Part 2
Saturday was Iwa's big party. On her first birthday, we had a luau at our house and the windows were open. On her second, she played with her goat in our front yard with the windows open. Her third party was at a park. After noticing a trend here, we planned her party at the Friskillo house. They have lots of land and animals and since this was really the first friend party, the aspect of having a handful of 2 to 4 year olds with cupcakes made an outside party sound perfect.
Luckily, the party was planned for lunchtime and the BLIZZARD didn't start until around 3p.m. We had the party inside at the Friskillo's. We turned on Wall-e, they played and it turned out really, really well.
After everyone left, we planned on staying around a while because Grandpa Tony had to work and wanted to see the birthday girl. While it was drizzling outside the kids slept/rested and John, Mary Margaret, Buck and I went to town to get some pizzas and haircuts. I was so ready for a haircut that if it hadn't worked out, I would have cut it myself (and we all know how that turns out). Well, by the time we got to town, we could hardly see the road in front of us for all the snow. We stopped at some salons and everyone was closing, but luckily we found one.
The conditions kept getting worse and worse so we decided to get our stuff packed and just bunker down at the Friskillo's with the kids for the night. It turned out to be the best place we could have been stuck for snow.
Sunday morning, the compound looked like this:
The whole time, Iwa is so excited. See, she's wanted snow like this ever since October and we just couldn't tell her it wasn't going to happen. Now, it happens, plus, she thinks it's for her birthday! There's no way we can top this one. No, it's not possessions my child wants for holidays, it's acts of nature. Way to keep the expectations realistic.
Sunday was spent playing in the snow and coming in intermittently to thaw.
The kids weren't up for as much as we were but Grandma and Grandpa were glad to stay in and play with them in the warmth.
We made snowmen, had snow fights, rode 4-wheelers, and sledded down tree-filled hills and ravines. It was an insurance nightmare, but the most fun I've ever had in the snow. At one point, I was about to sled down a steep hill and one of Buck's friends told another, "That's Buck's sister-in-law. She'll do anything." I realized then that it was really steep and that it's a lot easier to be reckless when your impressionable children aren't watching.
This is Watermelon. I thought he looked pretty in the snow.
Wow. It's amazing how many pictures I have of my kids with food on their faces. Hmmmm.... This next one is clear of food. Just a little snot...
I love this next one because it looks like she's really jammin'.
Her arm in this one reminds me of those big Jet Puffed marshmallows. They're just as tasty.
...you're the fattest kid at camp." (from the movie "Heavyweights")
Neither of us really expected that he would win again this year. We kinda snickered to ourselves at the thought of one of the old guys at church with this beast of a plaque hanging in their kitchen next to some country ducks.
The whole time, Iwa is so excited. See, she's wanted snow like this ever since October and we just couldn't tell her it wasn't going to happen. Now, it happens, plus, she thinks it's for her birthday! There's no way we can top this one. No, it's not possessions my child wants for holidays, it's acts of nature. Way to keep the expectations realistic.
The kids weren't up for as much as we were but Grandma and Grandpa were glad to stay in and play with them in the warmth.
This is Watermelon. I thought he looked pretty in the snow.
When we sat, we quickly realized that Kawika doesn't need bouncy balls. He REALLY doesn't need to have bouncy balls in rooms where hibachi grills are being set on fire and people are throwing knives. Recipe for potential disaster, but we made it without maiming anyone permanently.
The kids loved watching the guy cook! The only part that was difficult was the fire. I think the guy put a little too much oil on the grill. When he set it on fire, I had to check my eyebrows to make sure they were still intact. I didn't have to wonder where Kawika and Iwa were, because they were both clinging to my side. Iwa was begging to go to the bathroom and wash her hands (which she had done before we sat down) and Kawika looked a little shaken but just said, "woah." I looked over at Leilea in John's arms and her eyes were wide with delight. We're going to have to watch out for that one.
After dinner we went to the pet store and she picked out two fish, which she named Tyler and Willie.
It was the beginning of a good and out of the ordinary weekend. More to come....
