Monday, March 26, 2012

A Snow Day

We enjoyed a few snow days this winter, never more than a couple of inches, but beautiful and fun for the kids.  We made snow ice cream one day :)  This day Bard had off and we bundled up and went for a walk through our village. 

Jackson hanging out on the gate while waiting for the rest of us.

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The manor across the road from us.  This is just part of the entire complex.  I’m sure they’ll be having us over for tea any day on!

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I love the stone walls that are everywhere throughout the Cotswolds.  One day we talked to some workers that were reconstructing  a part of one and we learned that they don’t use any kind of mortar.  The stones are just stacked on top of each other.  They said they usually last that way for 80 years before they need repair, depending on their location.  The ones nearer to roads that get a lot of traffic, especially lorries (trucks), start to lean from the vibrations of the vehicles as they pass.  There is a lot of moss everywhere here, even on the roofs.  I thought the snow topped moss was so pretty.  This is the wall across from our house that shield the Manor from us commoners :)

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The beginning of every walk always starts out with much enthusiasm as the boys find their weapons.  

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Oh my, don’t you just love those tiny foot prints!  Emerson was trying to walk in Bard’s footsteps.  Luckily, there is so little traffic through the village we usually just tromp through the street.

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The soldiers marching down the road with guns on their shoulders :)

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I love this combination of human and pheasant prints!!

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Jackson was trying to see over the neighbors “fence” to check out their awesome snowman.

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I was quite impressed that they were able to build such an awesome snowman out of just a few inches of snow!

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Kate posing for me … Jackson, not so much :)

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Mathis in the amazing hat Sheila knit for him.  He loves it because I always insist on him wearing a hat and this one he can roll up so it’s not so warm and I’m still happy that most of his head is covered :)

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This is the road leading out of our village (you can see the late summer version in the blog header). 

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Camera settings weren’t quite right, but Kate loved it anyway :)  I’m wearing Bard’s coat because it fits so well over my stomach and is very warm!

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It amazes me how much fun the kids have throwing themselves down into snow banks and getting soaking wet.

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Is that not the cutest smile ever??  Emerson’s, of course!

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Our attempt at a self portrait of the two of us.  We have about ten more just like this.  Well, one of them has my eye in it :)

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On the way back, the little kids start to wear out and there’s a lot of prodding involved in getting them back home.

 

  Mathis however is still raring to go .. . here he is going the long way around which involves running down this hill and back up through the sheep pasture.

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Meanwhile, Bard is keeping the boys pace up by holding their hands.  Otherwise, they’d both be collapsed in the snow together.

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Mathis still happy as can be, enjoying a roll in the snow.

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The boys momentarily break from the whining to play in the melting snow.

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Bard is know dragging the boys up the hill and back home.  Our road is just to the left … it’s really the only side road in the village.  Straight ahead is one of two village churches and to the left is another building belonging to the Manor.

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The aftermath …

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7 comments:

  1. Oh I can feel Jackson's weariness! It looks so beautiful there. Bella wanted to know why the red boy was crying=) The moss covered wall with the fence post picture is awesome.

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  2. WOW! This was the best post ever. I loved it. Everything is so beautiful. It makes me laugh that you have Mathis, Kate, and the Boys :) My favorite picture by far had to be the one of Bard and your Hat - Awesome! Loved the video as well. Emerson's box is ready and will be posted tomorrow. Tell him to keep an eye out for it. Tell Bard to go easy on him, he is still your baby for a few months ;)

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  3. What kind of sick mother takes videos of her children crying???

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  4. How do I comment after that post - I thought of a million things to say. Here are just a few - I was with you when we talked to the man about the walls, snow - what is that?, Bard,I think that was child abuse, Ohhhhh I remember the fun walks with the kids, oh now I'm crying and I have only begun my comments.

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  5. mom, did he drag the kids around when you were there, too?

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  6. This was a great post because I can relate so well. Jackson waiting out front (that is Trevor),sticks as weapons, the falling in the snow and getting wet, dragging the kids home and worst of all the piles of wet clothes at the end. I love my kids, but the piles of wet clothes are hard to deal with! Rich said, "Yeah, why is it the Dad who always has to drag the kids home?"

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