Backyard rink officially open!

It's been a very cold week.

Perfect for making fresh ice. 

The ice rink is officially open for the 2016 season.  

Stay cozy everyone.  For my friends experiencing Storm Jonas, stay safe!
 

Return of the backyard ice rink!

Chris is at it again getting our annual backyard ice rink ready for another season. 

With our unseasonably warm winter, we've had to delay setting it up.

Now, that we've got cold weather finally coming, we're ready. 

Let the freezing begin!

XOXO
  

Happy 7 Years!!

On March 16, 2008, we were in Nanchang China and officially became a family of four. 

 We've been blessed beyond measure with our two daughters. 

This may seem silly, but Emma wore this pink shirt while we were in China and Josie now fits into it.  I can't believe how quickly time has passed!

 Happy 7 year forever family anniversary!

The power of adoption is a beautiful thing.

PS.  Sunday evening, we broke our backyard ice skating record.

 The girls were on our backyard ice rink at 7:40pm  March 15th.  That's two days longer than 2014.  We're officially ready for spring!

This and that...

Chris tried to heat up the pipes at the A-frame, but they remain frozen, so we continued with weekend adventures at home.

By the way, we're thinking Friday night might have been our last Friday skate.  We've got a warm-up with 40+ degrees everyday the rest of this week!

Although it's going to take awhile to get rid of all this snow and ice, we're ALL ready for a spring thaw.

I haven't posted any estate sale pictures in a while, but I did manage to go to an estate sale a few weeks ago.  I bought the child-sized trunk for the graphics and plan to display it with my Easter decorations.

The bonus was that it was filled with Dawn Dolls!  My sister and I loved playing with Dawn.  Yes.  I'm reliving my 70s childhood.

I also came home with a box filled flower frogs, an Easter planter, deer statue, wooden ducks and Easter card.  The planter already has received a makeover. 

Have a wonderful week ahead!  Keep thinking warm thoughts!
 

Change of plans...

30 minutes after we arrived to our A-frame Friday night, we discovered the lines coming from the well into the cottage were frozen.

We packed everything back up, ate dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, and headed home again.  Good thing we only live 40 minutes away. 

  Instead of winter adventures at the lake, we had winter adventures at home.  

Last year, we officially closed the backyard ice rink March 13, 2014.  

Based on long term weather forecasts, I'm guessing we will be breaking that record.  

 Any bets on the last outdoor skate date of 2015?

XOXO

Winter outdoor adventures at the A-frame...

It was dark when we arrived to the A-frame Friday night after work.  As you can see, the recent snow storm also extended to the lake.  

Determined that we would be skating on Saturday, Chris got busy snow blowing a patch of ice on the lake Friday night.  He was a man on a mission! 

We woke up to a gorgeous pink sunrise Saturday morning.  No photo enhancing needed. 

Josie even got to test out the hills on the side of the A-frame with her sled. 

We are spoiled with our groomed/manicured ice in our backyard rink but no one can deny the view is much prettier at the lake for skating. 

It's been a fabulous weekend of  outdoor winter adventures. We're definitely blessed.
   

Winter weekend plans...

After a very chilly few days, we've finally got a heatwave this weekend of 30+ degree temps and we're looking forward to spending some time outside. 

 Even my backyard gnomes have finally dug out from our last storm.

 Take time to play this weekend.

XOXO
   

Snow, Ice and Harry Potter!

It's been a wild week of extreme weather. 

 The snow was coming down so hard Thursday night, we could barely see across our own yard.

Friday, we enjoyed all enjoyed a day off from school and spent the majority of our time digging out.

On Saturday, we officially opened up our backyard ice rink.

It's been weeks nurturing the ice and this extra cold weather really helped get the ice nice and hard.  

For my long time followers, you know that my husband loves Harry Potter and spends time each week reading Harry Potter during the lunch hour to two different elementary schools in his district.

Saturday night, was their annual Harry Potter Yule Ball.

 Over 150 students were in attendance.

 The decorations were nothing short of fantastic.

A truly magic evening.

Not sure how we're going to top the excitement of this past week.

Have yourself a magical week.
XOXO