There was no snow and we didn’t think there was any ice…but for whatever reason, the kids had another 2-hour delay today. So I just decided to take a sibling pic for the heck of it.
Category Archives: Weather
How appropriate that I’m the Boston Terrier.
And now a 2-hour delay!
It was still a little icy so we had a 2-hour delay. I love that they sit together!
Warm weather = summer dress
This was her third outfit of the day but the most appropriate for school (I stepped in to facilitate). 🙂
Bundled up for school
Rainy Monday at the bus stop
Taking turns.
I’m not the only one enjoying the open doors and fresh air!
It’s days like this I’m thankful for the pool.
We go to the pool after picking Katie up at 1 and come home around 4 or 5.
Waiting out the pool break.
And then daddy surprised us!
Our 15th anniversary night on Mackinac Island
We decided to celebrate our 15th anniversary just a bit early (since we had available babysitters!) and spend the night on Mackinac Island. (It’s actually a bit longer story. I had wanted to go to the Headlands International Night Sky Park in Mackinac City so Tom was in charge of picking the hotel. He thought he was making a reservation for Mackinac City, but when we had to change nights, he realized he had made a reservation on the island—he had a few tabs open on his computer and called a different one than he was looking at! So our plans changed to go to the island instead!)
Unfortunately, we knew bad weather was on the way, so we chose not to do anything time-intensive like biking around the island…so when this happened…
…we stopped our shopping for a quick lunch at Seabiscuit Cafe. We had yummy whitefish chowder and a mediocre whitefish reuben.
The weather app we were checking seemed to predict that it would only last an hour or so, but the rain just kept coming. We decided to take the shuttle back to the hotel and wait out the rain in our room.
Our room was GORGEOUS with an AMAZING view…or a potentially amazing view if it hadn’t been raining and foggy.
This was our view before the fog rolled in and obscured the bridge:
It was quite chilly in our room and the heat was slow to come on, so we pulled the extra blanket out of the closet, rearranged the chairs, and crossed our fingers that the front passed soon.
We rechecked the forecast in a different app and that showed rain pretty much all day. 🙁 So Tom took a nap and I sat and tried to catch up on writing blog posts…while listening to a wedding taking place below us on the covered back porch 🙂 and watching it rain and rain and rain.
We had almost the same view at dinner:
And then we got to watch the wedding guests wander around during the reception:
Our meal was very, very good. We knew we’d blow NS principles out of the water, but we didn’t care because it was our anniversary and everything sounded amazing. And everything WAS. We were very happy with our dinner. 🙂
- Appetizer: Cheddar-Crab Fondue | Thyme-Lemon Gremolata | Toasted Brioche
- Soup: Lobster Bisque | Lemon Tarragon Oil (which surprisingly Tom loved—he’s not a big lobster fan)
- Entrée (me): Sea Scallop | Cheddar Polenta | Bacon-Fava Succotash | Ver Jus | Citrus Micro
- Entrée (Tom): Battered Whitefish BLT | Smokey Caper Aïoli | Peppered Bacon | Tomato | Frisée | Toasted Brioche
- Dessert (Tom): Chai Crème Brûlée
It had stopped raining during dinner so we went for a walk around the grounds and out to Sunset Rock.
And the panoramic view (click for larger version):
And do you see what we saw in the water? 🙂
It really was a pretty place.
After our walk we headed back to the room where we listened to the reception rave on while we watched Breaking Bad on Netflix. 🙂 Then it started raining again but thankfully didn’t storm since it was bedtime (though I wouldn’t have minded watching a storm from our room).
While overall it stunk that the weather was so crappy, we still enjoyed being together—alone!—all day! That’s always worth something. 🙂
The best-laid plans…
The plan was to hit the beach at Petoskey State Park for play, rock hunting, and a picnic…but the weather had other ideas. We saw whitecaps as we approached…and it was a measly 72° (so with the wind it was probably about 60-65°) and the sand was painful as it whipped around.
So we were trying to decide what to do instead while sitting in the car. 🙂
We ended up heading inland to Burt Lake State Park (30 minutes away), assuming it wouldn’t be as windy. Ha! It was almost as bad! So we ate a fast picnic lunch (wrapped in towels because no one thought to bring jackets or sweatshirts for a day at the beach!), then got right back in the cars and headed home. We were all bummed.
I can’t remember the last time I had to wait in a line!
I guess that’s what happens when a small town theater gets a big movie on the opening day (Secret Life of Pets) and the weather is questionable (it was supposed to storm and it was getting dark and windy). As a sidenote, Owen completely freaked out about the weather and wanted to go home. We are not sure how or why he has become so freaked out about weather.
Unfortunately, we didn’t actually get to see the movie—there were so many people that by the time we made it in to look for seats there were none available (definitely not six together and pretty much only single seats here and there—people were even sitting in the aisles and on the steps). So we got our money back and decided to go another day.
Owen’s last Marlins game!
It was crazy hot and sunny for the last game today. Thankfully friends had brought a huge canopy so we all got to sit (or lay!) in the shade!
Owen did super amazing awesome today…unfortunately, I had unexpected phone storage issues (even after I deleted a ton of stuff) so I ended up missing recording a few hits and runs—and a few videos got cut short. GRRR!
And he asked to be catcher today!! He did have some balance issues (see next photo—he kept his feet together instead of using a wide stance so he kept falling over) but he worked through them and did a great job! And looked damn cute!
The coaches actually called the game a half hour early because it was so hot. They had a quick award ceremony afterward.
I had to transcribe what the coach said because it was super awesome and is very hard to hear on the video—the Closed Captions should be turned on so you can read along but here it is just in case:
Due to my phone issues, I missed the first thing he said: I like to call him The Big O!
Come on up! I’ve really seen Owen’s catching progress. Behind the plate as well as catching the ball in the field. Alright, you are certainly catching it like the guys at the next level and very impressive. You’ve had some great hits as well. Alright. I love seeing your enthusiasm out here. Good job, buddy.
Team picture by another mom (since my phone was still acting up):
Then the pizza party!!!
And showing off his award! He had to run and get this T-ball award from last year, too—he was so excited to have two! He said he will put them both on a shelf together! 🙂
Hail?!
I expected the rain we got but the hail was a complete surprise.
Friends near us got golf-ball-sized hail! EEK!
Tom snuck this picture of us.
“Yup. This is what happens on a cold rainy Sunday.” 😀
Marlins…in the rain.
It started off overcast and cool… We kept our fingers crossed but eventually it was raining. Not fun. But the kids were all doing great!
Katie had fun playing catch with daddy beforehand.
Montage of Owen’s at-bats and runs:
They did end up calling the game a little over an hour in because it was really coming down. So it was home for warm showers/baths and comfy clothes!
What the bloody hell?! Ugh.
Owen’s baseball game was cancelled due to rain…and then this started. Yeesh.
Baseball Opening Day!
Our new Marlin ready to head out!
Unfortunately it was cold and rainy—yuck!
Not super exiting (LOL) but the Marlins’ introduction and walk out onto the field!
It was 70° when we got home from errands!
Snacking after a long four minutes of doing chalk. 🙂
I don’t think I can ever move back to Michigan.
The house is 72°, I have on a long-sleeve tee and a Columbia fleece, wool socks, and am under a thick blanket with a dog on my lap in front of the fire. And I’m cold.
I don’t think I actually fully warmed up for about four hours.
Just until daddy gets home.
It’s storming and she’s scared…so I get cuddles. I had Owen, too, but he left since Katie was crowding him. But Katie told me as soon as daddy gets home she’s cuddling with him. #daddysgirl
Jonas: Snow Day 4
It really warmed up today so with the melting, we FINALLY had the perfect snow to build a snowman! The government is still shut down as well, so daddy was home again, too! YAY!
While Owen and I were starting to build the snowman on the deck…
…Katie was building her own little mini snowman. 🙂
Putting on the headband that came in Gramma Jean’s Snowman Kit.
Dressing the big snowman!
Owen wanted to build “an ice wall” so I helped him. Meaning I pretty much did it all while he played. 🙂 Of course, it’s hard to see white on white, but it was a pretty impressive wall.
Jonas Day 3 / Snow Day 3
After MUCH drama getting dressed—in which Katie almost got banished to her room—we made it outside. We had hoped to be able to build a snowman, but the snow just wasn’t good. AT ALL. And Owen lost his boot again within the first five minutes…so I came in and let them play in the back yard. After about 20 minutes they wanted to go to the front, so they had to trek through the house (since there’s no way to open the gate, and even if we could get it open, the snow is 3′ deep between the houses). They played out front for probably a half hour before Tom went to check on them and then I went out to take a few pictures.
And this would be why we can’t see anything out our bedroom windows!
2 + 2 + 2 = wine
Two snow days down. Two weekend days down. Two more snow days to go.
Time for wine.
Jonas, Day 2
Subtitled: Too. Much. Damn. Snow. And that’s coming from a Michigander.
Plowed and sanded…but only one lane.
So here, the kids are technically playing in the street.
The bus stop is still a little buried.
Looking up the main street.
Snow angel…in the street. 🙂
Taking a flying leap…
The landing!
Rule breaker!
Playing across the street.
Tom wanted to check out the town…and see how his new car did on the roads. 🙂 (He said it did great!)
The Wall O’ Snow.
Pouting because I wouldn’t give her the water spray bottle she remembered using this summer.
Using a net as a shovel.
Brushing off my tires with a scrub brush.
The Effects of Jonas
So, it’s hard to tell in the pictures because everything is white on white on white, but trust me, there was A LOT of snow out there. The end of the driveway was plowed in with at least 3′ of snow (and, unfortunately, we couldn’t find ANYONE to tune up the snowblower, so Tom has been shoveling for about two hours). It wouldn’t be quite as bad if there was somewhere to actually PUT the snow. The yards are so small there’s no room for any of it…and we’re not supposed to put any of it in the street (which would, really, make the most sense, so the plows could take it away).
I have a few pics of the kids, but it was blowing so much when we first got out there that it was difficult to take anything good. The kids were excited and did have fun (and at least we were outside for longer than it took to get them both dressed) but of course Owen had snow up his gloves and arms within the first five minutes (even though I carefully tucked everything in) and then proceeded to lose a boot within the next five minutes (which necessitated a trip inside to change socks and get a new boot—thankfully he has a backup pair). They loved sledding down the hill and it would have made for awesome pictures…but you can only do so much when you’re fully bundled, it’s snowing, and you have to catch the sled before it gets to the main street.
Snowed in…from brushing off the car itself.
Just a little bit of drift.
Not as bad as I’d expected but…still…YUCK.
They HAD to go out and play in the snow.
We had a 2-hour delay that turned into a full snow day (the first of the year!). We didn’t have much snow, but what little we did have made things super slippery. Of course, the kids had to go out and play in it. 🙂
How you wear a hat when it’s 28° but you’ve spiked your hair.
So apparently this is what dedication looks like?
Walking in 17° weather. Who am I? 🙂
Halloween in Grayling
The kids were super excited about treak-or-treating at Gramma’s house…and we were, too…until the Michigan weather happened. Yeah, it was 38° and rainy. Egads. If you look closely enough you can see Katie’s polka-dot long johns under her white tights (and she also had on pink tights!).
On the front porch where my Halloween picture was taken every year…
Everyone (including Uncle Rob) ready to head out!
There weren’t many houses lit up but the ones that were were handing out TONS of candy! You see how full their bags look? We had only hit maybe six houses at this point!
After about 15 minutes they gave up on the umbrellas and just ran from house to house while we waited at the road. Soon enough we were back at Gramma’s door!!
Home after an hour of being out in the rain—they were soaked but happy!!
Tom gave the kids a hot shower and put them in PJs while I made them hot cocoa!
Eating Mallow cups from daddy and Uncle Rob—they were Grandma Marsha’s favorite treat and someone brought a bag of them for the boys.
LOOKS AT THEIR HAUL!! The weather sure stunk but it was great for quick candy accumulation. They got 9# of candy from less than 20 houses!
