She loves riding her rocking horse.Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Happy Presidents Day!
We ventured over to our favorite place for Presidents Day...Mount Vernon. This is one of our favorite places because it is quiet and beautiful, a good break from the big city. It was fun to see it with all the snow and celebrate the holiday to honor our great Presidents Washington and Lincoln, they were amazing men.
Abby in her stroller keeping warm. I love those sweet eyes.Checking out the sheep...they looked cold.
Sites of snowy Mount Vernon
Washingtons' tomb
Views of the Potomac
Daddy and Abby
Making Snow History
The snow this last week made history in Virginia. We have received the most snow this year than has ever been recorded. Schools have been closed for over a week and we have been enjoying a nice time off. Now is it back to reality tomorrow. Here are a few pictures from the second storm that hit us 2 days later. We received 36 inches in just a few days. Crazy!
Snowman BEFORE the second storm...
Same snowman AFTER the second storm...take note that he didn't melt in between...there wasn't time. :)
Beautiful!
Cars, Part II
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School and work canceled again. What do we do? Play of course! Sledding was top on the list.
Abby and her best friend, Emily, getting ready to sled.
Mallory conquering the slopes.Someone posted this and I thought it was hilarious. It said: 'This is how Virginia feels about snow right now....'
Abby going for a ride in her scooter:
Brett sledding:
Monday, February 8, 2010
26 Inches of Snow!
This weekend was definitely one to remember. We received over 2 feet of snow in the DC area. Piles of snow cover the ground and it's not over yet. We are suppose to have another big storm tomorrow. Brett has all his classes canceled for today and tomorrow and possibly longer. The Blizzard 2010 has even made it into Wikipedia ...crazy.
We had a lot of fun with neighbors and friends enjoying a break from the regular routine. Fun memories have been made and many snowmen built.
El Jefe...the Snowman.Our good friends, Tom and Sharise, were sweet and had us over to their house to play games and enjoy the snow. It was so nice to enjoy the storm with such great people. We had such a good time. Thanks for awesome memories!
Beginnings of the snowman. Brett, Sharise and Tom shoved mounds of snow to build him.
Abby exploring the snow. :)
Emily and Mallory are Abby's best friends. She loves playing with them. Here they are helping with the snowman.
Placing the ice hat on top.
Mallory measuring El Jefe, the Snowman.
Abby didn't like being cold.
Lee Highway. Normally a VERY busy street.
Broken branches from trees, and many without power (we were lucky to have it the whole time...gratefully).
Our apartment!Abby singing to Hannah Montana at the Andersons' during the snowstorm.
Always wants to wear her swimsuit, even in a blizzard. She did decide to wear her coat in this video. What a combo. Crazy girl. She is not a fan of the cold, she would prefer the sunshine and the beach.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Snowpocalypse
Here she comes...
By Associated Press
February 05, 2010, 12:21PM
Jacquelyn Martin, Associated PressShoppers jam the checkout line of a packed Giant grocery store in Washington Friday morning.
By Sarah Karush Associated Press writer
WASHINGTON -- Stores ran low on milk, bread and snow shovels and federal workers were sent home early Friday as the second major snow storm in less than two months bore down on a winter-weary Mid-Atlantic.
Up to 28 inches of heavy, wet snow accompanied by powerful winds were forecast in Washington, Baltimore and surroundings. That could be a historic snowfall for the nation's capital, where the record stands at 28 inches in January, 1922.
Airlines canceled flights across the region and school districts closed for the day ahead of the winter storm forecast from Virginia and West Virginia across Maryland into southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was already snowing hard in Richmond, Va., on Friday morning.
Residents in the Washington area scrambled for food and supplies, but many found they were too late.
"As you see, I'm in front of Whole Foods and half of the food is gone already," Denise Wright said on a shopping trip for staples.
Colleen Sport, who just moved to the area from Atlanta, was at the Home Depot in Falls Church, Va.
National Weather ServiceA widespread snowstorm sprawls across the entire Southeast Friday morning in this National Weather Service radar composite made about 10 a.m.
"I was looking for salt and shovels and of course they're out," said Sport, 42. "Now I'm just hoping to get shelving and work inside."
In Alexandria, Va., James Ivery, 60, and his wife had already bought supplies but were back at a Harris Teeter supermarket Friday morning to get out of the house one last time before the storm. Many shelves and bins were emptied of milk, vegetables, eggs and cold cuts.
"It just seems like people are panicking. I don't think it's going to be too bad," Ivery said. "As long as I got power and satellite service, I'll be fine."
The federal government, the region's largest employer, told workers they could take Friday off as unplanned leave and prepared to shut offices four hours early.
Metro, the Washington-area rail system, warned it would likely have to close all but the underground portions of the system during the storm. Trains cannot operate outside when snow accumulations reach 8 inches because the snow cuts off access to the electrified third rail that powers the trains.
Across the region, state officials were deploying thousands of trucks and employees and had hundreds of thousands of tons of salt at the ready.
"This is not a good mix," said Joan Morris, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. "Heavy, wet snow with gusting winds is going to make it a very tough storm for us. I expect visibility will be very poor in spots, and we'll have to deal with drifting snow."
The National Weather Service warned snow accumulations of 18 inches to 28 inches are expected from Baltimore to northern Virginia and parts of West Virginia.
Blizzard warnings were in effect in much of Delaware and southern New Jersey from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, with strong winds and blowing, drifting snow.
Philadelphia could get about a foot of snow and 12 to 20 inches are expected in the Pittsburgh area.
The combination of wet snow and strong winds could make conditions even more treacherous than the Dec. 19 storm, which dumped more than 16 inches of snow on Washington.
Snowfalls of this magnitude -- let alone two in one season -- are rare in the area. According to the National Weather Service, Washington has gotten more than a foot of snow only 13 times since 1870. The biggest snowfall is believed to have occurred in 1772, before official records were kept. As much as 3 feet fell in the Washington-Baltimore area during that storm, and both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson mentioned the event in their diaries, according to the weather service.
Jacquelyn Martin, Associated PressMyles Nelson, 8, and his sister Leila, 5, would probably tell you a snow emergency is all a matter of attitude. Their mother was buying supplies at a Washington-area hardware store to prepare for the snowstorm expected there Friday.
Virginia's General Assembly canceled Friday's floor sessions and committee meetings, the first time anyone could remember that the threat of snow had sent the whole legislature home. Officials urged people to stock up on supplies Thursday night and warned of a tough evening commute Friday.
Virginia Del. Tim Hugo was hurrying out of a Thursday afternoon committee meeting so he could get home to Fairfax County, a Washington suburb that's supposed to get hit.
"I'm heading out of here now because I don't want my wife stranded at home with 2 feet of snow in the drive," he said.
Southwest Airlines canceled Friday afternoon flights at Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington airports. Amtrak canceled most trains heading south from Washington, D.C.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has been in office less than a month, declared his second snow emergency, authorizing state agencies to assist local governments. The assistance includes deploying National Guard soldiers and emergency response teams.
Between the December storm and several smaller snowfalls, the region's road crews have had plenty of practice in the past two months.
Maryland highway officials said they have spent about $50 million so far clearing and treating roads this winter. That's almost twice the $26 million that had been budgeted.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said it already spent the $79 million budgeted for statewide snow removal and was tapping into emergency maintenance funds. Once that $25 million reserve is exhausted, the department said it will have to dip into other programs to cover its costs.
------
Associated Press writers Kathleen Miller in Falls Church, Va., Nafeesa Syeed in Alexandria, Va., and Steve Szkotak in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
DC panics and strips all the store shelves of food.
Black Friday...'Grocery Style.'
I went to the grocery store to pick up a few items and this picture is similar to what I saw. Lines clear to the back of the store.
By Associated Press
February 05, 2010, 12:21PM
Jacquelyn Martin, Associated PressShoppers jam the checkout line of a packed Giant grocery store in Washington Friday morning.
By Sarah Karush Associated Press writer
WASHINGTON -- Stores ran low on milk, bread and snow shovels and federal workers were sent home early Friday as the second major snow storm in less than two months bore down on a winter-weary Mid-Atlantic.
Up to 28 inches of heavy, wet snow accompanied by powerful winds were forecast in Washington, Baltimore and surroundings. That could be a historic snowfall for the nation's capital, where the record stands at 28 inches in January, 1922.
Airlines canceled flights across the region and school districts closed for the day ahead of the winter storm forecast from Virginia and West Virginia across Maryland into southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was already snowing hard in Richmond, Va., on Friday morning.
Residents in the Washington area scrambled for food and supplies, but many found they were too late.
"As you see, I'm in front of Whole Foods and half of the food is gone already," Denise Wright said on a shopping trip for staples.
Colleen Sport, who just moved to the area from Atlanta, was at the Home Depot in Falls Church, Va.
National Weather ServiceA widespread snowstorm sprawls across the entire Southeast Friday morning in this National Weather Service radar composite made about 10 a.m.
"I was looking for salt and shovels and of course they're out," said Sport, 42. "Now I'm just hoping to get shelving and work inside."
In Alexandria, Va., James Ivery, 60, and his wife had already bought supplies but were back at a Harris Teeter supermarket Friday morning to get out of the house one last time before the storm. Many shelves and bins were emptied of milk, vegetables, eggs and cold cuts.
"It just seems like people are panicking. I don't think it's going to be too bad," Ivery said. "As long as I got power and satellite service, I'll be fine."
The federal government, the region's largest employer, told workers they could take Friday off as unplanned leave and prepared to shut offices four hours early.
Metro, the Washington-area rail system, warned it would likely have to close all but the underground portions of the system during the storm. Trains cannot operate outside when snow accumulations reach 8 inches because the snow cuts off access to the electrified third rail that powers the trains.
Across the region, state officials were deploying thousands of trucks and employees and had hundreds of thousands of tons of salt at the ready.
"This is not a good mix," said Joan Morris, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. "Heavy, wet snow with gusting winds is going to make it a very tough storm for us. I expect visibility will be very poor in spots, and we'll have to deal with drifting snow."
The National Weather Service warned snow accumulations of 18 inches to 28 inches are expected from Baltimore to northern Virginia and parts of West Virginia.
Blizzard warnings were in effect in much of Delaware and southern New Jersey from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, with strong winds and blowing, drifting snow.
Philadelphia could get about a foot of snow and 12 to 20 inches are expected in the Pittsburgh area.
The combination of wet snow and strong winds could make conditions even more treacherous than the Dec. 19 storm, which dumped more than 16 inches of snow on Washington.
Snowfalls of this magnitude -- let alone two in one season -- are rare in the area. According to the National Weather Service, Washington has gotten more than a foot of snow only 13 times since 1870. The biggest snowfall is believed to have occurred in 1772, before official records were kept. As much as 3 feet fell in the Washington-Baltimore area during that storm, and both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson mentioned the event in their diaries, according to the weather service.
Jacquelyn Martin, Associated PressMyles Nelson, 8, and his sister Leila, 5, would probably tell you a snow emergency is all a matter of attitude. Their mother was buying supplies at a Washington-area hardware store to prepare for the snowstorm expected there Friday.
Virginia's General Assembly canceled Friday's floor sessions and committee meetings, the first time anyone could remember that the threat of snow had sent the whole legislature home. Officials urged people to stock up on supplies Thursday night and warned of a tough evening commute Friday.
Virginia Del. Tim Hugo was hurrying out of a Thursday afternoon committee meeting so he could get home to Fairfax County, a Washington suburb that's supposed to get hit.
"I'm heading out of here now because I don't want my wife stranded at home with 2 feet of snow in the drive," he said.
Southwest Airlines canceled Friday afternoon flights at Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington airports. Amtrak canceled most trains heading south from Washington, D.C.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has been in office less than a month, declared his second snow emergency, authorizing state agencies to assist local governments. The assistance includes deploying National Guard soldiers and emergency response teams.
Between the December storm and several smaller snowfalls, the region's road crews have had plenty of practice in the past two months.
Maryland highway officials said they have spent about $50 million so far clearing and treating roads this winter. That's almost twice the $26 million that had been budgeted.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said it already spent the $79 million budgeted for statewide snow removal and was tapping into emergency maintenance funds. Once that $25 million reserve is exhausted, the department said it will have to dip into other programs to cover its costs.
------
Associated Press writers Kathleen Miller in Falls Church, Va., Nafeesa Syeed in Alexandria, Va., and Steve Szkotak in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Littlest Brother
I had to post this sweet picture of my little brother Spencer. He is serving a 2 year mission for the church in Fiji. It is really neat to hear about all his experiences and how he is helping the people there. He is loving his time with the Fijians and seems really happy. It's fun to read his letters and hear about the people he is serving. He's giving his whole heart to the work and you can see it in his face. I love my little Brother, he's a great example for me! The gospel really blesses and changes lives.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Yum!
Doesn't get much better than Chocolate and Peanut Butter! I found this recipe on my friends blog. You have to try these...they are worth every calorie. We made these yesterday since everything was closed down for 2 inches of snow...seriously. Church was even canceled. Crazy. Anyway, these were blissful. Yum! The name says it all. Now I better go work out. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Magic in the Middle Cookies
from My Kitchen Cafe Blog via King Arthur Flour Blog
Chocolate Dough
1 1/2 cups (6 3/8 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar (plus extra for dredging)
1/2 cup (3 3/4 ) brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
Peanut butter filling
3/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth, your choice
3/4 cup (3 ounces) confectioners' sugar
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets.
2. To make the dough: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
3. In another medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the sugars, butter, and peanut butter until light and fluffy.
4. Add the vanilla and the egg, beating to combine, then stir in the dry ingredients, blending well.
5. To make the filling: In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter and confectioners sugar until smooth.
6. With floured hands or a teaspoon scoop, roll the filling into 26 one-inch balls.
7. To shape the cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of the dough (a lump about the size of a walnut), make an indentation in the center with your finger and place one of the peanut butter balls into the indentation.
8. Bring the cookie dough up and over the filling, pressing the edges together cover the center; roll the cookie in the palms of your hand to smooth it out. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
9. Roll each rounded cookie in granulated sugar, and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
10. Grease the bottom of a drinking glass, and use it to flatten each cookie to about 1/2-inch thick.
11. Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, or until they're set and you can smell chocolate. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a rack.
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