes- but also the very planned laziness of Fake Christmas Morning!  And, sledding before the snow melts on Tuesday...

So many donuts!

Planning our new photo-challenge Facebook group, the Awkward Photographers Club.

It was a small group this year, only three families- but we still managed to enjoy our gift exchange.  Ivy was thrilled to receive her own bag of PEZ dispensers.  And our bag of mixed books from our giveaway pile was a surprise favorite, the only gift to get "stolen."  The bowling ball is taking a year off....

The girls ended the day with some Harry Potter.  Not pictured:  Jack, who made a showing for sausage and donuts but then spent the rest of the time in the basement gaming with his cousin, in the absence of any friends his age...

On Sunday, we decided to trek out to the CVNP "sledding area" for a change of pace.  It was worth the trip! A huge complex of hills, like a little ski areaa without the lifts.  Nat called it the Vail of sledding hills.  Most of the hills came together in a big "bowl," so a run down the hill could take you swooping back up the other side for  moment, before dumping out in a little ravine. Adding to the excitement was the constant threat of mowing down the families slowly trudging upwards.  Obstacles make everything more fun!

So does cocoa.

New Year (new dog!)

It's 2018!  I think I was hoping for a bit more from this transition into a new year.  We've been  so focused on getting 2017 behind us... as if some sort of magical change would happen, and 2018 would unfold, new and fresh and totally different.  Overall, though, the state of the world is much the same as it was 3 days ago, and I'm finding myself unable to muster the energy for resolutions, much less a whole new start. New Year's ennui.

One thing IS different around here, though:

New Year, new dog!  Meet Winter Sky Morehouse, our newest family member.  She actually came home to us on  December 28th-- a bright spot to end the year!

 We've been spending a whole lot of time on the kitchen floor this week.

 Winter's got the kitchen as her puppy-proof domain and we just can't stay away from her for very long.

 She's also a biting and chewing machine so thank goodness for a puppy-proof room, and for the fact that she loves her crate and takes nice long naps...

Making life even more interesting is the delightful little cold snap we're having.  Temperatures in the teens for a week now, a Winter wonderland out there.  Little girl doesn't seem to mind the snow... though it can get a bit nippy while we stand and wait for her to do her business.  Every half hour or so.  This puppy phase doesn't last forever, right??

But!  The way it feels to snuggle her little warmth when she first wakes up from a nap!  That part can last...

Winter went to her first party on Sunday!  The annual "New Toddler's Eve" party-- now renamed "New School-Agers Eve"-- was a blast as always, and the little guest star did a great job charming everyone and then napping idyllically on the couch while the kids watched Harry Potter...

Since new year's, we've mostly been doing this:

 Snowy-cold weather makes for good hibernation, and a bit of cabin fever.  Got out to the Art Museum yesterday, which felt great.... then came home and hibernated some more.

While I may not have a clear idea of what I want to do with this year... I know what I do NOT want to do... and that is to go back to work tomorrow.  After a rather restful, cozy two weeks off, work life is going to be a rude awakening. And, I will have to be away from this face all day!

But!  We have Fake Christmas to look forward to on Saturday (a terrific excuse to leave our tree up a little longer) and I think a return to routine may be just what I need to become a bit more intentional about this new year.

In the meantime, signing off... I've got a puppy to take outside.