Third Snowstorm

 Our third snow storm blew in Sunday evening. We were left with a bit of snow, but nothing compared to  Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.  Thirty inches of snow is way more than I could shovel.

I love snow.  The boys love the snow, but we are ready for an early spring.

Luckily I could answer Cutie O's call for his jacket.  He wanted to go outside and play with his trucks.  Our drain spout said we should stay inside, but the boys insisted.

We bundled up in our winter coats, hats, boots and gloves.

To keep them busy, moving and warm with activity I downloaded and printed this adorable free Winter Scavenger Hunt.  They picked their marker and we headed out into the cold, windy, snowy day to discover all things winter.  

Cutie O recognized the hat right away, showed me his and he marked it off with his yellow marker.

Cutie E was excited to find Daddy's snow shovel in the garage and help him clear away a bit of snow from the driveway.  

Cutie O wanted to try shoveling, but sharing the shovel wasn't in the cards for today.

We headed down the driveway to stomp in the snow and make snowballs.  They crossed off a few more pictures from the scavenger hunt.

The boys know what pinecones are and couldn't wait to uncover them beneath the snow.  As soon as Cutie E discovered the pinecone dusted in snow he picked it up and matched it to the picture on the page.  Excitedly he popped the cap off his blue marker and scribbled across the square.

I love watching him connect the activities we are doing together, discovering something new and announcing "I did it!"  

Our new pinecones are in the garage drying so the boys can make more bird feeders with peanut butter and birdseed.  They loved watching the birds eat from them during our January snow storm.   

We continued our brief outside winter adventure with a walk around our neighborhood.  Normally they can't wait to run and collect sticks, but a block down the street they echoed, "its cold Gammy".  The wind was strong, fingers and cheeks were getting cold.  We turned around and headed home for a yummy warm lunch.

Cutie E ran ahead of Cutie O and I.  As soon as he got to the driveway to turned around and said, "Look Gammy, I made it home."  Too cute.

I feel like I am finally settling into my new normal.  Taking a little of my middle school teacher self, mixing it with being a full-time Gammy and adding a little touch of Shannon.  It feels good to be able to find ways that I can mix these elements together.

Finding creative ways for the boys to discover the environment around them has led me to discover scavenger hunts.  I love that they are free, simple, have pictures that they can easily recognize, gets them actively involved in their environment and can be used for many different activities.  I have even used them as matching games when it has been too cold to go outside.

Pinterest makes it easy to find free ones and Etsy has some adorable ones with realistic artist drawings that are beautiful.

It felt so good to get outside and breathe fresh air.  Hopefully we warm up throughout the week and can get the dump trucks out of winter storage.

Siblings

 Siblings are our first friends, sometime our first besties too.

No one knows you quite like a sibling.  They hold all your childhood secrets close to their heart.  They are the ones that will give you a hug one minute and torment you the next.  

                                                    

Do you know how wonderful it is to be with your grandchildren each day? 

I get to watch Cutie E and Cutie O grow up.  I witness the big milestones like putting words together to build sentences or learn to use the potty.  But I also get to see them figure out how to show love for one another, say sorry, learn to share and recognize how amazing it is to have a brother.

                                                   

Today Cutie E and I ran a few errands together.  Cutie O was home with a bit of a fever.  Cutie E was lonely in the car, missing his buddy.  In the grocery cart he tapped the seat next to him and let me know that, that spot was Cutie O's.

They are young, but their bond is strong.

Holly loved Harrison from the moment they met in the hospital.  She smothered him with kisses and was always willing to help.  She was disappointed that he couldn't play with her right away.  When he did finally play with her she wasn't always in love with the idea of sharing toys.

Guess Where

Harrison and Riss were best friends at a young age.  He lovingly shared his toys, his time, his room and even his bed.  She would walk into his room at night and he would roll over so she could sleep next to him.  Riss was never a tag-a-long, rather a sister that was included.

Harrison's Wedding Day

I have two sisters, Leslie and Kristen.  

May 1980

Kristen, affectionately known as Shorty, passed away 24 years ago of kidney failure.  She wasn't your typical sister, she was born with many birth gifts that made life a bit more of a challenge.  At her birth the doctors told my parents she wouldn't make it to her first birthday.  I'm pretty sure my mom willed her to live through that year and 20 more.

Shorty loved to play puppets, sit next to me while I did my homework, cozy under the blankets after taking the sheets off the bed and wanted her nails painted if I was doing mine, but then wanted it off immediately.  She loved you no matter what and always put your shoes right where they belonged.

Unconditional love was Kristen's talent.  She could walk up to a perfect stranger and give them a hug.  We didn't know why, but usually the receiver needed a little love.  Life with her was often difficult, but I wouldn't have traded that time away.

Leslie and I grew up together.  I still remember making the poster to welcome she and my mom home from the hospital.  I was so excited to be a big sister.  Sitting in bed with my mom feeding my doll while she fed Leslie is one of my earliest memories together.  Once I entered elementary school I realized having a tag-a-long little sister slowed me down.  

 1976

Flee, one of Leslie's nicknames, has always been the life of the party.  She brought the fun, the smiles, big belly laughs and silly antics.  No one can get our family to loosen up and have fun like she can.  

The Grinch had a heart two sizes too small, Leslie was given a graceful heart that is two sizes bigger.  Kristen taught us unconditional love, but Leslie taught us that there is always room for more.  She will open her home, give you the coat she is wearing, prepare a meal for you if it is what you need.  You will never know what she had to sacrifice in order to make you a little more comfortable, thought of, cared for and loved.  

We haven't always gotten along.  I don't know too many siblings that don't disagree, argue or fight.  

In the last 12 years Leslie and I have lost both of our parents, an uncle, an aunt, moved and experienced many difficult trials.  But through it all she has been right by my side cheering me on, supporting me and loving my family.  

Recently I have realized that she was my first best friend.  She did keep all my childhood secrets and she is the only one that knows our childhood.

Today our bond is stronger than it ever has been.  I couldn't do this life with out her.  As the Cuties grow and change I hope they will recognize sooner than I did that they have a real treasure in one another, that they are each others BESTIE.