Oh the weather outside is frightful...

but hot chocolate is so delightful,


and since we love playing in the snow,


let it snow,

let it snow,

let it snow!


You know it's a REAL snow storm when even the snow plow gets stuck! Ours sure did, while trying to plow our street. Katie came running down the steps from where she had been watching it, to inform us that the driver was shoveling out his truck. We didn't believe her, so we went to see -- sure enough, there he was, poor guy, digging out his tires. Finally he was able to move, although his wheels spun a bit at first. I don't know if he attempted to finish our street -- I wouldn't blame him if he quit right there! All the streets are a MESS. Northern Virginia just is not equipped to handle this kind of weather. Mr. Pickles (who is after all from Minnesnowta, where they probably wouldn't have even canceled school for snow like this) tried going out to mail some packages, and everything was whited out. You couldn't tell that the snowplows had been through recently -- you couldn't see the curbs or medians or anything, and there were even a couple 4WDs that had gotten stuck in the sides of the road. He says getting back home was an adventure -- he had to barrel throw a snow drift to get back in our neighborhood (because of course the plows hadn't bothered to come down our neighborhood street yet, and there was a wall of snow blocking the entrance to the street!), skidding and fishtailing the whole way. I'm so glad I didn't try to go out -- I might have been like one of those driving down the middle of the road, going 5mph, with their hazards on. (Okay, if you feel you have to drive with your hazards on, you shouldn't be on the road!)

So, no errands for us today! (If you don't receive your presents from us before Christmas, you'll know why!) Instead, we all got suited up to go outside and PLAY!

Joseph took this part much more stoically than last year. He maneuvered around in his boots pretty well, although he kept getting stuck whenever he fell over.

I love snow like this. It covers everything so gently, and turns what was once dead and barren into a thing of mystery and beauty.

Anyone for a swim? What, you don't see the pool? It's that indentation thing right there... oh never mind. Well, how about some grilling? (Actually, for an ironic twist we had hamburgers and lemonade for dinner tonight.)

It's been doing this for 24 hours. The snow is even deeper in the hours since I took these pictures -- our van is completely buried! I had to walk one of Miriam's friends home -- that is, I had to blaze a trail through the snow for her, since it already came up to my knees. Wow, was I tired when I got back home!

It's going to be a chore digging everything out tomorrow... but meanwhile we had lots of fun and got all thoroughly soaked and cold and tired. Time to go -- the fireplace and hot chocolate await!

Nine years!!

Mr. Pickles and I celebrated our NINTH anniversary the day before Katie's birthday. I KNOW! Where do the years go? Since this will be our last chance to escape from the children for a while, we made the most of it and got our dear friends to babysit that weekend while we spent the night at a hotel. This is where we stayed. I KNOW! Does Mr. Pickles know how to spoil me or what? After dropping the kids off we checked in. Apparently there were a couple weddings going on (why yes, it IS a good time of the year to get married after all...) so the room we had reserved was taken. So they HAD to bump us up a level and give us a loft suite. Oh, darn. Well, we're used to hardship! :) The room was AWESOME. Because the bed was upstairs in the loft, we were far removed from the door, so it was really REALLY quiet. Probably the quietest hotel stay I've ever experienced. The bathroom had a jacuzzi tub which was cool (although it made the loudest, most horrible gurgling noises while it was draining!). Oh, and we had a goldfish in a bowl in our room. (Why did I not take a picture?)

For dinner that night we walked around the corner to a crêperie and had crêpes for dinner! Fun and yummy. The next morning we had breakfast at a french-y cafe, then walked around the farmer's market. In the afternoon we went on a Food & History walking tour. THAT was fun -- in between visits to 5 different restaurants (which were all FABULOUS), our tour guide shared all kinds of interesting historical tidbits. For one thing, we got to walk past George Washington's townhouse, in addition to the tavern where he was first introduced as president of the United States! We also got to browse around the Torpedo Factory, which we've always been curious about.

Afterwards we brought pizza from this cool gourmet pizza place to our friends who were sitting, and hung out with them for a little while before we headed back home to reality. It was such a wonderful weekend together, and a great way to celebrate 9 years. Here's hoping for a cruise (with baby) for #10! :)



9 years and we still like each other. :)

Happy Birthday to the Bearcakes!

Well, it's been a month since Katie's 5th birthday, so I figured it was okay to blog about it now. :)

For those keeping score, Katie just turned 5. Yes, 5. As in, a WHOLE HAND. Didn't Miriam just do this recently? Like, 2 months ago? Sigh. I can't believe what a big girl Katie is getting to be. Well, maybe "big" isn't the most accurate description -- she'll still itty bitty. But she is getting older. There is a big difference between 4 and 5. For one thing, I can play the ol' "you're too big for that" card whenever she's pitching a fit or acting especially naughty.

Aw, but how could dis widdle face ever be naughty?

Katie with her new "Hug a Pug" with removable tutu and princess crown. :) She loved all of her gifts this year -- they were all perfect for her. I'm sure I'll forget something (WHY did I not write her gifts down? did I think I'd actually be able to remember them all? HA!), but I know that in addition to the hug-a-pug she also received a playground set for her Calico Critters -- with which she and Miriam played the rest of the day, a good book, a fun "I Spy" game, and from us, a hobby horse. Or should I say, hobby unicorn.

Is that not the girliest horse ever?? Katie loves it. It sleeps next to her every night. Joseph loved it too -- and didn't understand why HE couldn't have it all to himself, since he helped me pick it out at the toy store.

It makes noises too, which so far haven't made me regret buying it for her.




Katie wanted to help decorate her cake.


She is getting to be very particular about things. (some might even go so far as to say "picky." or even "fickle." can't imagine where she gets it...) Her preferred cake decoration kept changing several times a day leading up to her birthday. Finally when we were at the store choosing her cake flavor, a box of My Little Pony "fruit" snacks caught her eye, and her cake theme was finally decided upon.

Note the ponies frolicking in the meadow?


Happy Birthday to our princess.