Anna's Birthday and Snow

This was one of the worst winter's on record for DC as far as snow fall amount. In some ways it was a lot of fun, but in other's it got to be a little ridiculous. Because this much snowfall happens so infrequently the area is simply not equipped to handle it, so the schools were literally cancelled for something like 2 weeks total. Some of the initial snow days were totally unnecessary but I think that the schools didn't have any idea of what was to come. This picture is a view from our balcony. The kids loved it, but could only take it in about hour doses. It is unbelievable how much work it is to don jackets, gloves, hats, scarves, etc on everyone and then go out for an hour and return to wet clothes to deal with, warm baths, hot cocoa, etc. I have no idea how people did this in times without heaters and warm water!

The snow really is magnificent as it falls and we are always excited when a snowstorm blows in!

With some snow on the ground, but not all that we would get for this past winter, Anna had her second birthday. With extended family home in California, we just had a simple family party, but we all had a great time. First Anna had dinner and then decided to wear her bowl on top of her head...

She was excited the whole day to blow up balloons and kept carrying the bag around.

We just went with a simple pink theme...

We have tons of pictures of her opening presents, but this was the general sentiment...

The baby stroller she has loved from the start and then grandma gave her a baby to go in the stroller and then grandpa gave her some bows for her hair, one of which she is wearing in the picture below and a tea set from Aunt Vicki, etc. All girly stuff. I love it!

We topped off the evening with strawberry cupcakes (the absolute best! Alex doesn't even like sweets and he loves these) to go with the pink theme.

Anna mostly just ate the frosting.

Mark ate something like 3 of them.

And so did Christopher.

It seems so fast that the time has gone by. I wonder if I am taking full enough advantage of the privelage of having young children in our home!