snow day

Today is our 3rd day off school for weather in the last week. Last week we had lots of ice and I had three boys who would have been home anyway because of strep. We stayed in and laid around in our pjs, but this time we got snow. It is beautiful and fluffy and when you look out the window it looks like you are staring into a snow globe. I love it! And my boys love it too, especially Campbell. Campbell has always loved snow. He jumps straight in without holding back at all. He rolls in the snow and licks it off his gloves and stays out in it until his face is chapped.

Tomorrow I might feel differently, but today was a great day.

#icepocalypse

Each time I see on the extended forecast that the weather here in Arkansas is going to dip below freezing something inside me grows excited and hopeful in such a childlike way. I might say "it's not going to happen" but secretly I am wishing for snow. See in Arkansas it is a rare treat and I am immediately taken back to being nine years old and my mom letting me stay up to watch the late news and holding my breath as the school closings ran across the screen. L...M...N and as they approached our district, the same one my boys now attend, we would break into a cheer of delight....SNOW DAY!!! The irony is that before my family moved back to Arkansas, the year I turned 9, we had lived for a couple of year in Ohio. In Ohio in actually snowed and I don't think there is such thing as a snow day, you might get out of school for a full on blizzard or wind chills in the negatives, but certainly not the dusting it takes to close things down here in the south. I love a snow day even if it is usually (like today) a thick layer of ice covered by white sleet that only resembles snow. 

I don't really know why it is so thrilling. There is a lot of hype as the impending ice heads your way and the will it/won't it conversations begin, then the excitement of a day off school that somehow feels like freedom to do exactly as you please. Around here we start the day with a fire and warm drinks, warm drinks are very important on a snow day, then you dig out boots and long underwear and funny hats and head out to survey the snow. Then maybe snow men, angels, balls, sledding. You get to see all your neighbors, some four wheelers, and all the people who like to try there luck at taking a drive on the abandoned roads. My mother in law once took my kids to do doughnuts in a local grocery store parking lot, securing her cool grandmother status. After all the snow fun we usually end up inside for more warm drinks and a sit by the fire. Then maybe a movie, some games, a craft, an indoor s'more or other sweet treat and then you do it all over again. End the day with soup and cuddles on the couch. Perfect!

But then....the dreaded second snow day. I really don't know why, maybe it's like staying too long at a party or finding out what is really in your favorite junk food, but for some reason day two starts to go horribly wrong. All that was new and exciting is now cold and messy and loud. Your hot chocolate stash is depleted and someone left a snow boot outside and it is full of slush. Maybe the power went out and you forgot to charge the iPad and now you are thinking about how much you don't want your kids to be in school until the middle of June. Whatever the reason it somehow happens and a switch is flipped. All that was good and exciting has lost it's luster. This is when I need a plan and actually when I can make a choice to loose it or come up with a plan. Last year we saw this idea somewhere and it totally saved many second snow days. We call it ninja lasers.
All you need is a roll of scotch tape and a roll of streamers (probably any ribbon or string will do, but streamers are cheap and easy to tear which makes them the perfect choice). My boys are 9 and 11 so I just hand over the supplies and they get to work. Creating is half the fun (and time). My kids started out doing this in pjs, but soon had changed into long underwear (ninja clothes) and were climbing through Mission Impossible style.

What is your favorite snow day activity? The forecast is not looking super promising here so we might be looking for a new day two activity.

Other snow things....

my favorite soups:
Zuppa
Chicken Wild Rice
Tortilla
Lentil Sausage

movies we love:
white christmas
home alone
newsies
frozen

we are always drinking Starbucks coffee, but also loving taza wild sweet orange tea and this homemade hot chocolate

#CousinsTakeEurope....Dunnottar Castle

Though I posted photos from our multiple castle visits I thought Dunnottar deserved it's own post. Driving along the cost to get to the castle you start to take in the beautiful views of the sea and I could only imagine what we would get to see.
We parked in the lot provided and from the moment we got out of the car Dunnottar started to lay on the charm. We could hear the bagpiper playing and the short walk on a narrow road took us to the music with amazing views.

This castle is a bit of a commitment as the walk is steep with lots of steps and it is one of the ruins that charges, but was totally worth it. 

The Chino kids chose to stay back on this day which had the Loibner boys moving a bit slower. We roamed around the ruins with Alison and took our time checking out the grounds and different buildings.

We then headed just outside the castle walls and walked down to the rocky beach. Wilson found a seat while Pete, Alison and Campbell took to the beach to search for sea creatures and shells.

Then we slowly made our way back up the hill and took in another view from a lookout spot.

After the hills around the castle we decided to head into the nearby town (I am in love) and grab some fish and chips. We caught up with Cole, who had come with us but taken a small hike from the parking lot. He was sweet enough to run around on the beach with the boys and then we all sat on the rocks and ate the most delicious fish and chips I have ever had. I mean seriously amazing!

Dunnottar was maybe not our most favorite castle I would say it is a must see! It was so striking and the views from and around it were indescribable. We loved it.

#CousinsTakeEurope...Aberdeen Day 1

It was just over a year ago when we got the news that the Chino family would be heading to Scotland. They were plans that we knew were in the works, but could pretend might never happen and go on with our life together. It was exciting, dream fulfilling news for Alison & Taido and while we celebrated along we also began to prepare our hearts. See we are family and not in the holiday visits kind of way. We were almost daily a part of each others lives and I knew that there would be an ache and longing as an ocean came between us. 

As a girl who loves to travel I soon began to put my longing into planning a visit. With leaving being even harder than I imagined I had my sights on a Christmas visit and then a longer trip for summer 2014. Eventually the reality of total cost with flying a family of four to Europe set in and I set my full sights on an extended trip for this summer. Because of saved vacation of Peter's and my flexible schedule we decided we could swing three weeks. Alison and I talked and planned frequently and in January we bought tickets that would put us in Aberdeen on July 2 just as the Chino kids headed into summer break.

We wrote the date on all of our calendars, got countdown apps, obsessively researched the cities we were to visit, pinned things to do in Europe & how to do it with kids. There was much excitement in the planning, but it all boiled down to how excited we all were to sit in a room together, give big hugs and listen to our kiddos play hard.

It is honestly hard for me to look at these photos because of how sweet these moments were. These are people I love so very dearly and miss with my whole heart. These photos are from our first day in Aberdeen. We arrived at 11am and were greeted by big hugs from Alison. We kept looking at each other and talking about how hard it was to believe that this was actually happening, a year in the making. We got to see the Chinos home, share tea, nap and then take the short walk to pick Simon up from school. I had lived this moment out in my head so many times, the second my boys saw Simon who they miss like crazy. We walked into the school yard and in an almost painful twist of fate Simon was sitting by a window. We could see him and not get to him!!! The moments took an eternity, but soon he was the first one out the doors. He was attacked (and slightly embarrassed) by my boys, but the best part was how they fell directly into a conversation...picking up like they had been together only a day before. It was so good for my heart.

We had equally sweet greetings as the older three Chinos came in from school and big hugs were exchanged.

After dinner we loaded up and began taking in the sights around Aberdeen. We hit the beach. It was the beginning of me falling in love with Scotland, it is seriously beautiful! And to make it even better I think these photos were taken around 9pm. I love sunlight so that was such a treat and fun to take in the crisp to us temperatures.

#CousinsTakeEurope had officially begun and we were in for many adventures.

Glamping Arkansas

In June I was invited along for a weekend of Glamour Camping. Being a girl who is a camper only by marriage I was a bit hesitant of camping without my husband (or really my Father-in-Law or Brother-in-Law), but I do like glamour and the sweet ladies of AR Women Bloggers so I decided to call on my inner Alison Chino and go along for the fun. I loaded my car full of fabric, snacks, all things pink, bug spray and my camera and headed towards Petit Jean. 

It was a spectacle of fabric and pretty things as we ascended on the yurts at Petit Jean State Park. We each unloaded our cars and took to decorating the bunks and surrounding area and even setting up a bucket toilet outside (what!?!).

The night ended with a yummy dinner and lots of chatting.

On Saturday we enjoyed breakfast at the Mather Lodge, a drive to a small mountain market and then a visit with Ms. Fern. Fern lives on the mountain and is truly a local treasure. She welcomed us to her adorable home and magnificent garden. She took time to show us around and as we walked and talked she put together the most amazing bouquet of freshly cut flowers. She offered words of wisdom and was truly a delight, I heart her.

Back at camp we had a little down time and enjoyed the cool breeze that came with a passing rain shower and then it was time to really do it up. We did some more decorating outside to prepare for a glamping photo shoot and another night of fun conversation, special drinks and good food.

Then as quickly as it came it was time to pack up the fabric and garlands and head back to the real world, which is much less pink in my case.
I am thankful for this fun weekend and the ladies I got to share it with.