Snowmageddon 2015

The following is a photo essay of Snowmageddon 2015 - also known as Juno, or the Blizzard of 2015. It wasn't too horrible.  We had about 30 inches of snow - and it was white out conditions.  But we were very lucky - no power outages, no real house damage, just lots and lots of fluffy white and light snow.

We also had lots of time to prep.  Really, it was an amazing storm.  I completed some projects for work I had been meaning to do, we ate really really good food.  The boys were generally well behaved, and did not do too much screen time all things considered.

Before the snow I went to the Exeter toy shop and bookshop and bought a bunch of puzzles, games, and books - and this seemed to help and keep them occupied.

We went outside briefly on each day, but as the snow was so light and fluffy and in huge piles everywhere, it was kind of lacking fun.  Not really good for snowmen, snowballs, or sledding or snowshoeing.  I guess this was good for Joel Andrew and his poor arm!

The boys enjoyed hot chocolate from Mommy and daddy's kiddie mugs, and Joel Andrew still has a tooth barely hanging on.

If I didn't worry about the Museum, and have to go there to shovel out today - I would say it would have been a nice relaxing break and good time with my guys.  It was still a good time with my guys, but I always seemed to have that worry in the background.  Now onto the next worry which is Joel Andrew's Dr appointment tomorrow!

Until the next snow storm - which we will also be well-prepared with lots of games that we haven't even tapped into yet!

Oh - and my favorite moment for the storm, with Joelly - was explaining geography to him. Why things at the equator are warmer and why countries on the other side of the world have summer now.  He listened to me table on for about 20 minutes.  It was awesome.  When I asked him where he wanted to go for February break (assuming he can't ski, and I get my way and he and I go someplace super awesome - kind of a YOLO thing…) he kept saying African or Austraila.  Here's hoping her would be ok with plain old Europe.  Or, here's hoping his bone heals and we could do whatever he wants, which just might include skiing!

Artastic

Today was a good day for the Williams household, and for Mommy as a Mommy.  A new place has opened up literally a mile from our house, and it is going to be our next go-to place to be.  It is called Artastic, and it is pretty fantastic.

This place has everything for art activities, including potter painting, wood painting, spin art, candy making, t-shirt making, even a whole area where you can sift through "dirt" to find treasures.  The painting stuff is great too because it is not just stilly things that take up space, but nice mugs, bracelets, bowls, etc.  So everyone we know is sure to get something from the boys in the next year.. . hand painted…

Not only that, but there were toys all around for the kids to play with when they inevitably got bored.  They loved the toys so much that we spent a good 15 minutes more just playing with the puzzle trucks on the floor.  I hear there is a whole additional space going in in January - called Imagination Station where they can play with a mini-kitchen and things like that, kind of like Imajine That - but much, much closer for me.  So psyched this is right here, and is open on a Monday too!

More good times will be had, for sure!

Exeter Bowling Lanes

Joel Husband got a Groupon or something like it for the Exeter Bowling Lanes.  I have heard a lot about this place from my work.  People have very strong opinions of the place.  It is your classic bowling/pool hall.  A place I actually want to go to on a Saturday night.  $4 drafts, for the expensive kind of beer (they had a good selection) - sounds a little pricey for the atmosphere, but I guess that is just the price of bananas these days.  I remember 25cent beer night in college.  Those were the days.

Anyway, we brought the boys, and they actually played really well.  I think part of the trick of small ball (yes, this is New England bowling people) - is that you can't just chuck the ball down the lane.  Sometimes slower is better.  The boys scored pretty well.  All of them.  But, with two strikes, Mommy won.  Daddy pointed out I needed the bumpers to get my great score, but I figure it is all apart of the game.

Just about the last frame James had enough and was done.  He became Mr. Fidget Midget and that was it.  Not bad, considering we only made it to hole 8 of mini-golf this past year.  I'd say it was an improvement.

On the way in...  I forgot to tell you.  James was having a tantrum because he did not want to hold my hand in the lot.  I patiently gave him an option.  I told him he has to be safe where there are cars, and he can either hold my hand, or be carried.  He calmed and asked to be carried.  The woman smoking a butt on the entry stairs (yes, I tell you, classy) - said that she wished she was back at that moment with her kids.  I think I totally surprised her.  She expected me to look at her exhausted and say something like I can't wait until he is older.  I instead said: "I want to bottle him up and keep him like this forever."  (I meant it too).  She responded: "Good for you!"