Snowed In with Grandma Tammy

Like always, Grandma packs one little carry-on suitcase when she comes to visit. She crams it full of all kinds of treats and projects and still somehow has room for the important things like clothing and a toothbrush. 

That's why we like to call Grandma Tammy's suitcase...

the Mary Poppins bag!!!

I still haven't figured out how she does it, but as she pulls out more and more surprises I'm just amazed.

Well, this time was no different. And on top of the treats and fun things to do she brought three canvases that she had painted for the children.

This is Livy's

Cody's

And Kylee's. You can't see it in this picture because she added it later, but Tammy wrote all the people that love Kylee in tiny writing along the walls of the houses. So cute.

It all started a few weeks ago when Kylee was having trouble with nightmares. I suggested that she look at her artwork she had taped on her bedroom wall which would help her think happy thoughts as she went to sleep. Then, we decided she could ask Grandma Tammy if she would be willing to make her something for her wall to help her have better dreams since Grandma likes to paint. Grandma got right to work and brought a painting for each of the kids.

She also made some Olympic medals for the kids to wear while we played Kinect Sports since she would be here during the Olympics. It was a brilliant idea and the kids didn't take off their medals the whole week.

As luck would have it, Grandpa Airplane was able to get a stop in Baltimore for a few hours. So while I went to the airport to pick up Grandma Tammy, Steve picked up Grandpa at his hotel in Baltimore and then we all headed to Five Guys. Yay!

After dinner we played some Kinect before Grandpa had to get ready for work. Steve took Gordon back to his hotel and by the time Steve got home it had started to snow.

The snow didn't stop coming all night and we woke up to 10 inches of it. The most we have seen at once in Maryland.  Yay for no school or work! Grandma had come within hours of the airport closing and Grandpa flew out just before the storm hit (although we were hoping he would be stuck here). 

We couldn't open our storm door very easily because the snow was so deep. Tammy noticed that everyone puts their windshield wipers up before a snowstorm. It must be an east coast thing because they did that in Pittsburgh too. It just seems normal to us now.

It was fun to play in the snow. During the past few snowstorms it was too cold to play outside but this time it was nice enough to be out in it.

Mini snowman

Steve and Cody built a snow fort.

All three kids fit inside (barely).

Smashing the fort.

Taking a break from the snow.
Grandma brought mugs and sharpies for the kids to color and bake...

...and heart-shaped noodles too.

The next day they tried really hard to sled down our hill with a cardboard box as a sled.

But it just ended up being Grandma dragging Cody down the hill in slow motion.

Then Kylee wanted a turn on Grandma's ride.

When Grandma got too tired, Cody took over.

Livy wasn't feeling very well and she was already looking a little drowsy, but then when she went out in the bright sun she couldn't open her eyes at all. She would just stand in one place with her eyes closed.

Queen of the mountain (and wearing a medal to prove it)

Making double sugar cookies on Valentine's Day. They were supposed to be regular sugar cookies, but Grandma forgot that she had already added the sugar and added more. If you ask Kylee she'll say she tried to warn Grandma, but the cookies still turned out good enough to eat.

When everybody was sick of playing in the real snow we would play virtual winter sports and have dance parties. The kids are really into Taylor Swift right now.

Kylee (still wearing a medal) and Grandma. The kids had fun taking over Grandma's phone.

She has more than enough selfies on her phone of the kids now.

Valentine's Day on a Friday? Heart-shaped pizza was on the menu, of course!

We watched the Olympics too. After finishing his pizza, Cody brought a chair into the living room right in front of the TV and then put the piano bench in front of him for his legs to rest on. He looked so comfy camped out there that the girls promptly followed his example (medals on, of course).

We enjoyed watching skeleton, curling, and lots of skiing and snowboarding. At the end of the night we watched a little bit of figure skating for Kylee's benefit. I knew she would like it, but of course Steve and Cody had to suffer through. It was during the couples skating event that Steve made a comment that this is what he and I do after they, the kids, go to sleep. Everyone was too busy watching TV to respond. Then, 10 or 15 minutes later Kylee said, "Dad, will you show us what you and mom do after we're in bed?"

It was hilarious! Even when you think you're kids aren't listening, they surprise you sometimes.

So of course a few minutes after the kids were in bed Steve and I had to take some pictures...

ta-da!

Cody showed his Olympic pride by layering up in his snow suit and sliding across the floor.

all ready for church

headed to church

Grandma Tammy made a treat for us to eat after our Sunday dinner. It was supposed to be a light and fluffy chocolate mousse pie, but it ended up being more like gritty chocolate sand. Even Livy passed on dessert after diligently finishing her dinner so she could have a treat.

On President's Day, Grandma Tammy took Cody and Kylee to see Frozen in the theatre. They got there a little early so they checked out the toy store in the mall for a bit.

It was Kylee's first time going to a movie theatre and Cody's second time. He still remembers the first time he went when he was three. We went to see the movie Up with my sisters, Bob, and my dad (my mom watched baby Kylee so I could go).

popcorn and sodas!

That night Grandma taught the kids an important life lesson: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Her second attempt at making the chocolate mousse pie was a success! I'm glad she isn't a quitter.

While the older kiddos were at school we took a little trip to Hobby Lobby where you can always find something to buy. The snow in the parking lot was piled so high!

Grandma Tammy put this tiara on Liv and took a picture and then Livy went down the aisle picking up everything one at a time and asking Grandma to take a picture...

This is the best way to watch the Olympics, by the way. All snuggled up.

It was a great week that went by way too fast, as usual.
Thank you for all the fun, Grandma!!