There is snow in my front yard!

Imagine this, Carl and I are sitting on the couch with Erik. Carl is playing Pac-man and I am playing Angry Birds and we're bored. This rarely happens in our house, but we have just run out of motivation and energy for our house. We had plans for the day, a birthday party that I thought was on the wrong day, a desk hutch that was broken out of the box and needed to be returned, dinner with friends that was cancelled by illness, it just wasn't our Saturday night and everything fun we had planned just didn't work out for us that day. So here we are sitting on the couch discussing what we want to do, waiting for Elliot to wake up from his nap and we are bored.

Finally Elliot wakes up and we settle on heading to Northridge for Wood Ranch because that is an old-time favorite and far enough to away to be an adventure. Its only 4:50, but we are getting the kids ready hoping to beat the rush, knowing we might even have to wait at 5:30 for a table. We are almost ready and almost out the door, then it happens.

I look out the window and see this white stuff filling it up. Then I open the door and look at my porch, its completely white! The snow we had been expecting is happening, it daytime and its snowing in our front yard.

My first instinct is to rush the kids into their snow gear and then my second instinct is to grab my camera because I have no idea if this is just going to happen for a few seconds or a few minutes, but I know I want to capture this moment in history. I have lived in Burbank for 8 years and it has never snowed here ever!

So while Carl gets the kids ready I open the garage doors and from the shelter of my home I snap a few pictures to document this moment in history. As you can see from these pictures at this moment the snow is melting almost as fast as it is falling.

Carl wasn't getting the kids ready fast enough so I head inside to rush the process, completely worried that they will miss the moment. Dressed in all their "rain" gear we head outside to play in this mushy mess.

 

Their reactions were interesting. Elliot refused to let us put the hood on his head so he got soaked and Erik touched a snowy car and got upset that his hand was cold. I think Carl tossed a few snowballs, the boys looked a bit, but were baffled on what they were suppose to do with this cold stuff.

Here is the picture of the Burbank "B" covered with snow and the results of the first snowfall before the sun started coming out and melting it all.

Then because we live in Southern California and the sun is always bound to come out and the weather will never stay close to freezing the sun peeked out and all our beautiful snow started to melt.

 

If there is one thing my kids understand is how to play in big splashy puddles and there were some great ones as the snow started to melt.

Then because the sun was out and the snow was melting and it was inching towards 5:30 we decided to go inside dry off and still head off to the restaurant, long-wait and all. Here are the last few images of the area I took while heading out of town.

Then on the way to dinner I saw these gorgeous clouds and the sunset peeking out so I had to take a picture. Definitely one memorable day.

The Golden Hour

I realized lately after about 12:30, it is nearly impossible for me to get out of the house. The boys nap from 1-4,  and today I even had to wake Elliot up at 5 pm and with dinner at 6 and bed at 8 it is just hard to plan much for the afternoons. So I decided to photograph what we do most evening.

Today the sun was behind clouds, the sky was a beautiful golden color and Elliot was finally awake so I asked the boys if they wanted to ride bikes. We hardly even play in the backyard anymore with our fancy swing set, all the boys want to do it run around and ride bikes in the front yard. To be honest it is a perfect way for them to burn off lots of energy.

Just a note about today. It was jammies day in Erik's preschool and after his nap I asked him if he wanted to get dressed and he said no, so I let him wear those jammies the entire day. He is only 3, so why not. Also the rain boots were the boys shoes of choice today and although they don't match, I can't say no to these little guys.

So every time we play outside we start with the trike and car, the vehicles of their choice, but first they have to get unburied from our garage.

Of course there are two things that always happen when we play with those toys. The first is the crash, they boys LOVE to crash into each other.

Then next activity is just as predictable, the Elliot escape. Even if I put up the orange fence Elliot always makes a break for it.

First comes the look.

Then as I am yelling at him to get back in the yard and turn around, he make a run for it. This has to happen at least once every afternoon.

Another of the favorites is climbing the fence. This always reminds me of the fact that we as parents are less trusting of our children now and have to hover and watch them at all times. I just can't let my kids roam like they use to do, but I try to give them opportunities to test themselves and this fence seems to be a favorite.

Another Elliot favorite is to check out the German Shepard next door. He has an odd fascination with that dog and loves to stare.

Just need to interject, at this time of day the news helicopters are always flying by and catching the boys eyes.

We ended the afternoon with a new and old favorite. Erik drove his police car for a couple minutes. For some reason Erik's power wheels really freaks Elliot out and he refuses to get in and looks on with worry.

We ended the evening with trike lesson from Erik. He really enjoys teaching his brother new things and Elliot likes it just as much as long as Erik is gentle. The moment it gets rough, everything is over.

I am glad spring is here and with it comes lots of allergies, but my tree is blooming and it is becoming gorgeous!

I am just showing off my new haircut today. Nothing special, kept it long and getting rid of the layers and bangs. Its a work in progress right now. I love the first couple of days after it has been blown out.