2012 advent : day 9

We had to change our advent plans for today.  All night and into the day there was a big snow storm which meant Tyler had to go into work to move snow at the theaters.  :(  But since there was a big snow storm there was plenty of perfect snow outside to play in.  So today's advent activity was to play in the snow!

Olive wasn't really old enough to actually play in the snow last year, she mostly just touched it.  We also didn't really get a big typical snow last year.  So playing in the snow may seem a little boring.. regular.. but it was special and new for her.

It was snowing almost non stop all day so I didn't keep my camera with me for too long - it was getting too wet!  I brought it out a couple of times and used my phone when we went on a walk to the drugstore.

As you can see there are some focusing issues in some of these photos - my favorite lens is a little messed up from a fall it took in 2010.  Olive and Honey were moving quite a lot so I used ai servo but it seems to focus a little lower than the focus point I use, or at least it did today, and it often focused on a snowflake... oops!

Regardless of the photo quality... we had a lot of fun.

While Olive played, watched Honey, and attempted to shovel, I shoveled the front public sidewalk, our front sidewalk, our side sidewalk, our back sidewalk, and our entire back parking slab.  Twice.  Woah.










Honey's eyes are so striking in the snow but she would NOT STOP MOVING. Like insane movement. And she was squeaking the entire time. Maybe after the novelty of the snow wears off I can get a good photo. Crazy dog.









Clapping.



I know Olive's face is super out of focus in this photo but I LOVE whatever it is that Honey is doing behind her. haha!!















Such a pretty lady.



The conclusion of our second time out.  So much work.  My back hurts.

Here are some Instagram photos of our trek down the block to CVS.  I was in search of beans for chili tonight.  Unfortunately CVS didn't pull through.  But I did pick up some milk for hot cocoa tonight and for Tyler to use for his breakfast.  The roads should be better tomorrow so Olive and I can make a proper co-op trip.  :)

I love love this one.  Knee deep in fresh snow, perfect profile shot. Love the framing, the snow blowing, and tiny houses in the background.

I asked her to stand by the snow, to show how deep it is, and she tried to sit down.

Then she proceeded to make multiple butt prints down the sidewalk.


Olive's Advent Calendar
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8

labor day weekend.

I forgot to tell you about our Labor Day weekend fun.

We took a drive east to meet Brooke & Scott at Brooke's family's cabin in Three Lakes. It's ironic to me that we had to pass through Rhinelander to get there. My dad has been going up just north of Rhinelander to camp and fish for years and I went with him quite often and somewhat frequently when I was little. It's around an hour away from Brooke's cabin.

I like the area but it's actually the north woods. So many people seem to have cabins "up north" that are simply lake homes with pine trees right around the lake but surrounded by slightly rolling corn fields. That's not the north woods.

Here's what we did:

(Sorry about the fof watermarks... not really fof stuff)

[caption id="attachment_4249" align="aligncenter" width="300"] On our way. Olive's first McDonald's play place experience. Don't worry.. she didn't eat anything.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] We arrived at night. Olive ended up staying up fairly late. She also slept really poorly.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Good morning Olive daze.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Watching and waiting for Scott to cook breakfast.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Scott made us crepes. It was nice of him.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] We opened the window from the kitchen to the deck for ease of serving. Also for taking photos because that's what we do.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] This is Olive wondering why I keep taking photos of her. Especially when eating a crepe.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] My crepe, with cinnamon apple filling.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] drool.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Tyler likes to make his crepes fancy.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] This is Scott being sad.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] This is Tyler and his Everything Crepe.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] This is Olive again wondering what's with all the photos.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Olive getting ready to hit the lake. You're welcome.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] We got this swimsuit in a box of free stuff. It's a 9 month size and she's 17 months here. She's thin but also no diaper wearing makes for smaller things on bottom.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] You're still welcome.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="345"] Olive broke her awesome sunglasses a few months prior. I found these for pretty cheap at Target. Not nearly as awesome but still awesome.[/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Notice the drips under Honey? She was having the time of her life.[/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Olive cam.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Photos of photos of Olive being taken.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Tyler and Scott being squinty.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Olive being cooler than you.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Tyler and Scott on their way to a little alone time on the lake.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Honey tried to follow. She swam all the way out to them but couldn't manage to jump in the paddle boat so she swam back. Mind you, this was her first time swimming.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] I pushed Olive around in the kayak. At this point there wasn't a life jacket that fit her so I had to stay close.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Cautiously watching Honey swim to the paddle boat.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Tyler and Scott still being squinty.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Honey being beautiful.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] She moved so I focused on her nose. But it's a great nose.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] For all you city folk, this is a tree.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] These are mushrooms.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] You pull this with your bike, apparently.[/caption]

Tyler, Scott, and Olive went to buy Olive a lifejacket while Brooke and I took a paddle boat ride. Olive fell asleep in the car and was finally ready for an adventure after she woke.

[caption id="attachment_4255" align="aligncenter" width="300"] First fishing boat ride.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4256" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We went to a small island for lunch.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4259" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Olive's pickles.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="332"] This is Olive being independent and running away.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Breakfast the next morning - french toast using the leftover crepe batter. Clearly not gluten free but I'm not too picky when I'm a guest.[/caption]







[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Another sleepy morning.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] This next series are a few of the photos that Olive took after breakfast. There were about 30. I saved a few.[/caption]













[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Brooke's dad took Brooke, Olive, and me out for a boat ride in the opposite direction we went the previous day. Olive fell asleep.[/caption]







[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] I grabbed a lilly pad for and she held it while sleeping.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Brooke's dad was leaving the cabin later that day so it was time to put the boat away.[/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Despite being put onto the trailer and being pulled out of the water by a loud bobcat thing Olive stayed asleep.[/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Honey went for a dip while we stood around the boat waiting for Olive to wake up.[/caption]





[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Drink break.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_4264" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This is after fell off the dock into the water and got a bunch of sand in her hair. She was wearing her life jacket, at least. Oops.[/caption]









[caption id="attachment_4266" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My most favorite kind of moss.[/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Why so many photos? Also: sunscreen nose.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] She didn't notice I was photographing her.[/caption]





[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] She noticed.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] So she read my mind and rubbed sand into her hair.[/caption]







You can see Brooke and Scott's perspective of our time in Three Lakes here and here.