The De Falco Family: Winter from time to time

January and February have been especially odd in terms of weather this year. One day it will be 60 and sunny (cue my run in shorts!) and the next we're expecting snow (but end up getting a rainy day off from school)! No one knows how to dress and sniffly noses are rampant at the elementary school. I miss summertime!

Speaking of pretending it's July, don't you love our light-up margaritas at our favorite Mexican restaurant??

Of course, there are some activities that one can only enjoy during the colder months. And one such activity that I've been thinking about doing with the kids FOR YEARS, which we FINALLY tried was...SKIING! This would literally keep me awake at night because when the kids were younger, they lost patience so quickly. Also, my memory of being fitted for boots and skis as a kid was torture with lots of sweating. And it's not the cheapest pastime. Thus, I chickened out on taking them until recently when I started to see a glimmer of light through the clouds and thought, "Maybe we could do this now?" So on a (completely random) January teacher work day, we hit the slopes with friends and all I can say is, "SUCCESS!!"

All three kids (plus their buddies) picked up skiing way faster than we predicted--we did take a one-hour class with a fantastic teacher. In no time, they were going up and down the bunny slope on their own and then, one by one, they took the chairlift up (!!!) and did the green slope. I was floored. And so proud! We all couldn't wait to go back. (Our friends felt the same and actually went back the very next day...ha!)

Other "winter" fun? All three kids got a huge kick out of a Ninja Lightsaber Workshop they attended!

Brie's B'nei Mitzvah is right around the corner, so we've been looking at venue spaces. We first visited TQL Stadium...

And then Museum Center. You'll have to wait until August to find out which one she picked!

A few weeks ago, we randomly got A TON of snow!! Everyone was gleeful, especially Blossom who loves snow and has gotten very good at staying with us when she's off the leash (remember she was valedictorian of her puppy classes?). She was so happy to run in the snow and stick right by us!

Our deck was completely covered in snow.

Blossom showed us the way at the park...

And gleefully ran around it!

Tony baked that day...yum!!!!!!!!

Then it was time for one of our favorite Maple Dale traditions! Sebastian put on his serious face and portrayed...Abe Lincoln for Wax Museum! Can you guess what he used for the Emancipation Proclamation?? The parchment paper that Tony baked the aforementioned baguettes on. Masterful upcycling, if I do say so myself! (Here are Samuel and Brie from Wax Museums past!)

In the same vein as wise Abe, here is a snippet of Sebastian's bedtime wisdom. He aspires to: "Be famous for something I'm proud of and like. Find a job that's fun, even if it's not important."

More things to smile about? I got a new phone and it takes a selfie when you wave at it. Super cool!

Blossom continues to be a wonderful running partner! 💮💜

We had a blast at our 8th annual Rockdale Family Retreat! I negotiated a lakeside room for me and Tony, which was well worth my powers of persuasion.

A major highlight this year was that Sebastian got his own room with a buddy. Lucky all of us!!

While the adults enjoyed karaoke (no one tops me and Lauren at Taylor Swift)...

Or Matthew and Tony at Elton John...

The boys slept like this (even though they had two queen-size beds). Ha!

Breakfast time!

There were lots of opportunities for creativity and bonding...

And the weather was sunny and gorgeous, so we went for a hike...

We savored our sunset...

And trivia capped off a great weekend, as always!

While going through these next pics, I had a few good laughs...

Between Hamilton in the fall and Brie's recent theater productions, we've got theater fever and nothing beats going downtown for a show.

We went and saw Annie (my childhood FAV) and it was fabulous!!

So was the third grade show! They sang songs from around the world and had instruments and dances that went with all of them. It was quite a production.

Sebastian even got a speaking role about what peace means to him!

Fun get-togethers and celebrations have rounded out the last two months for us. I'm loving that dinner club is back in full force!!

And the neighbors got all dressed up in B&W for the new Cincinnati Museum of Art exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's black and white photography! (The docent could have backed up just a smidge.)