outdoor family fun

the forecast called for rain this afternoon and "rain" means warm! after lunch it was approaching 40 degrees so i suggested we go outside. we still had to bundle up (mainly for playing in the snow) but it was fairly "warm" and we were able to be out for almost two hours. while the boys played with everything on wheels, madelyn was determined to make a snow man.  much of the snow had already melted but what was left was wet enough to pack.

the boys introduced manning to "smash balls"

madelyn's "snowman" and "snow dog"

madelyn was extremely determined to make a snowman today. extremely determined. she had to start over a few times but she did it. she even managed to get all of the pieces from our snowman kit onto her small snowman. even after i told her that the pipe would be so heavy that it would pull the head off.  love her.

the wet driveway was prefect for sidewalk chalk too.

matt was inside working on our taxes, etc. but i told him that he was missing out and should come join us...

and then an all out family snowball fight started. there is no footage, but there was so much laughter (and a little crying). i think manning enjoyed it most of all because he was so happy to see everyone throwing the snow he was just throwing it in the air, running around and laughing. matt said that i was using manning as protection since i was with him on the driveway, but he got me good a few times anyway.  so much fun! love.