a BIG snow

We had a huge snowstorm last week...we got almost 11 inches at the house!!!  It started Wednesday morning at about 9am and didn't stop until 9pm that night.  I was in heaven!!!  Brent was at work, but closed the store early and got home about 2pm.  I don't venture out on my own with Emma and Merritt, so we waited for him and baked instead - brownies and bread to be exact:)

Merritt was intrigued by the snow.....

I took this picture and sent it to Brent.  Raleigh was about 1.5 hours behind us with snowfall total, and also never got as much as we did.

When we did head out, Emma went straight for snow swimming:)  It was a fluffy, dry snow that was perfect for playing.

They made a pretty awesome snowman!  I took a short walk around the block by myself:)

Emma loves her neighbor, Brooklyn.  And the girls had a great time playing together.

Merritt wasn't as into the snow as the rest of her family...

Actually, she hated it for some reason this day.  We basically threatened to disown her.  Talleys love some snow...it's a requirement to be in the family.

This was after about 7 hours of snow.

We had the neighbors over for dinner and the girls had a great time watching movies on the couch.

 Thankfully, Thursday was Brent's day off.  And he got to stay home with us - this NEVER happens.  The pharmacy doesn't just close, so he is always going in.  I was so glad to have him home (for the help, the company, the sanity), and also for him to enjoy it with us. 

I got up early and went for a walk by myself.  It was absolutely beautiful out - so peaceful.

Later in the day, we ventured out to the grocery store for a few things we forgot earlier in the week.  The roads weren't too bad, although I would not have gone without 4WD...

I can't get enough of this girl's hat!

After Merritt's afternoon nap, we decided to try the snow again.  This time was much better...thank God.  I kind of want to keep her:)

Soooo much snow!!

We made nachos in the oven - sooooo yummy.

I went for another walk Friday morning before Brent went to work - I knew it would be my only alone time all day (and the next day since he was working then too).  

We made a lot of fires over the 3 days......and I loved it. 

Cabin fever set in a bit...

so we ventured to the mall for an early dinner....

oh, and a glass of bubbly!

This is Merritt's stroller stance - she is obsessed with this leapfrog laptop and it cracks me up.  It looks like she's doing work while we stroll along.

We had a really, really good time together.  I love the snow, and I loved spending so much time together.  It was a simple, fun few days and if it snowed again this month, I'd be in heaven:)

Ice skating

My dad and I took Emma ice skating this weekend.  My mom loves to go too, but she has a hurt knee, so she couldn't come.  And Brent's not totally in to skating:), so he stayed home with Merritt.  Emma is somewhat of a dare devil, which we quickly realized when we took her snow skiing 2 year ago.  She had never skated before, but had a great time, and had a lot of fun.  I see us going back again for sure!

Next time, I suggest going early, or not on a weekend.  It was super crowded.

I needed this time with Emma....it was so nice to just be her mama for a few hours:)

Snow!

It snowed last week, much to my pleasure! It could snow all winter long and I'd be a happy camper.  I love it - playing in it, looking at it, driving on it, every part of it!  Thankfully, the rest of my family does too....or at least 3/4 of them.  The verdict is still out on Merritt.

Every time it snows, people lose their minds and can't seem to drive.  Every year, we get a total crisis on our back road.  It's a hill with a curve, and people in evidently can't seem to figure out how to drive down it, or go up it.  So, there was a huge pile up.  I saw several wrecks from my back window.

Finally, Brent went out to help.  He spent 2 hours pushing people up the hill (who somehow can't figure out when they see 5 cars stopped on it, that maybe their little sedan may not make it up either).  Then directing cars down the hill.  Most drivers were people who had no business being out - they hated snow and had no idea how to drive in it.  I imagine most worked jobs where they couldn't leave early to get home, and that makes me sad.  I felt bad about running to Harris Teeter earlier in the evening when it had just started, thinking about the cashiers who probably got stuck going home.  To be honest, it got slick pretty quick.

Brent finally got it all cleared, after 2 hours.

This was the path of someone he had pushed up the hill....

He actually ended up driving a lady home about a mile away.  She had left her car at Food Lion and started walking because she had already gotten stuck a few times on Garrett Road.  She was cold, and didn't have the right apparel on for trekking home in a snow storm. She also burst into tears when we talked to her because she had been at the hospital with her husband who has cancer.  We brought her in our house too warm up while Brent got the truck ready, and he drove her home.  In just 15 minutes, my whole perspective was changed - what a blessing to have supported her that night, and please pray for her and her husband.

Unfortunately, Brent had to work the next day, but Emma and I played while Merritt napped. 

An older girl a few houses down invited Emma to sled with her and they had a blast.  I was house locked because of Merritt napping, but her parents took them to a better hill.  Emma stayed out all afternoon!  I was happy and sad at the same time - I loved the alone time, but she's growing so fast:)

We didn't get to enjoy the snow with dad, but we are hoping for another storm this week...and Brent is off the following day!  So....bring on more snow!!!!

New Year's fun

Like I said in my last post, we didn't stay up until midnight, but did hang with some great friends the days leading up to and following New Years!  I am grateful for old and new friendships!

The only day warm enough to take kids outside!!  A walk to Joe Van Gogh with my dear friend, Kathryn and her daughter!

Dinner in Raleigh to meet Brent, who was working late, and an impromptu meeting with another dear friend, Corrie, her husband and daughter.

New Years Eve fun at our old neighbor's house.  We miss these families so much!!

Love these friends!!  I don't see them enough!

Finishing our night next door with the dearest of friends!!

And started the year off right at Picnic with Brent's oldest and dearest friend!  

It was sooo good to see friends, old and new.  A great end to 2017 and start to 2018:)