baby, it's cold outside

The caller ID said it was "NTEC LLC" calling us at 5:30am Friday morning. I dread the midnight (yes, 5:30 is midnight in my book!) phone calls because they make me think of family emergencies. So after seeing "LLC," I knew it wasn't family and I didn't answer. Since I was awake, I turned on the news to see if school was closed as was predicted. Yes, it was and then after listening to the message I found out that NTEC LLC was calling to let us know that schools in our county were indeed cancelled. So long story short:

Friday was a SNOW DAY!

quit looking at his pink mittens...the boy doesn't have any, O-kay?!!

sledding/body boarding down the hill

Now you may be saying, "Seriously, school is canceled in Atlanta with only 1/16th inch accumulation?! Bwa ha ha ha ha." Well I used to be right along with you, tsk tsk-ing, about the whole thing. However, this time around I found myself reacting defensively to the comments of "those not in the know." So let's make it clear...it's not the SNOW that cancelled school it is the ICE. We have about 3 de-icers in the entire Atlanta area (since it's not supposed to be this cold here) and all three were working at the ATL Airport. So it's just not safe to drive a bus around picking up MY CHILD and then driving on ICY roads. See, it's personal now since Lauren is involved.

Moving on. After about 10 minutes playing outside the kids came in and warmed up with some hot cocoa. Then it was back outside once again. This pretty much happened in 10 minute rotations the whole morning. (minus the 5 minutes it takes to put on/take off the snow gear) The last time they came in they brought over some friends. Well actually, Lea and Dylan came over to play with Lauren while Tyler went across the street to play with Jake at Ms. Ashley's house. No pictures of Tyler but I heard he DID NOT want to come home. =)

Lea, Lauren and Dylan

(Dylan will be 3 in February, but her vocabulary and development is right up there with Lea and Lauren. I forgot I was talking to a 2 year old at times! The trio played great together all day long.)

(and if you are wondering... yes, Lauren dresses herself. She prefers comfort above all else.)


Saturday was totally cool.
After eating dinner at McCormick and Schmick's at the CNN Center,
we went to the GA Dome to see Monster Jam 2010.

Lauren brought her own Grave Digger truck for good luck.
(it was loud and cold in the Dome)

The crowd went wild when Grave Digger took a tumble!
It's so fun to watch them roll and crash.

Although Grave Digger didn't win (Maximum Destruction did) we had a fun "family date night." The children were very well behaved at the restaurant as well as at the main event. The only mishap was when Lauren (accidentally) spilled her Gatorade and it splashed on (and obviously seriously irritated) the poor lady sitting in the row in front of her. I can't wait for the next "family date night."

Daddy and Tyler

Mommy and Lauren
(wait, let's try that again because Lauren looks a little bit crazy)

Mommy and (still crazy) Lauren