Snow Day!

We had heard a storm was blowing in, but we had no idea what Mother Nature was doing out there.  And then I got the only call you want to get at 5am–SNOW DAY!

This was 5:00am.  Not too much accumulation, but the wind was fierce.

2016-03-23_120220913_D3767_iOS

While Eric worked from home, I introduced a new obsession to Tyler: trains!  He had a blast helping build the track and carries Thomas and Rusty around with him everywhere. (Thanks, Michelle, for passing on the train set!)  And he’s not yet saying “train” but for weeks has said “WOOO WOOO” when he sees them in books.

2016-03-23_164530287_38109_iOS

The snow continued until later in the afternoon; then, it was still and not too cold.  Perfect for playing outside!  Daddy went to help Tim shovel out Boulder County, so he missed this fun. I laid out Tyler’s snowsuit on the couch with his hat, mittens, and boots.  He climbed up and eagerly spread himself out trying to get it on, patiently waiting for the zipping and velcroing.  He couldn’t wait to get out there (like his mommy) but wanted to be prepared (like his daddy).

2016-03-23_233628000_5A065_iOS
Snow Selfie!
2016-03-23_233848241_750FD_iOS
What is all this?!
2016-03-23_233912554_EC794_iOS
Postholing up to his armpits.
2016-03-23_233328037_1E272_iOS
Snow angels!
2016-03-23_233057659_99B12_iOS
Catching (and eating) snowballs.
2016-03-23_231526328_F7133_iOS
OOOHHH!
2016-03-23_231356631_CCAE8_iOS
New favorite snack: snow.

We ended up with 21″ of snow.  It was 72 degrees and sunny yesterday.  So glad we had this blizzard and could spend the day together!

 

Visiting CLE–Just me and Mr. T

In January I had a long weekend, so Tyler and I flew to Cleveland to see Nana & Grandpa. When asked if he would like to go, Eric replied, “Cleveland in January?  No thanks, I’m good.”  So off we went, Baboo and I.

CLE from the air
CLE from the air…stadium and downtown. Love this view and this city.

Tyler LOVED seeing Nana & Grandpa.  He played constantly with them and relished the attention.  He played pool and watched golf on TV with Grandpa and colored and investigated battery-operated candles with Nana.  He read books with all of us.  And he went to bed like a champ after all that activity.

Coloring in the highchair that was my cousin Mark's...it's over 40 years old!
Coloring in the highchair that was my cousin Mark’s…it’s over 40 years old!

Oooh!

We got to meet Annie & Andy’s baby boy, Oscar.  They’re almost exactly a year apart, but Tyler only weighs 3 more pounds than Oscar!  Seriously–what a cutie he is!

Future ski buddies.
Future ski buddies.

We checked out a burger bar in Tremont.  Tyler patiently colored at the bar while we waited for a table and had fun feeding Grandpa his burger.

coloring at the bar

feeding Grandpa

On Sunday, we took Tyler to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.  I knew he would like it because he’s into animals and a pretty mellow kid.  And he’d been saying/signing “fish” for months.  But WOW I had no idea he’d enjoy it as much as he did.  At 17 months old he was entertained for TWO HOURS and we probably could have stayed even longer.

aquarium seeing fish
Already excited at the first tank. “Fish!”

https://youtu.be/44lHU_95Ri8

 

 

He wasn't shy at all about putting his hands in the water to touch the rays as they swam by.
He wasn’t shy at all about putting his hands in the water to touch the rays as they swam by.
Sharks!
Sharks!
It took us forever to get this shot...priceless!
It took us forever to get this shot…priceless!

https://youtu.be/1GbgbLi_rjY

On the way back to Westlake we stopped in Lakewood to visit our “old house”–the house I was born in.  My parents planted that big tree out front on the treelawn thirtysomething years ago.  And yes it’s snowing in Cleveland in January…no surprise there.

Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive

One last thing I wanted to do was take Tyler to Malley’s for ice cream.  We grew up going there for good report cards and birthdays, in all its pink and green splendor.  Nana had fun sharing her ice cream cone with Tyler!

malleys open mouth

malleys cuteface with nana

eating ice cream at malleys

All in all, a quick trip but an amazing trip.  Tyler sure is loved.

number 1 at the airport

One more thing–Nana & Grandpa when do I get to see you again?!