1.14.2011

Three Days




Not sure if you had heard, but Alabama had quite the winter fest. I have lived here for 14 years and have never seen this much snow here. The down fall of never having snow here is that the state is not prepared for such things so the whole state just shuts down. The first day was fabulous. We made make shift sleds out of plastic bin tops and had hours of fun outdoors. Well, the next two days turned to nothing but ice which makes it no fun to go outside. So we made forts, painted, and I just let the kiddos destroy the house. By day three I must say the kiddos in all their hyperness were driving up the wall, ha! Yesterday Ellie was back in school and I managed to do a few fun errands and clean the house. It's so funny how much the state of my home effects my mood. Messy = chaos / tidy = peace. I am so odd.

47 comments:

ashley sullivan said...

no, it's so true! i am so much happier and more productive when my house is tidy. have you ever heard of the broken windows theory? obviously this is on a much smaller scale, but the same basic principles apply: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory

Dorothy at Belle of the Kitchen said...

I am with you on that theory (but at the same time, haven't put away our Christmas decorations. They're down, but not away). I love the photos and it looks like y'all had fun on day one...the same is true for us in Philadelphia, except the ice and yuckiness stays around a long time after!

Alex {Things That Sparkle} said...

I am the exact same way. When my house is messy I am such a grump and things (outside my house) seem to be completely out of order. Have fun in your winter wonderland!

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

I am exactly the same. I need order in order to relax. Making a mess is fun, but then I need to clean it up. I can't leave it. Snow is fun, but ice is not. O/c gets the same way since we only get snow once or twice a year.

Unknown said...

Your story reminds me of a couple a years ago when a hurricane came through with torrential rains and we were literally trapped indoors because it was flooded outside. It didn’t matter anyway because everything was shut down completely. We got real creative real fast for the next 4 days!

JMW said...

Your photos are wonderful - looks like you and the kiddos had a good time. I'm the same way with clean = peace. When the kids were out of school and I was trying to work from home, it was not easy and they were climbing the walls. Glad they are back into their routines again. I'm ready for spring now...

Mary said...

You are not odd at all. My mood when I get home is hugely impacted by the amount of stuff on my dining room table. If it's clear, I'm calm. If it's full of stuff, I'm irritable. Definitely a direct correlation. I grew up in North Carolina, so I remember the excitement a little white stuff brings. I'm in Boston now though, looking out at over two feet!

xio said...

Not odd at all!! I am the same way; tidy = PEACE : ).

Unknown said...

No you're not! I feel exactly the same way! I can't imagine how hard it is when the state can't deal with the snow.. it gets terrible here, but we have the resourses, and it's still bad! The pictures are gorgeous. x

Nuha said...

your kids are so precious! and Ellie looks like she loves the camera haha! I am the same exact way about the state of my home affecting my mood. I have to clean before I study or else my mind feels so scattered!

Melissa @ Veranda Interiors said...

Adorable pics Paula and such great memories for the little ones to hold on to. Hope you are all recovering and getting back to normal. xo

Jessica @ Lavender and Lilies said...

It was the same way here in SC. Monday was beautiful fluffy snow. Tuesday was 1/2 inch of ice on top of the snow and now it's a crunchy icy mess. It was beautiful while it lasted.

Cat said...

how much fun! wish we would have gotten some snow! just ice here. I kept telling JT I wish we were already back at our house in Bham. Great pics! and, i'm with you on the tidy=peace thing. ;)

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

Precious pics. And I'm totally with you on the mood thing!

Lissa Pierce said...

Adorable! I bet they had a blast this week.
I go crazy when my schedule is turned upside down...like this week. We had the same problem here in Atlanta and the city was no where near ready for it. I'm just ready for things to go back to normal here, and that includes being able to get down my driveway! Have a great weekend Paula!

Lovin That! said...

What beautiful kids! Sounds like a lovely few days. I love those snow days where time seems to stand still...

YellowBirdDayBook said...

I so agree! My mood suffers way too much when the house is in chaos. It drives me almost to an anxiety attack.

The kids look so cute in their "winter" gear.

Unknown said...

It's so wonderful that your kids got to experience a wintery wonderland...how fun for them! On the other hand (as a Northerner), I have never had so many of my southern friends & family complain of cabin fever!

coolkids said...

great pictures Paula! Love Ellie's boots. Looks like fun. I am the same way!! If our house is a total mess......I am not in a good mood. I need order!

Laura Bear said...

funfunfunfun pictures!!! love!
I am one with your Messy = chaos / tidy = peace. Not so odd!

Tash said...

Oh your photos are the best! Your kiddos are precious Paula, and I love your yellow wellies :) Not odd at all, I swear I breath easier when my house is clean ;)

Tanya (a Taste of T) said...

I'm the same way. I love a clean organized house otherwise my brain is scattered constantly thinking about the mess.

Yay for the first day of snow :)

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Paula- Enjoy your snow! So nice to see your family in those streets of white! And when it melts, if you need more, you can visit me in Albany, New York!

Loretta

Victoria | Hibiscus Bloem said...

We've had lots of snow this past month or so now. And yes, the first days are great. But after a while I'm sick of the boots and snow clothes piled up in the hall and not having some knd of normality around the home. Lovely photos of your first fun days.

The Hip Homemaker said...

With working at home part-time, I can't deal with chaos and still get stuff done. It is totally distracting.

Staley Mc said...

Love the kid's snow gear! It was kind of fun for a few days to be "snowed in"

Jennie Bee said...

So much fun, I wish we had snow here in Central Florida, I may need to take a drive to NC, or North Georgia to get some fun.
I am the Same way, Messy is TOTALLY Chaos. I much prefer a Tidy house.
Love the pictures! very adorable. I've been reading your blog for almost 2 or so years now, and I can't believe how big your kids are getting.

Erin Deegan said...

you are not even close to odd.... i think all mothers are exactly the same in that regard!

snow days are fun... but as you can imagine, those of us up north are so over it and ready for the snow to melt and the tulips to poke through the soil!

la la Lovely said...

so cute.. you guys take the best pictures!!!!! Looks like everybody had a lot of fun.

I know what you mean about the messy=chaos and tidy = peace. I'm having to let go a little because I drive myself nuts and with almost 4 kids as soon as something is put up someone else comes along and pulls it back out. haha.

happy weekend!
xoxo

Marianne said...

I'm so glad you got some snow. Looks like you all had a great time in it! Your kiddos look beyond thrilled! By the way, you're far from odd. I'm the same way about messy vs. tidy.

Vana said...

We had quite the snow here too, but it's expected being Chicago and all. Love the pictures. So sweet.

Julie said...

Adorable photos. I can't imagine how jarring it must be to have snow in Alabama! wild! It's like snow would be in Southern California :)

Tamara said...

i know isn't bham so funny to shut down completely like that? fortunately for me, it lined up nicely with our painting project. but the day isaiah missed mothers day out... whew that was a long day :)

KellyW said...

Jealous of a few *real* winter days! What fun memories for your kids. I'd go nuts after a few days too.

The Goads said...

Refreshing is the word that comes to mind when I look at your pictures.
It's always a pleasure to see the pictures on your blog. Happy new year.

Cassie said...

Have to agree over the tidy home front - I always make sure we are clean and tidy for the weekend and I will admit I let out a sigh of peacefulness on a Friday evening when the house is all in order around me.

These photos will be much cherished by your two if your next significant snowfall is such a long time in the future.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
xx

Amanda said...

Hoping your house is settled now. I know how exciting it is to have snow but then you start getting antsy... hang in there!

annie@mostlovelythings said...

Snow days are some of my kids fondest memories of New Canaan, CT. We all loved them...but I could not agree more, that at the end of three days it was time to get back to tidy = peace. Love the pics! So adorable!!

bluehydrangea said...

Super cute pictures!! We had the same thing here...fun for a day and then I was done! they finally got back to school on Thursday which may have saved my sanity!

Char said...

what a difference 90 miles makes, right? so different.

looks like you all had a blast

rosa @ flutterflutter said...

Those are absolutely beautiful photos! I wish I could take pics like that!!

Ashley said...

your photographs are AMAZING!!!

Erica Cook said...

Gorgeous photos! I giggled, my little LL has both of the crewcuts long johns that Ellie and KJ are wearing. :)

Melissa Marie Head said...

Those photos are so cute though!

Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...

cute snow pics!

Emma at The Marion House Book said...

Looks like you had great fun in your snowfall! I'm also a tidy=peace person. I can't sit down at night until our home is tidy!

nadia said...

gorgeous pics!