More snow shots ...

After a yummy breakfast of whole grain blueberry pancakes topped with sliced bananas, powdered sugar and whipped cream (yeah, I know) Cari, Matt and I suited up to venture outside with our cameras and see what trouble we could get into. None of us could believe the amount of snow we got. We walked around the neighborhood a bit and just took in the scenery. The roads were pretty much a thick sheet of ice, especially in the shaded areas. The wind was whipping and we were freezing but it was worth it. After about an hour we had to give up and go in. But I got some fun shots:

It's only December 27th - I wonder if this is a preview into what the rest of the winter's going to be like. As much as I enjoyed this, I wouldn't want to have it all winter. I'm really looking forward to some 60's & 70's in Florida next week ...

A White Christmas! (sort of ...)

We haven't had a white Christmas since 1948, and we barely had one this year ... but we sure had a white day after Christmas this year! Talk about the blizzard of Christmas 2010. I started taking pictures as soon as my feet hit the floor - and pretty much all day long. Cari, Matt and I went out once but the rest of my shots were taken from inside and open doors. Oh wait, I did go back out to get some of the Cardinal shots. It snowed all day long and was still snowing when we went to bed around midnight. Sometime in the afternoon I put a ruler in the snow on the deck (it's actually still there) and it measured about 7". By the time we went to bed it was up to 12" ... crazy!

As we watched the 11 o'clock news they said with the preliminary totals this is the third biggest snow on record for our area. No way was anyone expecting this. In fact, we were on the border for the 2"-4" area. Guess they missed that huh?

Christmas Day

Cari's last clue for her Treasure Hunt was at the bottom of her stocking. As she pulled it out, she sighed knowing she'd have to put her thinking cap on so early in the morning. She had time to think about where to start looking while we opened the rest of our gifts. It took a few tries but she finally figured out where to look. And here she is grinning with her new "baby" ...

Getting her to put it away and get ready for brunch was a challenge, but she managed.

We had a wonderful breakfast with the Troupes. Lots of food and alcohol (Mimosas, Poinsettias, Bloody Marys), conversation and general chaos. Later in the afternoon we drove to Mom and Dad's, ate again and visited. Zachary has a cold and wasn't feeling his best but was still too damn cute in his little Santa hat.

We headed home around 5pm since snow was predicted. We wanted to get home before it started and the roads got bad - plus we were tired. LOL While we were sitting around watching football and vegging out, I got up to look out the window around 9pm and freaked out ... HUGE flakes were falling and it was coming down fast!! Cari and I immediately grabbed our cameras and began shooting through open doors. It didn't take long for us to get shoes and coats on and head outside though. So exciting!!

No telling what we'll wake up to in the morning ...

Our tree ...

I should've gotten the tripod out to do these, but was in too much of a hurry. Anyway, just a few shots of our tree this year.

Snow!!

Less than two weeks before Christmas and my "to do" list is as long as ever. But as the flakes start to fall I am itching more and more to go out and play in it. After talking myself into, out of and into going out again I finally succumb and suited up with my camera. I got such a rush out of being out in my front yard in the cold and wind as the white flakes fell on the leaves and flowers. This was the perfect snow to photograph. It was so perfect it looked like that fake stuff you can buy in the store. I could see the crystals in the flakes! It's the first time in my life I've ever seen individual snowflakes! They really do look like those paper ones you cut out in grade school! It was crazy! I ended up shooting a while, coming in to download and look at them on the computer three separate times. I really didn't have the time to spend the morning playing but man am I glad I did. It gave me such joy! Here are some of my faves from this morning: