Blizzard, Illinois style!

Crazy boys getting into trouble!
Checking out the snow.

Picture out our front door

Taken out back door, the snow is up to the swings on the swing set.

Our patio furniture covered in snow. We have judged how much snow we have received from the collection on the small table. The was about 3 days worth of snow.

Growing up in Texas, a small town for that matter, when you hear the word blizzard, one thing comes to mind. Ice cream treat from Dairy Queen! Well, Monday night we had our first "blizzard warning", and ice cream wasn't involved! I am sure you have heard on the news about the dangerously cold weather here in the Chicago area. Yes, it is very cold here. When the boys and I got out yesterday, the temperature reading from my car was -6 degrees, with wind chill it was - 27 degrees, thats cold folks. The crazy thing, the sun is shining the entire time! So what does -27 feel like, stick your hand in the freezer for 2 minutes and then hit your hand with an ice pick several times - welcome to our winter wonderland! On a positive note, our house stays very warm. When we are inside and you look out the window, it does look like a beautiful, winter wonderland. I want to say "thanks" to a great, great friend that is saving my life this winter. In December I had a great friend that went to visit her sister in London. She brought me back my favorite tea of all time - Harrod's English breakfast tea. I am forever in debt to her. I have enough tea to make 100 cups, one a day will get me through the first of April and away from the snow. Every morning I have one cup that warms me up for the day! I slowly sip on it and think happy (warm) thoughts, thanks Court!

My mother drove back with the boys and I last Friday from Texas. We made it a 2 day trip and stopped in to visit cousins. We left Texas in 70 degree weather and by the time we reached our house on Friday afternoon it was in the twenties. It was a easy drive, and I am very thankful I had the company of my mother for 2 days. Mums stayed with us for several more days before flying out before the "dangerous, cold" weather hit!

Having not blogged in a month, I need to recap our Christmas! I am thankful for our friends and family back in Texas that let us stay with them for the extended length of time we were there. I felt like a traveling nomad moving from house to house. We enjoyed 3 different "family" Christmas parties. The boys were still asking for gifts after the last one. I guess they thought it would be a month long Christmas. I told them Christmas wouldn't come again until next year, so they are already making out their list for next year. I think we will have to work on them about the "giving" of Christmas season not the "getting". Santa brought the boys golf clubs, and they are excited about the snow melting (in April) and getting to go play with their dad. One nice thing of living here, everything is family centered outside the home. Children are encouraged to play golf, they have their own fees and times for play with daddy. I think it will be a great father/son experience for them. I went on my annual New York trip the weekend before Christmas with my mother, sister, and family friends. We had a blast. I was a little more prepared for the cold weather this year, it didn't seem to bother so much (I guess my body it getting used to the cold). That was also the first time in the 8 years we have been going that snow was on the ground when we arrived and left. We went to watch The Little Mermaid and Rockettes. Both were great shows, I think The Little Mermaid would rank within my top 6 shows seen on Broadway. ( Top 6 Broadways not in any order: Cats, Mama Mia, Mary Poppins, Little Mermaid, Moving Out, and Wicked)

We spent the New Year's in Houston with my sister's family for the 6th year. Ryan was also in a wedding for a dear friend that weekend, so timing worked out great. The kids were able to spend lots of time together. The big boys enjoyed golfing and us girls enjoyed after Christmas shopping with mom! I will keep you posted on our snowy, cold weather.