Before it's back to the routine

3 days in a row I have blogged...that is a new record for me....the cause?  Probably multiple reasons.  I cleared my camera so now I have been taking more pictures again, the kids are on break and the hubs is too so we have been doing a lot of  family things, AND the kids are on break and the hubs is too so I need to escape to the bedroom now and then to have a moment alone with my thoughts....things like that.  Our break has been wonderful.  Both Craig and the kids have had 11 days off and their 12th and final day is tomorrow.  Now, it hasn't all been gumdrops and rainbows.  We have definitely had our share of "getting along battles" but overall the break has been wonderful for all of us.

So today was one of our last days as break and it was the last day we had nothing on the schedule AND it was the last day that looked warm enough for humans to be outside in the forecast so we decided to suck all the life out of our day today.

First we went to home depot because Craig needed a few items AND they were having a kids workshop.  So three miniature sleds (think American Girl doll size) were made.

Up next, our ice rinks have just started to freeze over.  One layer on makes for some bumpy ice skating but we were too excited to wait so we just had to jump on the ice.  Isaac wanted to practice his hockey skills with his new hockey stick and homemade (by dad) hockey puck so he opted to go without his skates today.

Trying to not so gracefully pose.

Caleb spent the majority of the time being carted around in the sled by Andie.  Wow.  Is she getting good on skates.

A little down time was followed by a trip to the state park by our house. Cute picture of my little explorers at the checkpoint to send in the state parks site!

We came a few weeks ago and saw the waterfall half frozen but today it was mostly frozen over with just a small stream still running through the middle.

Kids were looking all over the ice and finding frozen minnows and water insects....it was a little weird but pretty fun.

It was super warm at the bottom of the waterfall and then we climbed to the top and started to head home and I could feel the wind had shifted while we had been out.  The days of hibernation are ahead of us but we definitely soaked up some nice weather while it was here.