Late Winter Happenings

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." -Hal Borland

It certainly is starting to seem like spring is going to skip it's turn!  This is some craaaaazy weather we have had this winter, and it seems like it will never end!  I can't complain too much, though, because I admit we've had a pretty good about of fun in February and in March thus far!

 Early in February, we spent an afternoon at Northeast Park in Gibsonville.  Gibsonville is a small, rural town on the Northeast side of Greensboro and, while it may sound crazy, it is ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite places in the world.  This is where David was living when he and I were dating and engaged, and he proposed to me at Northeast Park in February 2008.  I have such wonderful memories of this sweet, quiet little town, and I positively love going there.  So we were thrilled to find a Saturday that wasn't totally freezing to take Joseph to Northeast Park to play.  This child LOVES to swing, and this trip to the park included one of his usual tantrums when we remove him from the swing.  ;-)

We have had winter weather and lots of it.  Below is a large collection of photos I took from the biggest snowfall we had (8-9 inches, which is huge for Greensboro!).  David was unable to make it into work on the day when this happened, so we were able to sled and have some fun together as a family!

My big guy's boots and my little guy's boots

David bundled up the night the snow started to bravely head out to get snow for snow-cream

Joseph's boots were not waterproof, so I put plastic bags over them to keep them dry.  He was a little unsure of this at first.

But he accepted it.

Our home in the snow.

Looking down our street.

Taking a quick snowy walk with the jogging stroller.

Tired toddler.

With Daddy in the backyard later on that day.

Our home from the back.

Love my little snowbunny!

 At the end of this snowy week we had Valentine's Day (it was also the 5 year anniversary of when he proposed to me at Northeast Park!).  My parents kept Joseph while David and I went out for a romantic dinner at Lucky 32.  And my sweet hubby had these BEAUTIFUL roses sent to me!!!

I snapped this picture the day after Valentine's Day because I thought it was cute.  Joseph was sitting on our bed in between us, watching Carolina basketball, eating a piece of Valentine's Candy (a very rare treat for him!) and drinking coconut milk.  He has always loved sitting in between Mommy and Daddy while we watch sports, and who wouldn't love a sweet treat?  This boy was absolutely in his heaven. 

A few days later, on February 20th, this sweet boy turned 16 months old.  I know I am biased because he is mine, but he is truly the most precious child I've ever laid eyes on.  My mom took these "16 month" pics of him at my grandmother's house one day when we were over visiting.  Love him more and more and more.

Precious, unbridled joy!

Last weekend, my parent's neighborhood held their annual Mardi Gras parade and party.  It is so much fun!  It was started 4 years ago by one of their neighbors who grew up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans.  She knows how to do Mardi Gras in style, and has gotten the whole neighborhood into it!

The band - they were great!!!

Lots of food, lots of people.

Fun "floats" in the parade.

We had MORE winter weather this week and were sick of being stuck in the house, so today we decided to make a random day trip to Winston-Salem (which, of course, is where I was living when David and I were dating and engaged.  Fun!

On our way to Winston we stopped at J. Peppers in Kernersville for lunch.  We had never been before but had heard good things.  It was amazing!!!

We got Joseph a "kids meal."  It came with two chicken fingers and two HUGE grit cakes!  I couldn't have eaten all that food myself!!!  So needless to say, he has plenty of leftovers.

Although he definitely did enjoy what he did eat of it!

We stopped for a little while at South Fork Park on Country Club Road (right down from my old apartment).  We went their many times when we were dating and engaged to hang out, and we would always end up talking about what our future kids would look like and be like (like I've said before, we got engaged within 6 months of meeting, but we both pretty much knew after a couple of dates that we would for sure get married).  It was soooooooooooooooo fun to be back here and know that, after all of our conversations about our "future children," we were there with our SON!

South Fork Park didn't have baby swings, so we headed a little ways through town to Miller Park in the Ardmore neighborhood.  They did have baby swings and Joseph loves to go as high as anyone can possibly push him.  My little thrill seeker!

Cuteness.

We lose an hour tonight and, while I am not looking forward to losing an hour of sleep, I am looking forward to spring and to longer days.  Winter, it's been fun.  We definitely made the best of you!  See ya next year!