Snow Day

We got an unexpected Snow Day in February.  The forecast didn't look like it was going to happen but the snow fell at the perfect time and school was called off!  I love snow days.  I love the kids waking up and realizing they are off school :)  I also love being up early when the house is quiet, no one else awake yet and everything outside is quiet because of the fallen snow.

This particular snow day was also Tara's 16th Birthday...these were the two pictures I texted to her when wishing her a happy birthday :)  She was bummed because she couldn't take her driver's test on her bday because of the snow but I think she went the next day.

Sloane came over for the snow day.  We miss her not living next door but she and Maura still see one another a lot!  

Max reading through the Harry Potter series, again.

This pictures popped up on my facebook memories.  Look at how little those faces were!

Ben's post-it marked To Kill a Mockingbird.  I love how this looks so much!  Ben has Mr. Holland for English and loves this class.  He went into Freshman year saying English was his least favorite class, now it is one of his favorites :)   

Chicago: Rathburn Visit/Laura's Bday

In February I went to Chicago for Laura's surprise 40th bday.  I went a day early to experience the Rathburn world in Chicago.  Liz and I went to a little Crepe place for lunch, delicious!  I told Max that if we won the lottery, we should take some of the money to open a little coffee/crepe shop.  We will have an area for yoga, no cost, just donations.  And we will have comfy couches and a reading area.  The kids can work there and Max can be one of the chefs.

I got to see the boy's schools.

And Cooper's lego creations

DJ's Bar

For Laura's birthday we stayed at the Loews Hotel.  It was modern and beautiful.  I think Laura was genuinely surprised to see all of us there to celebrate her.  The first night we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner.  Christian had asked us all to put together a toast for Laura.  Half us us made our toasts the first night, the rest the second.  I was on for the first night which was good because I knew it was going to be emotional and I wanted to get it done.  I wrote it down in a card because I was sure I would cry and not make it through or miss things.  When I was writing it the week before at home, Max saw me crying and asked me what I was writing that was making me so sad.  I told him I was remembering when they were babies.  Laura has been like a sister to me and honestly, I don't know how I would have made it through the baby years without her.  She taught me how to nurse properly and without feeling awkward.  I love how direct, honest and open hearted she is.  My toast was long but I think I was able to say all of the important things that I love about her.

Rathburn Visit

Large smiles, lol, all of our selfies were large smiles or crazy eyes!  

Liz came in for Amy's surprise bday party and then came back for President's Day weekend.  Jack was able to celebrate Max's bday that weekend with us.

No great photos from Max's birthday. Just a couple of them eating pizza.  He had Connor, Gabe, Quincy, Tyler and Jack.  So Quincy an Max were best friends in preschool and just reconnected in Middle School.  

My mom hadn't seen Liz in over a year since she wasn't at Chautauqua at all this Summer.  Last Summer's Bloody Mary contest was postponed until next Summer.  It looks like it may be turning into a Margarita contest because Bob and Sal won a recent Margarita contest and want to test it out on us.  My mom is the queen of the limes so I think we will be good competition.  

Ben with his other little brother, from another mother

Party Cam

The girls with the Valentine's shirts

Maura's teacher, Ms. Fischer, is neighbors with Meg who hosted the Smoke Out party.  She came over the see Maura :)

Bowling with the Meacham Girls

Jenny and the girls won't be in town this Summer because she is starting her business.  So they came in for Presidents Day week.  After bowling we went to her parents to hang out for awhile.  I love Pam and Ed.  They are so easy to talk to and funny.  Pam always has a bottle of Chardonnay ready.  One of my memories from hanging out at Jenny's as a teenager was there was always soda, chips and jars of candy.  And they always have the sweetest dogs.