This past weekend we got our first decent amount of snow. We spent a good half an hour bundling the kids up in snowsuits, boots, mittens, etc... all for about 15 minutes of playing outside before boots and mittens started to fall off and it was clear that the fun was over. At least we don't have to deal with the whole potty situation yet! We love diapers at times like these.
Ellie got to touch and of course eat snow for the first time in her little life - last year she was an infant and couldn't even sit up yet!
She loved it. I took this last shot just after I found her laying on her tummy with her tongue to the ground, lapping up mouthfuls of snow while no one was paying attention. Who needs hands? She's a funny one. If it looks like she's protesting, well, she is. She was stuck in this position until I came to her rescue.
I'm glad we made the effort that morning though, because I was able to capture what will become our Christmas card picture. Clearly, no button down shirts and frilly dresses in front of the Christmas tree... but playing in the snow - isn't that the next best thing? (Don't tell me if it's not.) I was starting to panic over the fact that I had zero pictures of the kids together that I could use, being in the emotionally-unstable position that I am currently in (pregnant). We had even talked about not sending cards out this year just to eliminate the stress! Aack. I hated the thought but was ready to throw the towel in.
Since then it's been absolutely freezing. Winter is definitely here... and it finally feels like Christmas season! We are keeping the month as simple and low key as possible, but we did make the trek to Lincolnwood over the weekend to see what was supposed to be an exceptional display of lights. We thought the kids would enjoy that, from the comfort of their warm car seats with snacks and chocolate milk in hand. As it ended up, there wasn't much of a display anywhere that would have made the drive worth a recommendation, but we made a fun family memory and laughed at some of the enormous homes that were architecturally... interesting? lacking? dated?
I feel compelled to end this post with a recipe that will warm you up, it's a new favorite.
Perfect Mexican Hot Chocolate
(*adapted from Hershey's recipe)
In a saucepan, mix:
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C Hershey's unsweetened cocoa
dash of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 C hot water
Bring to boil and stir for one minute while boiling. Add 4 C milk and stir well. Do not let the milk boil, but heat it to your liking. At the very end, stir in 1/2 tsp vanilla. Fills 2 large mugs!
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