The week of the 2014 NC Blizzard!

Yep - we got all the snow they were predicting... over 12 inches of snow and ice in Charlotte. Um, What??!?? Good news is that the city was as proactive and prepared as they could be. Every school, public place and government office shut down the day before and the city told the private businesses to do the same. Even our Walmarts were closed. We have officially been in a state of emergency for the past four days. Thank goodness John has been in town and we have fantastic neighbors to help keep the kids (and us) from getting cabin fever. A few days before the blizzard hit we all stocked up on food and flashlights. We walked to our neighbors house and had brinner (breakfast for dinner!) in our pjs. Everyone had been so crazed about the blizzard coming we just wanted a nice easy night.

This was picking James up on Tuesday from school, at least he got to go two days before we were stranded at home! Madeleine thought something was hilarious and just kept laughing. There are many times when I want to know what goes on in my kids heads - but never more than when they are laughing at seemingly nothing. 

 

Basically since James could walk, he has been trying to befriend the cats. He finally got the hang of how to approach them to be able to pet them this week - very exciting in the world of an almost 4 yr old!



 

Just all snuggled in :)



 

Nana sent Madeleine a little bracelet for Valentines day - she was so happy! She kept walking around and waving her hand in front of us.



 

Then we Skyped with Nana to thank her :)



 

We were all hanging out at home... watching the snow start to fall! (Look at how thrilled Madeleine is!)



 

This was the first day - only about 6 inches, but it was great sledding weather! James and his friend Griffin got a huge kick out of sledding, but they were going way to fast to get a picture. They wouldn't slow down for anything! After about two hours we had to call it quits and drag them inside to get warmed up. The snow was turning to sleet and it was hurting as it was coming down.



 

The next day, Thursday, was 12+ inches of snow with a good layer of ice in the middle. It sleeted almost all night and then snowed in the early morning. It had snowed/sleeted for over 24 hours straight. For a city who never gets more than an inch total all year, this was insane. But since it will be back to 70 degrees next week, it is a fun novelty for us - especially for the kids.



 

The snow play wears my kids out like nothing else, so that was a huge plus! They both fell asleep for naps and bedtimes right when their heads hit their pillows and didn't move as they slept!



 

And then of course getting snowed in always equals baking cookies! We also made snow cream which was a perfect way to end the blizzard :)



 

Anyone else ready for summer??

Transportation Museum

Last Saturday, we all bundled up in the car and drove to Salsbury, NC to go to the Transportation Museum. When we arrived, we were the 4th car in the parking lot and 2 hours later when we left there were no more than 10 cars there. I don't know if it was just the time of the year or if no one really wants to see trains - but James and John had a great time wandering around having basically the whole place to themselves. Madeleine and I pretty much stuck to the areas where there was heat and hung out in the gift shop. She was as impressed with all the things with engines as I was... needless to say I'm sure the boys will go back, but once was enough for us girls!



 

There was an 1920s restored mail train, and that was actually very cool. Just to see how much work went into sorting the mail and getting it to where it had to go - it's impressive.



 

Can you see the look of boredom on her face?



 

 

There was a 25 minute train ride we could take around the town - which was the hit of James' day. When the "conductor" came around and stamped his ticket, I thought James was going to lose his mind. If I knew he was going to get this excited about a museum we would have come a lot sooner!