Snow & Company

Snow & Co sounds like a great new line of winter wear, but in actuality it's just the two words that sum up our after Christmas festivities. With our somewhat handicapped conditions--neck and pregnancy--we were not about to venture too far from home. Thankfully for us, however, that did not mean missing out on being with extended family over the holidays.  In fact, we were lucky enough to have company from Christmas until after New Years. 

After some disruptive weather my parents finally arrived Christmas afternoon to some big smiles and some even bigger mounds of snow. This was our first real snow and having it at Christmas made it even more perfect.

I don't have any pictures of Max sledding, because by the time I got my camera out he was frozen and done. (We are a little weak in the glove department.)

Ruby's favorite thing to do was to race Reed down the hill while he was sledding.

She was even happy to just race the sled. 

Reed is a great older brother to Ruby.

It doesn't hurt that he loves the snow and is clearly less sensitive to cold than I am.

In typical Ruby fashion, her excitement level started here...

but quickly turned to this when she realized that there was wisdom in wearing two gloves.

Reed had already been out for a while, so when Ruby was ready to go out again after recovering her other glove he wasn't anxious to go out again.  Luckily Grandfather was around to satisfy her snow cravings. Sometimes Grandfather pushed Ruby...and sometimes Ruby pushed Grandfather.

Ruby's sledding sometimes got a little out of control. (Dad: if you ever see this, this picture gives me flashbacks to you teaching me to ride a bike with you hanging onto the hood of my sweatshirt to slow me down.)

I'm pretty sure Ruby enjoyed being the pusher more than the pushee. She is lucky Grandfather was a good sport.

Later on Grandmother assisted inside with a warmer activity. Even with 3 very helpful children the gingerbread train turned out pretty cute.

A few days after Christmas, J.R., Casey and their family arrived. The kids were beyond thrilled to have cousins to play with. In fact, Ruby is still asking when they can come back. Our neighborhood is full of great sledding hills so pretty much wherever you go you can have the space to yourself.

We don't normally get a ton of snow, so I was really happy that Mother Nature cooperated and gave the South Carolina Dicksons possibly the most snow they will see all year.

For not having much experience with snow, Casey and McKenzie seemed to know just what do when it came getting down the hill as fast as possible.

Apparently, wearing Target's line of Shaun White clothes was enough to make a "snowboarder" out of Reed.

Although...not all of his runs were successful.

J.R. was a pro going down on his belly...

while Max went down on his back sled-less like a penguin. I'm cold just looking at him.

It wasn't all sledding. A snowball fight was also on the agenda. Casey didn't hold anything back...

and neither did my boys with their retaliation.

We even got enough snow for a replica of George Washington made from snow. Sam said I should have gotten a profile shot that included a pony tail to really do it justice.

Reed and McKenzie stayed out longer than anyone else and didn't seem to mind the freezing temperatures at all. Crazy kids!

Getting snow is always fun, but having family around to enjoy it with was the best. Thanks for making our "stay-at-home" Christmas a great one.