Snow Day

I think most mamas will agree that getting little ones ready to play in the snow is somehow way more work than it should be. But when Papa is home for the day and the little one is pawing at the door saying, "Out, Papa!", what else can a mama do? 

Sweet snow baby!

"I don't need mittens!"

I have learned to just stick them in my pocket... Because she will change her mind... Just not until we are outside for bit.

Finally out!

"Faster Papa! Faster!"

Wee!

Snowball fight!

Ok, ready for the mittens now!

Next we built a snowgirl... Bunny will not allow her to be called a snowman... Don't even try!

This was Bunny's first snow person ever!

She was so excited!

I headed in with a cold baby.

We made cocoa... I am pretty sure that is their favorite thing about going out in the cold.

Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!

Craft & Activity Share, Monday Sharing Day on Facebook, Thoughtful Spot, Natural Living Monday, Montessori Monday, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, The Gathering Spot, Little Wonders' Days, Mom's Monday Mingle, Mommy Moments, Frugal, Crafty Home, Hip Homeschool Hop, Mom's Library, Tuesday Tots, Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuned in Tuesday, Tuesday Tutorials, Life Created Tuesdays, Kids in the Kitchen,  It's Playtime, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Kids Co-Op, Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Adorned From Above , Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts, Link and Learn, needle and thREAD, Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, Natural Living Link-Up, Small Footprint Friday, Our Days Homeschool Link-Up, For the Kids Friday, FarmGirl Friday Blog Hop, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Read. Explore. Learn., Creative Learning on Friday, Preschool and Kindergarten Corner,The Friday Baby Shower, TGIF Linky Party, Family Fun Friday, Creative Friday, Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party, Do Something Crafty, Weekend Whatever, Saturday Show and Tell, Tot School Gathering Place, Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, Show and Share Saturday, Stress Free Sunday, Sunday Parenting Pointers, The Sunday Showcase, The Sunday Parenting Party, The Homesteaders' Blog Hop, Making Boys Men, Made with Love, Raising Memories

One Warm Winter Day

It is cold out today. It has been a particularly cold and snowy winter over all. But last week we had one warm day in the midst of it all. So Papa listened for a napping Squirrely, and Bunny and I went out for a walk.

She insisted on taking her umbrella, even though it wasn't rainy.

We did make some use of it by standing under the dripping gutter.

We also used it to draw in the snow. 

"Mama my shadow looks like a jellyfish!"

And so it did!

She eventually ditched the umbrella to play with other things.

We inspected some stump rot...

Talked about water erosion...

And identified several different types of tracks.

It was quite a good wintery walk.

  

Then we went inside and made some hot cocoa...

Cause what else do you do when coming in from the snowy outdoors?

The next day it was back to freezing temps and snowflakes.

But we did have that one warm day.

Preschool Interrupted

A few times a year, we have a gathering of sorts

preschool children, older "summer time" kids, grandchildren

all converge on these special days known as

SNOW DAYS!

Indoor Snow Play is always a favorite, regardless of the age!

Of course the VERY favorite Snow Day activity is making Snow Ice Cream!

recipe: clean snow, whole milk, vanilla and your choice of sweetener (maple syrup for us this time)

Add in a little drawing...

and some creative playing....

and you have the makings of a pretty awesome Snow Day reunion!

Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!

Natural Living Monday, Hey Mom, Look What I Did!, Montessori Monday, Made by Little Hands, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, The Gathering Spot, Little Wonders' Days, Mom's Monday Mingle, Mommy Moments, Frugal, Crafty Home, Hip Homeschool Hop, Mom's Library, Tuesday Tots, The Tuesday Baby Link-Up, Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, TOO Cute Tuesday, Open Call Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuned in Tuesday, Kids in the Kitchen,  It's Playtime, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Kids Co-Op, Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Adorned From Above, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts, Link and Learn, Thrifty Thursday, Hearts for Home, needle and thREAD,Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, Natural Living Link-Up, Small Footprint Friday, Our Days Homeschool Link-Up, For the Kids Friday, FarmGirl Friday Blog Hop, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Read. Explore. Learn., Creative Learning on Friday, Preschool and Kindergarten Corner,Friday's Nature Table, The Friday Baby Shower, TGIF Linky Party, Family Fun Friday, Creative Friday,Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party, Do Something Crafty,Weekend Whatever, Saturday Show and Tell, Tot School Gathering Place, Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, Show and Share Saturday,Stress Free Sunday, The Sunday Showcase, The Sunday Parenting Party, The Homesteaders' Blog Hop, Making Boys Men, Made with Love,Raising Memories

{these moments}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama, capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

A few moments from our Christmas morning!

 

 This is what the Christmas Cold (or flu...) looks like here...  beds are made in every little corner...

and new rocker boards become resting places!

Hoping you all had a wonderful, peaceful, joyful Christmas Day, too!

Wonderfull (Full of Wonder) Wednesday

Looking for the wonder in everyday life! 

I'd love for you to join me on this journey. 

If you find wonder along the way, please leave a link in the comments,

so others can share in your wonder 

Snow again....

but the wonder it brings to our windows!

A Rufous-sided Towhee

If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."

Rachel Carson

Melt my Heart ♥ Eco-Kids Tuesday!

I have been striving to get outside every day.

No matter how cold it is out.

We have actually been lucky and, though the nights are freezing temps,

the days have been mostly tolerable, and some even rather warm.

We have great adventures while out for our walks

On this, one of our warmer days (hence no gloves),

we spent a great deal of time cracking ice in one way or another.  

Stomping, throwing, sliding across, falling.

Cheering, shrieking, laughing.

And sometimes a few tears followed by helping, hugging, and hand holding.

All true ice breakers.

...

There are many different kinds of warmth.

The most obvious that have to do with temperature.

And the less obvious, but just as important.

A child needs both in order to grow properly. 

My little icebreakers are quite heartwarming. ♥

Now, onto the Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up!  Welcome!!  Eco-Kids Tuesday is growing by leaps and bounds!!  Last week we had 63 great posts shared with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! I enjoyed each and every one of them.  It is getting harder and harder each week to pick just a few features! 
Here are three of my favorites:

madebyjoey shared the sweetest flower pots!

Geocaching is something I have been interested in...whohastimefortthegym tells us all about it!

These edible sugar flowers by Happy Whimsical Hearts are gorgeous!

Thanks to ALL of you for sharing such wonderful ideas!  If you were featured please feel free to grab a button for your blog.  And please keep linking up great all your Eco-Kid ideas!

Now on to the party!!!  I hope that you'll share some great family-friendly posts that are also friendly for the environment. Some ideas include:

• Nature Activities
• Outdoor Activities
• Crafts made with re-purposed or recycled materials
• Sewing and DIY home projects
• Science Experiments
• Posts on environmental issues for kids or families
• Non-toxic living
• Homeopathic Remedies

Eco-Kids Tuesdays is co-hosted by Organic Aspirations and Like Mama~Like Daughter this means that anything you link-up shows up on both blogs!

Feel free to link up several of your posts.

There are only a few rules:

Please follow both co-hostess' blogs, and visit some of the other posts and give them some encouragement!  Please stick to posts and photos not giveaways or items for sale.

By linking up, you are agreeing that Organic Aspirations or Like Mama~Like Daughter can feature your photos next week with a link back to your site.  

Please link back to my site using this button (once I get it fixed !!) OR simply text linking within your post!