Baby it's Cold Outside

We got our second snow in two weeks this past Thursday, but this time we were prepared and it was just snow!  YAY!

After two days of school and work being closed/delayed, our snow day actually arrived.  We got home early afternoon from a play date with Archer (thank you again Carmichaels!), took naps and prepared for the snow that seemed it would never arrive.  Finally right before the girls' bedtime it started snowing and it snowed almost 5 inches within two hours - it was amazing!  White, fluffy, soft and gorgeous.  David and I turned off all the lights and pulled the shades up so we could enjoy the beautiful snow - it was as bright as daytime and the snow on the trees was amazing.

 Everyone hard at work on one of our "non-snow snow days" earlier in the week

Play date with Archer - so much fun! And a lifesaver for Mama!

 The snow coming down fast and piling up quickly!

 Finally!  The girls were SO excited to see the snow right before bed!

Emma was too!

 Gorgeous - the sky was so white and bright - it looked like day time at 8:00 p.m. at night.

 Loved this snow covered tree across from our house

 My view from the sofa

The best part was that most of the snow was gone by midday with the temps rising in the 40's.  We all headed back to reality around lunchtime the next day, but not without having some good play time in the snow.  It's unreal that in three weeks time it has snowed 7 inches in Birmingham, Alabama.  Winter time fun for sure!

 Gorgeous blue skies the next morning

 Little mama didn't care for the snow at all - 

this time is was quiet thick and hard to walk in

 The only pictures I got before mama headed back inside 

to enjoy the warmth and comfort of heat

 Smart little girl - enjoying the beauty from inside while we were outside!

Baby fever!

The wee Cain ladies have baby fever something fierce! They certainly have a good reason to have the fever because so many friends have had precious little ones as of late.

Joining our sweet village is Parker (Parkah) whom we love deeply!  We can't wait to see her every Sunday at church, we even break into the infant nursery to love on her sometimes!  She has been to visit us several times the past few weeks and the girls love every single second.  I'm not so sure Parker enjoys every second, but she's a good sport for sure!

Little mamas and Parker

I LOVE this picture - Caroline is obsessed with babies - 

she's squeezing her and loving her so hard!

Daddy Cain is a natural - a glimpse of what three might look like!

Sweet Charlie Globetti joined the world a month ago and we sure adore him too.  We visited the Globetti's last week and the fever as raging!  The girls loved holding him.  Catherine Ellis is the perfect age to hold an infant - her arms are long enough and she understands gentleness.  Caroline - well she understands she has a deep obsession with babies - but she's not great at holding them because she's still little and gentle is subjective in her eyes.  HA!  Welcome Charlie - we can't wait to play with you in a few months!

This photo is oozing delight from the Cain wees!

Catherine Ellis is a natural - she is the perfect size and age to hold new babies!

This wee - isn't her fro' amazing!? - she thinks real babies are like baby dolls still - 

but she LOVES them so!

And last, but certainly not least our second niece Lillian Grace Bates was born three weeks ago and she's as precious as they come!  We've not gotten to hold her in person, but have enjoying meeting her through skype!  We can't wait to meet her in a few more weeks!  She's gorgeous isn't she??

Aunt Kim and Lily - just a few hours old!

Proud Uncle Drew

Sleeping beauty!

No wonder the Cain ladies have baby fever - these are the most precious and wonderful gifts from above!

Snow, snow go away!

As I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from our snow last week, it appears we're about to have another snow event!  While it's pretty to look at the truth is I've never liked snow.  I'm not a cold weather gal - I do like the change of seasons, but being cold is my least favorite feeling - so winter is lost on me.  I've always been so thankful that the snow here was few and far between, but the last few years we've really had plenty.

The bottom line is we Alabamians are not equipped to handle snow - I know the nation had a huge laugh, scratch your heads sense of wonderment about how we got ourselves into the situation we did last week. But it wasn't snow.  It was snow that fell and immediately turned into ice.  Driving on ice in a city that has no plows, salt trucks, etc. isn't feasible.  While our trek home pales in comparison to the stories out there, it wasn't a walk in the park.  

My quick snap of the snow as I was walking to my car - I should have known then that was ICE!

I left work at 11:15 a.m. to get the girls from school and head home.  We weren't prepared in the least - I had on wedges - not great for walking in ice mind you - and a half a tank of gas.  I never imagined we'd be in a live game of bumper cars for four hours - but we were.  We took the longest and flattest route home possible, but the Tahoe and ice just didn't mix.  We finally got stranded on the side of the road and hitched a ride home with a stranger who had a big ole truck with four-wheel drive.  I've never been more thankful for a stranger's kindness. 

Two hours into our four hour commute home - all smiles!

Typically there is a road in front of our house - it was buried in snow!

The gridlock on 65 - I've never been more thankful for not living in the suburbs

David never made it home Tuesday, but finally was able to get out Wednesday afternoon since he had four-wheel drive.  He picked up a friend that was stranded as well - and we had a couple of days of camping out in our cozy house.  It was all fine, we had plenty of food, never lost power, and had each other, but it was a bit scary to realize just how quickly things spin out of control when weather like this hits!

We all felt like this Tuesday night, but were SO glad to be home!

The girls loved playing in the snow - we got a little over 2 inches at the house - and it was the softest, powdery snow I've ever felt.  Great for skiing:)  

Two wees ready to go play in the snow!

 I love this picture for so many reasons!

 

CE's snow angel

Caroline's snow angel

We got it removed without cutting it, but it came close!

Did I mention how happy we were to see Daddy Wednesday?  We were a bit of a mess without him! He picked up this sweet friend on the way home - she'd been stranded at UAB the night before and we wanted her to be stuck with us if she had to be stuck!

 Brandi and David arriving home!

We did a lot of cooking and eating - what else do you do when you're bored?!  We made some yummy cookies after dinner one night and had a great time making a big ole mess!

After three days of freezing temperatures and lots of quality family time - the sun came out and melted all that beautiful snow - thanks be to God!

David's face sums up how we felt after three days of cabin fever!

Down on the Farm

The girls and I took a road trip to North Alabama a few weeks ago to see my Dad.  It was his birthday so we thought we'd spend the day with him.  It has been a while since the girls have been - Caroline is now old enough to enjoy the thrills that a farm brings - cats, tractors, running through the fields, feeding the cows - and was delighted to be able to fully participate.

Dad has lots of animals - especially cats - there are dozens of them running everywhere and Caroline LOVES animals.  If it's an animal - she adores it.  Doesn't matter how big, small, scary, loud - she is in love. So these cats sure got a lot of petting that day.  Feeding the cows was so fun for her to see and try to interact - she didn't understand why cows weren't "pets" that wanted to be petted.

It was a very cold, but beautiful day - we spent a lot of it outdoors.  We also got to see Aunt B and Uncle C and enjoy some time with them.  The girls are already looking forward to another farm trip!

We took a walk through the fields as soon as we arrived - did I mention it was a gorgeous day?!

We love the Greats - Aunt and Uncle C!  Always good for some hugs and fun!

Decked out in full camo - they loved their puffy "farm" jackets!  Aren't they the cutest wees?

Aunt B and Uncle C gave the girls sleeping bags and flashlights for Christmas - they were a huge hit!

Catherine Ellis's shirt says Best Aunt Ever - I'd have to agree! These little ladies sure have the best Aunts ever!

The highlight of the afternoon was feeding the cows - it was SO cold, but the girls were troopers and rode the tractor with Granddaddy to feed the cows - Caroline wanted so very badly to pet a cow.  They were not interested!

Happy birthday to Granddaddy - the big 65!  Please notice the enormous cat that Caroline insisted on having in the photo.

 
We had a great time - it's always so pretty on the farm - sunsets this time of year are so glorious - the iPhone camera just doesn't do it justice!