TDY Day 30: It's all downhill from here

Well, the girls and I have made it to the halfway point. One month down, one to go.

The good news is that a second surge of reinforcements have arrived (in the form of Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Colin), so we should be in good shape for a couple weeks.

Maybe having additional help will allow me more time to spend on the girls' hairstyles (though the 1980s sideways pony tail was a specific request by Lily).

TDY Day 24: Secret recipe

While I was making dinner, two elves began pilfering items from the lower kitchen cabinets. This is what I found when I went to investigate:

In case you're wondering, they were making strawberry cake. Wait, no, lemon cake. (Whatever flavor, you can be sure it wasn't chocolate.)

TDY Day 22: She's just saying

After Amalia went down, Lily and I spent the evening playing card games and watching the Olympics.

Watching the two-man bobsleds:

• Me: Look at how they run and jump into the sleds. Why do you think the second guy puts his head down?
• Lily: Maybe he's afraid.

Lily setting up the Memory Match card game (laying out all the cards on the table):

• Me: You're going to have to move that paper to make room for the cards.
• Lily: You don't have to freak out.
• Me: I'm not freaking out. I'm just saying you'll need to move the paper.
• Lily: You're totally freaking out.

TDY Day 21: To each her own

Well, it was a lovely week with my mother in town. Now it's back to a few more days of girl time until Andy's parents arrive next Friday.

Amalia bundling up indoors with her mittens and my mother's headband.

Lily calls these her Spidergirl glasses. They're from yesterday's Pre-K Valentine's Day/Mardi Gras party. (Pay no attention to the piles of recyclables overflowing in the background -- there's still too much snow in our alley for trash pick-up. Maybe next week.)

And finally, overheard this evening just after Amalia got hold of Lily's Go Fish card game, ripping the box and the instructions and spewing cards all over the dining room:

"You're too much, Amalia. I still love you, but you're really too much."

I wonder where Lily gets such language.

TDY Day 18: Grandma Sitter

Things are somewhat returning to normal. Today was Lily's first day back at school after a 10-day unscheduled vacation courtesy of Snowmageddon 2010. And I was never so happy to be back at work. Grandma Carol stayed home with Amalia.

The never-ending joy that is Hide and Seek. This time, Grandma was the seeker.

Amalia leaving a clue as to her whereabouts.

Here I am!

And this is what Amalia looks like after a day with Grandma.

No, we had not just rubbed her head with a balloon.

TDY Day 16: We be bobsleddin' man

Now that my mother is in town, there is someone who can take pictures of the girls enjoying the snow without my having to stop and think to do it. (Not to mention having to take my gloves on and off.)

Her visit also means that I can take one girl on the saucer at a time without leaving the other child to her own devices.

Criss-cross applesauce.

Uphill both ways.

Amalia's turn.

I don't think Amalia knew what to make of the snowman (we can't take credit for him -- he was already at the dog park where we went sledding).

Lily gettin' chummy with Frosty.

Building a snow divot.

TDY Day 14: Reinforcements have arrived

Grandma Carol flew in yesterday, much to my relief and the girls' delight. Below are some pictures she took during a walk with Amalia and Lily. And then one I took of her playing Princess Old Maid with Lily. Is this what they mean by respite care?

TDY Day 12: The snowiest

Well, it's official. This is the snowiest season DC has ever had since they began keeping track of such things back in the 1880s. We broke the record at about 2:00 p.m. today. I told a colleague, "Wow, somehow I thought it would feel different."

The wind was blowing so hard throughout much of the day, it wasn't even good weather to go sledding. In fact, there were such whiteout conditions, they pulled all of the emergency crews and snow plows off the road. Now I don't feel like such a wimp.

I don't even want to know what we'll find when all of this snow melts.

I think even the snow thought it was too cold outside because some decided to sneak into our house through the skylight in our bathroom, which made the floor very slippery. Lily thoughtfully made a sign to remind us to stay out of "Mommy's bathroom." I may keep the sign even when the snow is gone.



In our sixth day of reindeer games, I tried to capture Amalia chasing Lily during Duck, Duck, Goose because it really is quite funny. Of course Miss My-Hammy spotted the camera and immediately forgot all about chasing her sister.

Schools and feds are closed again tomorrow and transportation options are likely limited to walking. I told Andy I'm getting so low on food options, I even ate one of his Lean Cuisine meals, which should tell you how desperately I need to make a grocery run.

TDY Day 12: Snow fatigue

Are you sick of the snow-related posts yet? Me, too! Nevertheless, here we are.

Here's the view out of our bedroom window this morning.

Andy will be happy to know that his orange Bug-mobile in the front yard is holding strong.

Amalia in her PJs.

Amalia trying to get dressed. Sporting the ever-popular Tarzan look.



And finally, here's what was going on outside our house at about 10:00 this morning. We're expecting much of the same until 7:00 tonight.

TDY Day 11: Shelter in place

Tomorrow will be three straight days of school and government closures, meaning lots of quality time (sigh) with the girls. Another storm is hitting as we speak. It's supposed to bring 18 more inches of snow by tomorrow night. Good grief.

Also, the icicle formations on our house continue to be impressive. See how the lantern fixture has grown:
I would take a picture of the massive icicle dangling from our roof, but I'm afraid I might get impaled, and then what would the girls do? Pretty soon the ones over our back door will reach the ground and form a sort of Wonder Twin Zan jail.

Fortunately, the girls continue to stay in good spirits. (And why not? No school!) Here they are staying warm and dry in an igloo fort. I have the snow but not the skills to build a real one.

TDY Day 10: Shelter from the storm (aka insane asylum)

My bum was sore from sledding yesterday, so we spent most of today in the house. Here are a few pics of how we spent our time. Please note that I did not take any pictures of all the card and board games Lily and I played (and by all of them, I mean every single one that we own). Use your imagination.

Lily showing off her Play-Doh bird. Amalia cheesing it up in the background. (As I said, we didn't leave the house today, but Amalia insisted on wearing her bear jacket most of the morning.)

Lily stacks 'em up. Amalia knocks 'em down.

For much of the day, Lily kept talking about wanting to have a "clothes party." I didn't know what that meant, but apparently you dress up and march around making music. (Yes, even I put on a dress.)



School and daycare are both closed again tomorrow, since we're expecting another 10-12" of snow to start around noon. We'll see what kinds of creative activities we come up with. As the Smothers Brothers say, "Necessity is the mother of invention." (Or, I guess it was Aesop, but I really liked their version.)

TDY Day 10: The iceman cometh

Temps climbed a bit above freezing yesterday, which created rivulets of ice to stream down our house last night.

Looking out our kitchen window.

Ice stalactites.

Try changing that light bulb.

The Feds and DC schools are closed today, so it's another girl day at home. Lily's ecstatic.

TDY Day 9: Digging out

Remember that joke about the guy whose house flooded and he climbed up to to his roof to ask God to send help? Well, that's sort of what I felt like when our friends offered to come over with their snow blower to dig our car out. Fortunately I remembered the lesson of the joke and accepted their help.


The added bonus was that Lily got a surprise play date out of the visit. Here's what was going on inside the house.

TDY Day 8: snOMG

The snow gave us all lots of together time.


Walking to Lily's friend's house. A tree fell and pulled down some power lines when we were toward the bottom of this hill. Very loud crack. Pretty scary.

Looking south on 37th St. Sidewalks were too deep; the street was the only option for pedestrians.

Street skier.

Good times at Clair Bear's house. That's her brother Henry (2) in the foreground.

"Santa!"
Frolicking in the front yard.


The car, still nuzzled in the snow.

This is the alley behind our house. Even if I can dig my car out, I'm not sure I'm going anywhere soon.

Here's the snow in our back yard.