Ellie's First Snow Day

Believe it or not, Thursday, January 24th 2013 was Ellie's first time in the snow. Sure we've had flurries before then but this was her first real snow where we could bundle her up and let her explore. Unfortunately, it was the type of snow where all of the schools got out but UMW and most other businesses just had a delay before the normal work day would begin. This was the first snow day Randall had in two years so it was pretty exciting all around. After a false alarm the week before we were happy to get some real snow. Granted it was only 2 inches, but hey, it was enough!

A few weeks before we bought Ellie a snowsuit in hopes that we could use it this year, and if not this year then next year. It was size 2T so hopefully we could make it work both years if we had the chance. If we couldn't at least it was on clearance! As I left for work I asked (well, probably told) Randall that he and Ellie had to get out there and play! Randall said he wanted to wait for me to get home so I could experience her first time in the snow too. But, I knew we planned to go out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants that night and it would be too much to squeeze in any really quality play time. And really, I was afraid that if they waited the snow would be completely melted by the time I got home.

To my total excitement, around 1:00 I got a full stream of pictures of Randall and Ellie's snow adventure. I loved it! A little sad that I missed it but really happy they could enjoy that first snowy date together. Randall did an awesome job capturing pictures and videos. His great documentation made it easy to live vicariously through them.

They suited up around 12:20 and lasted until 1:00. Talk about endurance! They visited neighbors, played in our yard, and even took a trip to the neighborhood playground when Ellie had her heart set on sliding after she saw a neighbors' playground with a slide. Randall did his daddy duties keeping her warm. You can't reason with an 18 month old very well but he eventually got her to keep mittens on and even a hat! That's true success--Ellie hates things on her head-- hoods, bows, clips, hair bands, etc. He said she really wasn't so sure about the snow at first, wouldn't keep mittens or hat on, and didn't want to explore very much. After her first fall where she touched the snow she suddenly accepted the mittens and kept them on ;) And, I'm guessing after a while out there and a few more gusts of wind the hood/hat wasn't a hard sell either.

The pictures and videos were all that I could have wanted short of being out there with them. Below are some of my favorites. The snow didn't last long at all so I'm glad they went out when they did! Randall got an additional snow day the next day but only because of back roads being hazardous, not because of more snow. I missed my best buddies while I was at work those days but I'm so glad Ellie will always have her daddy home to play with! She's a lucky girl--and have I mentioned that she really loves that guy? :)